Kenwood TS-850: Resources for Operation, Mods, and Repair
Find essential information, modifications, and repair guides for the Kenwood TS-850 and TS-850S HF transceivers.
The Kenwood TS-850 is a classic HF transceiver, popular with many operators for its solid performance across the 160 to 10 meter bands. Even though it is an older rig, many hams still use the TS-850 for daily QSOs, DX chasing, and contesting. Its robust design and repairability mean that many units remain active in stations worldwide, often serving as a primary or backup rig for various amateur radio activities.
Operators often look for resources to maintain and enhance their TS-850 transceivers. This category provides a wealth of information, including common modifications to improve performance, such as noise blanker enhancements or amplifier interfaces. Hams can also find detailed repair guides for typical faults and general technical information, helping them keep their TS-850 on the air for many more years of enjoyable amateur radio operation.
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TS-850S typical faults and solutions -
Reduces line noise on TS-850 -
QST Magazine, 1991 July, review of the Kenwood TS-850S 160-10 Meter Transceiver -
Info on this discontinued HF Transceiver -
Collection of modifications notes for the Kenwood TS850 -
RigPix Database picture of the TS-850 -
This modification will allow the use of separate receive and transmit antennas on the Kenwood TS-850S/AT. -
Another good collection of TS-850 modifications -
Cat interface for Kenwood transceivers, tested with TS-850 and kenwood TS-50 but should work with all Kenwood rtx -
This page is dedicated to helping 850 owners keep their radios on the air -
Maintained by Larry Tree Tyree N6TR -
A complete list of resources for the Kenwood TS-850 mantained by TK5EP -
A resource page for Kendoowd TS-850 HF transceiver -
The TS850s connector pinouts for Mic,acc2, acc1 and remote connector -
Collection of mods for the Kenwood TS-850 -
my mods.dk -
An interface for amplifier to TS-850S -
Pictures of the Kenwood TS-850 manual -
This page describes some repair tasks related to the Kenwood TS-850 transceiver. You will be guided through the repair proces step-by-step followed by descriptions and pictures. -
DSP-100 Hi-Fi TX and RX Mods for the TS-850S by KA0KA -
KA0KA ESSB with the Kenwood TS-850/DSP-100 project -
Resources for Kenwood TS-850SAT transceiver modifications, cables and tips -
The author fixed a friend's Kenwood TS-850S radio, which suffered from Capacitor Plague, a common problem in 1990s electronics where capacitors leak and damage circuit boards. The CAR board, responsible for generating signals, was especially affected. The author cleaned the board, replaced the capacitors, and repaired a broken trace. Although the radio mostly functioned afterward, the "Slope Tune" control behaved abnormally. The cause seems to be a software issue, not a hardware one. -
TS-850 is not much effective on AM since it does produce fairly clean audio, however while it does noticeably improve low-end frequency response -
Connecting a Yaesu MD-100 dynamic desktop mic to the Kenwood TS-850
