Aligning the Kenwood TS-850S for 170 Hz Shift FSK


Introduction - The Kenwood TS-850S is one of the first of the new generation of HF Radio that used a "Soft" menu to configure various options.  Before this, one had to set "DIP" switches which required you to open up the radio.  All new Kenwood Radios and most other manufactures have incorporated this system.  The instructions provided here is for the TS-850S but if you look in your manual, something similar should be available.  What this article will do three things, one is to check the "Mark" frequency, check the "FSK Shift" and then set other options while in the menu that makes operating the radio more fun.  One note.  You should really use FSK instead of AFSK with the TS-850S.  By using FSK you will have the ability to select your CW Filters in the FSK Mode and there by narrowing down the bandwidth for the incoming RTTY signal, you will  greatly improving your RTTY reception.  I am using a 400Hz CW filter from International Radio.

Entry to the internal Menu
1.  Turn the TS-850S off.
2.  Press and hold the LSB/USB key while your turn on the POWER Switch.
3.  A number will appear in the display.
4.  Select the desired number by rotating the M.Ch/VFO CHannel control.
5.  Change the function by pressing the UP/DOWN switch.
6.  Function selection can be turned off by pressing the CLR key, or by pressing the POWER switch OFF and back ON.

Check the MARK Frequency.
1.  Rotate the M.Ch/VFO Ch control to number "13".
2.  The factory default is 2125 Hz which is what you want.  Optionally, a Mark tone of 1275 Hz can be selected.  This is called Low Tones.  In the old days, some of the Europeans used low tones.  The present standard is High Tones, 2125 Hz.  Press the UP/Down switch to select 2125 Hz.

Check the RTTY/FSK Shift.
1.  Rotate the M.Ch/VFO Ch control to number "12".
2.  The shift range of the FSK mode can be set to 170, 200, 425 or 850 Hz.
3.  The default setting is 170 Hz.  This is what you want.  If it is something else, change by using the UP/Down switch.  One note.  The default for the TS-850S is 170 Hz, most TNC's the default is 200 Hz, which was set for HF Packet.  This may causes a problem in that you may come back on the same frequency that you are receiving.  You should check your TNC to make sure it is set to 170 Hz shift with a mark tone of 2125 Hz.   The AEA PK-232(MBX) is factory set for 200 Hz with a mark tone of 2110 Hz and needs to be changed.  I have alignment instructions for the PK-232(MBX) assessable from my home page.   http://www.qsl.net/k0bx .

Other Useful Functions.
1.  Memory Function "03" M.CH/VFO Ch control step frequency selection.
2.  The default setting is 10 Khz.  Set this to 5 Khz.  You will be able to move 5 Khz at a time with the M.Ch/VFO switch.  Nice for getting right on the nearest 5 Khz and if you do any short-wave listening, all the International Short-wave Broadcast stations are 5 Khz apart.  Try it on 9.650 Mhz.

1.  Memory Function "09" S-Meter peak hold.
2.  Default is off, change to on.  It will give a trailing S-Meter segment that will give a better visual indication of the signal strength.

1.  Memory Function "16" Tunable Memories.
2.  Determine whether the change the frequency with the tuning knob when the standard memory channel is recalled to RX VFO.  Default is off.  Change to on.  By doing so, you will now have 100 tunable VFO's.  Moving the VFO knob will no change the memory frequency but will allow you do move up or down from that frequency.

Acknowledgment - The above information was taken directly from the Kenwood TS-850S Instruction Manual, pages 35 and 36.  Good Luck De KØBX.