Kenwood TS-990S Configuring Manual
For fldigi, without using an outboard interface
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Also See for TS-990S:
- Instruction manual (290 pages) ,
- Service manual (245 pages) ,
- In-depth manual (107 pages)
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Configuring the TS-990S for Fldigi
Without Using an outboard Interface
This guide is specifically aimed at the user of the Kenwood TS-990S transceiver, but the steps are very
similar to those needed for the TS-590SG and TS590S, as well as other transceivers with USB sound and
CAT interfaces built in.
This guide is the work of Mitchel Baum – AE2A, and may be reproduced and distributed only in it's
entirety.
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Summary of Contents for Kenwood TS-990S
- Page 1 Without Using an outboard Interface This guide is specifically aimed at the user of the Kenwood TS-990S transceiver, but the steps are very similar to those needed for the TS-590SG and TS590S, as well as other transceivers with USB sound and CAT interfaces built in.
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Configuring the Rig Control Software ......................22 Configuring Fldigi ............................26 Fine Tuning the Audio Levels ........................38 Selecting the Audio Source for TX on the TS-990S ................. 38 A Note about Audio Level Settings ......................39 Fldigi Receive Input Level ........................40 Fldigi Transmit Output Levels ......................... - Page 3 Figure 7 RX Volume Level ..........................11 Figure 8 TX Volume Level (Initial) ....................... 12 Figure 9 TS-990S Menu Group 7 ......................... 13 Figure 10 TS-990S USB Baud Rate Setting ....................14 Figure 11 Rear Connector Settings ......................15 Figure 12 ‘Downloads Folder’ ........................16 Figure 13 GNU License ..........................
- Page 4 Figure 41 Fldigi RX Level Icon ........................40 Figure 42 Fldigi Waterfall View Button ....................... 41 Figure 43 Fldigi Signal View ......................... 41 Figure 44 Select RX Device .......................... 42 Figure 45 Initial Audio Level RX ........................43 Figure 46 Waterfall Controls ........................44 Figure 47 TX Attenuator Setting .........................
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Page 5: Preparation
If you need to update these programs do so by first removing the old versions, then installing the updated versions. Download the Virtual COM Port Driver from : Kenwood Download Site Download the ARCP-990 Program from: Kenwood Download Site... -
Page 6: Figure 1 'The Start Button
Open your ‘Control Panel’ by clicking the ‘Start’ button on your desktop and selecting the Control Panel option (on the Right Side). Figure 1 ‘The Start Button’ Select Control Panel Option Figure 2 Select the Control Panel This will open the control panel to a screen like this: Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum –... -
Page 7: Figure 3 Select The Sound Option
Figure 3 Select the Sound option Click on the ‘Sound’ Icon and this will open the Sound settings: Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 7... -
Page 8: Figure 4 Playback Device Naming
Figure 4 Playback Device Naming Take note of how I have labelled the ‘USB Audio Codec’ in the ‘Playback’ Tab for the TS990S, Think about this: ‘Playback’ is an Output, so this ‘output’ will be the ‘input’ sound to your transceiver, so we label this ‘TS990 TX! Later we will associate the Fldigi ‘Playback’... -
Page 9: Figure 5 Properties
Figure 5 Properties Similarly select the ‘Recording’ device which is the input device and change its name. See the figure below. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 9... -
Page 10: Figure 6 Recording Device
Figure 6 Recording Device Be sure that you do not see the green check mark on either of these devices or they will become the Windows default device, not a desired selection. Click ‘apply’ and OK to set this. Next, double-click the RX device and select the ‘Levels’... -
Page 11: Figure 7 Rx Volume Level
Figure 7 RX Volume Level At this point if you are receiving a signal you should see a few green bars varying in level. This is a good sign! Do not worry at this point if you don’t see this as we will need to set the USB audio levels in the transceiver in the next section. -
Page 12: Figure 8 Tx Volume Level (Initial)
Figure 8 TX Volume Level (Initial) This setting is the TX audio drive level to the transceiver. We will further adjust this value later so that when we go to transmit there will be no ALC action. When we refer to the TX audio gain, this is the setting we are referring to. -
Page 13: Configuring The Audio Levels In The Transceiver
Press the “MENU” button on the TS990S front panel and select: Group 7 – Rear Connectors. See figure 5 (below). Figure 9 TS-990S Menu Group 7 Press the F4 soft key to select this sub menu. See the Figure (Below) and enter these settings in this submenu. -
Page 14: Figure 10 Ts-990S Usb Baud Rate Setting
Figure 10 TS-990S USB Baud Rate Setting The critical value we are concerned with here are submenu ‘01’ the USB ‘Virtual COM Port baud rate should be set to 115200 (bps). In the next figure, we will set the audio levels for the USB audio input and output (TX and RX respectively). -
Page 15: Figure 11 Rear Connector Settings
Figure 11 Rear Connector Settings Note the values for submenu ‘05’, ‘08’, and ‘09’. Although we rarely use the sub-receiver for data it’s still a good idea to set both output levels the same. Note that all the values for submenu items 06 through 13 are the factory defaults. -
Page 16: Installing The Cat Program (Flrig)
Installing the CAT Program (Flrig) Navigate to the location on your computer where you downloaded the Flrig and Fldigi installer files. Double-click the Flrig setup file. See the below figure: Figure 12 ‘Downloads Folder’ Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 16... -
Page 17: Figure 13 Gnu License
Figure 13 GNU License Click on the ‘Continue’ button to accept the GNU/GPL License Agreement. Figure 14 Flrig Options Select all of the check boxes and click ‘Next’. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 17... -
Page 18: Figure 15 Flrig Folder Selection
Figure 15 Flrig Folder Selection Click the ‘Install’ button and Flrig will install. You may click on the ‘Show details’ button to ensure there were no errors. Figure 16 install Progress Click the ‘Close’ button. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum –... -
Page 19: Installing The Main Program (Fldigi)
Installing the main Program (Fldigi) Navigate back to the downloads Folder and similarly to the above section, Install the Fldigi program. I will show only the sequence of dialog boxes here as the steps to install Fldigi are exactly the same as for Flrig. -
Page 20: Figure 18 Gnu License
Figure 18 GNU License Figure 19 Fldigi Install Options Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 20... -
Page 21: Figure 20 Fldigi Folder Selection
Figure 20 Fldigi Folder Selection Figure 21 Fldigi Install Progress This completes the installation of all the digimode software from W1HKJ! Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 21... -
Page 22: Configuring The Rig Control Software
Configuring the Rig Control Software Open the Flrig program by double-clicking on the Flrig desktop icon. Figure 22 Flrig Desktop Icon The main Flrig screen will open. See below. Figure 23 Flrig Main Screen Please note that there will be no ‘Rig Selection’ identifier in your first time running version. The ‘Rig Selection’... -
Page 23: Figure 24 Flrig Setup Selection
Only currently active COM ports will show up in the drop down. In my case COM10 is the USB serial device connected to the TS-990S. Click the drop-down selection for ‘Baud’ and select the serial COM port speed we configured as ‘115200’. Click the checkbox for ‘PTT via CAT and RTS/CTS (handshaking). -
Page 24: Figure 25 Flrig Transceiver Setup
When you have all the values set , click the ‘Init’ button and if all is well Flrig will begin communicating with the TS-990S! If you hear a few beeps and see some frequency and display changes, this will confirm... -
Page 25: Figure 26 Flrig Close Options
Figure 26 Flrig Close Options Click the ‘Close’ button and the ‘I/O Ports’ dialog box will close leaving just the Flrig main window. You can now change the various controls on the transceiver by means of CAT control right from this window. Change the frequency on the transceiver and Flrig should follow your changes. -
Page 26: Configuring Fldigi
Configuring Fldigi The first time you start Fldigi, it will begin a very basic configuration by asking you to fill in your call sign, name, grid square and other basic data about you, your station and other miscellaneous information. Complete the requested inputs and when the program gets to the Rig Control and Sound Card configuration, follow the directions that follow. -
Page 27: Figure 28 Fldigi Tx Device Selection
Figure 28 Fldigi TX Device Selection Consider the ‘Playback’ or output of Fldigi audio as the input to the transceiver on the USB Audio CODEC device. The levels on the transceiver were previously set lower as Fldigi will by default set the output to 100% (or 0 dB attenuation). -
Page 28: Figure 29 Fldigi Right Channel Selection
Figure 29 Fldigi Right Channel Selection Some transceiver USB inputs only look at one or the other channels, setting both Left and Right to output the data audio will solve this issue. Click ‘Save”, then ‘Close’. Return to the main screen and select the Configure > Autostart selection. We will configure Fldigi to ‘autostart’... -
Page 29: Figure 30 Fldigi Autostart
Figure 30 Fldigi Autostart This will open a dialog box where you will need to navigate to the folder where Flrig was installed and select the correct executable program (Flrig). Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 29... -
Page 30: Figure 31 Flrig Executable Location
Figure 31 Flrig Executable Location Click the ‘Locate’ button which will open a ‘finder’ dialog box or simpler type the exact full path to the executable. I do suggest using the locate button and following the next few figures as an example. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum –... -
Page 31: Figure 32 Locate Executable
Figure 32 Locate Executable Double-click the Local Disk (C:). Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 31... -
Page 32: Figure 33 Select C: Drive
Figure 33 Select C: Drive Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 32... -
Page 33: Figure 34 Select Program Files (X86)
Figure 34 Select Program Files (x86) Double-click on ‘Program Files (x86). Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 33... -
Page 34: Figure 35 Select Flrig Folder
Figure 35 Select Flrig Folder Double-click on ‘flrig-1.3.24’. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 34... -
Page 35: Figure 36 Select Flrig
Figure 36 Select Flrig Click on Flrig. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 35... -
Page 36: Figure 37 Lick Open
Figure 37 lick Open Click on ‘Open’.. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 36... -
Page 37: Figure 38 Test Path
Figure 38 Test Path Click on the’ Test’ button which will cause Flrig to start If all went well, click the click the checkbox for ‘Enable’ and then click ‘Save’, and ‘Close’. At this point Fldigi will ‘autostart’ flrig when starting and establish full CAT control. Your sound devices are properly configured for input and output, and the basic User data has been configured. -
Page 38: Fine Tuning The Audio Levels
Selecting the Audio Source for TX on the TS-990S Press and HOLD (for 2 seconds) the ‘DATA’ button on the front panel of the TS-990S to open the ‘DATA Mode 1’ Audio Input selection. Note: There are four ‘Data Mode’ selections in the TS-990S. Each can be selected by an additions button push on the ‘DATA’... -
Page 39: A Note About Audio Level Settings
The combination of the maximum TX power (the PWR control) and the audio level set in both Windows and Fldigi (the total audio level sent to the USB audio device in the TS-990S) control the quality and actual TX power. Keep this in mind as we proceed to ‘fine tune’ your signal! We will begin with the receive audio level (‘recording level’... -
Page 40: Fldigi Receive Input Level
The receive audio input level to Fldigi is entirely controlled by Windows once to ‘course’ level has been set In the TS-990S USB RX Output menu. Fldigi has an input level indicator (the little diamond icon) in the lower right portion of the main Fldigi screen. Using the default colors scheme setting in Fldigi, this... -
Page 41: Figure 42 Fldigi Waterfall View Button
Figure 42 Fldigi Waterfall View Button Click this button twice to change the display .The first click will change the display on the waterfall to the histogram display. The second will put you in the ‘WAV” display. There are three different views in total. The figure below shows a proper input level that does not exceed the two white limit lines. -
Page 42: Figure 44 Select Rx Device
Figure 44 Select RX Device Note the vertical bar graph indicating this device has audio on it and is receiving input from the TS-990S. Configuring the TS990S for Fldigi Tutorial by Mitch Baum – AE2A Page 42... -
Page 43: Figure 45 Initial Audio Level Rx
Figure 45 Initial Audio Level RX Adjust the ‘Microphone’ level so that you meet the limits discussed above (between the white ‘limit’ lines). You level will likely be different than those shown. Dual monitors help a lot while performing this step as you can view the Fldigi screen and adjust the level at the same time. -
Page 44: Fldigi Transmit Output Levels
SSB voice power level (the PWR control) at about 70 watts (remember we will be using the -13 dB level most of the time) and adjust the TX audio gain into the TS-990S so that we obtain NO ALC INDICATION. -
Page 45: Figure 47 Tx Attenuator Setting
Ensure that you have a dummy load as the antenna selected. Ensure you do not have the antenna tuner on the TS-990S engaged (OFF). See the figure below and adjust your setup to this value. (this figure indicates -10 dB which was an older method). -
Page 46: Figure 48 Fldigi Op Mode Selection
Figure 48 Fldigi Op Mode Selection Now that we have the correct ‘mode’ selected and that Fldigi and Flrig are running, we have full software control of the transceiver and PTT as well as the audio input levels. With the TX attenuator set at 0 dB, we will set the audio transmit frequency to a mid-passband frequency of 1500 Hz using the left and right arrows to either side of the TX Audio frequency control. -
Page 47: Step 2
We will cause the software to transmit the PSK31 ‘idle’ signal by using the ‘TUNE’ button in Fldigi. This control button will put Fldigi into TX and supply the correct audio signal to the TS-990S. See the figure below for the location of this button (top left). -
Page 48: Step 3
Set the ‘Speaker Volume’ control to a low value (10). Note: if your sound card allows this setting in ‘dB’, use the 0 dB setting! Click the ‘TUNE’ button in Fldigi and watch the ALC indication on the TS-990S. Switch to the ‘Speaker Volume’ window and advance the volume control upwards (increase) until you see an indication of ALC on the TS-990S meter. -
Page 49: Step 4
This will cause some issues and may require many restarts of Fldigi to find a set of gain values that works well. You may also find that you may need to reduce the TS-990S audio input levels on the menus to very low values (typically less than 5) in order for the TX input level to be low enough so that there is no ALC reading.
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