| On this page I will try to maintain an orderly update on queue status, parts availability, site features, changes, and in general, keep an ongoing status report of everything that you might find useful and important. The text is arranged in chronological order, with the newest entries at the top. Thanks for visiting and 73, Ken | |
K1 Knob Now Shipping! June 17, 2010 Finally! The anodizer came through with a close match to the original Kenwood Bronze. I received the knobs on Tuesday, performed the re-machining of the bright highlights, and assembled the first batch with spinners and bearings. Wow! I got excited! They look really nice, I think you'll agree. You can see the new knobs here: http://k4eaa.com/k1-knob.htm. I shipped the first orders this afternoon. Everyone who ordered one yesterday or today should be seeing them shortly. Enjoy! Repair Schedule Set Back a Bit June 16, 2010 Every few years I get hit by a bout of cluster headaches. Lucky me, only 0.1% of the population suffers from them! Mine come every 2-3 years, and last for a few weeks. I've had them for the last 3 weeks, and between the headaches, the medications, and the loss of sleep, I've resembled a zombie. As a consequence, I've not been going into the shop and working on radios. The few hours of clear-headed time every day has been spent on getting the K1 up to speed. I see light at the end of the tunnel, as some prescribed steroids appear to be breaking the cluster. I hope to be back to normal soon. I'm lucky, as these stupid headaches becomes chronic in some unfortunate people. Mine are always for a relatively short term, with lots of time between them - Knock-knock. Total Overload April 15, 2010 I am presently receiving more email messages than I can ever hope to answer. I have tried for almost 5 years to answer every email sent to me in a timely manner. Sometimes the workload gets so high that I have to simply cry "help!" . . . It has now been that way for a few months, at least. I receive about 30 (or more) "tough" emails per day, requiring some research and reference to Kenwood materials, and that represents hours of work - for free. There are always a few people every month who send me multiple emails, usually failing to read and/or try simple tests I have recommended to them. Most have not read the material available on my web pages, or performed the simple tests I have suggested. I have about 100 maintained web pages available on my site, covering most hybrid topics, and I add to them regularly. I could provide a lot more online content if I did not have to keep answering the same email questions over and over again to those who will not bother to read my existing pages, or worse yet, my email answers. Starting now, I will be instituting new procedures for submitting and receiving answers to Kenwood hybrid issues. Those who have purchased or wish to purchase parts and need immediate answers to specific questions will have the same access to technical support as always. Anyone who has had a rig serviced by me will always have immediate access via email or phone. Everyone else should make use of my online resources - the FAQ, Tech Question Mailbag, etc. I will no longer be answering general technical questions via email, simply because there is not enough time in the day! Thanks for your understanding and thanks for reading what has already been provided to help get your Kenwood back to original specs! Anodizing "Opportunities" Feb 19, 2010 The new K-1 VFO Knob is awaiting finalization from the anodizer - I am a picky sort of Ham, and I want my new knobs to match the Kenwood sheen and color exactly! Apparently, that color hasn't been used for a few decades, so we keep going through test after test to find a formula that will meet my approval. I expect some very positive results shortly. Thanks for all that have expressed interest, I have your knob orders in a queue as well. Yes I will have a version for the 520 and 520S! It needs to be recessed in the back to clear the sub-dial bushing, and I think it would look dynamite in gloss black! Hey, I have 520's that need them also! New Shaft Couplers! Feb 19, 2010 I have redesigned the SC-M1 Shaft Coupler by duplicating the length and setscrew spacing of the original Kenwood nylon coupler. The new SC-M2 will now fit the limited space in the TS-820 series. You can view them here on my Parts Page (http://www.k4eaa.com/parts.htm), or see a movie of one being made here: http://k4eaa.com/sc-m2.html Much stronger than the original, it is a lifetime fix for the bandswitch. HV-150B Caps Arrive! Jan 19, 2010 The awaited 500V caps have arrived, been packed into kits, and most of the shipments were completed this evening. This kit should remain in stock now without interruption. Thanks again for your patience. HV-150B Good News! Jan 13, 2010 500V Electrolytics en route to me! Barring hurricanes or earthquakes, I should receive several cases of new HV caps next week. All backorders will be completed and shipped as soon as the parts arrive. I intend to place a new order ASAP, so the supply line remains unbroken. Thanks to all of you for your patience during this temporary outage. WOW! Jan 06, 2010 KB-1 Knob Replacement coming soon! Over the last year I built up a CNC mill, and learned a 3D CAD/CAM program as well as learning to program directly G-Code. The end result is that I will soon supply a beautiful knock-off of the nearly impossible-to-find, high-end optional 530/830 Kenwood tuning knob with ball bearing spinner! These will be anodized in the original color, and I will optionally offer a beautiful black alternative! | |
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This knob features a weight of over 1/4lb., made from a solid billet of 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum. It is beautifully machined and bead blasted to a satin finish, and then professionally anodized by Florida's leading precision anodizer facility. The bright metal highlights on the top surface of the knob are then re-machined to reveal the underlying 6061. A similarly machined 6061-T6 spinner is suspended by a stainless steel ball bearing assembly to provide the ultimate finger spinner ever produced! K4EAA K1 Knob Page |
Jan 06. 2010 HV-150B Update! The ship date of the 500V Electrolytics used in the HV-150B HV repair kit has been pushed back to Feb 1 by the manufacturer. I have no control over this. I worked with the manufacturer to continue supplying these much needed parts for the Kenwood Amateur community, and they kindly agreed. They are making these parts just for us, so another 3 weeks doesn't seem like a huge price to pay. If this is unacceptable to you, please contact me and we can make arrangements for a refund, if that is your preference. | |
Dec 11, 2009 New technical Info! I have been working on a means to impart more technical information to you in an easy to produce and easy to use format. I've decided to make my technical mailbag available to you. I've done this by placing technical Questions and Answers that I've received and sent over the years via email, onto pages that you can easily peruse or search. You can view this new feature by going to Dec 10, 2009 HV-150B Information There has been a run on the HV-150B since it's become known that the last manufacturer has discontinued making that part. I have made arrangements to have more made for me, and am expecting delivery of a sizable quantity on or about the 2nd week in January. In the meantime, I am presently sold out of HV-150B. I am accepting orders and will ship as soon as the next delivery arrives in about 30 days. Dec 9, 2009 The Blog Begins. Welcome to day 1 of Ken's Blog! I hope you find it useful. Thanks for your patience while I tidy up the pages and establish the new features. And Thanks for visiting! | |
