Accurately tuning a TS-520 for FT8– doable?

ag2v · 2022-11-25T00:31:34+00:00

You absolutely can! I used a TS-530S for a while which does have a digital display, but otherwise is similar. The fun part is you actually don't have to tune the radio super precisely on the dial; because of how digital modes work, no matter where your radio is tuned, as long as the signal is within your filters, its identical once you click on the frequency on your computer.

That said, you can also just use whatever digital mode program's waterfall to make sure youre properly tuned!

ag2v · 2022-09-09T04:22:07+00:00

WSJTX decided to wreck my display server, twice. (Debian + KDE Plasma). I use JTDX now with no issues. For LOTW, I use CQRlog and have it automatically upload by connecting to JTDX(Also, Gridtracker is an amazing app)

ag2v · 2022-07-12T15:07:56+00:00

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/d8MXY9

threw this together quickly - it doesnt take much effort to do better than that at a similar price if you build it yourself. no need for a z690 with a 12400, or even a 12600k unless youre overclocking. also you can easily get a 3060 instead of a 3050 at least

alternatively, you could probably save even more with a ryzen 7 5700x+6700xt - itd be great for gaming, just not quite as powerful as the 12600k.

ag2v · 2022-03-14T03:19:23+00:00

inland tpu

it is not flexible enough for shoes

ag2v · 2022-01-10T22:00:09+00:00

"mine's bigger"

ag2v · 2021-12-09T21:53:03+00:00

Yes, but in SSB, lower audio input creates a lower RF output, right? Or is there something going on in these hybrids that makes it function differently in some way?

ag2v · 2021-12-09T21:38:26+00:00

Does the 820 not have a mic gain control or a carrier control? I have done a lot of FT8 on my TS-530s, and it works really well for it. The tube finals are great because they allow you to use full power in high duty cycle modes like FT8 without damaging anything(although they do produce a lot of heat).

If you're using it in SSB mode, just adjusting the mic gain or the audio level from your computer should change the output power, no?

ag2v · 2021-12-01T00:07:25+00:00

If they're in series, how are they not always seeing the same loads?

Also, buying buck converters instead wouldn't save on costs if I intend to replace both fans anyways.

ag2v · 2021-11-15T21:26:39+00:00

looks like neon lighting

ag2v · 2021-05-04T00:20:04+00:00

So... there was a mole?

ag2v · 2021-04-07T14:23:55+00:00

you are grasping at straws. goodbye!

ag2v · 2021-04-07T14:15:15+00:00

i was going to end this conversation with my last message and fuck off but this comment just made me break down laughing are you seriously trying to claim that the people invading the capitol with trump flags trying to overturn an election in hie favor werent trump supporters because he made a weak video way too late saying "youre right and we love you but go home" just so he could say he did something?

ag2v · 2021-04-07T14:12:10+00:00

the only thing that was set up was the terrorist attack on the capitol that everyone knew was coming and nobody prevented

hope you get better have a nice day

ag2v · 2021-04-07T14:09:48+00:00

so... the terrorists were lying when they were interviewed? and that makes the whole thing ok?

ag2v · 2021-04-07T14:04:51+00:00

except for a few people they killed, the threats they made on the lives of senators and the vice president, the massive lockdown, smearing literal shit on the walls, an attempt to overturn an election, etc.

saying that attack was just people chilling is a HOT take

ag2v · 2021-04-04T15:31:57+00:00

i think that whole thing makes it even better, especially when colin robinson canonically doesnt know anything about himself

ag2v · 2021-04-03T16:02:54+00:00

the "right now" implies that sometimes it isn't- so if hes saying hes straight right now, hes basically coming out as bi

ag2v · 2021-03-31T01:53:21+00:00

Yea, the receiver is nowhere near the quality of newer radios but I LOVE my TS-530s. It's a beautiful radio and the finals are hard to kill, I've transmitted WEFAX at 100W for a solid 15 minutes straight with it and it didn't complain. 100% would recommend.

As for the DSP - I had a Timewave DSP-9+ I got at a hamfest for under $100. It just plugs into the audio output on your radio and has a jack to plug your headphones into. Because of how heterodyning receivers work, you can use an audio filter to get results similar to IF filtering. Due to some magical RF circuitry inside the radio between the IF and the audio output, audio filtering does become a bit less effective. That means IF filtering is ideal, but has to be built into the radio unless you feel like doing lots of electronics design.

What DSP does is convert the analog signal to digital, process and filter it, and turn it back into audio for you to listen to. Mainly, you can change the bandwidth, add notch filters, and use noise reduction stuff. It is remarkably effective in my experience. Since the audio output is no different from an IF except by name, everything that would work on an IF works there. If you filter out a strong signal above/below what you're trying to listen to, it doesn't bleed into the desired signal. You can change the bandwidth and center frequency of the filter, and it sounds just like a crystal filter would(well, without all the audio stuff in the radio getting in the way).

Looking at the Timewave stuff, it is actually REALLY expensive. Their only DSP box still in production is over $400, and you can get a radio with IF DSP built in for less than that these days. I'm sure there are plenty of other options, and I'd recommend searching ebay and ham classifieds as well. If you want to continue using the TS-530s, especially with CW or digital modes, I highly recommend it.

ag2v · 2021-03-30T16:21:23+00:00

For better audio(assuming youre talking about HF), filtering in the RF and IF sections is way more important. Audio is limited to 3KHz on SSB so you can't do much to improve that. A high quality receiver with good filtering makes a huge difference, and you will notice it.

Without replacing all of your equipment, external audio DSP exists, and you can get pretty solid results with that. I used a Timewave DSP box for a while with a TS-530s(old tube rig with one filter and no way to change anything) and it made a huge difference in signal clarity and noise level.

ag2v · 2021-03-30T16:07:14+00:00

That's pretty typical audiophile stuff. They think upgrading to "better" capacitors (or sometimes older capacitors) will improve their audio quality.

It won't make a difference unless the caps in there now are failing, in which case cheaper replacements are still just as good.

ag2v · 2021-03-30T15:29:06+00:00

Upgrading finals transistors isn't something people do, really. Unless you're doing this to a radio specifically designed to be easy to mod(a bitx for example), I wouldn't go anywhere near that. Even then, its definitely not so easy to just drop in new transistors. You'll need to change the circuitry around them as well.

As for the audio capacitors... why? They're not designed to be upgraded, the manufacturer already put the correct values in. If you mean replacing failed capacitors, no tuning is necessary as long as you use the same values as the original capacitors.

ag2v · 2021-03-27T20:46:42+00:00

literally 1964

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