DX Engineering’s DXE-KWD-SS-RCA is a special QSK keying cable assembly for the Kenwood TS-890S or TS-990S transceivers for “Ground on Transmit” keying of a QSK capable amplifier or accessory. Instead of using the transceiver internal relay, this REMOTE port 7-pin DIN to RCA 5ft. cable assembly accesses the pin-7 LKY high-speed Solid State low-current* keying circuit for silent amplifier or accessory keying whenever the transceiver PTT is engaged. Eliminate the annoying clicking relay every time the radio keys with this cable and specific menu settings. Important to many phone operators, this method provides even greater relief for CW ops who use QSK full break-in or semi-break-in keying with amplifiers that support break-in operation. As mentioned, these modern Kenwood transceivers require menu setting changes to enable an amplifier keying cable. See the NOTE and INSTRUCTIONS below.

*WARNING: Do not use this DXE-KWD-SS-RCA cable with older high-current amplifier keying relays. For amplifier or accessory Ground on Transmit keying circuits that need to sink over 10mA, use a QSK capable buffer. For example, add the KD9SV Products Solid State Keying Relay SVP-SV-KR, which needs to sink only 1.5mA at 12 VDC when keyed to ground by the transceiver, but the AMP keying port handles +/- 500VDC up to 2A (2000mA) from an antiquated amplifier keying circuit. (Of course, it is unlikely that type of amp is QSK capable. However, the SVP-SV-KR buffer protects the Solid State keying circuit of any transceiver.)

NOTE: This cable will not function unless settings are changed in the transceiver menu. Kenwood transceivers arrive with keying turned off by default. The choice of turning on Linear Amplifier keying and the menu selection of either Relay keying or Solid State keying are combined in the TS-990S and they are separate line items in the TS-890S. This is described in Section 16 on pages16-31 and 16-32 in the TS-990S manual, and on pages 16-13 and 16-14 in the TS-890S manual. Instructions for both radios appear below.

INSTRUCTIONS for menu settings to enable the use of the DXE-KWD-SS-RCA:

TS-990S

1. Press [ADV] F from the Menu screen to open the Advanced Menu

2. Access Advanced Menu 11, “Linear Amplifier Control (HF MHz Band)” {50MHz has a separate menu}

3. Press [SELECT] (F4) to allow editing of the parameter box

4. Press –(F4) or + (F5), or rotate the MULT/CH control to select a different keying control method

5. Select “Active Low” {No other selections allow cable function for QSK Ground On Transmit}

6. Press (F1)

7. Press [MENU] to exit.

TS-890S

1. Press F [LINEAR AMP] on the menu screen to display the Linear Amplifier menu screen.

2. Press F6 [BAND] to switch to the target band. Pressing F6 [BAND] each time toggles the selection to “HF Band”, “50 MHz Band” and “70 MHz Band” (E type only) in sequence.

3. Press F2 [UP] or F3 [DOWN] to select the setting item.

4. Press F4 [–] or F5 [+] or turn the [MULTI/CH] control to change the setting value.

TS-890S Settings Menu items must be changed to these values for HF {and 50 MHz, if needed}:

Linear Amplifier On

Keying Logic Active Low

TX Delay Off {Adding extra delay is undesirable for QSK operation}

TX Delay Time (CW…) 15ms default {not added with TX Delay Off}

TX Delay Time (SSB…) 35ms default {not added with TX Delay Off}

Internal Relay Control Off

External ALC Voltage -4[V] default {N/A, ALC not available with this cable}