Kenwood TS-440S CW Key Splatter / Clicks

[Palmitoxico]

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.

[pienari]

Hi.
There must be some capacitor failure.

I own 3pcs and all units have  faulty some parts.

[Palmitoxico]

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.

[pienari]

Have you check this?.

http://www.klimaco.com/HAMRADIOPAGES/440_mods.htm

[Palmitoxico]

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.