15
the
MULTI
/
CH
control, using steps of
5kHz and again this can be changed in
the menu. Fine tuning is also available
in 10Hz steps, which is selectable from
the front panel. And, as we expect
nowadays, receiver incremental tune
(RIT) and transmitter incremental tune
(XIT) are both available with the offset
displayed. A clear button reverts back to
original setting.
Beeps are selectable on/off but again
these are useful to the visually impaired
and a lock function disables some
keys and controls to prevent you from
changing your favourite settings.
The band change buttons are also
triple band-stacking registers. Each one
‘remembers’ three settings of mode,
frequency and other settings. So, if you
wanted you could set up three changes
on each band, c.w., RTTY and single
sideband (s.s.b.) and just a push of the
band button would take you there.
Power is adjustable in 1W steps from
fi
ve to 100W and it would pay to set
this for 75W when using the transceiver
on data modes. This is because data
modes requires 100% duty cycle
operation.
To deal with interference, the TS-
590S is equipped with very good
digital signal processing (DSP)
fi
ltering
technology. The d.s.p. can control the
bandwidth, reduce the noise or take
out a carrier. For reducing interference
i.f.
fi
ltering is selectable from the front
panel specifying the bandwidth. This is
also shown on the meter display. Using
the
LO
/
WIDTH
and
HI
/
SHIFT
controls,
you can select suitable bandwidths for
all modes.
There’s an auto notch and a manual
notch
fi
lter, both of which are very
effective and deep. The beat cancel
function is also useful in s.s.b. mode
and it would pay to play with these for a
while to get used to them.
Two noise blankers, or ‘reduction
functions’ in modern parlance, are used
to reduce interference and a nearby
electric fence was certainly quietened
down by these. Electric fence are one of
the penalties of living in the countryside!
A pre-ampli
fi
er is also available from
the front panel, if needed. There’s also
a low output for use with a transverter.
On The Air
I completed some setting up of both the
audio tailoring and the c.w. keyer and
then let it loose on the air to get some
reports. My
fi
rst test was to go onto
the Ex-G net that I attend every day on
14.337MHz using my Rhombic antenns
(I used the rig intensively on this net
during the time I had it on review), to
obtain some reports from those regulars
that know me well and would give me
an instant audio report.
Much to my surprise, there wasn’t
one comment, so I had obviously set it
up fairly well! However, when I asked
for comments, the same comments
came from two members of the net, that
there was a lack of bass. So, I quickly
made an adjustment to that and the
ensuing comments were favourable.
I also worked a number of USA
and Canadian stations, one in ZF1,
Grand Cayman Island, ZL50VK in New
Zealand and an OY and a UA9 on
1.8MHz. The Top Band QSOs were on
c.w. using a 1.8MHz inverted V dipole
with the apex at 90ft on my tower.
A pair of slow running 60mm square fans assist the cooling on the TS-590S.
The main r.f. and filter board.
The main board has space for the optional speech unit
(top left in the aluminium box).
The TS-590’s high contrast main display.
