KENWOOD TS 870S Mods1 Schematic

Making super radio out of TS-870
Page 1 of 3
Making super radio out of TS-870
I loved the TS-870 when I first got it. Size is ideal for expedition radio, light weight, fits in carry on luggage.
Features and computer controls are excellent, until I used it in the contest on 160m. Bloody thing got overloaded
with signals 4 kHz away. Everybody was QRMing me! What a piece of blinMaking super radio out of TS-870 king junk! Liking th
inquired at Kenwood about the problem of overload. They came up with modification to remedy the gain
distribution in the RF and mixer stages, which was implemented in later production models. After I received the
service manual, I started to dig into the radio and came up with few more improvements.
Earlier production units before S/N 801xxxxx had problem with front end overload and consequent distortion and
crossmodulation in the later stages, including DSP, especially noticeable on low bands. To remedy that on those
earlier units see the Overload Modification.
There is an absence of 2nd RX antenna switching (Beverages, etc.). When I inquired at Kenwood, they supplied
modification instructions that required some drastic modifications, including cutting the traces. When I obtained
service manual, I figured very elegant modification using just plug in diode. See 2nd RX Antenna Switching
modification.
Examining the circuits and filtering arrangement, I have found that Kenwood engineers decided to rely on
obtaining the selectivity mainly by using the DSP. Theoretically it is great, except when strong signals blow by the
mediocre crystal filters used in stock TS-870, they modulate the following stages, including DSP circuits. The
biggest improvement that puts this radio one class higher, is to replace the stock 2nd IF crystal filter and 3rd IF
monolithic ceramic filter with high quality International Radio or other filters. Any better shaped filters make
tremendous improvement to the selectivity, overload and DSP performance. Depending on intended use, you can
use 2.7, 2.4 or 2.1 kHz bandwidth filters. I chose 2.1 mainly for contesting purposes. It is possible to use narrower
filters for CW operation, but selectivity selection scheme via microprocessor controlled switching makes it
complicated and throws the controls off their markings. I found that 2.1 filters work very well even for CW and are
significant improvement over stock arrangement. See Filter Modification.
Overload Modification
NOTE: the changes do not apply to radios with S/N 801xxxxx and later.
Problem:
If there is any strong signal in the proximity on the low bands, it will cause crossmodulation and create a "ghost"
signal. It may occur in the contest operation or during the pile-up reception.
Cause:
A larger power input signal causes the second mixer output, the NB amplifier input, the third IF amplifier input,
and the third IF amplifier output to be saturated.
Remedy:
Change the gain allocation of the IF stage to raise the limit of saturation. This modification will cause almost no
deterioration of receiver sensitivity.
Circuits from the antenna terminal onward:

Sequence is:
Antenna, amplifier, mixer, 73.05MHz filter
Amplifier, mixer, 8.83 MHz filter - noted gain is -10dB (minus 10)
Amplifier, mixer, 455kHz filter
Two Amplifiers - noted gain is +10dB (plus 10)
Replace the following components with (Kenwood part numbers)

Caution: they are all SMT chips, you need to be familiar with SMT soldering procedures.
Page 2 of 3
Changes to circuit board XX4-3210 (A/9) RF UNIT

R1157 : replace 1.8k with 560 (RK73FB2A561J)
R160, R161: 2.2k with 1k (RK73FB2A102J)
R164 : 1.5k with 560 (RK73FB2A561J)
L76, L79 : 3.3uH with 0(zero) (R92-0670-05)
R169 : 1k with 330 (RK73FB2A331J)
X57-4620 TX-RX UNIT

R332 : replace 2.2k with 6.8k (RK73FB2A682J)
Adjustment:
Do not forget to perform the re-adjustment of the S-meter sensitivity after making the modifications.
Refer to "8. S-meter adj." on P.95 of the Service Manual for how to do it specifically.
If you cannot adjust the display to "05", even after you follow the steps described in "8. S-meter adj.", change the
resistor as instructed below and make the re-adjustment.
X57-4620 TX-RX UNIT
VR-1 : 470 ---> 3.3k (R12-6737-05)
2nd RX Receive Antenna switching modification

Kenwood TS870 has two antenna jacks ANT1 and ANT2 and external receiver antenna jack (RCA type) that can
accommodate external receiver when activated through the program menu. This adds some attenuation to TS870
receiver signals. There is no provision for external receive antenna switching (Beverages, preamp., etc.) When I
inquired Kenwood about this option, they sent me modification instructions that required cutting the traces and
rewiring the ext. RX connector. When I received my Service manual and had a look at the circuit, I came up with
this simple modification:
Parts needed: 1 diode (any type) I used rectifier diode, generic NTE125
Step by step instructions:

1. (In the following references the front panel of the rig is facing you.) Remove the top cover.
2. Remove 7 screws holding the cover over the FILTER and RELAY unit (in the middle) and remove the cover.
(Where the ANT1 and ANT2 connectors go.) This exposes two PC boards.
3. Locate the connector CN301 on the RELAY unit (adjacent to ANT1 and ANT2). It is about 1 inch back and 1
inch left from the ANT1 connector and has three wires going to it - two gray, left and one black, right.
4. Take the diode, clip the leads to about 0.5 inch length, bend them down and form them so they are spaced
about 1/8" and parallel (kinda forming letter Y).
5. Plug the diode into CN301 connector from the top, pushing the diode wires between the plastic housing and the
metal contacts of the connector. Cathode (the end with the band marking) of the diode should go to the middle
contact (gray wire), the other end to the left contact (gray wire). Make sure that diode makes good contact with
terminals of the connector. Black wire should be free.
6. That completes the modification. Replace the covers, do not pinch the wires going to the antenna tuner!
Operation:
Connect your transmit or main antenna to the ANT2 connector. Connect your receive antenna or preamp output
to ANT1 connector. Now you can transmit only through ANT2 connector.
Front panel button ANT now allows you to select ANT2 (receive/transmit on ANT2) or ANT1 (receive on ANT1,
transmit on ANT2). Antenna tuner would always see the impedance on ANT2. The way the switching works,
whenever you transmit, you will switch ANT2 on transmit, regardless of ANT1 or ANT2 selection. Much better use
of connectors than originally devised by Ken Wood
Notes on TS870 usage: Normally there is enough gain on the receiver for beverages. In case that you need to
use the preamp or preselector, than turn the AIP on TS870 on, and if needed add the attenuators. Try to keep the
noise level peaks close to low end of the Smeter scale. Helps with intermods. If using DSP, play with different
settings and different levels of AGC setting, it has effect on overall behavior.
Filter Modification.
Page 3 of 3
Major improvement in selectivity and DSP performance can be achieved by replacement of 2nd and 3rd IF filters
with sharp crystal filters, like from International Radio. The 2nd IF 8.83 kHz filter used in TS870 is the stock
Kenwood crystal filter, while the 3rd IF 455 kHz filter is little ceramic Murata filter.
I have ordered set of 2.1 kHz filters (8.83 and 455) from IR. The modification involves removal of printed circuit
boards where the filters are located, unsoldering the old filters. In their place solder short piece of miniature coax
to connect new IR filters. IR filters can be mounted between the circuit boards and the metal chassis using double
sided sticky tape. Coax from old filter connections is then connected to new filters. Tweaking the matching IF
transformers next to the filters ensures proper match and gain.
Other filters with wider bandwidth can be used also. For contesting I found 2.1 filters to be the best and the mod
works very well on CW also. Selectivity improves as well as functions of DSP. Now it is a decent radio, matching
those costing thousand(s) more.
Good luck and I am not responsible for any goofups you make! :-)
DSP PROMs
OK2RZ reported ditorted or muffled audio when experiencing SSB pileups as compared to TS850. Upon
investigation and with some help we were able to identify the problem.
The distortions and problems with decoding of SSB signals by DSP circuits are indeed present int the older
versions of TS870S. The fix is in replacing 3 PROMs with the newer version. The latest part numbers are:
Qty Part Number Description
1 27C256PCJJTF EPROM IC
1 27C256PCJJUF EPROM IC
1 27C256PCJJVF EPROM IC
Check your radio. (No idea what SN change took place.) They are located at the bottom left half (RX/TX board),
behind the shield. The important letters are the second before last (T,U,V) indicating the present latest version. I
checked Kenwood authorized service center, they wouldn't sell the chips. They have to be ordered from Kenwood
parts centers. Price is $29.53 each.
(From East Coast Transistor http://www.kenwoodparts.com/)
I have not received any answers from Kenwood, their service centers claim PROMs fix some problem with S-
meter spikes - so much for customer service. They should be replacing all the old PROMs without charge, this is
design problem.
This should help to keep your 870s, excellent midrange radio for contester, expeditioner, portable,
computer/remote control.

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Making super radio out of TS-870

Making super radio out of TS-870

Circuits from the antenna terminal onward:

Replace the following components with (Kenwood part numbers)

Changes to circuit board XX4-3210 (A/9) RF UNIT

X57-4620 TX-RX UNIT

2nd RX Receive Antenna switching modification

Step by step instructions:

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