New CATfix software for the Kenwood TS-590S and TS-990S

/

Ian Wade, G3NRW, has just released the 'CATfix' software for the Kenwood TS-590S and TS-990S radios.

CATfix is a Windows program that "fixes" a significant operational  shortcoming of the Kenwood TS-590S, and also helps set up the right  digital environment for the TS-590S and TS-990S.

The TS-590S shortcoming relates to the operation of the front-panel  

TF-SET button - namely, when you press and release this button, the two VFOs swap over, but the IF filters do not. DX chasers have long said they would like to swap the IF filters as well, so they can listen to the DX station with a narrow filter and around their own frequency with a wide filter.

CATfix provides an option that does this automatically - for example, when you are listening on VFO-A with IF Filter A, pressing TF-SET will switch to VFO-B and IF Filter B. When you release TF-SET, you return to VFO-A and IF Filter A.

For both the TS-590S and TS-990S, CATfix also addresses the special  requirements for setting up a clean digital environment.

Specifically, CATfix has options that let you do the following: -

  • Set the TX power to any (usually low) level

  • Set both VFOs to upper sideband

  • Turn off the audio processor

  • Lock the front panel to prevent accidental change

  • Turn off Auto Information to prevent application program overload

All of these options are individually selectable, and you can override them at any time.

Further, CATfix has a "raw" mode that lets you record all CAT traffic between the PC and the radio.

CATfix works with all versions of Windows from XP onwards, and is free.

Download the software from - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wadei/ts-590s.htm

Hong Kong radio hams lend a helping hand

/

Amateurs in Hong Kong have gained credit for providing services to charity events.

Hong Kong’s Annual events such as the Trailwalker require a number of volunteers who are responsible for the continuous radio network over the 100 kilometres.

“We provide safety and support for the workers, volunteers and competitors. We can call in helicopters and rescue teams in case someone is lost or injured ”
— Sunny Chan Loy-sun president of the Hong Kong Amateur Transmitting Society (HARTS).

In 2000, some members split from HARTS and formed the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Communications Association (HKARCA). Their president Ken Hau was bitten by the radio bug in 1998. "My friends got me into it because they were playing with ham radios. It's neat to meet friends on the air, not just in Hong Kong, but also in mainland China, Taiwan, the United States and Australia.

Another breakaway group from HARTS is the Hong Kong Amateur Radio Association (HKARA), which was also formed in 2000 and is led by Ho Wing-leung. He was introduced to ham radio as a young boy by an uncle who worked as a technician at Hongkong Electric. Ho's fascination with the technical aspects of telecommunications eventually led to a career in information technology.

Full story - http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1393231/hong-kongs-ham-radio-enthusiasts-lend-helping-hand

Hong Kong Amateur Radio Communications Association (HKARCA) - http://tinyurl.com/HongKong-HKARCA

Hong Kong Amateur Radio Association (HKARA) - http://tinyurl.com/HongKong-HKARA

Hong Kong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society (HARTS) - http://tinyurl.com/HongKong-HARTS-ZH

Tokyo Hy-Power ceases trading

/

The Japanese amateur radio company Tokyo Hy-Power, well known for its high power linears for HF and VHF, has ceased trading

Tokyo Hy-Power Laboratory was founded in 1975 by Nobuki Wakabayashi JA1DJW in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, Japan. Their initial products were antenna couplers for HF bands such as the HC-500 and HC-2500.

In 1977, Tokyo Hy-Power Labs, Inc. was formally established as a developer and manufacturer of linear amplifiers, antenna tuners, etc. for radio amateurs. One of their early products, the HL-4000 linear amplifier using 8877/3CX1500A7 by EIMAC, was the first real HF band high-power linear of its kind in Japan.

As HF mobile operation grew in popularity, they developed fully-transistorized wide-band linears for mobile use such as the HL-200B and HL-400B.

In 1984 they started to manufacture RF power products for the industrial market. They developed RF switching mode technology used in 13.560 MHz RF power generators as well as other industrial and medical use products such as pulse high power and ultra wide band amplifiers.  

In recent years they developed 3 KW VHF RF power generators together with a fast reacting auto impedance matcher used in the semiconductor manufacturing fabrication plants for advanced LSI chips.

Hamlife report in Japanese 24 December 2013 - http://www.hamlife.jp/2013/12/24/tokyo-hy-power/

Hamlife report in Google English - http://tinyurl.com/Hamlife-Tokyo-Hy-Power

The company's Japanese language website was at - http://www.thp.co.jp/

The site is no longer available but a copy taken in August 2013 can be seen - https://web.archive.org/web/20130822211226/http://www.thp.co.jp/

At the time of writing the English language website was still available - http://www.tokyohypower.com/

Japan once had more radio amateurs than any other nation but since 1996 the hobby has been in sharp decline with the number of amateur radio stations falling by over 65% - http://www.speroni.com/MPT/JA-Stations.html