Going Home With a Kenwood TS-480HX
I will be heading home today. It'll take a couple of weeks because I am in no hurry and I want to operate in the June VHF contest next weekend. My plan is to be in the Smoky Mountains and in a campground operating with my new transverter, J-Pole antenna and 6 meter beam I picked up before I left home. More on that in the next post.
Kenwood TS-480HX
There's a new rig in the truck and it is the Kenwood 200 watt TS-480 HX. I am very impressed with it so far. Connected to the Scorpion Black Widow I should be able to work some DX.
I have installed it in a temporary position on the center console. I like the mic connected to the base and I like the detached head where I can see and operate easily from the front seat. Fortunately I also got an external speaker for it mounted in the center of the dash below the radio in the truck. This is a nice sounding speaker.
Thanks to Dave, KF0XQ. He brought it to me when I was in Chesterfield, MO visiting Bill, WA0AFD (Another Fine Day).
Thank you
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73,
Rich,K0PIR
Hi Rich,
May you work much DX with your new radio!
i hope you don’t mind my question on a slightly different topic:
i read where you planned to use your ICOM 7610 remotely using RS-BA1 software. I run that scenario at home from my living room to work FT8 using WSJT-x. However, I don’t think I would leave home with my antennas connected to my radio because of the risk of lightning, even though I have some lightning protection. What do you use that gives you confidence to leave home for an extended time with your antennas connected?
Bob,
Thank you for everything and you ask a very good question that many ask. I didn’t try this until I had someone at home that can disconnect my antennas. I do have some help. Thanks again and I hope to hear you on the air! Right now I’m camping and don’t have cellular data access unless I drive 6 miles. However I’m really enjoying camping and the Icom 7300. Take care and best 73!
Have you ever looked at Paradan ant disconnect. Might be a fit for this.
https://paradanradio.com/
I haven’t but I will. Thanks John!
Get yourself a WEBSTER Bandspanner or mark Heliwhip
Great to hear from your Renee. I will look into that one. It’s always nice to have some suggestions from Hams. Take care and best 73!
On your truck, how are you avoiding low slung tree limbs in residential areas. I have trouble with my 2 meter mag
mount. At least the magmount pops off
thanks
Alan S
KA4FJV
Hi Alan,
It is good to hear from you and thank you for asking here.
Real good question. It is a very strong mount I have for the Scorpion, so I’m not afraid of knocking it off the truck. It does hit limbs when I go thru town and I avoid streets that I know have low hanging limbs.
It’s the low overpasses that could really damage the whip so I don’t go under any that are lower than 13’4″ and of course drive thrus are out of the question. I can have them bring my food out to me or I go inside.
Thanks again for asking. Short answer, avoid as many as I can, hi hi.
GL and Good DX.
Best 73,
Rich, K0PIR
Alan, Thank you for the information you post, I find it interesting and very helpful at times. I have a 7300, the 756 Pro III, and and a Yaesu FT-857D as far as HF goes. I really have fun with the 7300. Thanks for being there. You the man. Joe Murphy
Thank you so much Joe. I appreciate your input and hope to hear you on the air.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
Rich,
I was wondering if you have done any digital/FT8 with the TS480HX and if so how did you interface the rig to a PC?
73
Dale WG5N
Hi Dale,
It’s nice to hear from you and thank you for commenting here.
I don’t have my Signalink USB hooked up to the Kenwood. I am sure it would work just fine though.
I use the Signalink USB with my Icom 7000.
I’ll have to order a cable to interface the SLUSB with the Kenwood TS 480HX. I’ll get to it some day, hi hi.
In addition to the SLUSB, for rig control of that radio you’d have to get a serial cable with a DB9 female.
GL and best wishes to you and yours. Vry73,
Rich, K0PIR