A preamp, internal or external will raise the noise with the signal, it 
raises everything. A tuner at the base of the antenna will only run one 
antenna at once and if you have an external tuner you don't use the internal 
one in the radio at the same time. I've never heard of that brand of tuner 
but have heard of tuners like it, there are several. People will argue all 
day about which is better, to me the less electronics outside short of the 
antenna is the best option but then to, where I'm involved, usually if it 
can go wrong, it will and in a big way. I don't know about the mic wiring on 
the 480, I don't have one but I know a lot of people who do, and a couple 
have more than one and the majority of people seem to just stick with the 
stock hand mic rather than get in to the rewiring and what not though why 
Kenwood doesn't just come out with an extra cord for the MC-60 so at least 
people can use that mic, I don't know.
The S meter reading changes when there is a signal or not, so on SSB, you 
have to try to get it while the person is talking, not on pauses, that's 
probably the difference you're seeing. Then, you have 5 different radios, 
they'll say 5 different readings on the same signals so I wouldn't even go 
by that.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Fiorello" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 8:33 PM
Subject: hf questions


> Hi everyone;
> I've been away from this list for about a year because it didn't appear
> that h f was going to happen.  Sold some of my toys but fortunately kept
> the ts480.  I've run across someone to offer some antenna help who knows
> far more than I which may have some possibilities.
> A couple somewhat basic questions have come up that I'm certain people
> here can easily answer.
>
> First, has anyone worked with tuners from stg?  I never heard of them
> until it was suggested that they made the tuner I had to have.
> Apparently they are a remote tuner that mounts up at the antenna.  I
> gather that the tuner gets its operating current through the coax but
> that seems like a bit of a mystery.  It would seem that the tuner could
> only be used with one antenna in this arrangement.  Any thoughts
> appreciated.
> Secondly I have run across a few things with the 480 that are a bit
> perplexing.  Wonder if most people run the receiver with the preamp on?
>  My noise is manageable without the preamp  but once its turned on the
> noise goes up as much as the signal.
> As for the internal tuner I've been astonished with the high swr it will
> match.  It seems to act rather strangely if the swr is between 1.4 and 2
> to one.  Often once the tuner finishes the forward power is ten wats
> lower than it was when the tuner isn't in the line.  Is there any type
> of reset I should be looking at?
> I have speech set to read the s meter which is great but not at all
> certain if its accurate.  Someone was looking at the s meter and there
> readings and the readings via the vgs1 were very different.  It seemed
> that the agc setting had a lot to do whith the accuracy of the reading.
>  Has anyone else noticed this?
> I still find the fact that most keys on the number pad have to functions
> to be a bit challenging.  Number four will set tx monitor and tx power.
>  The other day I hit four more times than I care to count and all I got
> was tx monitor when I wanted to change the power setting.  There must be
> some sort of timing that I just don't seem to get.
> Lastly I thought I kept all my important messages from yester year and
> obviously the one I wanted wasn't in my folder.  What is the situation
> with the microphone plug adaptor.  Apparently two wires had to be
> reversed.  When doing this did you need to buy an extra plug or socket
> or could you change the wiring on the existing adaptor?
> Sorry for all the questions and wish me luck on an antenna project or two.
> -- 
> richard