Here with another TK880 issue

[WRAK968]

So it seems like every time I order another TK880 I have some form of issue lol.

So I purchased a TK880H which I guess was used by a fire marshals office. When I went to program it, I was prompted for a password which I do not have. I read around and someone said to hold "Shift" and type SYSTEM to bypass the password. No luck. So I figured ok, rewrite the firmware should clear the password, except the radio will not go into firmware update mode.

Last ditch effort, I tried to write too the radio, again, I was asked for a password. I've shot an e-mail to the seller but something tells me he wont know the password either, so I called the number on the sticker which is to a communications shop. Hopefully they can help (And hopefully the radio wasn't stolen)

Should this fail, does anyone else have any ideas?

[Jones]

In a related note, I have recently purchased a new, un-programmed TK885.  I have looked online, (briefly) and can't find legit software to program this.  I have the correct 8-pin Kenwood cable, as far as I know.

 

Yes, I know the 885 is the trunking version, but I got it for cheap.  The manual says it can be programmed and operated in conventional FM mode.

 

Anyone have any input on this?

[okinater]

Have you tried reading another radio that doesn't have a password and program it into the password protected radio? 

[WRAK968]

I did some fighting with it last night, I was able to write into the radio which then made the radio say *ERROR*, a little more tinkering and now it seems to be ok, aside from it only transmitting at 25 watts instead of 45.

[WRAK968]

In a related note, I have recently purchased a new, un-programmed TK885.  I have looked online, (briefly) and can't find legit software to program this.  I have the correct 8-pin Kenwood cable, as far as I know.

 

Yes, I know the 885 is the trunking version, but I got it for cheap.  The manual says it can be programmed and operated in conventional FM mode.

 

Anyone have any input on this?

I believe you need the KPG 62D, you can find it here;

https://hamfiles.co.uk/index.php?page=downloads&type=entry&id=radio-programming%2Fkenwood-programming%2Fkenwood-kpg-62d-rss

[Zzyzx]

I did some fighting with it last night, I was able to write into the radio which then made the radio say *ERROR*, a little more tinkering and now it seems to be ok, aside from it only transmitting at 25 watts instead of 45.

Glad to hear it's working at least. Thinking about it some more, I'm not sure if it's possible to set the TK-880H to transmit at 25 watts. I'm wondering if you might want to try another meter.

 

And, just for other folks who come across this, this is what seems to have worked to clear the password:

1. Open KPG-49D.
2. Hold down shift, type SYSTEM, release shift, and hit enter.
3. Write a blank codeplug to the transceiver.
4. Write a known good codeplug to the transceiver.

Edit: Also, the TK-880H is 40 watts, not 45 watts, according to the spec sheet.

[WRAK968]

Glad to hear it's working at least. Thinking about it some more, I'm not sure if it's possible to set the TK-880H to transmit at 25 watts. I'm wondering if you might want to try another meter.

 

And, just for other folks who come across this, this is what seems to have worked to clear the password:

1. Open KPG-49D.
2. Hold down shift, type SYSTEM, release shift, and hit enter.
3. Write a blank codeplug to the transceiver.
4. Write a known good codeplug to the transceiver.

Edit: Also, the TK-880H is 40 watts, not 45 watts, according to the spec sheet.

Hey Congrats on your first post lol, and the system thing didnt work, I just forced a blank plug into the radio which gave it error, then pushed an 880 plug into the radio (As thats all I have)

 

As for the meter, I need to find someone with an accurate meter to check mine against.

[n4gix]

I believe you need the KPG 62D, you can find it here;

https://hamfiles.co.uk/index.php?page=downloads&type=entry&id=radio-programming%2Fkenwood-programming%2Fkenwood-kpg-62d-rss

You beat me to it!

[WRAK968]

You beat me to it!

Im fast on the quick draw lol

[n4gix]

Im fast on the quick draw lol

Well, you were a few hours ahead of me on the draw. I keep that site bookmarked for quick access. I just noticed that I have a 426 point "balance" there now.

[axorlov]

I did some fighting with it last night, I was able to write into the radio which then made the radio say *ERROR*, a little more tinkering and now it seems to be ok, aside from it only transmitting at 25 watts instead of 45.

All three TK880H I have put 30W into the antenna. Specs say 40W, I see 30W, I tried two different power meters.

[marcspaz]

Some of these companies do some tricky advertising. Hopefully Kenwood isn't one of them. I am aware of a major brand who advertised their radio as 50 watts, but I only measured 42. When I called and asked about it, they said the 50 watts was on a FSM with one of their "high-gain" antennas.

 

For most companies, it's based on a perfect line and a perfect dummy load. Real world is a different story.

[Elkhunter521]

Ive noticed that meters show lower than advertised output in UHF. The same meter will measure as expected on VHF. Meters involved are a digital Surecom 102, and a MFJ-874.

 

I'm not sure what to make of this.

 

All radios measured are CCR's Luiton , Btech, & Midland.

[n4gix]

It may well be that a previous owner (or a radio shop) has turned down the PA's output to put less strain on the PA, thus extending the service life of the radio without compromising the power too much.

 

Eight fewer watts of output power to the antenna system isn't going to make much difference in the performance anyway.

 

As for measurements, if it ain't a Bird wattmeter, I don't trust it!

[marcspaz]

As for measurements, if it ain't a Bird wattmeter, I don't trust it!

QFT

[axorlov]

it's based on a perfect line and a perfect dummy load. Real world is a different story.

Yeah, absolutely.

[coryb27]

As for measurements, if it ain't a Bird wattmeter, I don't trust it!

 

I prefer the Telewave 44A, just as accurate and no slugs to change or buy at 75 to 100 each.

[6040]

I prefer the Telewave 44A, just as accurate and no slugs to change or buy at 75 to 100 each.

[6040]

The old reliable Bird43 whole lot cheaper than that fancy pants Telwave. Snatch one up on eBay or scour the hamfest for less than a 100bucks.

[KC8JXA]

On 6/15/2019 at 2:53 PM, Zzyzx said:

And, just for other folks who come across this, this is what seems to have worked to clear the password:

1. Open KPG-49D.
2. Hold down shift, type SYSTEM, release shift, and hit enter.
3. Write a blank codeplug to the transceiver.
4. Write a known good codeplug to the transceiver.

Yes, a few years later I have come across this...

I have just acquired 4 TK-880H-1, a TK-380 off eBay, and a KPG-46 cable(including free KPG49D software download from BlueMax49ers). In trying to read the 880 radios, three of them so far have said a pw is needed to read. When prompted for the password and you start typing SYSTEM, does that word show up in the password 'field'? When I hold down shift and start typing, the cursor disappears and nothing appears in the box regardless of what I type. As suggested elsewhere, I have not yet tried to boot up the radios while holding down the 'SCN' button. 

On another note and as suggested elsewhere by Jones I was able to write a single line to two of the radios. Transmit was verified by a Tidradio HT and a red LED on the second 880. Reception on the 880s shows green LED but no volume(yet). I'll play with volume later. It makes sense that one would be able to write(a plug) to the radio without the password given that I saw in the Kenwood Help section that the pw is only needed for reading the radio's programming(core plug) and is not needed to write to the radio. 

Any suggestions on trying to type password characters?

[Lscott]

2 hours ago, KC8JXA said:

Yes, a few years later I have come across this...

I have just acquired 4 TK-880H-1, a TK-380 off eBay, and a KPG-46 cable(including free KPG49D software download from BlueMax49ers). In trying to read the 880 radios, three of them so far have said a pw is needed to read. When prompted for the password and you start typing SYSTEM, does that word show up in the password 'field'? When I hold down shift and start typing, the cursor disappears and nothing appears in the box regardless of what I type. As suggested elsewhere, I have not yet tried to boot up the radios while holding down the 'SCN' button. 

On another note and as suggested elsewhere by Jones I was able to write a single line to two of the radios. Transmit was verified by a Tidradio HT and a red LED on the second 880. Reception on the 880s shows green LED but no volume(yet). I'll play with volume later. It makes sense that one would be able to write(a plug) to the radio without the password given that I saw in the Kenwood Help section that the pw is only needed for reading the radio's programming(core plug) and is not needed to write to the radio. 

Any suggestions on trying to type password characters?

See attached file and read the instructions below I had found on-line some time back.

====================================================================================

KPG49D v4.02

Password Bypass -> KPG49D.exe: 0x0000418A change 74 to EB

Once modified, when the Data Password dialog box opens, just hit enter or type anything and it will then go onto read the codeplug.
The password is located in the .dat file at 0xB5-0xBA.

KPG-49D V4.02.zip

[LeoG]

On 6/18/2019 at 2:57 PM, marcspaz said:

Some of these companies do some tricky advertising. Hopefully Kenwood isn't one of them. I am aware of a major brand who advertised their radio as 50 watts, but I only measured 42. When I called and asked about it, they said the 50 watts was on a FSM with one of their "high-gain" antennas.

 

For most companies, it's based on a perfect line and a perfect dummy load. Real world is a different story.

All they have to do is put "up to" and there ya go. 

[LeoG]

On 6/18/2019 at 3:35 PM, Elkhunter521 said:

Ive noticed that meters show lower than advertised output in UHF. The same meter will measure as expected on VHF. Meters involved are a digital Surecom 102, and a MFJ-874.

 

I'm not sure what to make of this.

 

All radios measured are CCR's Luiton , Btech, & Midland.

My Surecom 102 seems to be pretty accurate.  4.7 on a 5w HT, 48w on a 50w mobile, 25w on a 20w mobile.  Might not be perfect but seems close enough.

[SteveShannon]

39 minutes ago, LeoG said:

My Surecom 102 seems to be pretty accurate.  4.7 on a 5w HT, 48w on a 50w mobile, 25w on a 20w mobile.  Might not be perfect but seems close enough.

Maybe they fixed it in the past six years…

[LeoG]

Or I got luck and got one that was fairly accurate.  I have two of them and they both read the same for power and SWR.  I had one on my home base and when I got the new one I swapped out to see if it would read the same.  It did, so I didn't even swap them back.  Just took the older one and it'll go into my shop setup.