Kenwood TS-50

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TangoMike111
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Kenwood TS-50

Post by TangoMike111 »

has any body that has a ts-50 actually got it setup for ft8 and what do i need ?
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MrWeetabix
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Re: Kenwood TS-50

Post by MrWeetabix »

I think the problem you'll have is that this radio doesn't have an ACC port on the back and no CAT control.

You'll need to feed audio in/out and key the PTT via the 8-pin mic socket on the front of the radio.

The safest and easiest way to do that would be with a Signalink USB with the correct accessory cable.

The Kenwood 8-Pin socket should feed audio out as well as in, as-per below

Image

With the Signalink USB it basically installs on your PC as another Sound Card, it has a built in VOX circuit to allow it to activate PTT via the 8-Pin mic socket, so as soon as you send FT8 Audio to the Signalink soundcard it will activate the PTT on the radio and transmit the audio...

Image

So it will basically cable-out like this

ts5-_ft8_signalink.png

The only down side is that you'll have to keep un plugging the mic to use FT8 and also you will have no control over the rig, such as power, frequency changes, mode changes etc etc. This same method would also work on the 11m radio below, but you would have to figure out the RJ45 pin-outs for the radio and wire the Signalink to-suit. I did this with the Signalink and an old FM midband set and I used it to setup a FRN Gateway, which worked quite well truth told :-)

You're other option is to retrofit a USB Cat control, like this guy did...

https://radioaficion.com/news/kenwood-t ... t-control/

Image


The only downside is that you'd still need to feed the audio in/out via the mic jack so you will have butchered your rig case, but you should be able to control basic functions of the radio at least.

Personally, unless you like a project and don't mind defacing and potentially breaking a perfectly fine Kenwood then just bite the bullet and invest in a Signalink (they work will work with virtually any radio if you buy the right cable or make your own) or sell it and buy another radio. Anything with a USB interface on the rear from the past 5-10 years should work with a single cable. Ones I can personally confirm are like this are Yaesu FT-991, Icom 7300 and Icom 7410 (as examples)

I hope this all makes sense and Good Luck! Let us know how you get on :-)
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Re: Kenwood TS-50

Post by MrWeetabix »

26TM175. OP: Craig. QTH: Gateshead IO94EW. Also 163TM175 when mobile in Wales 8)

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MrWeetabix
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Re: Kenwood TS-50

Post by MrWeetabix »

Also found this on eBay..... unsure if this is a one off or others available in uk....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kenwood-Digi-I ... 3447791395
26TM175. OP: Craig. QTH: Gateshead IO94EW. Also 163TM175 when mobile in Wales 8)

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Auldgeek
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Re: Kenwood TS-50

Post by Auldgeek »

MrWeetabix wrote: 13 Apr 2021, 20:19 Also found this on eBay..... unsure if this is a one off or others available in uk....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kenwood-Digi-I ... 3447791395
ZLP Electronics offers their MiniProSC interface for a variety of radios, including the TS-50s.

https://www.g4zlp.co.uk/unified/DM_MiniPro_SC.htm
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MrWeetabix
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Re: Kenwood TS-50

Post by MrWeetabix »

TangoMike111 wrote: 12 Apr 2021, 12:33 has any body that has a ts-50 actually got it setup for ft8 and what do i need ?
Did this help at all? We may never know, you've not been seen since :-P haha

Lets hope he's all working and happy :thumbup:
26TM175. OP: Craig. QTH: Gateshead IO94EW. Also 163TM175 when mobile in Wales 8)

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