Comments on: TS-430s Poor RX Problem

By: Gary ZL1BFD

Gary ZL1BFD — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:36:05 +0000

Having recently acquired a tidy TS430s with unknown history, I too found the RF had varying output power on all ham bands. I decided to apply Kenwood’s de-oxidization process of 12VDC via a series current-limiting resistor between the antenna terminal and chassis ground. (I used two 47 Ohm 5W resistors in parallel, drawing 500mA from the 13.2V DC supply). After setting 1mHz jumps and pressing the UP button for 1:15s, this is what the RF-W output levels were into my 50 Ohm DL. Figures before are unbracketed, and after cleaning is in brackets:
160M: 02(60) 80M: 80(80) 40M: 72(90) 30M: 70(90) 20M: 72(80) 17M: 65(65) 15M: 63(66)
12M: 17(60) 10M: 30(70). These show that this rig may not have done much work on 160 or 12 thru 10m bands. The exercise was mounted after first dealing with some guilt if i didn’t at least remove the upper and lower case halves and surveying the lengthy job ahead to gain access to the various board layers and clean the relays manually (more of which I cared to count!). Instead, I hastily reassembled the case and got on with the (debatable) external DC-clean. Time taken? About 5 minutes to rig and do.

At least give it a try is my recommendation.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:55:36 +0000

In reply to John D Graham. a bit late as you may have repaired the fault but i had a similar problem and it turned out to be an ic, i had to buy a cheap oscilloscope to find it though

By: John D Graham

John D Graham — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:30:02 +0000

My TS430 has a different problem to the above. although it won’t hurt to clean relay contacts and check final transistor solder joints. I have ordered a full capacitor replacement kit. MY PROBLEM:: The mode switch is stuck on FM, pushing any other mode button, the LED lights up for that mode, BUT it reverts straight back to FM position.. Power out goes from ZERO at 160M to full power at 10M Lots of speaker noise on all frequencies.(FM). TS430 is from a deceased estate, IT along with all Silent Key gear was put out in a cold damp garage, (maybe 6 months) before they contacted me. (Lovely). I can source another mode switch, It would appear the message is getting from point A to B but B is NOT listening, so to speak. Any ideas or thoughts appreciated. John

By: Stephen M5SJM

Stephen M5SJM — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:09:52 +0000

In reply to S.

Thanks

Hope you got your ow issue sorted out.

Stephen
M5SJM

By: S

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 01:51:21 +0000

Great article!!

I just wish I had found this before I did this yesterday! I had to figure it out as I went.