A New HF Radio!

de N5XU

The officers, members, and friends of the University of Texas Amateur Radio Club gratefully acknowledge a most generous donation made by several of our alumni and faculty, of a new HF radio for the club station, N5XU. Kevin Mandaville KT5I, Robert Brandon K5PI, Derek Wills AA5BT, and Robert Barron KA5WSS have chipped in together and bought a Kenwood TS-850SAT for the club. Robert K5PI also donated several Kenwood CW filters, and has loaned an Astron RS-20A power supply to the club until a more permanent power supply can be acquired.

The Kenwood TS-850SAT is in very fine condition, and came with an external speaker, the Kenwood IF-232C computer control interface, the built-in automatic antenna tuner accessory, and a hand mic. The radio's features also include all solid-state construction, a built-in CW keyer, general-coverage receiver, two selectable banks of CW filters, slope tuning on SSB receive, a built-in SWR meter, and direct FSK keying for RTTY operation. The radio is hooked up and has been used to make many contacts already. It has never been easier to use the Force 12 C-4 antenna on the 12M and 17M WARC bands - the autotuner matches the antenna beautifully. Switching bands is a breeze, as no tuning of vaccuum tubes is necessary, and the many filters will surely excite CW operators. The radio has also been wired for direct FSK keying on RTTY, selectable from the front panel without any need to switch microphone connectors!

This radio is ten years younger than the Kenwood TS-830S that the club also owns, and will surely see the club station through the next decade. It is a very nice radio, and the club extends its deepest appreciation to our very generous donors!