Kenwood TS-120S

Hi. i am new to Ham Radio and trying to learn. I picked up a TS-120S at an estate sale with the power supply. I purchased a copper pipe antenna and have it mounted to the top of the house on an old dish mount. When powered up I only get numbers on the 14 band, other bands I get the decimal points. I have been able to pick up a couple transmissions but only one clear enough to understand. I have ordered a owners manual. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

Low gain from some 2sc460 transistors in the input stage to the pll board could cause that...

A related failure (from your description) is shown here:
EI3FEB: Trio TS-120S PLL unlock fault

User manual pdf: http://www.vk4yeh.com/downloads/TS-120S_Operating_Manual_R1.pdf

Service manual pdf: https://w5rkl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/TS120S_serv.pdf

Not sure what sort of copper pipe antenna you have, but I suspect it may be for a different band than that radio incorporates...more data (or pic) would be helpful in that aspect.

 

Definitely post a pic of your antenna. I want to see that.

Find a good repair shop.

It's not that difficult to get licensed. The knowledge is very important for using HF.

 

Find the local ham club. There are brains to be picked. Your first license, Technician, will limit what you can do with that transiever, so spend the time and get your General ASAP.

Really want to see that antenna. I've this suspician that it won't work with the 120.

 

This is the Antenna I am using. I picked up some electronic cleaner and sprayed and turned the band selector knob - didn't see any difference. googled Ham radio repair and don't find any one close.

 

Amazes me how the center conductor can be a direct short to ground and still have a resonant antenna. Yesterday I built a 4:1 air coil balun and had to double check the schematic. Electromagnetic waves can be such a mystery to me. Probably that capacitance/inductance thing.

 

Thank you

 

Morning, there is pvc pipe between the antenna and the roof mount.

 

OK, a five bander will do fine for an all around transceiver learning box, but maybe not so fine for a tech license since 10 is the only band he can use pending general or above licensure. That said there may be a luck factor with that antenna if the dims happen to match up someplace on 10M.

@norseman The dimension check mentioned above is now high priority before the magic smoke is beckoned out of the box by trying to transmit into an unmatched whisker.

 

I have ordered a version 4 test manual, new dual antenna, and 2sc460 transistors.

 

@norseman

More nuggets for the sake of clarity -
HF (or hf) normally in reference to frequencies in the ten meter and longer bands (10, 15, 20 and so on.)
VHF normally in reference to 6M, 2M, 1.5M, and 70cm range of wave lengths
UHF normally in reference to 400mhz and higher.
NB, these are not exclusive, there are other bands.

NOTE ALSO:
Dual and triband antennas usually refer to (and are generally confined to) 2M, 1.5M and 70cm. Dumping rf from an hf band rig into those types of antennas will let out the magic smoke. You get to try that once before breaking out your wallet.

 

I am looking at a Hustler 6 band vertical antenna that is 80 - 10 meters. I have not ordered yet.

 

I do appreciate your patience and advice.

 

Thanks for the advice. I have been reading up on it and ordered the manual. They are not giving in person tests around here so will have to schedule an on-line.