Lab599 Discovery TX-500 User Manual
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Lab599 Discovery TX-500 User Manual

Hf/50mhz transceiver
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HF/50MHz Transceiver
TX-500
U S E R M A N UA L

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Summary of Contents for Lab599 Discovery TX-500

  • Page 1 HF/50MHz Transceiver TX-500 U S E R M A N UA L...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of contents Introduction Controls end user interface Protections Basic Operations Advanced Operating Accessories Firmware Upgrades Remote Control Menu Functions Maintenance Specifications...

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Introduction On behalf of our development team, we want to thank you for choosing the TX-500 Discovery. The TX-500 is an ultra compact all-mode transceiver ideal for travelling; its compact size and weight mean that you can take the instrument to remarkable places, where radio work will give you an unforgettable experience.

  • Page 4: Controls End User Interface

    Controls end user interface DEVICE BODY AND CONTROLS Front view Tune VFO A, B / Menu Settings Receiver gain control (RX mode) RX / TX offset Top function keys Monitor volume (TX mode) Bottom function keys Power On/Off RIT/XIT On / Off Clear RIT / XIT Band Up / Down VFO / Memory...
  • Page 5 Controls end user interface Left side Power supply Microphone DC 9-15V DATA Speaker 1 – PHONE – 2 – DYNAMIC MIC 3 – PTT 1 – GND 2 – (+) DC 9-15V 4 – PHONE + 5 – MIC (DC+) 6 –...
  • Page 6 Controls end user interface USER INTERFACE Main display Function buttons ECHO VOX D METR << EQ RX EQ TX >> Information bar title Step VFO (Step RIT/XIT), Hz Clock TX/RX mode or LOCK VFO battery low Clock Hight temperature Autogain control Supply voltage alert (delay 1-10)
  • Page 7 Controls end user interface VFO A / B Info block 1 VFO A Filter band width Receiver gain (0-100) Monitor (0-100) Basic VFO Radio frequency gain Volume (-50+5) VFO B Basic modes or alternative modes: A B C D E F G Graph bar Info block 2 –...

  • Page 8: Protections

    Protections OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION When exceeding 15.0 volts, the transceiver won’t allow switching to TX mode, (the voltage indicator on the display will become inverse) a significant excess (more than 16 volts) it can cause the protective fuse to burn out, as well as the failure of the transceiver ! Use a power source or battery with a voltage of 9 to 15 volts and a current of at least 2.5 Amps.
  • Page 9 Protections HIGH SWR PROTECTION If the impedance of the antenna is different than 50 ohms and there is no antenna tuner connected, the SWR indicator on the display will show a value greater than 1.0. If the SWR value is 3.0 or more (the SWR indicator on the display will be inverse), the transceiver will automatically reduce the power output.

  • Page 10: Basic Operations

    Basic Operations GETTING STARTED Before using the TX-500, you’ll need to connect a power supply, speaker-microphone and an antenna, at minimum. Left side Right side Power supply Connect antenna Speaker-microphone Unfold Leg AF GAIN — Controls receiver AF gain (volume). USING THE MENU The menu is used to tailor the transceiver to your operating preferences.
  • Page 11 Basic Operations MODE SELECTION Each mode is described briefly below. Later sections cover each mode in detail. Tap D one or more times to select USB (LSB), CW (CWR), DIG, AM or FM mode. Long push selects alternate modes, such as CW reverse (CWR). Also, long push returns normal mode. •...
  • Page 12 Basic Operations XIT or transmit incremental tuning, adjusts the transmit frequency without affecting the receive frequency. RIT and XIT use the tuning rate (1/10/100/200/300 Hz), taping • To use RIT or XIT: First, tap RIT (RX mode) or tap XIT (TX mode). This turns on the "+0"...
  • Page 13 Basic Operations Adjust the level using the F>16 > CMR Level or long push N> . High CMR settings may result in distortion. Start with 1 to 30. • ECH Echo: The radio also has a built in reverberator that enables enhancing the transmitted audio slightly.
  • Page 14 Basic Operations TX-500’s receive filter passband. In general, a narrow passband reduces interference (QRM) and noise (QRN), while a wider passband improves fidelity. In voice modes, CW and DIG modes long push E selects low-cut (LF) and high-cut (HF) frequency. Pushing E select number of filter (1-4)RX, (1-2)TX.

  • Page 15: Advanced Operating

    Advanced Operating FREQUENCY MEMORIES V/M (VFO/Memories) , The TX-500 has 100 general-purpose frequency memories (00-99), Each memory stores VFO frequency, modes, and other settings. To store a general-purpose memory (00-99): Push , then locate the desired memory by rotating the MTUNE/MULTI knob. The VFO frequencies presently stored in each memory will be shown as you scroll through them.
  • Page 16 Advanced Operations To use split, first tap N> to set VFO B to the same mode, frequency, and filter A->B settings as VFO A. Then tune VFO B up about 2 kHz. Finally, tap N> (the icon will turn on). VFO B is now controlling your transmit frequency. This is where the switch comes in: it reverses the A and B VFOs so that you’re A<>B...

  • Page 17: Accessories

    Accessories HAND SPEAKER MIC Hand speaker-mic, The hand speaker-mic was designed specifically for the TX-500. It includes a high-quality mic element, speaker, rugged plug, PTT switch and external speaker plug. POWER CABLE The power cable for external power source DC 9-15V with 3A FUSE. FUSE MICROPHONE AND HEADPHONE ADAPTER WITH PTT With this adapter, you can connect a regular headset or microphone and headphones.
  • Page 18 Key reverse can be enabled in the menu. 3.5 mm jack (CW key) CAT USB CABLE The TX-500 can interface to most common types of computers via included CAT cable. It has an PL2303 chipset and uses driver, that can be downloaded from www.lab599.com...

  • Page 19: Firmware Upgrades

    Firmware Upgrades New features and improvements are available to all TX-500 owners via firmware upgrades. Please visit the Discovery TX-500 software page (www.lab599.com) to obtain our free firmware download application, TX-500 Utility. This program runs on OS Windows. CHECKING YOUR FIRMWARE REVISION After switching on, the software version number will appear for a while.

  • Page 20: Remote Control

    Remote Control COMPUTER CONTROL AND LOGGING With appropriate software, any computer with an RS232 or USB port can be used to control the TX-500. Use CAT-USB cable (see page “Accesories”). Third-party logging and contesting software is available for various computers and operating systems. Select KENWOOD TS-2000 as the target radio.

  • Page 21: Menu Functions

    Menu Functions 00 Valcoder VFO Encoder Mode Selector The valcoder specifies the mode of the VFO encoder. Select with TUNE/MULTI. Plain: The speed of change in frequency when turning the MTUNE/MULTI knob is linear. The step is determined by the setting of on the front panel, and is also mode-dependant.
  • Page 22 Menu Functions 06 AGC Defines the AGC Time Constant (slow-fast) CW / SSB / AM Select , adjust with MTUNE/MULTI: from 1 (slow) to 10 (fast). When in RX, SubMenu the AGC Level is shown at the top line of the display. During adjustment, it only shows changes to the AGC level in the top line of the display when adjusting the timing of the current mode the radio is in.
  • Page 23 Menu Functions 12 SQL Two types of Squelch: SSB/AM/FM SSB/AM These are independently adjustable. Select , adjust with MTUNE/MULTI. SubMenu SSB/AM also works DIG mode. Adjust threshold from 0 to 100 with MTUNE/MULTI. On a clear (unoccupied) frequency, adjust threshold level until the audio just barely shuts off and on the right of the screen lights up.
  • Page 24 Menu Functions 18 EQL RX / TX Select RX or TX using Submenu Select Band (High Freq. / Low Freq. / Mid Freq.) with Adjust Equalization Level with MTUNE/MULTI: from 1 to 100; Set to personal preference. You may use the built-in monitor for adjusting TX parameters. Defaults RX EQL: HF = 50;...
  • Page 25 Menu Functions CW / MIC / DIG: Enable / Disable Set Enable / Disable with MTUNE/MULTI. Defaults: CW = Enable; MIC = Disable; DIG = Disable. 26 Beep Key Mute or enable sound when you press keys. Set Enable / Disable with MTUNE/MULTI. Defaults: Enable.

  • Page 26: Maintenance

    Maintenance CLOCK BATTERY REPLACEMENT Required tools and parts 1. Hex key 1.5 mm; 2. Hex key 3 mm; 3. Battery CR 2032. Remove the RF and RIT/XIT knobs. Using the hex key (1.5 mm), unscrew the TUNE/MENU knob. With hex (3mm), unscrew the bolts indicated in the scheme.
  • Page 27 Maintenance Remove the top cover. Since the top cover is mounted on internal connectors, it is remove with effort. Replace the battery (CR 2032). Reassemble the transceiver in reverse order.

  • Page 28: Specifications

    Specifications GENERAL FEATURES ● 160-6-meter ham bands; ● General ‘receive’ coverage 0.5 - 56.0 MHz; ● All modes: SSB, CW, DIG, AM, FM; ● High-performance 32-bit floating-point DSP; ● Current drain as low as 100 mA in ‘receive’ mode (backlight on, preamp off, no signal); ●...
  • Page 29 Specifications OTHER FEATURES ● Internal CW keyer with 10-300 СPM range; ● 100 general-purpose memories store VFOs, modes, etc.; ● Computer control via USB; ● Full remote-control command set (with kenwood emulates); ● One-click online firmware upgrades (with free PC software). PACKAGE INCLUDE 1.
  • Page 30 For notes...
  • Page 31 For notes...
  • Page 32 Lab599 inc. Russia, Altai region, Rubtsovsk city info@lab599.com www.lab599.com...

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