Clipping the two parts restores SSB operation in the lower half of the band.  Clipping the resistor re-enables the mic jack PTT and front panel Tune button, and removing the capacitor should remove any offset between transmit and receive.  After removing the resistor, removing the capacitor might not actually be required (since the net capacitance at the two-pin header where the CW board interfaces to the main board should be identical in transmit and receive), but I went ahead and did it anyway.

This mod will effectively make it difficult (impossible?) to operate CW, but I don't so it wasn't really a concern to me.

Hope this helps...

73,
Ben KB9WWL

Quick update -- I strung up an indoor random wire on the second floor of my house and added a 1/4 wave counterpoise on the floor.  Just made my first PSK31 QSO with the 9420 -- so yes, it is possible.

This post is a bit dated, but I wanted to try something similar (I got into HF about 8 years ago on a shoestring budget, so this is my only rig for now...)

After some study of the schematic, removing (or simply clipping one lead) of R116 and C109, both on the CW adapter board, should let you use the microphone PTT and front-panel tune button when the CW adapter is engaged.  Removing R116 re-enables the PTT line as controlled by the mic PTT line and Tune button, and removing C109 should remove the ~600Hz frequency offset required to generate a Morse tone in the receiver's speakers.

I clipped one leg of each part and am able to control the rig's PTT and transmit audio via the mic jack.  I have yet to make a contact due to my antenna situation, however.  (That should be read as "I have no good HF antenna.)

Frequency stability is hit-or-miss.  After the radio warms up for 30 seconds or so, it's fine on receive.  When switching from transmit to receive, the radio sometimes jumps by as much as 200 Hz as viewed on the receive waterfall in Digipan.  This might be remedied by installing a snubber network (aka "diode") on the T/R relay coil on the main PCB, but I'm not 100% sure on this.

I'd like to see this work... but I'd just as soon save the frustration and buy a radio more capable in terms of interfacing and frequency stability.

Greetings:

Just a couple of days ago I worked up the nerve to take a soldering iron to the radio.  I looked at the solder joints between the front display board and the main board, and sure enough, a few of the joints were cracked.  I soldered them back together and the radio works as it should now.  

I realize it's been a couple of years since you posted what the problem might be, but thanks a bunch!  Without your help I might never have found that.

73,
Ben
KB9WWL

The radio was purchased in November of 2000, and I did not buy the extended warranty.  Thus, I think I ould be out of luck on repair work (at least at an affordable price).

Ben
KB9WWL

My '252 has a few problems that I was wondering about...

1.)  The squelch control doesn't work; I can hear noise out of the speaker at all times.

2.)  The S-meter doesn't show up on receive, even when listening to the 135-watt ERP repeater less than 3 miles away.

3.)  Recently the receive audio has been going in and out as it pleases.

I can live with the first two issues, but the thrid one I find unacceptable in a radio.

Has anyone else had these problems?  Any idea on how to repair?

Thanks in advance,
Ben
KB9WWL

Hi,

Yes, there is a self-contained messaging device in an HT, but it is kind of expensive at $420. The Kenwood TH-D7A(G) can compose and send text messages over the APRS network. It has a built-in TNC, so you do not need an external one.

For message notification, you would probably need to use a BBS of some sort. It will receive messages, store them, and let you know that you have one the next time you log in to it. As far as I know, however, it is not compatible with APRS. Another curve ball: it will require a terminal of some sort. This can be a hardware terminal, a computer, or a Palm device running terminal software.

A third option (requiring a terminal) is the conference server built into most NOS-based BBS's. It is similar to a chat room on the internet.

73,
Ben KB9WWL

You could always use a terminal program with your TNC. If you use the serial HotSync cable you'll need a null modem adapter.

Hi,

Assuming your TNC is capable of understanding the NMEA 0183 data from the GPS, you shouldn't need a computer or pda.

Ben, KB9WWL
http://map.findu.com/kb9wwl

You may try asking Zach, KB9UQQ. He uses one of the V7A's for APRS. I don't know his email off the top of my head, but his website is http://kb9uqq.d2g.com/.

73
Ben, KB9WWL

Hi all,

My name is Ben, I'm 14, and have a General license.

Nathan, KC0LCS, started a 20 meter young ham's net recently. I got this off the ARRL website a few weeks ago. The net is every Thursday night at 2230 UTC on 14.340 USB (I think all of that is right!!)

Hope that helps,

Ben, KB9WWL

Thanks!

One more question... Is a discone (wideband) antenna considered shunt fed?

Thanks,
Ben/KB9WWL

I just got a new 20 meter HF rig and a dipole, but I don't have space to put the dipole inside and my dad (I'm 14) is reluctant to drill holes in the house to get the antenna outside. I have a 2 meter VHF antenna already set up outdoors and was wondering if it would be possible to combine the signals indoors, then seperate them outdoors, all over the same piece of RG8 already installed.

Is this possible?

If so, do I use "T"'s? Diplexers? Switches?

Any help is appreciated.