Kenwood TS-440S CW Key Splatter / Clicks

• Kenwood TS-440S CW Key Splatter / Clicks
  Posted by Palmitoxico on 08 Oct, 2023 01:08
• Hi,
  
  I bought an used Kenwood TS-440S HF rig about 5 months ago for a very good price. It is not in a pristine condition (SWR readings are a bit higher than it should be, FM mode doesn't work, squelch doesn't work), but it is usable otherwise. Recently I started getting some signal reports like '597' '588' (one operator used some not very polite words describing my signal...), so I listened to my transmissions on a near public SDR. Here is the recording:
  
  
  
  So yeah, not pretty. I tried swapping the power supply for a battery, but it made no difference. It occurs on all bands. Reducing the power to about 10W clears the signal though. Is this a known problem with this rigs? Looking at the service manual I could not identify where the CW 'shapping' is done (rising and falling time).
  
  Thanks,
  Augusto.
• #1 Reply
  Posted by pienari on 08 Oct, 2023 09:58
• Hi.
  There must be some capacitor failure.
  
  I own 3pcs and all units have  faulty some parts.
• #2 Reply
  Posted by Palmitoxico on 09 Oct, 2023 01:18
• Quote from: pienari on 08 Oct, 2023 09:58

  Hi.
  There must be some capacitor failure.
  
  I own 3pcs and all units have  faulty some parts.
  

  
  Humm, it might be. I should probably replace all electrolytic caps in such an old radio.
• #3 Reply
  Posted by pienari on 13 Oct, 2023 16:58
• Have you check this?.
  
  http://www.klimaco.com/HAMRADIOPAGES/440_mods.htm
• #4 Reply
  Posted by Palmitoxico on 15 Oct, 2023 23:25
• Quote from: pienari on 13 Oct, 2023 16:58

  Have you check this?.
  
  http://www.klimaco.com/HAMRADIOPAGES/440_mods.htm
  

  
  That is nice! Although the proposed fix for the key clicks adversely affects the full break-in mode, so I'll try to debug the problem further, there is no way that it sound that bad from the factory.