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<p><font face="Arial">I have spent the last three days struggling to
get the remote control "Sky Command" feature of the Kenwood TS-2000
to work. <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(There are an amazing number of
pre-conditions, not clearly documented, required to make it
work.. Such as: both Main and Sub radios MUST be on VFO
mode-can't run VHF/UHF control links from memories. Tones and Offsets
MUST be off.before starting. HF freq and mode in effect before
activating Sky Command is completely ignored--system always
initializes to 20-meter USB. Etc.)</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">I have finally succeeded using a TH-D72 APRS
handheld as the control radio. Once activated, the Sky Command
functions depend on the TH-D72 keypad emitting packet bursts rather
than DTMF tones. This works fine with the D72, but I was
wondering how the other Kenwood APRS radios, especially the
mobiles (TH-D700 and D710) that have normal DTMF mics handle
this. <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Studying the manuals for the TH-D7, TH-D72,
TH-D74, D700 and D710, I was surprised to see no mention of Sky
Command at all in the newest handheld's (TH-D74) manual. Searching
the Internet, I found several passing references to the D74 also
lacking the capability of VHF/UHF full duplex operation on
analog FM voice. This would make the Sky Command function
impossible, since it depends on split VHF/UHF voice/packet
operation. <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">---- Is it true the D74 can't do duplex or Sky
Command?? <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Perhaps this is why the Kenwood website still
shows the TH-D72 as a current model alongside the D74. Is it
the only model capable of activating the Sky Command feature on
the TS-2000?</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Anyhow, I have now verified that with the
TH-D72, I can activate the Sky Command feature of the TS-2000 on
any band from 160 through 6 meters. While frequencies stored in
memories CAN'T be used for the VHF/UHF link channels, memory
channels CAN be used on the HF side. This makes it very easy
to use 10- and 6-meter FM repeaters since the repeater offset
and tone code can be memorized, and then remotely recalled. <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">--------------------<br>
Finally, I have successfully made an HF SSTV contact on 20
meters via Sky Command from my handheld. I used an iPod Touch
running the "Black Cat Systems" SSTV app, connected to my
TH-D72 via a homebrew interface, linked to my TS2000 via Sky
Command. [The iPod's internal camera is about 1000% better than
the VC-H1. You can also either shoot a pic live just before
transmit, or use any pic already in the iOS "Camera Roll".] <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This setup more-or-less replicates the
function of the old Kenwood VC-H1 hardware SSTV device. This
could add a whole new dimension to live in-the-field SSTV, with
the TS-2000 running in the mobile, and the iPod/TH-D7 on foot a
mile or so away! <br>
</font></p>
<hr size="2" width="100%">
<p><font face="Arial">Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com <br>
Skype: WA8LMF<br>
EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]<br>
Home Page: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net">http://wa8lmf.net</a><br>
<br>
Live Off-The-Air APRS Activity Maps<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://wa8lmf.net/map"><http://wa8lmf.net/map></a><br>
<br>
Long-Range APRS on 30 Meters HF <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/HF_APRS_Notes.htm"><http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/HF_APRS_Notes.htm></a><br>
<br>
</font></p>
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