I have a Kenwood TS 480sat should I do the mod to open up the radio or leave it stock. I read that it is simple to do. pluck with exacto knife or cut with a micro pair of cutters. a small SMT transistor. then reset radio.
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Should I do it to my Radio.
- Thread starter Grogan
- Start date
Whilst I've had a few that've been opened up by previous owners and they all work fine, unless I am interested in TXing out of band then I wouldn't bother. A lot of amateurs will not buy widebanded HF radios so you're limiting your market to freebanders when it comes to selling and given they can buy new export radios cheaper than a used TS480 they're more likely to go for a new one.
Both my 440s and 430s sound great on AM, just need to know how to run it. I will agree that SSB is where they shine.
There's nothing wrong with the AM performance. The problem is you're used to halfwits on 11m running overcranked booming bassy distorted audio well over 100% modulation. By "anemic AM" what you actually mean is "how it should sound" rather than being "Good buddy AM".
I have a TS-480, it has been given the MARS mod, it works just fine. That mod was because I was in that MARS program, had a legitimate reason for making it. Would I do it again? No, I wouldn't, I'm not in MARS anymore. I do have to pay attention to how I use that radio to keep from transmitting where I shouldn't, and that can be a problem. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd change it back.
Do any of the newer solid state radios (not just Kenwood) sound -good- on AM mode? Not really, they were never designed for AM as a primary mode. And then you get into that definition of "sound good". That can be a real experience in mythology/misguidedness!
So, suit your self...
- 'Doc
Do any of the newer solid state radios (not just Kenwood) sound -good- on AM mode? Not really, they were never designed for AM as a primary mode. And then you get into that definition of "sound good". That can be a real experience in mythology/misguidedness!
So, suit your self...
- 'Doc
I have Two radios I use for 11 meters 0ne AM and one SSB , so for now I wont do the mod. I need a multiband export with SSB for the collection. might just buy one when the refund from the feds hits the bank.
Have done it to 2 of them. One Sat and one HX model. (Also have a TS-2000 with the mod done.) Did the mod to both of my TS-480's. No problems after doing it.
In a emergency situation it is useful to be able to transmit on any band where there is local activity. Since CB still holds true to many local operators it is beneficial to be able to transmit on that band in a emergency situation.
On my TS-2000 it also opens up the VHF/UHF spectrum similar to what a Baofeng HT will TX on. In a emergency situation this could also be useful. Not everyone is a ham and some people have other type radio equipment that when having this mod done would allow one to communicate with them in a time of emergency.
I later sold the HX model and the buyer didn't mind the mod being done to the radio.
Now if someone is doing the mod to cause interference on non amateur bands then common sense would come into play.
In a emergency situation it is useful to be able to transmit on any band where there is local activity. Since CB still holds true to many local operators it is beneficial to be able to transmit on that band in a emergency situation.
On my TS-2000 it also opens up the VHF/UHF spectrum similar to what a Baofeng HT will TX on. In a emergency situation this could also be useful. Not everyone is a ham and some people have other type radio equipment that when having this mod done would allow one to communicate with them in a time of emergency.
I later sold the HX model and the buyer didn't mind the mod being done to the radio.
Now if someone is doing the mod to cause interference on non amateur bands then common sense would come into play.
I think the utility of HAVING the frequency agility capability far outweighs any perceived notions that it would somehow decrease the resale value of the radio.
I can also conceive of dire situations wherein you might actually NEED the extra frequencies (i.e.: emergencies, etc.) and it would then be a little too late to perform the mod when time is of the essence.
So, I'd say go for it.
I can also conceive of dire situations wherein you might actually NEED the extra frequencies (i.e.: emergencies, etc.) and it would then be a little too late to perform the mod when time is of the essence.
So, I'd say go for it.
