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Digital Display for older rigs

2RT307

2RT307

Sr. Member
Nov 22, 2011
2,354
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Texas
I've been looking for a digital display for my newly acquired Kenwood TS-520. The 520 model didn't have the DK-5 installed from the factory like the "S" model, and while you can find the DG-5 displays fairly easily, the DK-5 that makes it work with the regular 520 are hard to come by. I found this site:
ESP that makes a plug and play display for the 520. I've read good reviews on eHam on this unit, but was wondering if any of you guys have used one, and what did you think of it?

73,
Brett
 

w9cll said:
I haven't used one but it looks good and from what I have read it's plug and play on the 520.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's extra for the cable, but looks like it just plugs into the external VFO socket. It looks like a real nice unit, and there are some videos on YouTube of people using them. It's not such a big deal when I tune into someone, but when I want to pick a frequency to call CQ on, I *really* don't know where I'm at! I've spotted it and adjusted the VFO dial, but it seems to change every time I do it. The rig stays dead on frequency, I just have a hard time determining what that frequency actually is. Hard to do a QSL that way, ya know.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qccF65pVrqQ

73,
Brett
 
Last edited:
wavrider said:
N3ZI

He sells kits for freq counters with programmable offsets for up to 8 or ten bands.

Kit is great to build and works fantastic.

Can not beat the price.

LCD Digital Dial DDS VFO
Click to expand...

Funny, this site lists that same unit from N3ZI:
ESP

Not sure what the relationship is. I'm not a kit builder... couldn't solder to save my life! It is a skill that I wish I could grasp.

73,
Brett
 
2RT307 said:
Yeah, it's extra for the cable, but looks like it just plugs into the external VFO socket. It looks like a real nice unit, and there are some videos on YouTube of people using them. It's not such a big deal when I tune into someone, but when I want to pick a frequency to call CQ on, I *really* don't know where I'm at! I've spotted it and adjusted the VFO dial, but it seems to change every time I do it. The rig stays dead on frequency, I just have a hard time determining what that frequency actually is. Hard to do a QSL that way, ya know.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qccF65pVrqQ

73,
Brett
Click to expand...

That sounds odd. I have a Kenwood TS-820S with the internal factory digital display and the analog dial readout tracks very well with the digital readout.I also have a Kenwood TS-520 with the DG-5 external readout and the analog dial read out tracks quite well on it as well. It may be a max of 1 KHz off from one end of the band to the other if that. Both Kenwoods analog readout is accurate enough to know where I am on the band to well within 1 KHz.Stay a couple KHz from the band edges and you are good.
 
Same here CK, my old 820 is pretty much dead on for dial freq. Never had any issues with it.

Just great older rigs and a joy to use.
 
w9cll said:
My FT-101ZDMKIII drifts a bit till it warms up then is dead on.
Click to expand...

I have a 101E with a Spectronics DD-1 that drifts, too. I think I may need to change out some caps/resistors on the rig, according to Carol's site, since it drifts while talking... not just warming up.

The Kenwood stays dead on after about 2 minutes of firing it up. Unfortunately, my "shack" is currently a shed that has no heat. It has been below 30 for the last few days, and I haven't had much time to play on the rig. I do think that I have been resting my index finger on the outer ring of the VFO knob, and that's causing it to change rather than the actual VFO doing it while I'm changing frequency. The Kenwood knob is different from my 101E, as the Yaesu has a little control "spinner" on the VFO knob, and the Kenwood just has a knob... no spinner knob or finger hole to spin it with. Now worries, I'm just now learning how to use the rig. I still think I'll spring for the digital readout though.

Pics to show the VFO knobs:

Kenwood TS-520


Yaesu FT-101E




73,
Brett
 
Just saw 2 separate listings on the local Craigslist today for TS-520's. One was a TS-520 and the other was a TS-520SE. Both listers wanted $250 for them.
 
11261524454_1444fcb9af_z.jpg


Sorry for the bad pic but it's from my phone. In the pic is:

Yaesu FT-101ZDMKII
FV-101 external VFO
SP-101 External speaker
YO-901 Monitor scope (used more as a band scope)
Astatic 1104c Mic
ICOM IC-38A 220
ICOM IC-2000h 2 meter
LDG Tuner
 
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w9cll said:
11261524454_1444fcb9af_z.jpg


Sorry for the bad pic but it's from my phone. In the pic is:

Yaesu FT-101ZDMKII
FV-101 external VFO
SP-101 External speaker
YO-901 Monitor scope (used more as a band scope)
Astatic 1104c Mic
ICOM IC-38A 220
ICOM IC-2000h 2 meter
LDG Tuner
Click to expand...

Very cool! Kind of like the ads they used to run for the complete setup... that I could never afford back then! (y)

Thanks for sharing your setup!

73,
Brett
 

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