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