Note
QST, Apr 1982, back cover.
The TS-930S is a premier, all-solid-state HF transceiver utilizing an innovative quadruple-conversion receiver design. This structural architecture is designed specifically to yield an exceptionally low noise floor alongside a large dynamic range, ensuring crystal-clear weak-signal collection in the presence of strong adjacent signals.
Features / Specifications
– 160-10 Meters, with General Coverage Receiver
– Fully covers all designated amateur bands from 1.8 MHz through 29.7 MHz, offering full operational readiness on the new WARC allocations (10-MHz, 18-MHz, and 24-MHz frequencies) across SSB, CW, AM, and FSK modes.The general coverage receiver section delivers continuous, seamless tuning capabilities starting down at 150 kHz and running up to a full 30 MHz.
– Quad-Conversion Receiver Design
– Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) synthesizer system. Features a frequency scheme utilizing four Intermediate Frequencies: the 1st IF is placed at 44.37 MHz, shifting down to the 2nd IF at 8.83 MHz, continuing to the 3rd IF at 455 kHz (supporting optional narrow crystal filters), and finalizing at the 4th IF at 100 kHz.
– Advanced High Dynamic Range Performance. Incorporates carefully matched Junction Field-Effect Transistors (JFETs) with optimal Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) traits alongside low-noise RF amplification stages. This prevents high-level front-end overload and guarantees clean signal recovery even under devastatingly crowded on-air operational conditions.
– All Solid-State 28-VDC Final Amplifier Block. Unlike conventional designs, the final power amplifier stage operates directly on a 28-VDC supply line to optimize linearity and significantly decrease unwanted distortion products.
– Provides a full 250 Watts PEP input power for SSB, CW, and FSK configurations, and handles an 80-Watt input limit for AM communication. A heavy-duty, die-cast aluminum heat sink and an integrated, thermostatically controlled cooling fan assembly provide safe thermal operating margins during sustained transmissions.
– Optional Internal AT-930 Automatic Antenna Tuner. The optional AT-930 automatic antenna tracking unit is designed to be installed entirely inside the transceiver case. It delivers fast, automated matching from 160 down through 10 meters, adjusting the transceiver to the given feedline/antenna network impedance. Tuning progression and success are indicated via front-panel LED lamps.
– Dual Digital VFO Configurations. Employs twin digital VFO controls tuning in fine 10-Hz increments for elite operating flexibility. Front-panel manipulation switches allow split-frequency DX operation, fast A=B VFO matching, VFO-to-Memory transfers, and an automated operational step-shift function that matches tuning speed to the rate of knob rotation.
– Eight Memory Channels with Full Retention. Offers 8 dedicated memory slots capable of storing both the precise frequency and the operating mode. This is ideal for hopping between active traffic nets or quick spot monitoring. Long-term data retention is maintained via a built-in lithium battery backup supply.
– Large Fluorescent Tube Digital Display. Outfitted with a bright, multi-digit vacuum fluorescent tube display that clearly shows the running frequency down to the nearest 100 Hz. A sub-menu toggle allows the user to expand the resolution to display individual 10-Hz increments.
– IF Passband Modification (Slope Tuning & VBT). Features Kenwood's IF Slope Tuning system, enabling independent, separate adjustment of the high-cut and low-cut slopes to carve out neighboring interference.
– Variable Bandwidth Tuning (VBT) provides electronic control over the overall IF passband width.
– IF Notch Filter Integration. Features a high-Q active IF notch circuit designed to drop a deep, sharp attenuation slot directly over heterodynes and annoying carrier whistles without compromising overall receiver audio fidelity.
– Audio Peak Filter (CW VBT). Includes a selectable, sharp audio-peak filtering circuit to significantly boost weak, single-tone CW reception in heavily contested environments.
– RF Speech Processor Circuitry. Employs an RF-amplitude compression speech processor designed to dramatically increase average talk-power and envelope density during SSB communications.
– Adjustable Threshold Noise Blanker. Features a highly effective pulse-type noise blanking circuit designed to drop out ignition racket and pulse-driven atmospheric noise, paired with a front-panel threshold level control knob.
– Multi-stage RF Attenuator pad (selectable at 10 dB, 20 dB, or 30 dB levels).
– Fully adjustable VOX delay circuit and anti-VOX controls.
– CW semi-break-in keying circuit with adjustable sidetone monitor volume and pitch control.
– Heavy-duty power line filtering.
Matching Stations Accessories Options
AT-930: Internal Automatic Antenna Tuner Unit (built-in factor/user option).
SP-930: Deluxe External Station Speaker matching the TS-930S finish, equipped with built-in, user-selectable low-cut and high-cut audio filters.
MC-60A: Deluxe Moving-Coil Desk Microphone incorporating a built-in pre-amplifier stage and up/down frequency control keys.
YG-455C-1: 500-Hz Narrow CW Crystal Filter designed for the 455-kHz 3rd IF stage.
YG-455CN-1: 250-Hz Ultra-Narrow CW Crystal Filter designed for the 455-kHz 3rd IF stage.
YK-88C-1: 500-Hz Narrow CW Crystal Filter designed for the 8.83-MHz 2nd IF stage.
YK-88SN-1: 1.8-kHz Narrow SSB Crystal Filter designed for the 8.83-MHz 2nd IF stage.
