====== Kenwood TK-90 ====== {{:radios:tk-90_f.png?400|}} An intriguing radio which looks great for unattended HF data use, since it is engineered for 100% duty cycle at 25W. Has no data port on the back, but an accessory breakout cable can be added. Pinout is on p14 of the service manual, linked below. {{:radios:tk-90_data_breakout_cable.png?400|}} {{:radios:tk-90_accessory_port_function.png?400|}} {{ :radios:kenwood_tk-90_instructions.pdf | Kenwood TK-90 instructions }} {{ :radios:kenwood_tk-90_ale.pdf | Kenwood TK-90 ALE feature instructions }} {{ :radios:kenwood_tk-90_service.pdf | Kenwood TK-90 service manual }} {{ :radios:kenwood-tk-90-pc-commands.pdf | PC Commands }} {{ :radios:tk-90_function_reference.pdf | Function Reference}} {{ :radios:tk-90_navigator_ttl_cable.pdf | Navigator TTL Cable}} {{ :radios:tk-90_navigator_rs232_cable.pdf | Navigator RS232 Cable}} {{ :radios:tk-90_modification_reference.pdf | Modifications Reference}} Requires programming. Both serial and USB-serial mic jack programming cable is available as a Kenwood part (see below) or off brand USB versions are also available. This implies it is just straight serial so a generic USB serial cable with an RJ45 plug crimped on the end may be suitable. Has a "VFO mode" which implies it might not always have a "VFO mode" available. Is ALE-capable, presumably with add-on. Accessories * KAT-1 - B51-8304-00 - Automatic antenna tuner * KRK-5/6DH - B51-8445-20 - Remote kit * KCT-31 - B51-8573-00 - PC interface cable * VGS-1 - B51-8669-00 - Voice guide & storage unit * KCT-39 - Accessory breakout cable (stocked by radioswap) * KPG-102D - Programming Disc (CD) * KPG-46 / KPG-46A - Serial programming cable * KPG-46U - USB programming cable * KCT-18 - Ignition sense cable * KES-3 - External speaker * KIF-2 - 2.7kHz SSB filter * YF-107C - 500Hz CW Filter for TS-480HX/SAT * KLF-2 - Line noise filter * KMB-10 - Key lock adapter * KMB-9 - Mounting bracket * KMC-30 - Standard hand microphone * KMC-32 - Hand microphone with keypad * KMC-35 - Slim-line hand microphone * KMC-36 - Slim-line hand microphone with keypad * KPE-2 - ALE unit * KRK-5 - Panel Separation Kit (Requires KCT-22M, 22M2 or 22M3) * PG-20 - DC cable (7m) * VGS-1 - Voice guide/Storage unit For best results it has been recommended to use a KMC-32 keypad microphone for ease of use with the menus. {{ :radios:kpg-102d_v2.01_tk90m.zip | Software }} ===== Data modes / modem use ===== Install KCT-39 - accessory breakout cable. Build a cable (the plug parts come with KCT-39): * RX Audio -> pin 4 - DEO - brown * TX Audio -> pin 5 - DI - orange * PTT -> pin 6 - DPTT - yellow * Ground -> pin 8 - GND - blue NB - DI is "data input audio", DEO is "data output audio". {{:radios:tk-90_accessory_port_pins.png|}} ==== KCT-39 pinout ==== ^ Pin ^ Colour ^ Internal ^ Name ^ Notes ^ | 1 | Red | CN9-1 | KEY | | | 2 | Pink | CN10-1 | IGN | | | 3 | Black | CN9-3 | GND | Ground | | 4 | Brown | CN10-3 | DEO | RX audio | | 5 | Orange | CN10-2 | DI | TX audio | | 6 | Yellow | CN9-8 | DPTT | PTT | | 7 | Green | CN9-7 | RTK | | | 8 | Blue | CN9-9 | GND | Ground | | 9 | Purple | CN9-12 | AUX3 | | | 10 | Gray | CN9-10 | AUX1 | | | 11 | White | CN9-11 | AUX2 | | | 12 | NC | NC | - | | | 13 | NC | NC | - | | | 14 | Sky blue | CN9-6 | RXD1 | Assumed to be serial, maybe TS-2000-alike | | 15 | Turquoise | CN9-5 | TXD1 | Assumed to be serial, maybe TS-2000-alike | External channel control looks feasible: {{:radios:tk-90-external-channel-control.png|}} ====== Dealer mode ====== Boot radio into dealer mode by holding down B while powering up. Scroll down to FUNCTION, and press D. Adjust settings as desired. Press the red button twice to exit and reboot. Some recommended settings in DEALER mode: * M2 MIN VOLUME: 0 - means the radio can boot with the volume turned to zero * M12 TOT: TX time out timer. Set to, say, 3 minutes * M13 VFO TX PWR: self explanatory * M19 DI LEVEL: data input audio level, set as required * M20 DEO LEVEL: data output audio level, set as required * M22 DATA S-BAND: which sideband will data be transmitted on - generally set to USB ====== Adjusting TX audio response ====== Remove the top lid of the radio- 8 screws. Trimmer VR852 is TX sensitivity - max sensitivity to TX audio input is fully clockwise. To set up TX audio, I recommend the following procedure: * in the dealer menu, set DI to 4, the default * set the radio to 100W * set your modem to its maximum volume level (on NinoTNC I recommend DIP switch 1 is down/off (i.e. lower transmit audio range and with its DEV pot set to maximum) * have the modem transmit repeated frames (on NinoTNC, hold test TX button for ~20 seconds and release) * turn VR852 until a power meter connected to the radio reads say 50W * adjust the modem output volume down until the power meter reads the desired output power, e.g. 25W ===== Navigating ===== The A-D buttons are programmable, but the functions they have shipped to us with are as follows. Pressing A in VFO mode gets you a blinking cursor. Move the cursor left/right with buttons. Change that digit with CH up and CH down. Exit with the red button. Pressing B cycles between preamp / attenuator settings. Pressing C gets you the clarifier settings. Pressing D cycles between modes (i.e. USB, LSB, DATA, CW, AM, FSK) Pressing square gets you a basic menu. Booting the radio with B held gets you a DEALER menu. This is pretty safe. More in here than the basic menu. Booting the radio with A held gets you an ADJUSTMENT menu. Warning: this is a service menu, for radio alignment, and you can break things very easily in here, requiring realignment which requires lab tools and knowledge. There is supposed to be a TEST mode when booting the radio with D held, but this does not appear to be enabled. All of the above is in the service manual. ===== Mic pinout ===== Pin 8 is towards the bottom of the radio. - DM - MIC - PTT - common with a point labelled PTT/TXD - SB - HK - connected to a pin labelled RXD0 and to +5V via a 4.7k resistor - ME - GND - BLC Abbreviations are from the schematics in the service manual, meanings as yet unknown. A known working cable has wiring: * White - Pin 2 (MIC) * Red - Pin 5 (SB) * Black - Pin 6 (HK) The cable has a PL2303 USB serial chip.