TS-570D_review_QST_1997.pdf

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1、Product Review Column from QST Magazine Copyright 1996 by the American Radio Relay League Inc. All rights reserved. January 1997 Kenwood TS-570D HF Transceiver SCS PTC-II Multimode Controller with PACTOR-II Two Ultra-Accurate Clocks (Oregon Scientific Time Machine; Arcron Zeit) January 199773 Produc

2、t Review Edited by Rick Lindquist, N1RL Senior Assistant Technical Editor Reviewed by Larry Wolfgang, WR1B Senior Assistant Technical Editor Like many amateurs, I sometimes dream of having one of the latest HF transceivers sitting on my operating tablea radio that would offer features such as two VF

3、Os, for easy split-frequency operation; a numeric keypad, for direct frequency entry; lots of memory channels; adjustable CW offset; and ease of selecting various filter band- widths for different modes. Oh, yes, Id like to have a built-in antenna tuner, an easy-to- read informative display with mul

4、tifunc- tion meter and a built-in RF preamplifier, as well as an RF attenuator. Of course the radio should be small enough to fit easily on my desk and not require extra bracing to hold the weight. One of those fancy digital signal processor (DSP) boxes would sure be a nice accessory. Ah, but we jus

5、t refinanced our mortgage to add onto our house and do some repair and maintenance work, so taking out a sec- ond mortgage to buy my new radio is out of the question. Whats a dreamer to do? If you think the only answer is to just keep on dreaming, then you are mistaken. With a list price substantial

6、ly below that of the high-end radios, the Kenwood TS-570D offers all these features and more in a single box! While not a contesters dream ma- chine, we might call this “a radio for the rest of us.” Front Panel There are few knobs but many buttons on the TS-570Ds front panel. The radio is packed wit

7、h features designed to enhance your operating pleasure. In fact, the front panel doesnt begin to show all the operat- ing controls you have at your fingertips with this radio! A menu system allows you to change 47 parameters to suit your par- ticular preferences. And, if you would like to configure

8、your radio for two sets of op- erating conditions (or you share your sta- tion with another operator), there are two menu memory banks. You will find the complement of con- trols you would expect on any full-featured HF rig, plus some you would not expect to find. A 12-button numeric keypad allows d

9、irect frequency entry. These buttons also access alternative functions, such as select- ing one of three CW keyer memories or selecting between either of the two antenna input connectors on the rear panel. (The radio remembers which band youre on when you select one of these antenna ports, so it wil

10、l return to that selection the next time you switch to that band. Theres no “Beverage” antenna port, however.) You can select fast or slow AGC opera- tion (but not turn it off) and turn the analog noise blanker on or off. The button labeled FINE selects 1-Hz tuning steps instead of 10-Hz steps for S

11、SB, CW and FSK modes or 10-Hz instead of 100-Hz steps on AM and FM. The REV button allows you to se- lect the opposite sideband on CW or FSK (handy if you need to reverse the mark and space tones for RTTY operation). The POWER, ATT, PRE-AMP, VOX, PROC, SEND and AT TUNE buttons are self- explanatory.

12、 But what about that PF button in the top left corner? It is a “Programmable Function” button. You can set this button to go immediately to one of the menu selec- tions. For example you might want to set this button to activate menu item 15, which controls the speech processor compression level, if

13、you find yourself frequently ad- justing that option. Very handy! To the right of the keypad is a column of buttons labeled MIC, PWR, KEY and DELAY. These activate the microphone gain, trans- mitter power, electronic keyer speed and VOX delay controls, respectively. The MULTI/CH knob to the right si

14、de of the radio then adjusts the level for each control. This MULTI/CH knob has more uses than Carter has little pills. It also was the focus of some frustration with the TS-570D. In VFO mode, the MULTI/CH knob lets you make quick frequency excursions up or down the band in 10-kHz steps. When you pr

15、ess the MENU button, the MULTI/CH knob selects the menu item number. When you press the FILTER button, the MULTI/CH knob adjusts the IF and DSP filter bandwidths (we installed the optional 500-Hz CW fil- ter in our unit). In memory mode, it picks the memory channel. Because Kenwood has invested so m

16、any functions in this single control, the MULTI/CH knob at times proved to be absolutely maddening to our reviewers. As we said, if no other active feature requires this knob, turning it changes the main operating frequency in 10-kHz steps. We found it was too easy say in the heat of a contestto rea

17、ch for the MULTI/CH knob instead of the RIT knob right above it. Or, you might grab the MULTI/CH knob to change the filter setting without first pressing the FILTER button. Zap! There goes “your” frequency just as a new multi- plier is calling you. Aside from simply paying closer atten- tion, theres

18、 a partial remedy for this: One of the first menu items you will want to change is item 5. This turns off numerical rounding of VFO frequencies as this knob is turned. Otherwise, not only will you go skating up or down the band in rapid fash- ion, but the kilohertz, hundred-hertz and ten-hertz digit

19、s all go to zero. Now try get- ting back to your operating frequency! Also, if you use both the filter settings and the RIT a lot, simply turn on the RIT first, then press FILTER. This puts the RIT in the background. You wont have a separate RIT Kenwood TS-570D HF Transceiver BOTTOM LINE A compact,

20、affordable, full-featured transceiver that will find a happy home in many ham shacks. Kenwood has a winner with the TS-570D. 74January 1997 Table 1 Kenwood TS-570D, serial number 80600403 Manufacturers Claimed SpecificationsMeasured in the ARRL Lab Frequency coverage: Receive, 500 kHz30 MHz;Receive,

21、 31 kHz30 MHz; transmit, as specified. transmit, 1.8-2; 3.5-4; 7-7.3; 10.1-10.15; 14-14.35; 18.068-18.168; 21-21.45; 24.89-24.99; 28-29.7 MHz. Modes of operation: USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM., FSKAs specified. Power requirement: Receive, 2 A (no signal); transmit,Receive, 0.8 A (max volume, no signal); 20.

22、5 A, at 13.8 V. transmit, 18 A (max), tested at 13.8 V. Size (height, width, depth): 3.810.610.6 inches; weight, 15 lb. ReceiverReceiver Dynamic Testing SSB/CW/FSK sensitivity (bandwidth not specified, 10 dBMinimum discernible signal (500-Hz filter): S+N/N): 0.5-1.7 MHz, 4 V (95 dBm); 1.7-24.5 MHz,P

23、reamp offPreamp on 0.2 V (121 dBm).1.0 MHz113 dBm (0.5 V)121 dBm (0.19 V) 3.5 MHz132 dBm (0.06 V)140dBm (0.02 V) 14 MHz130 dBm (0.07 V)139 dBm (0.03 V) AM sensitivity (bandwidth not specified, 10 dB S+N/N):10 dB (S+N)/N, signal 30% modulated with a 1-kHz tone, narrow filter: 0.5-1.7 MHz, 31.6 V; 1.7

24、-24.5 MHz, 2 V; 24.5-Preamp offPreamp on 30 MHz, 1.3 V.1.0 MHz8.4 V3.3 V 3.8 MHz1.05 V0.4 V FM sensitivity: For 12-dB SINAD, 28-30 MHz, 0.25 VFor 12-dB SINAD: 29 MHz, preamp off, 0.6 V; preamp on, 0.15 V. Blocking dynamic range: Not specified.Blocking dynamic range (500-Hz IF filter): Preamp offPrea

25、mp on 1.0 MHz114 dB*115 dB 3.5 MHz114 dB*119 dB* 14 MHz115 dB*115 dB* Two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic range: Not specified.Two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic range (500-Hz IF filter:) Preamp offPreamp on 1.0 MHz86 dB91 dB 3.5 MHz99 dB99 dB 14 MHz98 dB*97 dB* Third-order input intercept point: Not s

26、pecified.Preamp offPreamp on 1.0 MHz+19.5 dBm+19.5 dBm 3.5 MHz+17 dBm+9.4 dBm 14 MHz+21.7 dBm+9.6 dBm Second-order intercept point: Not specified.14 MHz, preamp off, +60 dBm; preamp on, +59 dBm. FM adjacent channel rejection: Not specified.29 MHz, preamp on, 68 dB; preamp off, 67 dB. FM two-tone, th

27、ird-order IMD dynamic range: Not specified29 MHz, preamp on, 67 dB; preamp off, 66 dB. Noise reduction: Not specified.NR1, 10 dB; NR2, 20 dB (at default 20 ms setting). Beat cancel attenuation: Not specified.50 dB or greater notch. S-meter sensitivity: Not specified.S9 signal at 14 MHz: preamp off,

28、94 V; preamp on, 25 V. Squelch sensitivity: SSB, CW, FSK, AM, 0.5-1.7 MHz, 20 V29 MHz, at threshold, FM, preamp off, 0.2 V; or less; 1.7-30 MHz, 2 V or less; FM, 28-30 MHz, 0.25 V preamp on, 0.04 V. 14 MHz, at threshold, USB, or less. preamp off, 1.7 V; preamp on, 0.4 V. Receiver audio output: 1.5 W

29、 at 10% THD into 8.2.1 W at 3.7% THD into 8 . IF/audio response: Not specified.Range at 6 dB points, (bandwidth): CW (500-Hz IF/600-Hz DSP): 258-769 Hz (511 Hz) CW (500-Hz IF/100-Hz DSP): 443-557 Hz (114 Hz) CW (500-Hz IF/50 Hz DSP): 470-530 Hz (60 Hz) USB wide: 286-2433 Hz (2147 Hz) USB narrow (DSP

30、 controls at 12 oclock): 404-1633 Hz (1229 Hz) LSB wide: 287-2428 Hz (2141 Hz) LSB narrow (DSP controls at 12 oclock): 404-1626 Hz (1222 Hz) AM wide: 115-2670 Hz (2555 Hz) AM narrow:113-1270 Hz (1157 Hz) If rejection: 1.8-30 MHz, 70 dB or greater.Preamp off, 115 dB; preamp on, 120 dB. Image rejectio

31、n: 1.8-30 MHz, 70 dB or greater.Preamp off, 109 dB; preamp on, 120 dB. TransmitterTransmitter Dynamic Testing Power output: SSB, CW, FM, FSK, 5-100 W; AM, 5-25 W.SSB, 5-115 W; CW, 5-108 W (varies slightly from band to band); AM, 5-23 W; FM, 5-109 W. Spurious-signal and harmonic suppression: 50 dBc o

32、r greater.As specified. Meets FCC requirements for spectral purity. SSB carrier suppression: 40 dB or greater.As specified. Undesired sideband suppression: 40 dB or greater.As specified. Third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD) products:See Figure 1. CW keyer speed range: Not specified.Approxima

33、tely 10-75 wpm. CW keying characteristics: Not specified.See Figure 2. Transmit-receive turnaround time (PTT release toS9 signal, 50 ms. 50% audio output): Not specified. Receive-transmit turnaround time (“tx delay”): Not specified.SSB, 18 ms; FM, 14 ms. Composite transmitted noise: Not specifiedSee

34、 Figure 3. NOTE: All dynamic range measurements are taken at the ARRL Lab standard spacing of 20 kHz. *Measurement was noise-limited at the value indicated. Expanded Product Review Report Available The ARRL Laboratory offers a 30-page test result report on the TS-570D that gives in-depth, detailed t

35、echnical data on the transceivers performance, out- lines our test methods and helps you to interpret the numbers and charts.The report even includes a summary of how this radio stacks up with similar, previously tested units. Request the TS-570D Test Result Report from the ARRL Technical Department

36、. Its $7.50 for ARRL members and $12.50 for nonmembers, postpaid. January 199775 readout, but the main frequency displays the increment. This way, you can use the RIT, and you wont disable the MULTI/CH knob as a filter setter (unless you use the CW memo- ries, which cancel the FILTER display, but no

37、t the RIT display). Unfortunately, there is no way to turn off the rapid frequency- change function. Putting that function on a button might have been a more elegant solu- tion. On the right-hand side of the front panel, one dual concentric control adjusts the squelch level and IF shift, a second ad

38、justs the AF and RF gain and a third sets the high and low-frequency DSP slope. This last set of controls allows you to set the audio DSP filter characteristics on SSB and AM. The built-in DSP circuitry provides two noise-reduction (N.R.) modes. NR1 is more effective for eliminating static-type nois

39、e during SSB or CW reception while NR2 is more effective during CW reception (you can set the time constant for NR2 at 7.5 or 20 msthe default). Both do a great job, but they impart an ethereal, hollow quality to the audio. The beat cancel (B.C.) DSP feature proved quite effective against the ever-p

40、resent broadcast heterodynes on the 40-meter phone band. Pressing this but- ton makes a carrier simply disappear! One reviewer participated in a multistation QSO right next to a fairly strong 40-meter broad- caster. One press of the aptly named B.C. button made the interference go away. Since this i

41、s audio-level DSP, the carrier contin- ued to show up on the S meter, however. Kenwood included one very handy fea- turea first for an HF transceiverthat will be especially appreciated by those who have trouble matching up signal pitches on CW. The CW TUNE button actually does this job for you. Just

42、 tune the radio close to the Figure 1Worst-case spectral display of the TS-570D transmitter during two-tone intermodulation distortion (IMD) testing. The worst-case third-order product is approximately 28 dB below PEP output, and the worst-case fifth-order product is approximately 42 dB down. The tr

43、ansceiver was being operated at 100 W output at 18.120 MHz. Figure 2CW keying waveform for the TS-570D showing the first two dits in the full-break-in (QSK) mode. The equivalent keying speed is 60 wpm. The upper trace is the actual key closure; the lower trace is the RF envelope. Horizontal division

44、s are 10 ms. The transceiver was being operated at 100 W output at 14.2 MHz. Figure 3Worst-case tested spectral display of the TS-570D transmitter output during composite-noise testing. Power output is 100 W at 3.5 MHz. The carrier, off the left edge of the plot, is not shown. This plot shows compos

45、ite transmitted noise 2 to 22 kHz from the carrier. desired CW signal and press the CW TUNE button. Then watch as the radio promptly fine-tunes itself so that you and the other station are on the same frequency. The main tuning knob is large, has a soft rubber grip that provides a comfortable feel,

46、and a finger depression for quickly spinning up or down the band. You also can adjust the degree of drag. Of course there are two VFOs plus 100 memory channels. Any VFO or memory channel can be used to transmit or receive. If you select differ- ent VFOs (ie, during SPLIT operation) or memory data fo

47、r transmit and receive, pressing and holding the TF-SET button lets you adjust the transmit frequency via the main tuning control. The QUICK MEMO is a terrific feature! To store an operating frequency during a contest or while chasing a rare DX station, for example, just press the M.IN button. Later

48、, you can press MR to quickly check back on that frequency. There are five quick memory channels. Press MR, and the MULTI/ CH knob lets you select among them. The menu system is easy to use and keeps guesswork to a minimum. A single MENU button activates the menu (but does not disable the radio), an

49、d the MULTI/CH knob selects the appropriate menu item. You can change any parameter by pressing the big UP or DOWN buttons to jog through the possible choices. Another press of the MENU button returns the display to normal operation. When the MENU is activated, the right half of the display tells which menu- option setting is selected. But the best part is the crawl text, which eliminates the cryp- tic menu-item descriptions typical of most radios. The crawl textlike the weather- warning messages TV stations sometimes broadcast along the bottom of the screen tells you straig