Jim,

It has nothing to do with running an amp.   The DRV output on the 590 
would be for a transverter to allow operation on some other band(usually 
VHF/UHF) for which the radio  isn't designed. I'm sure there is some 
other high tech geeky stuff it could be used for.

If you wanted to connect an amp to the 480, just coax out from the radio 
to coax in on the amp,, and TX/ALC connections to the amp from one of 
the front panel mini dins on the 480.

And  depending on the drive needed  by  the amp, you would set  your 
power level in the 480.

73, Steve KW3A



On 9/29/2012 3:36 PM, Jim Gammon wrote:
> Hi and thanks Steve, I didn't think the 480 had that but thought
> I'd ask.  I guess if you want to use a power amp on the 480, you
> just crank the power down to 5 or 10 watts manually which is not
> a problem.  Thanks, Jim
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
> From: Steve Forst <[log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date sent: Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:34:45 -0400
> Subject: Re: Beware of the DRV Function On The TS590
>
> No Jim, not on the 480.
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
>
> On 9/29/2012 3:26 PM, Jim Gammon wrote:
>   Does that same feature apply to the TS-480? Have never heard of
>   it.  Jim WA6EKS
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Steve Forst <[log in to unmask]
>   To: [log in to unmask]
>   Date sent: Sat, 29 Sep 2012 06:43:31 -0400
>   Subject: Re: Beware of the DRV Function On The TS590
>
>   That's right Bob.   For driving a transverter or any other
> device
>   that
>   only  needs  a minimal amount of drive.   I think it is pulling
>   the RF
>   from the driver transistors before it gets to the  final PA
>   transistors.
>
>   I've heard of others doing this, so it is something we should
>   keep in
>   mind when the rig doesn't seem to be working right.
>
>   73, Steve KW3A
>
>   On 9/29/2012 12:40 AM, Bob, K8LR wrote:
>     Hi Tom,
>
>     I think that the drv function is for driving a transverter,
> but
>   that is just
>     an educated guess!
>
>     Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]
>     To: <[log in to unmask]
>     Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2012 12:17 AM
>     Subject: Beware of the DRV Function On The TS590
>
>
>     Hello, all.
>
>     What I'm going to share here may not be big news to some, but
>   for those like
>     me who never had this problem, it is a bit disconcerting.
>
>     Tonight, I decided to fire up and get re-acquainted with my
>   TS590, since I
>     probably hadn't even turned it on for a month and a half.  I
> had
>   taken some
>     SWR and output power readings using the rig's  internal meter,
>   and
>     everything looked great, until I tried getting on the air.
>
>     Even if I was on a resonant or near-resonant frequency for one
>   of my
>     antennas, the rig's auto-tuner would not tune.
>
>     I played around for quite a while, trying to figure out what
> was
>   wrong, and
>     then, I decided to swallow my pride, and ask the sighted XYL
> for
>   help.
>
>     It turns out that I inadvertently had activated the DRV
>   function.  This
>     happens when you press the meter function button down too
> long.
>   The meter
>     switch is one of the few buttons that doesn't talk on the rig,
>   so it's very
>     easy to make this mistake.  Once the meter switch  button was
>   re-set to
>     normal, everything was fine again.
>
>     Does anyone know what the DRV function is, and has anyone ever
>   used it?
>
>     Just curious.
>
>     73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
>