Kenwood TK-890H

[Skunkworks]

I'm looking for some help with my newly acquired Kenwood TK-890H.  I am using the full-function remote head and external speaker.  I have been able to program it with all my wanted frequencies and I'm able to transmit, but I can't get it to receive.  The seller claims it was fully tested and in working condition and I have no reason to doubt him.

symptoms: 1-no receive, 2-busy light (green light) is always on, 3- no sound out of the speaker.

I have enabled the SP function for the speaker, but still nothing.  I suspect that there is something in the software that needs to be configured differently.

I was/am very excited to use this radio as a base station at my home, but I might be in over my head.  I have a couple TK-880's and a NX-800 that I was able to program and I am using them without issue.  This one is more of a challenge.  I do have a copy of the instruction and service manuals.

Any help is appreciated.

[gortex2]

So does it have the rear jumper plugged in for internal audio ? 

 

Pins 2 & 6 need to be jumpered.

Constant Green LED is probably due to Squelch set to low.

 

[gortex2]

https://forums.radioreference.com/attachments/tk790-pins-pdf.23051/

Shows pinout

[Skunkworks]

Thank you for the reply.  Are you suggesting that the jumper needs to be in place when using an external speaker?

I've adjusted the squelch and haven't seen a difference.

[gortex2]

is this dash mount or remote head. Sorry may of missed that. If speaker is plugged into deck on dashmount thats where audio should come from. 

[Guest]

Sounds like a squelch issue.  Might have a tone set?   

[Skunkworks]

Yes, this is using the remote head (KCH-11).  I have a Kenwood speaker plugged in.

Can you be more specific about the tone setting that would affect the squelch?  I'm not seeing anything in the optional settings from the drop-down menu.

Forgive me, I'm still learning and though the KPG-44D software is similar to the KPG-49D I use with the TK-880, there are lots of settings that I'm naive about.

[gortex2]

So for remote head I'd plug into deck unless you have a jumepr on the deck. 

Basically he asked if you have CTCSS or DPL set on the channel. If you program a monitor button it should make noise.

 

[Skunkworks]

I have my local repeaters as well as all GMRS channels and open repeater channels programmed in.  With monitor open, I still get zero sound.  I'm able to transmit to my other radios just fine on simplex, but there is no sound at all.  Should the green "busy" light be on all the time in standby?  I'm getting frustrated.

I appreciate all the help.  Please keep the ideas coming if you have any more.

[Guest]

This is why I was asking if it’s a receive tone  set some place in the cps.   With the receive light on it seams like it’s receiving something or thinks it’s receiving something but not opening the sqwelch.  It’s got to be a tone/sqwelch setting some place Or it’s defective? 

[Skunkworks]

Thanks for the help.  I'll try to figure it out this evening a bit more.  I'm surprised there isn't more online in the forums and YouTube about this radio as it seems to tick a lot of boxes.  I know that 100Watts is over the limit and that may be why, but at low power it is a beast with what looks like a virtually full-time duty cycle.  I had thought about building a repeater and using it as the tx side of things, but I'm a long ways from that it seems.

[Skunkworks]

Okay, bumping up the squelch to 14 out of 15 keeps the busy light off until I transmit from my hand-held in the same room.

I don't see where any tones are set and still no sound.  It is transmitting just fine.  No sound while monitor is on.  Should there be sound with power on or other functions?  I got nothin'

[WRQD922]

Try setting squelch to one.

[Skunkworks]

with squelch set on anything low (including 1) the busy light stays on.  I am also unable to transmit when the squelch is low unless the monitor button is on.

I can't believe it is this hard to figure out.

[Skunkworks]

This was the problem.  I was told by the seller that the ignition sense was to be like the top pic (he even circled it).  It powered on and looked right, but I suspect the speaker pins were getting no power.  Once corrected (bottom pic) it all worked as it should.  Thanks all for the help and suggestions.