You don't need a narrow filter for digital. Using a program like Digipan you want a wide frequency response.

I ran QRP at 5 watts the past solar minimum on 20 meters using an outdoor 30 foot wire in a tree, a random wire tuner (mfj 16010), and an artificial ground. Worked about 30 countries in a few months (don't forger the artificial ground - end fed wires don't work without them).

Kim AB7JK

Yes I'm referring to SSB.

Yes I'm referring to SSB.

I was looking for a used TS-830S and checked out the ebay offerings but as usual all the radios offered were being sold as-is by non hams. I went to the web and found one at Ham Station which was less expensive than the buy-it-now ads on ebay. They also have a 10 day return policy so I took a chance.

When the radio came yesterday it was 9/10 (cosmetics) and works perfectly. On top of that it was double boxed and shipped the same day ordered. I couldn't be more pleased.

I live in Largo Fl. and have no affiliation with Ham Station. From my experience I highly recommend them.

Kim AB7JK

RE: Disregard the first problem - I had the mic input wired backward. Still have the problem with the VOX. Kim

I am trying to run PSK-31 using a TS-830S. Something is amiss.

First to get a reasonable output signal I need to turn up the sound card volume all the way and the mic gain control on the transceiver almost all the way.
Second the VOX keeps tripping on and off no matter how long I set the VOX delay.
Third I have to turn the VOX gain nearly all the way up before it opens.

Anyone who has been able to get this setup to work I would appeciate hearing from you. Kim AB7JK

RE: In addition, pin 4 is the ALC on/off switch according to the TS-830S manual, not Ground as is stated on posts of how to reduce power with the TS-830S.  Kim

I'm trying to reduce the output power of my TS-830 by using the ALC input connector on the back of the radio. Trouble is the pins are not numbered on the radio so I cannot figure out which is pin 6. I found a diagram but it shows the pin numbers out of sequence and on top of that it does not indicate if the view is from the outside or inside of the radio. I'd appreciate help from someone who has done this proceedure.  Kim

Yeah - I think the 100hz per 30 minutes is maximum possible drift - not likely to happen. Kim

I finally broke down and I'm buying a TS 520S to experience the old tube feeling and the quality of the older radios. I normally run digital about 50% of the time. Will the AFC in the Digipan software compensate for the small drift the radio produces (100hz per 30 minutes by the TS 520S specs or 3.3 hz per minute)? Some reviewers of the TS 520S claim to use the radio in PSK-31 mode with good results. Kim AB7JK

You don't use FSK for the digital modes. You transmit in SSB using an interface (homebrew or other). I've operated digital with both radios - both work well. The FT 840 is superior (better audio) in my opinion. Kim

Personally I would purchase the Argonaut V - lower noise floor, better filtering, better audio. Plus you can QRO to 20 watts in difficult situations. The Icom had some technicals issues and the Yaesu requires extra filters which raises the price quite a bit but it still doesn't match the Argo for performance - plus Ten Tec is top notch in customer service. No I don't work for Ten Tec hi. Kim AB7JK

Thanks for all the replies - they helped alot. AB7JK

Why don't more hams try any of the other modes such as PSK63,PSK125, MT63, Hellischreiber, etc? They work well - I've tried all of them. I know some people don't try them because there is little activity on those modes but that would change if more people tried them. The software is free so that's no excuse. The same old PSK31 QSO's get sooooo boring after awhile. Where's the ham spirit of experimentation and resourcefulness? AB7JK