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TCXO Filter


In simple terms:

It keeps your transmit/receive frequency more stable and less drifty. With the 480, you really don't need it for SSB use. It would be nice to have. If you are gonna run digital modes then it is very nice to have.

The 500Hz filter is for CW. That's a good price on the TXCO.

If you're gonna buy or own the 480 and have the cash... Go ahead and fill all the available slots. The high stability oscillator makes a big difference in rigs like the 706 and such, especially when moving up in frequency.
 
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"High stability temperature compensated crystal oscillator" is a replacement, high quality reference oscillator. This makes the radio it is specifically designed for to have far less drift. Thermally controlling the crystal keeps its frequency within a tighter tolerance than any radio that doesn't have one installed.
 
You have to solder all of those options in your rig. The TXCO needs an alignment after installing it, but is not to difficult. I think it comes with a little tool for the task. That 1.8 kHz SSB filter would be nice also.
 
Dunno about choosing a 1.8kc SSB filter though. That is a bit narrow. They don't make them for the Kenwood TS480; think the DSP controls the width - if I recall correctly. My Kenwood TS-2000 can go 3.3 wide if I mess with the DSP filter controls. It can be adjusted to be narrow too . . .
 
The 480 has two IF slots. The 1.8 is a factory option. There may be an aftermarket option.

Getting narrow and tight does have advantages at times.

Kenwood CW choices are 500Hz and 270Hz.
 
I have used a friends 480 during field days and a few contests. I noticed when the band is very crowded the 480 needed the narrow SSB filter especially since it's AF.

I really liked the rig on CW. The narrow filter, tweaking the IF shift and finishing it off with DSP made for some nice work.
He also runs the remote software and does some digital work at home, but I ain't into that so can't comment. I've seen more old school dudes gravitate torwards it since it is pretty easy to operate. I wish it had IF DSP, but hey, it's a nice rig with decent features (even if you have to fidget with it some) and is not expensive.
 
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m42duster said:
The 480 has two IF slots. The 1.8 is a factory option. There may be an aftermarket option.

Getting narrow and tight does have advantages at times.

Kenwood CW choices are 500Hz and 270Hz.
Click to expand...


You are right about the 1.8 KHz being a good option. It really helps when there is a lot of QRM nearby as well as when the signal is weak and near the noise floor.Fidelity is not the best but hey, it's two way voice comms not broadcasting as some people (unfortunately more and more it seems) would like to think.
 
To this point I haven't needed a narrower filter for the TS-480. From past experience, I wouldn't buy the Kenwood filters, but would go with the INRAD filters instead, world of difference. I also wouldn't use a filter as narrow as that 1.8 one. I've found that cascading two 2.1 filters sounds much better to me, less distortion. That's a 'personal' thingy, so listen to that 1.8 before getting one.
I also have found that I don't need a TCXO for the '480 ... yet. I wouldn't mind having that option, but haven't needed it so far.
The one option I'd really like to have (don't sell them in the USA) is the doo-kicky for combining the radio and control head. Of course, if I really had to have one I'd just make the silly thing. Oh well.
- 'Doc
 
Thanks for all the reply's.

I have no idea how filters work...im just learning how to use the filtering on my ic-7000...o_O

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 
W5LZ said:
To this point I haven't needed a narrower filter for the TS-480. From past experience, I wouldn't buy the Kenwood filters, but would go with the INRAD filters instead, world of difference. I also wouldn't use a filter as narrow as that 1.8 one. I've found that cascading two 2.1 filters sounds much better to me, less distortion. That's a 'personal' thingy, so listen to that 1.8 before getting one.
I also have found that I don't need a TCXO for the '480 ... yet. I wouldn't mind having that option, but haven't needed it so far.
The one option I'd really like to have (don't sell them in the USA) is the doo-kicky for combining the radio and control head. Of course, if I really had to have one I'd just make the silly thing. Oh well.
- 'Doc
Click to expand...


I wish Inrad filters fit the 480 but they don't.
 
I have the older Kenwood SO-2 TXCO option for my TS-850SAT and TS-950SDX. At least with the TS-850SAT, there was a noticeable improvement in frequency stability when I installed it. (The TS-950SDX comes with it built in and I've never tried disabling it, so I don't know how much difference it makes there.)

The extra stability is useful for certain digital modes, where it's important that you not drift in order to maintain a lock on the signal you're receiving so that you can continue to demodulate it successfully. I also prefer it for SSB since even a small amount of drift will be noticed there -- of course you can still understand what the other guy is saying but it can be annoying.

Sadly, Kenwood changed both the IF conversion scheme and the master oscillator frequencies in their newer radios so the new filters and TXCO won't work in the older rigs. And the older ones are scarce. :(

-Bill
 
The TCXO are nice if your running a mobile, It helps with keeping the radio stable when there are climate / temperature changes. I have them and can tell you that most radios used as a base will not need them although some of the older rigs may have a tendency to drift a bit more ;)
 
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