Michael,

It sounds to me as if you've got a keeper with that 940.  It also sounds 
like the radio is in dire need of a good cleaning.  Before you go crazy 
buying new radios, try taking the covers off and checking all the internal 
cables that connect the boards together.  You'll probably find that 
oxidation has built up on the connectors over the years, and if you 
disconnect and reconnect them things will improve.  You may also find that 
some boards may have worked their way out of their sockets (if you have any 
of that type of board), and that firmly reseating them will help.

If you don't want to do these things yourself, you might consider sending 
the radio to Kenwood for a complete checkup.  It may cost you a couple 
hundred bucks, but it's well worth it if you really like the radio.  You may 
want them to give you an estimate before they start working on the radio so 
you can decide whether it's really worth the cost of fixing.  Good luck, and 
here's hoping you can hang onto a radio that you obviously love.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Ryan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 10:48
Subject: 2ND or 3RD opinion


> Hi All:
>
> The center piece of my HF station is a Kenwood TS-940SAT, 1987 vintage
> and I'm the 3RD owner.
> Well, for the past 2 years or so, when I 1ST power up, it takes about
> 30MIN for the rig to settle down and behave normally.
> During this 30MIN time period, the following are intermittent: my
> display blinks in and out, no transmit pwr, no internal ATU function,
> and intermintened audio. The only things that aren't intermittent, is
> the sound of the rig that sounds like there's no antenna attached and
> VS unit announcement of the freq. The VFO and modes can be changed but
> when you do, that's when the display blinks. When you turn any of the
> knobs and switches, the display blinks. All of this occurs for 30MIN
> and when I do have audio, I detect a ripple and crackley affects. I
> was told it may be the PLL board but don't think that would affect the
> power out or atu. Don't think it would inter-fear with the display
> either.
> I'm wondering if the 940 is worth investing in, parts are becoming
> harder to find, or retire it.
> I compared my 940 to another rig this past weekend and my 940 simply
> kicked it's backside once it settled down.
> Did you also know, that Inrad doesn't make any roofing filter mods for
> this rig because there was no improvements when experimental were
> used. They do make roofing filters for every other rig. LOL
> I think that's something to be said and I'd really hate to have to say
> goodbye.
>
> 73:
>
> Michael De VO1RYN
>