WRMS528

Kenwood HT replacement batteries ? Anyone know of a good brand / source for quality replacements? I have several older LMR Kenwood HTs, for which original Kenwood batteries are no longer available. One is a TK-370G. I want good quality, but my biggest concern is safety with Lithium ion batteries. In terms of mitigating any potential fire risk, due to cheap and or unprotected cells. Another question is : is it even OK to use Lithium ion batteries in an older HT , which when the HT was originally manufactured, Lithium ion chemistry was not yet available? I realize if I go with a Lithium ion battery that I would need a new charger, compatible with the Lithium ion chemistry. I see plenty of offerings on Ebay & Amazon, but can't tell about the quality of cells used. Some claim to be made of quality Japanese cells, which would be good. But who knows if what is advertised is so? Thanks WRMS528 Mike

Riktar, I did have the power source attached, plus added power to the yellow wire. I did take radio apart & wiggled the ribbon to see if I could locate a short. I did not check that it was plugged in securely at both ends. I will chack that the next time I tak it apart. Thanks WRMS528

JohnE, I put 13.8 v to the yellow ignition sense wire , & that did not help. I was hopeful that the radio was set up for ignition sese feature & that would have been the problem. Any other ideas ?

Sshannon, no lights, no notthing, except the speaker pops softly when radio receives power & when power is dropped. 13.8 V is getting to the terminals were the power cord attaches to the circuit board. I did not see the fuse , so I guess its on the under side of the cercuit board, & I was trying not to take the radio that faqr apart if I did not have to. According to the schematic the fuse is very close to where the power first comes into the radio. So, since the speaker is getting power, I thought it was not likely the fuse. I also put 13.8 v to the yellow ignition sense wire & that did not change any thing.

Sshannon, thanks for the info & links I will look at the internal fuse first.

Radio is new to me from an, "as is auction" (cant return). Speaker makes slight popping sound when powering on & off, no sound otherwise, screen not displaying anything, I tried transmitting with a meter on the radio & not transmitting either. my power supply is good at 13.8 volts. pressing power button doesn't do anything. Radio looks like new. I tried searching this forum, & could not find this topic. Any ideas on what I could try ? thanks , WRMS528

For anyone who finds this thread looking for this answer in the future. I was able to get access to the password by using a new to me software key which let me read , but not write the radio. Once I could read the radio , I was able to look up the password in the program. Then with the password , I was able to write the radio. So, for me it took a special key to the software, the first key I had would not let me read the radio without the password. Thanks so much to the members of this forum !

Have used software & cable on one other tk-8160 successfully . Lscott told me that Passwords for Kenwood radios are numeric only. And that was it. It prints asterisks now, before I was typing letters instead of numbers. So, the problem now is that I just need a password, or a workaround. And, yes the seller had know idea, he is not a radio guy. So, I don't fault him. And would hate to ask for a refund. Plus I would like to give this radio a new life ! thanks WRMS528

I got TK-8160 off e-bay (contacted seller, he is not a radio person & cant give me any technical advise). Upon opening KPG-99D software the radio will not let me read or write, as its asking for a password. I do not have the password. But the bigger problem seems to be that, even if I did. It will not let me type in the password box. There is a flashing cursor as there should be , but it will not place any characters on the screen when I type. Also, will not accept anything copied & pasted. This happens both with the read password & the write password. It just sits there with the blinking cursor. I have tried searching this forum, but could not find this specific problem. I would rather use the Kenwood software to program, but if I cant get around it. Would I be able to program with Chirp ? thanks for any help, WRMS528

thanks, Lscott I was able to open the link below by opening microsoft edge browser & it opened it, firefox would not. https://radiosoftware.online/KENWOOD/SOFTWARE/!!!KENWOOD Current Versions - 2017.xlsx

Thanks Lscott, the main download installed. I could not get https://radiosoftware.online/KENWOOD/SOFTWARE/!!!KENWOOD Current Versions - 2017.xlsx to open with anything , downloaded & tried a recommended file viewer lite, but would not open, what do you recommend ?

I went through every post on the technical discussion forum that populated. And excitedly found some zip files , but none were active. Is there a safe source to download software from ? Also, I have a TK-880H-1 ver. 2.0 and will be using windows 10. Is KPG-49D what I need ? Thanks, WRMS528

I have posed this question not knowing if its allowable to transmit on repeater output and or input frequencies in simplex. I would prefer to use as little power as needed to make the trip. But if needed are there frequencies I can transmit simplex on full power ? Even if I use different PL tones or no tones , as to not directly interfere (transmit) over the repeater, would GMRS users monitoring repeater frequencies here me. Or do most people use a TSQL to only here repeater transmissions ? Even if all repeater users used a TSQL, could me being on the freq. still cause interference ? Also, I guess it would be best for me to pick a freq. that isnt used by a repeater close to me. thanks wrms528

Lscott, Thanks for the detailed explanation. According to the FCC ID on the radio, it looks like part 95 as you said . So is the type 1 or 2 from the specifications on Kenwood manual, as my radio doesn't state TK-8180 K 1 or 2.

OK, thanks guys, I will try the KGP-89D software using the TK-8180 (no suffix) dropdown option. Since I first posted this question, I read that the "K" suffix models are narrow band only. Hopefully this is not the case or is reprogramable. As I want to use on repeater frequencies , which if I understand correctly need to be wide band . ? Thanks, WRMS528

I have previously posted as a guest on this forum, but now have my license , so I joined. I have searched through a lot of threads on this forum, as well as many other resources on the internet. Including Kenwood field service manuals & other PDFs from Kenwood & info on official dealer sites, & sites selling Kenwood software. I keep getting incomplete information. Everything seems to list TK-8180 & no "letter" suffix and other variants of the 8180 such as "H". But can't find for the TK-8180 K. Some sources have said KPG-89D , but when I open the software & go to pick a model at the top tab. It gives me a drop down (pic attached) with several specific 8180 models, but not for the "K" model. Some people have told me to just use the option with 8180 & no letter, but that sounds like a long shot to me. I saw somewhere that the is a KPG-89DK software, but I could not confirm which models this is used for. Is there a dependable & complete list of which software goes with which Kenwood somewhere? As, I have 3 different Kenwood mobile models (8180,8102,8160)s which I eventually want to program. Also when I figure out which software I need. Is there a good source / site to be able to download from safely. Also do I need to check / update the firmware in the radio before programming? I have Windows 10. I have read the TK-8180s can be programed on Windows 10. Thanks, WRMS528