If you key down and check the ALC, it will probably say"over", meaning 
it is off the scale.    you can reduce carrier  down to 20-25 and get 
the ALC down  lower in the scale of the meter.  Output power won't start 
to drop  until you get below 20-25 setting.  It's covered in the manual, 
but  most people don't mess with it (or don't read that page).

Before the ALC/spike mod from Kenwood, this was used by many as a 
work-around to  kill that spike on  CW/FSK modes.

73, Steve KW3A

On 11/15/2014 6:36 PM, Jim Gammon wrote:
> What is the deal about setting carrier level? I have never had that
> before getting my 590.  There's of course, the power level so how
> does that work in conjunction with the carrier level.  I think mine
> is set at 50 percent.  Jim WA6EKS
>
>
>