Looks like I missed a few other "tricks" (not treats) in the TS-590.
I refer the reader to Kenwood's own brochure for the TS-590 at: <http://www.kenwoodusa.com/UserFiles/File/UnitedStates/Communications/AMA/Brochures/TS-590.pdf> and their ad on the rear cover of QST for November 2010. The brochure and the manual are at odds about "down-conversion" on 60 meters. The manual (Specifications, pg 82) says the 5 MHz band uses down-conversion, the brochure (pg 3) omits 60 Meters in the list of bands that use down-conversion. Both sources and the ad are clear that down-conversion is not used when the receive bandwidth is more than 2.7 KHz (can you say ESSB), in AM or FM. Instead the rig switches to the "conventional" up-convert to VHF system. The brochure also makes another strange claim ... the TS-590 uses a "bare" DDS to drive the down-conversion mixer (pg 3) and claims that architecture is "cleaner" with less reciprocal mixing than a conventional PLL/VCO synthesizer. The brochure shows a picture of an Analog Devices AD9951 DDS ... I haven't checked recently but last I heard the Analog Devices and similar DDS products had some serious close-in spurs which resulted in poor wideband SFDR and *MORE* reciprocal mixing than a well designed PLL/VCO synthesizer, not less. Taken with the lack of a sub-receiver, no input for a separate receive antenna, no wideband IF for a panadapter, a 12V power amplifier, etc. the TS-590 is looking more and more like a warmed over TS-2000 with a "gimmicky" (partial) amateur bands only front end and not the serious, higher performance transceiver it was made out to be. When the serious testing begins, I hope independent engineers like Rob Sherwood, Peter Hart and the ARRL Labs will compare performance on 20 vs. 17 meters and check other issues like reciprocal mixing and IMDDR3 for *both* "front ends." 73, ... Joe, W4TV > On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 10:52 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV<[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > Believe me or not. The designer of TS590 also a K3 owner. >> >> He sure made some very questionable choices if he had a K3 to >> copy from! >> >> The TS-590 only uses the down conversion/roofing filter system >> on the 160, 80, 60, 40, 20 and 15 meter amateur bands! Outside >> those bands and above 21 MHz it is a conventional up conversion >> design. Why he chose to do what amounts to a complete second >> receiver from the antenna to the 24 KHz DSP last IF/demodulator >> is complete mystery. For essentially the same parts cost he >> could have included a second, lower performance receiver like >> the FT-5000. >> >> 73, >> >> ... Joe, W4TV >> >> >> On 10/18/2010 10:11 AM, Johnny Siu wrote: >>> Believe me or not. The designer of TS590 also a K3 owner. I met him in Aug >>> 2010 in Tokyo. >>> >>> cheers, >>> >>> Johnny VR2XMC >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> 寄件人﹕ "[email protected]"<[email protected]> >>> 收件人﹕ [email protected] >>> 傳送日期﹕ 2010/10/18 (一) 10:05:40 PM >>> 主題： [Elecraft] New Kenwood TS0-590 >>> >>> I finally got a chance to see the new Kenwood rig at HRO in Portland >>> last Saturday. Didn't get to play with it for very long as there were >>> too many others who wanted to play with it too. Anyway, it seems like a >>> nice radio--sounded good--looks good--but still missing lots of things >>> we get with a K3. It does seem like an obvious attempt to compete >>> somewhat with the K3, but it's NOT a true contender for a lot of >>> reasons. >>> >>> The ergonomics were fairly good, and unlike Yaesu, for example, they >>> don't bury everything deep in a menu system. But you still have to push >>> buttons a few extra times. For example, setting power level and keyer >>> speed takes a couple of extra pushes of buttons vs. the K3. Like I said >>> above, I didn't really get to play with it very long, but I'm certain >>> you would be giving up a lot if you opted for this vs. a K3. >>> >>> The folks at Pacificon probably got a better chance to look at the new >>> Kenwood. At least it shows that Kenwood is still in the amateur radio >>> business, which I think is a good thing. >>> >>> Dave W7AQK >>> ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
