-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
Sent: Nov 14, 2019 9:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: TS890 Early observationsFrom my friend Bill Garfield just in case you may be interested.Pump
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Garfield <[email protected]>
To: Bill Garfield <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, Nov 14, 2019 7:00 pm
Subject: TS890 Early observationsFirst full week of ownership & use:
Since dumping my problem-plagued IC-7610 (display issues, now on my 3rd screen) in favor of a new Kenwood TS-890S I’ve had a few folks ask me to comment on it. What follows is just some rambling observations and comments about the beautiful new rig in my shack.
Most noticeable is the Kenwood 890 is much larger and heavier than the IC-7610.
It’s also gorgeous!
By comparison, here are the approximate sizes of each rig that’s been in my shack lately.
The IC-7300 at 316 cu. in. (9½ x 9½ x 3½) plus knobs & connectors, 9¼ lbs
The IC-7610 at 683 cu. in. (13½ x 11 x 4½) plus knobs & connectors, 18.7 lbs
The TS-890s at 1151 cu in. (15½ x 13½ x 5½) plus knobs & connectors, 35 lbs
And similar to the little 7300, the 890 also has a very nice matte finish, including the display screen.
If you like knobs & buttons, you’re going to like the 890, with a compliment of 72 individual pushbuttons and a total of 8 knobs on the front panel, counting the VFO. Of the knobs, 5 of those are dual shaft (dual purpose) and every one of them has a very solid, good quality feel to it. None of the knobs have any pushbutton function. They only move two directions, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
In terms of menus, all I can say is I’m impressed! If you’re the type who feels the need for complete control over every single facet of operation, the new 890 is definitely your rig. Just from the main display screen there are over 160 configurable option settings. The average ham will never use most of them (I only used 46 myself), but if you like to customize things, you can customize to your heart’s content. But don’t be intimidated, as the menus are pretty well laid out and NONE of the optional settings are even required, as the rig works fine straight out of the box. Hook it up and enjoy!
There’s a nice printed manual in the box, but while handy for making pencil notes, I have to say that I found the owner’s manual a little difficult to navigate at first. Most of you will want to download an electronic (PDF) copy of the manual so you can spend less time looking for some of the more esoteric settings.
Before taking the initial plunge into the menus, a word of caution is in order. Something you’ll definitely want to make into Job # 1 is to learn how to make a backup of your settings and then start making regular recurring backups every time you configure another feature. Not likely that you’ll mess anything up, but if a 3rd party software glitch acts like it has bricked your rig, as the RoMac CWid’er did mine, you’ll need to perform a full factory reset and without a backup of your settings you’ll scream loud enough that neighbors a block away will hear you. So the buzzword of the hour is backup, backup and backup!
There’s really no certain order in which to configure your desired settings, so once you’re ready, just pick something and go for it. I made my maiden voyage into the menus by learning how to set up the clock & how to display both local and UTC time. (I also kept a written log of everything I had changed from factory defaults).
Above all don’t be intimidated by your first perception of complexity. It’s really not. Configuration/setup can be as granular or as basic as you want to make it. Remember that it works fine right out of the box without having to set anything.
Each of the 9 individual groups of menu items in the Top Level menu all have sub-menus under them. Some of those sub-menus contain only a few options to choose from, while others have as many as 32 options. And just when you think you’re about there, you will then discover an ADVANCED menu button with another 27 options for you to consider. Those 27 are some of the more esoteric settings that you probably won’t need, though a couple that may interest you have to do with setup of an external display and the screen resolution. A 32-inch external monitor looks gorgeous, by the way.
Setting up your amplifier keying control is found in yet another menu with an option appropriately labelled “LINEAR AMP”. … and speaking of which, if you have a linear amp but haven’t previously had one of the more recent Kenwood models, you’re going to discover that you’re going to have to build (which means make – in other words, solder) your own cable to connect the keying circuit of your amplifier, or else buy one pre-made on the Internet for $18 or spend $50 to get one from your dealer. I initially tried making mine using the furnished connector until I discovered that once the connector pin is hot enough to take solder, the plastic connector body has coincidentally also reached its melting point, so the connector pin will now push its way out of the plastic body and you will begin to utter a few expletives. Take my advice: Buy the stupid amp cable already made.
So while setup and initial configuration can be a bit of a learning curve, I vividly recall that the Flex was far worse. Just remember to SAVE your work with another backup.
Tweaks notwithstanding, all I can say is gosh what an incredibly swell rig! Overall the rig looks exquisite, absolutely as good on my desk as it does in the fancy display ads in QST & CQ. A beautiful addition to any ham shack, but it’s big, so you may have to move a few things around to fit it in.
Operationally, some will love the fact that the TS890 includes a CW decoder along with the capability to decode RTTY and PSK *without* external software. In fact you don’t even need a PC – just plug in a USB keyboard and you’re all set to go for RTTY, PSK and CW.
Kenwood also furnishes free of charge a very nice remote control software package. You have to download and install it, but the price is definitely right.
The TS890 also has a swell 18-band Equalizer for both receive and transmit. If you’re an “audio person” you’re bound to love that. The transmit bandwidth can also be set as wide as 4 kHz with a “low cut” setting all the way down to 50 Hz which a few of the “Bass boys” will no doubt have fun with. No, it doesn’t do the really radical wideband ESSB or “VOODOO” audio (thankfully) but giving you a full 4 kHz of transmit bandwidth to play with is unarguably better than Icom’s restriction to only 2.8 kHz max.
So what can it do?
Well to start with, currently at #8 on the “Sherwood List” of top receivers it rather handily beats out the Icom 7610, the new Flex 6400/6600 models as well as the Yaesu FTdx-5000 and the original K3. It also literally blows away the TS990, which is currently stuck down at the #35 spot. My how the once mighty have fallen.
Some of the Pros:
- TX Power setting –by band- with the option to place a hard (sticky) cap on the maximum drive power so you don’t accidentally overdrive your new solid state amp
- TX “TUNE” power also adjustable by band, however much you need, no longer limited to only 10 watts
- CW Sidetone is in the USB Audio output to the PC, so you can use CWSkimmer with sending as well as receiving
- Magnificent ergonomics (repeating myself, I know, but it really is a handsome rig)
- Excellent Transverter support
- CW Decode built-in
- CW Auto-tune feature is far better than on the 7610
- No PC needed – work CW, PSK, RTTY – just add a keyboard and/or a paddle, bug or straight key
- Superb NR and NB (two each, NR1/NR2 and NB1/NB2)
- Beat Cancel (auto-notch) that actually works!
- Audio Peaking Filter (APF) works better than on the 7610
- Copy files to your PC as if your rig was a memory stick
- Roofing Filters (15kHz, 6 kHz, 2.7kHz, 500 hz) a 270 Hz filter is optional
- Remote Control Software is Free!
- 18-band RX and TX equalizer built in (that beautiful Kenwood audio)
- TX bandwidth adjustable to as wide as 4 kHz (no more of this 100~2900 only)
- Legacy Transverse SWL tuning dial display (OMG how cool is that)
- Customizable upload your own Screen Saver images (pictures of your grandkids)
- Settings reload has built-in automatic power-cycle function
- 5 band-stacking registers per band
- 3 user-programmable function keys
- Dual cooling fans that are whisper-quiet, literally zero fan noise
- Built-in (included) 3-level advanced Voice Guidance System for vision-impaired operators
- Built-in (included) high stability TCXO
The few cons:
- Only has a single receiver
- No mic supplied (a $55 option)
- The waterfall looks slightly “chunky” (see photo below)
- No color customization options for the scope display (default colors are fine)
- Requires special Amplifier keying cable, roll your own w/soldering iron, else $50 option from dealer
- Icom (7300/7610) scope has noticeably sharper detail (in my opinion)
Current street price (HRO, DXEngineering, GigaParts, MTC) averages $34~3500. (Open box $3100 @ MTC)
Does it decode CW? Boy does it ever! Here’s my rig following along with a W1AW practice session at 35 words per minute: This is also a good shot of the 7-inch display. (taken with an iPhone 7+)
Here’s a screen capture:
And another showing the small waterfall (a larger waterfall screen is also selectable)
And one showing the audio scope
And another looking at the AM Broadcast Band
73 – Bill
W1BG
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