FT950,TS590,IC7410 test1.PDF
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Competitive Analysis: IC-7410, TS-590 and FT-950
by Adam Farson, VA7OJ/AB4OJ. August/September, 2012.
Figure 1: Kenwood TS-590.
Figure 2: Yaesu FT-950.
1: Introduction.
This report describes a comparative evaluation of the Icom IC-7410, Kenwood
TS-590S and Yaesu FT-950 performed in my ham-shack and RF lab over the period August-
September 2012.
The document is in three parts: a feature comparison table covering all three transceivers,
followed by on-air evaluation reports on the TS-590S and FT-950 and finally by the results of
lab tests conducted on the Kenwood and Yaesu radios. Only an NPR (noise-power ratio) test, an
AGC/noise-blanker impulse-response test and a test for IF notch filter anomalies were
performed. The results of these tests on the IC-7410, as performed prior to the period covered by
this report, are included for comparison purposes.
PART 1: Feature Comparison Table.
Tables 1 and 1a
list the main features as provided in each of the three transceivers under
consideration. Each table entry indicates briefly how the listed feature is implemented in its
respective radio. Explanations are given as needed in the
Notes
at the foot of Table 1a. For a
more detailed description of each radio’s listed features, please consult the respective user
manual.
1
Table 1: Feature Comparison, IC-7410/TS-590S/FT-950
Feature
IC-7410
TS-590S
FT-950
Frequency Range
10 HF bands + 6m
10 HF bands + 6m
10 HF bands + 6m
General Coverage RX
Yes
Yes
Yes
RF Output
100W
100W
100W
Display Size
130 mm diagonal
180x32 mm
200x35 mm
Display Type
Mono LCD.
Mono LCD
Vacuum Fluorescent
Backlight Type
CCFL
LED (Amber or Green)
None
Meter Type
On-Screen
On-Screen
On-Screen
Spectrum Scope
Simple
No
DMU reqd.
Power Supply
External
External
External
Primary Power
13.8V DC
13.8V DC
13.8V DC
Digital Preselector
No
No
Optional µ-Tuner
1
st
IF
64.455 MHz
11.374
1
or 73.095 MHz
69.45 MHz
15/6/3 kHz
2
2.7/0.5
1
or 15/6/2.7 kHz
1st IF (Roofing) Filter
15/6/3 kHz
IF Stages (Conversions)
2
2
1
or3
3
Image Rejection Mixer
Yes
No
No
DSP IF BW Adjustment
BW & Twin PBT
Hi/Lo Cut & Width
3
Shift/Width
IF Filter Config. Display
Shift Icon/BW Value
Shift/Width Graphic
Shift/Width Graphics
DSP IF Filter Shape Factors
Sharp/Soft/
BPF
Fixed
Fixed
DSP IF Filter Defaults
1, 2, 3
A, B
NORM, NAR
Digital Audio I/O
USB
USB
None
PC Connectivity
USB/CI-V
USB/RS-232
RS-232
DSP IF CONTOUR
No
RX EQ
Yes
Manual Notch Width
WIDE/MID/NAR
WIDE/NORM
Fixed
Tracking IF Notch
Manual only
Yes
No
Auto Notch (post-AGC)
Suppresses 3 tones
DNF (Beat Cancel)
DNF (Beat Cancel)
Noise Reduction
Variable DSP NR
DNR: 15 values
DSP NR1/NR2
Noise Blanker Type
DSP
Analogue NB1, DSP NB2
DSP
CW Audio Peak Filter
No
No
Yes
CW Tuning Aid
No
Auto Zero Beat
Tuning offset scale
CW Pitch Control
Knob
Menu
Menu
2
Table 1a: Feature Comparison, IC-7410/TS-590S/FT-950 (continued)
Feature
IC-7410
TS-590S
FT-950
Band Stacking Registers
Triple
Triple
Triple
Internal CW Keyer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Keying Speed/BKIN Delay Display
No
Yes
Yes
CW Memory Keyer
4 slots
4 slots
5 slots
Indirect
4
Indirect
4
CW Spotting (Netting)
CW tuning aid
Transmit Duty Cycle
100W, 100%
RTTY: De-rate 25%
RTTY: De-rate 50%
Transmit Inhibit for QSK
No
No
Yes
Transmit Monitor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Amplifier Keying Line
Relay/Low Level
Relay/+12V
Transistor switch
External ALC Input
Yes
Yes
Yes
Band Data for Amplifiers
Icom, THP
THP
Yaesu, THP
Audio EQ
TX/RX Bass/Treble
TX/RX Bass/High
5
TX Parametric
RTTY (FSK) Decoder/Display
Yes
No
No
RTTY (FSK) Twin Peak Filter
Yes
No
No
Antenna Jacks
2
2
2
RX ANT IN Jack
No
Yes
No
Transverter Jack
No
Yes (DRV)
No
Internal ATU Type
Motorized capacitors
6
Relay chain
Relay chain
Voice Squelch
Yes
No
No
Voice Synthesizer
Yes
OPT (VGS-1)
7
Yes
Voice Memory
No
OPT (VGS-1)
OPT (DVS-6)
External Display
No
No
DMU
Firmware Upgrading
USB
USB
RS-232
Remote Control Software
RS-BA1
ARHP-590, ARVP-10
PCC-950 (local PC only)
5 * 10
-7
TCXO
Standard
OPT (SO-3)
Standard
Frequency Calibration
Int. Cal. Marker
CW Sidetone
Ext. counter reqd.
“My Bands” select
No
No
Yes
User-programmable keys
None
2 PF keys
Custom Switch (CS)
5167.5 kHz Alaska Emerg. Freq.
No
Yes
Yes
3
Notes to Tables 1, 1a:
1.
160 – 15m bands only, excl. WARC bands.
2.
6 & 3 kHz filters optional (FL-430, FL-431).
3.
SSB/AM/FM: Hi/Lo Cut. CW/FSK: Shift/Width.
4.
CW spotting possible by tuning received signal to same pitch as sidetone.
5.
EQ parameters preset, but configurable via ARCP-590 software.
6.
Morse code accessibility annunciator standard.
7.
4-pin Molex socket for remote auto-couplers (e.g. AH-4) fitted.
Part 2A: TS-590S “In the Shack” Evaluation Report.
2.1 TS-590S in the shack:
I was able to spend a number of days with the TS-590S in my ham-
shack, and thus had the opportunity to exercise the radio’s principal features and evaluate its on-
air behavior. The firmware in the tested radio is at the current rev. level (1.06).
2.1.1. Connections and setup:
First, I made up a cable with a 7-pin DIN plug at one end and
four RCA jacks at the other. This enabled me to connect the PTT, ALC and F SET leads of my
Yaesu Quadra amplifier to the correct pins of the TS-590S’s REMOTE socket. This cable, the
station ground and the RF drive jumper, completed the hook-up to the amplifier. Operation with
the Quadra is described
here.
Next, I connected the supplied hand mic, my straight key and the power supply (my IC-PS126). I
then adjusted the drive power and ALC to level the system output at 1 kW in FSK mode. The
station was now ready for on-air testing.
2.1.2. Physical “feel” of the TS-590S:
The TS-590S is surprisingly compact and light for a
100W-class radio with an impressive array of features. It is 270W x 96H x 291D mm and weighs
only 7.4 kg. Its compact size lends itself to semi-portable operation e.g. at Field Day, but its front
panel and controls are sufficiently large to assure operating comfort. The overall appearance and
layout of the front panel are similar to those of the earlier TS-570S.
The TS-590S is built on a die-cast light-alloy “tub” chassis with sheet-steel clamshell covers
finished in matte black. The front panel has the same finish. A carrying handle is fitted to the
right side of the case, and a bail at the front of the bottom cover permits raising the front of the
radio. The large (80 mm Ø) top-firing speaker is on the left side of the top cover. The overall fit
and finish are of excellent quality, and all controls have a smooth tactile feel.
2.1.3. Controls and menus:
The main tuning knob is medium-sized, and has a knurled
Neoprene grip; it turns smoothly, without side-play. An adjustable dial brake is provided. The
other five control knobs – NOTCH/SQL, HI/SHIFT-LO/WIDTH (equivalent to Twin PBT),
RIT/XIT, MULTI/CH and AF/RF (Gain) are grouped in two columns on the right side of the
front panel. (CW Pitch is a menu item.)
The menus are easily navigable using the MENU and U/D/L/R arrow keys and the MULTI/CH
knob. Pressing L/R or rotating the MULTI/CH knob selects the menu number, and pressing U/D
changes the parameter value. When a menu is open, its easily-comprehensible descriptor scrolls
across the screen. Two independent menu sets, Menu A and Menu B, can be stored to
accommodate two different usage configurations or operators.
4
Other functions are accessed via front-panel keys; variables such as power output are adjustable
by pressing their associated key (e.g. PWR) and rotating the MULTI/CH knob. I found the panel
layout logical and easy to master.
2.1.4. Display:
The rectangular LCD display, 180W x 32H mm, occupies most of the front-panel
width. The displayed characters and icons are clear and legible. When accessed, menus are
displayed as scrolling texts in plain English. Amber or green LED backlighting is selectable via
menu.
A curved bar-graph meter to the left of the frequency readout displays signal strength on receive.
On transmit, power output is displayed. The METER key allows selection of ALC, SWR and
compression scales (the latter when PROC is on).A bar-graph below the meter scales gives a
visual indication of DSP IF filter low and high cutoff points.
2.1.5. Internal autotuner:
The TS-590S employs a relay-chain antenna tuner which matches
loads over a 3:1 VSWR range more rapidly than a tuner using motorized variable capacitors. It
will also accept an external autotuner. The internal tuner is in the common (antenna) signal path.
2.1.6. USB interface:
The TS-590S is fitted with a rear-panel USB “B” port. This allows direct
connection to a laptop or any other PC via a standard USB “A-B” cable. The USB port carries
rig-control data and TX/RX PCM baseband between the radio and the PC. As a result, the USB
cable is the
only
radio/PC connection required. The TS-590S is firmware-upgradeable via the
USB “B” port. Gone forever is the mess of cables, level converters and interface boxes! A
Kenwood driver is required in the connected PC; this is downloadable from the Kenwood
website.
2.1.7. IF and filter selections:
The TS-590S employs a unique receiver architecture in which the
front end routes CW, SSB, SSB-DATA and FSK (RTTY)signals in the 160m through 15m bands
(excluding the WARC bands) to an inband 1
st
IF (“down-conversion”) at 11.374 kHz. This
permits the placement of high-quality crystal filters immediately after the 1st mixer for improved
close-in dynamic performance. In all other frequency ranges and/or modes, the signal is routed to
a high 1
st
IF at 73.095 MHz, which is translated to a 10.695 MHz 2
nd
IF (“up-conversion”). The
11.374 or 10.695 MHz IF is then down-converted to the 24 kHz final (DSP) IF. This signal-
routing process is transparent to the operator, but when a DSP IF bandwidth greater than 2.7 kHz
is selected when the receiver is in the “down-conversion” mode, it switches to “up-conversion”
and selects a wider 1
st
IF filter automatically.
Two inband 1
st
IF filters (2.7 kHz and 500 Hz) and three high 1
st
-IF filters (15, 6 and 2.7 kHz)
are fitted. The TS-590S’s firmware selects the appropriate filter for each band/mode
combination.
The receiver’s DSP IF filter bandwidth is adjusted by rotating the Hi/Lo Cut knobs in the voice
modes (SSB, AM, FM). For CW and SSB-DATA, the Hi/Lo Cut controls become Shift/Width,
and for FSK Shift is disabled. A large range of discrete cutoff frequency and shift/bandwidth
values is available, but filter bandwidths are not continuously variable. The maximum SSB
receive DSP filter width is 0 – 5000 Hz. There is no equivalent to Icom’s SOFT, SHARP and
BPF
shape-factor settings.
Filter and mode settings for the last band used are stored with that band.
5
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