The Radio
To the best of my knowledge, the Kenwood TK-X30 series radios were released about 1993.
The 30 series is split into three different bands. The Kenwood TK-630, TK-730 and TK-830.
The TK-630 also has an “H” attached, meaning that the base radio module is HIGH wattage, and was only released in one power split. They are all 110watts. It was divided into three splits 29.7-37 35-43 41-50. This radio has many options. You can use a standard KCH-3 which is the control head and it has built in speaker. You can use a KCH-4 which allows alphanumeric display but you are required to have an external speaker. This radio was also made so that you can very simply convert it to a remote mount. A regular KCH-3 can hold and scan up to 32 channels and a KCH-4 can hold and scan up to 32 channels. You can upgrade the KCH-3 to 99channels and the KCH-4 to 160 channels with a semi simple mod for people with experience in soldering and removing boards.
These radios are very durable and they are rated at 110w. These radios are very flexible and have many configurations you can use them with.
The TK-730 is divided into two radios. TK-730 and TK-730H. The TK-730 is rated at 45w. The 730H is rated at 110W. The TK-730 is divided into two ranges -1 and -2. The -1 is 150-174 and -2 136-156. These radios can also be made remote mount dual mount dual control head so many options. You can take a day playing around with these radios.
The TK-830 like the 730 has the TK-830 and 830H. This one is broken into four ranges. -1 403-433, -2 450-470, -3 470-490, -4 490-512. Again this raido has many cool features.
Although we will touch briefly at times on the 730 and 830, this page will focus mostly on the TK-630H, and it’s function and conversion into the Amateur Radio “Magic” band of 6 meters. (50-54MHz.)
The Magic Band
Ham Radio operators have discussed in great length many topics from HF, HF radios, 2m radio types and brand names. We’re a facet of people who either favor HF – or there are those who mostly hang out on VHF. You’ll hear many a repeater conversation on VHF about putting that HF station together, or upgrading to General class to use the HF amateur portions.
In this overview let’s talk about some different venues of band operation that hasn’t been discussed as much.
Specifically speaking, let’s enter into the realm of the “magic” 6 meter band. Just why is this band magic? When the 6m band is up, it’s amazing. Subject not only to “skip”, it is often party to a phenomenon called “tropospheric ducting” that has a way of trapping a radio signal between hot and cold layers, forming a duct that will pick up a signal a put it down where it wants.
When the 6m band is down, 6m is used reliably for local point to point communication — more specifically, FM simplex and repeater operation.
Now the HF folks will tell you that 6m SSB portions are the top range of the HF arena and manufacturers have been including this band into their HF radio offerings. Then there are the VHF people who will tell you that 6m is the low portion of VHF operation.
Hmmm… Both HF and VHF? And, let’s remember also that ALL amateurs (sans those still licensed as a NOVICE) have 6 meters privileges.
What many local folks may not know is that the Northeast Ohio area holds several very high profile, very nice 6m repeaters just sitting available with many friendly hams just waiting to make your acquaintance.
My vocation has had me working in the VHF Low band FM arena for almost 30 years. For what ever odd reason, my employer has decided to stay located around 47 MHz which is just below the amateur 6m band that runs from 50 to 52 MHz. Thus – I have experienced first hand the local point to point operation of the magic band, the characteristic of ducting, and the ins and out of the commercial equipment available for the band.
One of the perks that comes with my position is knowing what commercial equipment is available, and what to look for. One of the radios we use at work is the Kenwood TK-630H . This radio is available in 3 different band splits. They are:
The TK 630 – FCC ID: ALHTK-630H-1: 29.0 to 37.0 MHz. This radio could be used on the 10m FM portions of the amateur band. (Repeater Input Channels: 29.520, 29.540, 29.560, and 29.580 MHz., Simplex Channel: 29.600 MHz and Repeater Output Channels: 29.620, 29.640, 29.660, and 29.680 MHz.)
The TK 630 – FCC ID: ALHTK-630H-2: from 35.0 to 43.0 MHz. This radio is useless to hams without being converted. Pass on this model.
And the
The TK 630 – FCC ID: ALHTK-630H-3: from 41.0 to 54.0 MHz. Bingo! – This the radio to use for 6m FM. The “H” designator at the end means “HIGH” power – as in 110 Watts. This radio can be programmed with up to 160 channels and subtones. This radio is available only in the US, so your best bet is looking on eBay.
The nice thing about this particular unit is that many agencies feel that this radio has fulfilled it’s useful life, andare dumping them for newer radios, or are moving to trunking. That means that there are plenty of these great units filtering down to be used by us hams. At this writing, one of these units was going on eBay for as little as $25.
The radio must be programmed, and tweaked a little to lock the PLL circuit, but otherwise needs no other parts to make the unit work on the ham bands!
