Load---Plate---Drive

[KC2QGD]

I am learning how to use a Kenwood TS 530S radio. I love this radio but I find it a bit difficult to understand all of it's fuctions from reading through the old manual.

I have a few questions which I will post them on this thread. But first I need help setting the Load, Plate & Drive correctly for 10 meters Side band and for CW for other bands I use.

I am using a switch box with a dummy load on 1) and on 3) a 100 feet coax to a fiber glass verticle whip on a the roof.

For some strange reason my tranmission signal is stonger when I have the meter on IP (Not sure if that is an i, 1 or L). But when the meter is on RF my signal is very weak when I talk.

Should I keep the meter on IP when I transmit?

How do I know how much Watts I am putting out?

Also, some of the terms on the manual is a little confussing. For example: Is the Send button for stand by? (stand by for what?) Or for transmitting CW or for setting the SWR?

What does it means to peak? Does that mean to bring the neddle to the middle of the arch of the meter? Or to bring it as far to the end?

Thank you

Steven KC2GD

[KB5FSV]

IP is your PLATE CURRENT meter setting. When you are tuning your radio for the frequency range you'll use to transmit on, you'll need to have the meter selected to IP while tuning.

I would suggest you don't transmit until you've learned how to properly tune the radio. The instruction manual should show you the correct way to do that for transmitting. If you don't have it properly tuned, when you transmit on it, you could damage important things inside the radio rendering it useless.

***edit***

It doesn't matter where you have the meter when you transmit, but usually once you've properly tuned the radio you should switch the meter to RF or ALC.

The radio is capable of putting 220 watts PEP on SSB. 180 watts PEP on CW. You'll need a wattmeter in line with the antenna and radio in order to know the amount of power leaving your radio to the antenna.

The Send button when engaged will put the radio in TRANSMIT. It will be sending out a signal. You use the SEND button while tuning the radio so that you have both hands free to make adjustments. When you're not tuning, you'll want the switch in the down position REC (RECEIVE) so that you can use the microphone's PTT switch to transmit.

What does it mean to peak? (This is why I say don't try transmitting until you've got a grasp on these things so that you don't damage your radio before even getting to use it) Where did you get the radio from? Who gave it to you? Is there a way you can get them to help show you how to do that?

[KC2QGD]

I probably got it at a hamfest sometime ago.

I have a MFJ Versa Tuner II that I could put inline, but I am not too sure how to use it.

BTW, are the tubes in the radio hard or expensive to buy?

THX

[KB5FSV]

The versa tuner will only be used to match your antenna/feedline system to the radio. You'll still need to properly tune the radio up to transmit. So having the versa tuner will not help you with this issue.

The manual is pretty clear about it, STEP by STEP, starting around page 15 or 16, and going through. Here are the steps as I understand it... First thing you need to do (and this should be a one time thing) is adjust the BIAS control for your rig) You'll need a small screw driver. The BIAS control is on the back side of the radio below the antenna connector. labled BIAS. You'll use a screwdriver to adjust it. Follow these directions

STEP 1:
POWER and HEATER in the ON position...
(be sure your 10 meter antenna or dummy load are already attached)

STEP 2:
Turn MIC and CAR knobs all the way to minimum (0 on the dial)

STEP 3:
Put the METER knob on IP. Put the MODE switch to USB.

STEP 4: Flip STANDBY switch from REC to the SEND position.

STEP 5: While the radio is in SEND (transmitting) Using your screw driver, on the BIAS adjustment in the back of the radio, adjust it until your METER IP line (first line on the meter) reads about 60 mA.

The meter has 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 tick marks on the dial. That's the line you want to be watching. Put the needle right at the 60 mark and NO MORE! Having this higher than 60mA will damage your amp tubes.

Also don't take more than 10 seconds or so to adjust this. Try to get it adjusted as quickly as you can... Once you've got the meter set to about 60mH then Set the Standby switch to the down position on REC. You can now go on to tune the radio up for the band you wish to use.

[KB5FSV]

You really should re-read page 17 again. This is where you're going to tune the radio up...

First place the band switch to 28 (for 10 meters) and adjust the VFO to 28.400 mhz and be sure you have a 10 meter antenna or dummy load attached before transmitting. Then just follow the instructions on Page 17...

While the mode switch is on TUNE, and the meter switch is on ALC You'll want to peak the meter using the DRIVE knob. Adjust the DRIVE knob until the needle reaches the edge of the ALC mark on the meter. IF IT GOES PAST THE ALC MARK ON THE METER, then use your CAR knob and adjust until the needle is right at the edge of the ALC mark on the meter. (the edge is where the #6 is on the HV line of the meter) You do not want the meter to go past that mark when you have it set to ALC on the knob.

Then switch the meter knob to IP and dip the plate current. Adjust the PLATE KNOB until you have maximum deflection. The meter needle will only move to the right a little bit. Once you've set that at maximum deflection...

Then switch the meter knob to RF and peak the load. Using the LOAD knob, adjust it to maximum deflection, the needle should go almost if not all the way to the right.

Then place the mode switch to CW and and the meter to LP. the manual says to close the key (so you should have a cw keyer for that) and then while the key is closed redip the plate control and if it goes above 265mH on the meter, take your CAR knob and adjust it back to where it doesn't exceed 265mH.

Then place the meter back to RF, and close the key and repeak the load for maximum RF power output.

That should be it... I know it seems like a lot of steps, and it is when you compare it to modern radios, but once you've done it a few times it'll become second nature.

[KB5FSV]

THEN....

You will use your Versa tuner (if the antenna you're connected to is not resonant) at 28.400 mhz. If it is cut for 28.400 or right around there you should not need the versa tuner at all. But if it is say an all band dipole etc. you'll then need to adjust the versa-tuner to match the antenna with the radio so that you don't have high SWR.