For the final stage of the 2024 SSB League, I was considering switching to a Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver. Despite the advantages of this device, it has one major drawback: connectivity. What is it?
Connectivity of the Kenwood TS-2000
1. The drawback is that to use an audio signal from an external source, you need to manually switch the mode, even though the CAT protocol supports a command to switch to transmit mode. This is an unnecessary complication.
2. An advantage is that, in addition to the pair of connectors for HF+6m, there is a connector for a receiving antenna on the rear panel. This feature is enabled in menu #18.
3. A drawback is the lack of a simple connector for connecting the power amplifier. Most devices have a CINCH connector capable of switching the power amplifier. The Kenwood TS-2000 has a separate system: the HF power amplifier is controlled via the REMOTE connector (7-pin DIN connector), and power amplifiers for 6m and above have separate band switches via EXT.CONT (8-pin DON connector)
Band plan as wallpaper
4. One drawback is that the Kenwood TS-2000 does not have a band output. This means that the antenna switch, tuner, or power amplifier must receive information about the selected band through other means.
An unusual challenge is presented by the SDR output, which is not a standard feature of the transceiver. If a ham radio operator wants to monitor a spectrum via SDR that is wider than the roofing filter’s bandwidth, the optimal connection point is the first IF. However, the Kenwood TS-2000 combines signals from the 2m and 70cm bands with the others at the 2nd IF, and there are two first intermediate frequencies. Therefore, two SDR connections are also required.
December Round of the SSB League
Since I don’t have an SDR for the HF band, I haven’t yet built the connector for connecting the HF power amplifier, and on top of that, I didn’t even have the Kenwood TS-2000 on my desk, I once again opted for my tried-and-true setup for the SSB League: a Yaesu FT-1000MP with an INRAD roofing filter and an output to the SDR, plus a power amplifier based on the G2DAF design and an inverted V antenna on an RDM-12 mast.
The first CQ contacts are coming in at a slower pace. This is likely due to propagation conditions, which aren’t optimal. However, it seems that there are fewer participants in the December SSB League than in other rounds. St. Nicholas apparently distributed decibels generously at S9. Boris OM1BC received such a signal
QRP stations were also making contact, such as OK1LST
or OL40QRP
The highest rate was in the 19th minute, when I logged 5 contacts. It starts with Ľubo OM8LD
Martin OM6AT joins in
Followed by Dušan OM3CPF
And a dual contact with Milan OK2UNC and OK2OLD
SSB League December 2024 One-Minute Rate
I finish with a contact with Tomáš OK2BFN and hand the frequency over to him. There are 89 logged contacts to 62 counties, totaling 5,518 points. The 2024 SSB League has ended—long live the 2025 SSB League! I look forward to more experimentation next year!