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====== 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 <C and D> 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.