The link to the SG MP3 manual is kelvinsite.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/ts590sg.zip
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Forst <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Friday, January 1, 2016 10:45 am
Subject: TS-590sg first thoughts
>
>
> Hi all, and Happy New Year.
>
> I heard from a couple of people off-list who were curious as to whether
> I had gotten my 590sg, and what I thought of it. Thought I would post a
> few initial thoughts.
>
> It arrived on Tuesday, but I had second thoughts about pulling a VGS-1
> out of one of my other radios, so I ordered one Tuesday afternoon, and
> had it here before lunch Wednesday. Installed it later that day, with
> no problems, other than dealing with those 4 little screws that hold the
> cover over the voice board.
>
> The SG seems identical in shape, size, and front and rear panel layout
> to the older S version.
>
> It does have a powder coated finish compared to the older flat-smooth
> finish of the S. The powder coat, and some differences to accents on
> the front panel are supposed to make it look more like a little brother
> of the TS-990. Probably the easy way for a blind person to tell the
> difference between is to just feel the top or bottom cover: slightly
> rough texture is an SG, and smooth is a S.
>
> The menu structure, firmware, and control software are totally different
> between the 2 versions.
>
> A cool feature is that when you enter menus, the first entry speaks
> firmware version. This makes it real easy to determine what firmware
> is installed.
>
> The radio has a additional (or at least different) roofing filter, is
> supposed to have more dynamic range, and some tweaks in the DSP to
> improve RX slightly. I'm not expecting a tremendous improvement in
> what was already a fine radio, just a few tweaks as science marches on.
>
> One cool thing blind ops will like is the ability to add 4 additional PF
> keys to the front panel. There are no additional keys, but you can
> remap the RIT, XIT, and Clear keys in the upper right hand corner to
> act as PF keys. Of course you lose the original functions of these keys.
>
> Also the multi channel knob now acts as a push button as well. It can
> also act as a PF key. It will actually perform one function while in
> any mode other than CW. Default is to adjust power level. In Cw mode,
> default is CW keying speed. These can be changed in menus, but the
> ability to push the knob in, turn to change a setting (like power), then
> push the button again is pretty cool.
>
> I think another new feature is the ability to connect the Drive
> connector to a SDR receiver.
>
> I was listening a bit last night, but probably won't be on the air
> with it until tomorrow. I need to get my menus and settings
> straightened out first. There are now a total of 5 amp keying options
> that I need to figure out.
>
> I've not found a lot of accessible docs for this version, but the
> active elements site has an audio reading of the manual.
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
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