Kenwood TK-350 Two-Way Radio

User's manual: tk250-350.pdf (, 1.4M)

Specifications

General
Applicable Standards	EIA RS-316B: shock, vibration, humidity, dust
Battery Voltage	7.5 V DC
Channel Spacing	25-12.5 kHz (PLL step: 5 kHz/6.25 kHz)
Dimensions (W x H x D)	2-17/64 x 6-7/64 x 1-13/64in (57.5 x 155 x 30.5 mm) with KNB-12A battery 2-17/64 x 5-33/64 x 1-13/64in (57.5 x 140 x 30.5 mm) with KNB-11A battery
Frequency Range	Type 1: 450 - 470 MHz Type 2: 470 - 490 MHz Type 3: 490 - 512 MHz Type 4: 406 - 430 MHz
Memory Channels	32, 160 on the "G" model
Operating Temperature Range	-22\xB0F - 140\xB0F (-30\xB0C - 60\xB0 C)
Weight (approx.)	1.2 lbs. (545g) with KNB-12A battery Weight (approx.) 1.1 lbs (500g) with KNB-11A battery
Transmitter
Audio Distortion	3%
Channel Frequency Spread	Type 1: 20 MHz Type 2: 20 MHz Type 3: 22 MHz Type 4: 24 MHz
FM Noise	-45 dB
RF Output Power	4W/2W/1W
Spurious & Harmonics	-70 dB
Stability	\xB10.0005% (-30\xB0C - 60\xB0C)
Receiver
Audio Output Power	500 mW at less than 5% distortion
Channel Frequency Spread	Type 1: 20 MHz Type 2: 20 MHz Type 3: 22 MHz Type 4: 24 MHz
Intermodulation	-67 dB
Modulation	\xB17 kHz
Selectivity	-70 dB
Sensitivity (12dB SINAD)	0.25\xB5V
Sensitivity (20 dB quieting)	0.35 \xB5V
Spurious Response	-70 dB
Stability	\xB10.0005% (-30\xB0C - 60\xB0C)

Programming the Radio

You will need the following:

• A KPG-22 programming cable. These are available from Kenwood dealers as an OEM item or as knockoffs on eBay. The knockoffs seem to get the job done at a fraction of the price. If you will be programming more than just a TK-350, there are KPG-4/KPG-22 combination cables available for a few extra dollars.

• The KPG-28D programming software. The last version published was 2.00 and is able to take full advantage of the extra channel capacity of the "G" model. This is available from Kenwood for about $45 or through other sources.

• An old, slow PC with a floppy drive and a serial port.

• A bootable MS-DOS or FreeDOS floppy with the KPG-28D software installed and any radio data files you will be using.

Do not attempt to run the programming software from within Windows. The timing of the data going into the radio is critical, and interruptions could cause the radio to become unusable.

To program the radio:

1. Connect the programming cable to the PC and the radio.
2. Boot the DOS disk
3. Start the KPG-28D software.
4. While holding the Lamp and LO buttons, turn the radio on.
5. Continue holding the buttons until -PC- appears in the display.
6. Use the software to program and/or tune the radio.
7. Turn the radio off.
8. Disconnect the programming cable.

Clone Mode

The contents of a TK-350 can be sent to another TK-350 using a cloning cable.

To clone the radio:

1. While holding the Lamp, D/A and LO buttons, turn the radio on.
2. To be continued...

Field Test/Tune Mode

To enter field test/tune mode:

1. Hold the Lamp and D/A buttons while turning the radio on.
2. Continue holding the buttons until SEL appears in the display.

Transmit/Receive Testing

The KPG-28D programming software allows up to 10 channels to be programmed into the radio

1. Enter field test/tune mode.
2. Press LO. The display will show ch followed by a pair of numbers, such as 10-1.

The number on the left is the test channel number as programmed using the software. The number on the right is the signalling mode, as described in the table below:

Mode	Description
1	None
2	QT (PL) encode/decode using 151.4 Hz
3	DQT (DPL) encode/decode using code 023N
4	Two-tone decode using 321.7 Hz for tone 1 and 928.1 Hz for tone 2
5	DTMF decode using 159D
6	DTMF encode 1 using 1633 Hz
7	DTMF encode 2 using 825 Hz and 1209 Hz (digit 7)
8	Square wave encode using 100 Hz

In this mode, you can do the following with the controls on the radio.

Control	Description
Channel	Select a combination of test channel and signaling mode
Monitor	Manually open and close the squelch
PTT	Transmit using the selected signaling mode
Lamp	Illuminate the display backlight
SCN	Enter tuning mode (see below)
D/A	Toggle the A indicator on the display. What it actually means in this mode is not known

Tuning

Do not make changes to any parameters other than the squelch unless you fully understand what they do and can measure the results. Improper changes can have an adverse effect on the performance of your radio and its compliance with FCC rules.

These adjustments can also be made using the software and a programming cable.

1. Enter field test/tune mode (Lamp + D/A + Power)
2. Press LO and then SCN.
3. Use the Lamp button to select a parameter from the table below.
4. Use the channel selector to change values.
5. Scroll through the remaining parameters with the Lamp button until END appears on the display.
6. Press SCN and then LO to exit.

No.	Name	Range	Description
General and Wideband Adjustments
1	Squelch	0-255
2	RF High Power
3	RF Med Power
4	RF Low Power
5	Max Deviation
6	DQT Balance
7	QT Fine Deviation
8	DQT Fine Deviation
9	DTMF Fine Deviation
10	Power Source	N/A	Says BATT if running on a battery.
Narrowband Adjustments
15	Squelch	0-255
16	Max Deviation
17	DQT Balance
18	QT Fine Deviation
19	DQT Fine Deviation
20	DTMF Fine Deviation

Lamp Test

This test illuminates all of the segments on the display, the backlight and the red and green LEDs in the indicator lamp, making it glow yellow.

1. Enter field tune/test mode.
2. Press SCN.
3. Press SCN to exit.

Loading Firmware

Before starting, program the radio with a load that has the "Main Programming" setting enabled.

1. Connect the programming cable to the radio and the computer
2. Hold the Lamp and SCN buttons while turning the radio on.
3. Continue holding the buttons until PROG flashes in the display.
4. C:\> MODE COM1:9600,N,8,2
5. Locate the .HEX file with the firmware
6. C:\>COPY TK250.HEX COM1
7. If the data is correctly transferred, the radio will display a four-digit checksum and the transmit LED will illuminate.

Links

• Mods and other useful information: http://www.notpurfect.com/main/tk350.html
• General information: http://www.amnet.net.au/~mackat/kenwood_tk.html
• Schematics, etc.: http://www.cqham.ru/sch.htm
• Programming cable and software chart: http://www.twoway.net/ken_software_cables.html
• Kenwood-specific cable: http://members.shaw.ca/swstuff/kenwood.html
• Universal programmer and cable schematics: http://www.cqham.ru/uniprog2_eng.html
• Antenna connector identification: http://www.rfwiz.com/Comtelco/ComtelcoPortableAntennaIdentification.htm

-- MarkFeit - 23 May 2007