I have also posted this message in the Elmer's forum.

I have compared the schematics for the 520S and the 520SE and it appears that when Kenwood dropped the transverter connection that's all they did. Apparently the attachment points on the various circuit boards are still there. So, I'm thinking to myself, if I acquire the necessary wire, cable, relay, socket, RCA jacks, switch, etc. I should be able to duplicate the "S" transverter circuitry inside my "SE".

Now I just have to open up the radio for a pre-surgical biopsy to verify my suppositions. I need to open it anyway to put the 10 meter crystals back in - a previous owner put in CB crystals. (Anybody know of a good source for these xtals?)

Please advise if I'm on the right path. Thnks folks.

Thanks for the replies, there is some encouragement out there. I've checked the recommended sites, but nothing specific is posted in them.

I have compared the schematics for the 520S and the 520SE and it appears that when Kenwood dropped the transverter connection that's all they did. Apparently the attachment points on the various circuit boards are still there. So, I'm thinking to myself, if I acquire the necessary wire, cable, relay, socket, RCA jacks, switch, etc. I should be able to duplicate the "S" transverter circuitry inside my "SE".

Now I just have to open up the radio for a pre-surgical biopsy to verify my suppositions. I need to open it anyway to put the 10 meter crystals back in - a previous owner put in CB crystals. (Anybody know of a good source for these xtals?)

Please advise if I'm on the right path. Thnks folks.

A friend recently gave me a Kenwood TV-506 transverter to go with my TS-520SE transceiver. However, the TS-520SE does not seem to have the proper connector or pin outs for connection of a transverter.

Does anyone have the schematics, circuit diagrams, hints and advice as to how to connect these two units?
I can't believe that Kenwood would have made too radical a change from the 520 and 520S circuitry with the SE model.

Thanks,
DE KC5MEI

I built this antenna last spring and used it to hit a repeater 52 miles and 3 ridgelines away on 25 watts by bouncing my signal off the face of an 11,000 foot high mountain. This was with vertical polarization on 2 meters FM. I was able to get the gamma match to hit 1:1 on the first try. I used a Radio Shack TV antenna that was left behind by previous renters and partially destroyed by a wind storm instead of the specific one in the article. Rather than bridging the elements with wire across the insulator/mount I made solid elements by using a tubing cutter to cut down longer elements already found on the antenna. A little drilling and riveting and I was on the air. Total cost: $2 for the UHF connector.

No real answers, just some experience and observations. I don't know whether you are near the coast or inland a ways. The Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps have done a few studies and practical applications with over the water versus over land communications. Sea water provides an almost perfect ground so propagation is excellent , especially for ground waves. The wave front seems to retain its velocity for a longer period. The higher above sea level, generally the poorer the ground, but better relative antenna height. If you are going over flat land you have not interfering high spots that would tend to collapse the wave front or block a portion of your signal. However, the wave loses velocity much more quickly and the ground wave probably doesn't travel as far. Sky wave communication doesn't seem to see as much effect. The second hop from the US is probably over sea water for most paths from most QTH's. Good luck with further research.

I haven't done a 6m conversion, but I have done a 2m conversion. The process should be pretty much the same.
Brass welding rod comes in a variety of diameters and is much less expensive than brass designer rod. (It's the same stuff but welding rod is about 57 cents per 3 foot length and the designer rod is $1.50 where I live.) Select the diameter which fits the mag base and buy a couple of lengths. They can be soldered or brazed together to give the length of whip you need. Next disassemble the mag mount, most have a coil and a capacitor to bring them to resonance. Toss out, or junk box, the coil and capacitor. Replace the coil with a length of stainless steel or brass all thread, or a cut down ss or brass bolt (in my first conversion I used a regular steel bolt and the electrolysis made for wierd SWR in about a month). In the Radio Shack base that I used, the coil was covered with a plastic tube, and it screwed into the base and the nipple that held the whip. I had to cut this decorative piece of plastic to  tubing to fit the lenght of the cut down bolt I used to replace the coil. The capacitor was hidden in the base of the mag mount. The magnet is a toroid and I had to remove the protective covering on the bottom to get to the capacitor to remove it. Reassemble the mag mount with the new components and your homemade whip. Calculate the length you need for quarter wave resonance at the frequency of use. Measure from the top of the magnet out along the whip to the calculated length, add a quarter inch or so for a fudge factor and cut the brass rod. Now tune as you would any other whip antenna by adjusting the length at the set screw and by trimming the tip a little at a time until you have a 1:1 match. You now have a 1/4 wave antenna that will handle moderate amounts of power.
Good luck and many happy modifications. Every antenna I have ever built has been 1:1 on the first cut due to very careful measuring and a little fudge factor in the length.
73 de KC5MEI

Usually PVC pipe makes good stand offs, it's cheap and easy to machine, and comes with a variety of
connectors and flanges that can be used to attach it to the tower. However, before you begin a major construction project, test the PVC to make sure that it is RF neutral. Heat a chunk in the microwave for a minute or so. If it stays cool it is RF neutral, if it heats up try a different brand or plastic mix.

I also support FCC preemption of CC&R's and would suggest that the contents of this forum be forwarded to
                  the appropriate officials. As far as working with the HOA one approach may be to try a little "enlightened
                  self-interest", that is, satisfy their personal needs for power or aesthetics in a way that benefits everyone.
                  Obviously if we could recruit the HOA "gestapo" to the ham community it would be easy, however in most
                  cases an end run is required. Why not start (or join) a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT, in
                  some places NERT). Get the power types involved in how good it is to be prepared for any type of emergency
                  such as an earthquake, brush fire or flood. I'm sure that they would love the imagined power and prestige of
                  running about in an official looking vest and hard-hat, bossing committees and teams, etc. (Some people
                  actually realize, eventually, that community service has its own rewards.) Then do communications training,
                  offer to be the expert. Demonstrate how cell phones (really little 900Mhz radios) fail under any unusual traffic
                  volume, as well as the wire lines. Show how the public safety agencies won't be able to cope, and how the Red
                  Cross is at least 3 days away. Talk about HOA liabilities; there probably aren't any in a disaster, but that
                  doesn't prevent the litigious, and fending off even frivolous suits is expensive. Then offer them a way out of the
                  hot seat. You have the means to get health, welfare and emergency traffic to a loved one, officials, etc. under
                  any condition or circumstance; with just one little concession........... Then put your money, operating skills,
                  and license class where your mouth is, and practice, practice, practice the art of emergency communications.
                  Persuade the HOA that if they were licensed as well they could help with the communications side of
                  emergency management, then get them the classes and exam sessions. I did something like this where I
                  work and my employer is buying a couple of new radios for use at my work site; and because there are very
                  few (2 or 3) hams at this location, guess who gets to play with them? Enough said.

I also support FCC preemption of CC&R's and would suggest that the contents of this forum be forwarded to
                  the appropriate officials. As far as working with the HOA one approach may be to try a little "enlightened
                  self-interest", that is, satisfy their personal needs for power or aesthetics in a way that benefits everyone.
                  Obviously if we could recruit the HOA "gestapo" to the ham community it would be easy, however in most
                  cases an end run is required. Why not start (or join) a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT, in
                  some places NERT). Get the power types involved in how good it is to be prepared for any type of emergency
                  such as an earthquake, brush fire or flood. I'm sure that they would love the imagined power and prestige of
                  running about in an official looking vest and hard-hat, bossing committees and teams, etc. (Some people
                  actually realize, eventually, that community service has its own rewards.) Then do communications training,
                  offer to be the expert. Demonstrate how cell phones (really little 900Mhz radios) fail under any unusual traffic
                  volume, as well as the wire lines. Show how the public safety agencies won't be able to cope, and how the Red
                  Cross is at least 3 days away. Talk about HOA liabilities; there probably aren't any in a disaster, but that
                  doesn't prevent the litigious, and fending off even frivolous suits is expensive. Then offer them a way out of the
                  hot seat. You have the means to get health, welfare and emergency traffic to a loved one, officials, etc. under
                  any condition or circumstance; with just one little concession........... Then put your money, operating skills,
                  and license class where your mouth is, and practice, practice, practice the art of emergency communications.
                  Persuade the HOA that if they were licensed as well they could help with the communications side of
                  emergency management, then get them the classes and exam sessions. I did something like this where I
                  work and my employer is buying a couple of new radios for use at my work site; and because there are very
                  few (2 or 3) hams at this location, guess who gets to play with them? Enough said.

I also support FCC preemption of CC&R's and would suggest that the contents of this forum be forwarded to the appropriate officials. As far as working with the HOA one approach may be to try a little "enlightened self-interest", that is, satisfy their personal needs for power or aesthetics in a way that benefits everyone. Obviously if we could recruit the HOA "gestapo" to the ham community it would be easy, however in most cases an end run is required. Why not start (or join) a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT, in some places NERT). Get the power types involved in how good it is to be prepared for any type of emergency such as an earthquake, brush fire or flood. I'm sure that they would love the imagined power and prestige of running about in an official looking vest and hard-hat, bossing committees and teams, etc. (Some people actually realize, eventually, that community service has its own rewards.) Then do communications training, offer to be the expert. Demonstrate how cell phones (really little 900Mhz radios) fail under any unusual traffic volume, as well as the wire lines. Show how the public safety agencies won't be able to cope, and how the Red Cross is at least 3 days away. Talk about HOA liabilities; there probably aren't any in a disaster, but that doesn't prevent the litigious, and fending off even frivolous suits is expensive. Then offer them a way out of the hot seat. You have the means to get health, welfare and emergency traffic to a loved one, officials, etc. under any condition or circumstance; with just one little concession........... Then put your money, operating skills, and license class where your mouth is, and practice, practice, practice the art of emergency communications. Persuade the HOA that if they were licensed as well they could help with the communications side of emergency management, then get them the classes and exam sessions. I did something like this where I work and my employer is buying a couple of new radios for use at my work site; and because there are very few (2 or 3) hams at this location, guess who gets to play with them? Enough said.

I upgraded to General on April 19th and still no listing in the FCC data base. K1DON upgraded on the 15th
and his upgrade hasn't been posted either. Too bad ULS didn't work out, the VEC's could have posted most of the upgrades electronically.