• Remove the battery-pack
• Remove the 4 screws on the backside-edges
• Remove the 2 knobs on top of the TH-D7E (volume and scrolling)
• Remove the nuts of the antenna-connector and the rotary switch
• Remove the TOP-cover
• Carefully remove the metal-embedded-printed circuit board (don't break the rubber sealing strip!)
• Look for a little GREEN wire near the speaker-connection on the PC-board
• Just CUT the GREEN WIRE
• Reassemble the TH-D7E in the reverse way

For more than a week I have been desperately trying to connect my TH-D7 MK II to my Garmin GPS, using the supplied Garmin PC cable. It didn't work. I checked and rechecked all connections. The manual states that PC and GPS interface are identically wired, so I had two cables made, one using a male DB-9 for the gps and one using a female DB-8 for the PC-COM port. I checked them by interconnecting them and the tip was connected to the tip, middle ring to middle ring etcetera...

It didn't work however PC-comms were ok. So desperately I inverted the two leads 2 and 3 of the gps cable and it worked !!!

There is a major error in the manual, The tip of the 2.5 mm jack has to go to pin 3 and the red wire (middle ring) to pin 2 of the male DB-9.

I was so anxious I immediately sold all my kenwood shares and now they are at the edge of bankrupcy....

Whos says technical articles always have to be boring

• Reception band expansion
  118 MHz (air) band (K type suppoted)
  
   
• Frequency band expansion
  144 MHz band (Excepting sub 144MHz band)
  430 (440) MHz band
  
   
• Channel display mode
  
   
• 118 MHz FM/AM switching (K type suppoted)

1. Destination and microcomputer

There are types of microcomputers: the E type and the K destination type.

2. Destination diode

The destination is distinguished by the combination of four diodes for the control unit (X57-570X-XX)(B/4).

3. Destination list

The destination tables for the diode combination are Tables 1, 2.

4. Conversion method

Reception band and frequency band expansion

• Eliminating one destination diode (D502) (actually, cutting short jumper W500) makes possible 118MHz band reception. (K type suppoted) Also, the 144MHz and 430MHz (440MHz) band frequencies are extended.
  
   
• For the conversion, W500 (short jumper) on the solder side of the B/4 control unit board is cut. Also, the destination can be changed as in Table 1 and 2 by the presence/absence of destination diodes D503, D507, and D508.

• After reception expansion, the band can be switched as follows with the [F] -> [A/B] key.
  A Band (Upper Display)
  144MHz <-> 118MHz
  
  B Band (Lower Display)
  430(440)MHz <-> sub 144MHz

Reference data for reception sensitivity and transmission output after the convesion are in Table 3 throiugh Table 5.

Adjustment method

The receive expansion band (118Mhz) was set at the factory prior to delivery. When realignment is required, place this unit in SET mode and use the following procedure.

Set mode usage

The SET mode is used to adjust this unit. SET mode allows setting the level of the following items.

1. Squelch threshold on each band
   
    
2. S meter each band: 1st segment/All segment: ON
   
    
3. Hi/Lo/EL transmit output on each band
   
    
4. Overvoltage warning threshold (13.8V)

The level entered in SET mode is written on the EEPROM. This means the written data is kept intact even if power is cut off or the unit is reset.

When replacing the EEPROM all items must be rewritten (reset).

Setting Procedure

Open the unit as shown, turn the power on (POWER ON) and momentarily short the SET point on the component (soldered) side of the TX-RX unit (B/4) with tweezers or similar tool. (See the figure below.)

A beep tone sounds and a [--] mark appears on the display. This shows the unit is now in "SET mode".

Operation

1. Set the squelch threshold

• Use the key to align the bottom of the display with 'SQ' of the squelch adjust screen. Use the [BAND] key and select the band and frequency with the encoder.
  
   
• inputte SSG into the antenna termnal.
  
   
• Pressing the key sets the squelch threshold.
  
   
• Set all the receive bands in the same way.
  
  

2. Set the S meter

• Use the key to align the bottom of the display with 'SM' of the S meter adjust screen. Use the [BAND] key and select the band and frequency with the encoder.
  
   
• Input the specified signal from the SSG into the antenna terminal.
  
   
• Press the key to turn on the 1st segment or press the key to turn on all segments.
  
   
• Set all the receive bands in the same way.
  
  

Entry Values

Input the SSG level for each band setting from the ANT terminal and press the correct key.

Other Items

1. Each setting you make is overwritten on the previous data so you can enter settings in any order or make individual settings.
   
    
2. The real-time display is updated every 200ms.
   
    
3. Items which have not been set are shown with an "FF" on the display.
   
    
4. Turn off the power (POWER OFF) in order to cancel "SET mode".
   
    
5. Reset the VFO after finished with the previous steps.

• After making the Receive Expand Modification perform 118 Mhz band FM/AM switching in 'SET mode'.
  
  1 Select the 118Mhz band and press the [MENU] key to alternately switch between AM and FM.

(When in AM, the MHz dot becomes an elongated horizontal bar.
After canceling SET mode, refer to the "Instruction Manual" for selecting AM/FM.

Channel Display Mode

Channel display mode is for showing only the memory channel numbers without displaying the frequency.

Use either of the following 2 methods to enter channel display mode.

Method 1 : Turn power on while holding down the [A/B] keys. (Check the instruction manual since this is referred to there.)

Method 2 : Remove a component from the printed circuit board.
Set channel display mode by removing the channel display dip diode (D516). When channel display is set with this method you cannot return to the frequency display. (The channel display dip diode (D516) must once again be installed on the board in order to used the frequency display.

• The mode sets to channel mode. VFO mode and CALL mode can no longer be set.

Operating Method

Before attempting the modification, write the data you need into the memory channel. (Write in at least one channel.)

1. Write the desired data into the memory channel.
   
   
   
    
2. The channel display mode switches alternately switches on or off each time power is turned on while the [A/B] keys are held down. A memory name appears for channels in which a memory name is registered. However a CH is displayed for channels in which nothing was registered.
   
   

   Doing the Modification

   Channel Display Mode

   Use a solder iron and remove the dip diode (D516) on the soldered side of the control unit (B/4) circuit board (back side of display).
   
              

   Caution

   • You cannot set channel display mode unless at least one memory channel has been registered.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Using Kenwoods program, download all saved settings from your radio. (All settings will be erased on power up after this mod).

*****WARNING*****

Don't restore the memory channels as they force the radio to go into 'channel' mode because there seems to be an incompatibility between a TH-D7E and a TH-D7A PC file. The only way to get rid of this channel mode is restoring the data again to the radio.
It's probably easier and saver to make the radio setting manually after this modification.

Remove battery, antenna and freq/volume control knobs.

Loosen both fasteners from the antenna base and the freq/volume control shaft.

Remove the four screws that secure the back of the radio.

Pull the top plastic piece with the Led's off the top of the radio.

Gently pull on the rubber gasket that goes around the top of the radio.

Pull the bottom of the radio appart gently.Note: There will still be a ribbon cable connecting both parts.

Locate the green wire. Under the green wire there are three small diodes in a neat row and place for number four (they should have a miniature A on them if your eyesight is good). mount diode number 4 (a drop of solder probably also does it but I did not check it).

Put the radio back together in the reverse order it was taken appart.

After this the radio has changed into an A version which meens that:

• 1750 Hz tone does not work anymore
• the center frequencies have changed
• the default shift on 70 cm has changed to 5MHz
• But the big fun: SKY COMMAND (menu 4) has been enabled. This is a very nice feature in combination with a TS2000 (see the TS2000 section on how to modify that radio for sky command.

The firmware in the TH-D7A can be upgraded to allow the following features and functions:

In GPS mode, recognize latitude and longitude to the "ten-thousandths" of a decimal place (4-digit precision). Currently it reads to the "hundredth" position.

In GPS mode, recognize negative temperatures such as - 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Allow a comma to be used in the middle of a Command Sentence. The original firmware recognizes a comma as the end of a sentence.

UPGRADE PROCEDURE:
Send your TH-D7A to Kenwood Svc Ctr West for firmware upgrade. There is no need to call for an appointment or return authorization.

Kenwood Svc Ctr West
13030 Alondra Blvd. #104
Cerritos, CA. 90701-2257
(562) 483-8740
Mon. – Friday 9:00AM – 6:00PM PST
 

At this time, only KSC-West can upgrade the firmware in the TH-D7A since special equipment is required to perform the work.

NOTE:
This upgrade applies to units with serial number 010xxxxx and below. New firmware was used in production from 011xxxxx. So that there is no confusion, the following serial numbers have not yet been produced. When they are produced, they will have the new firmware installed.

012xxxxx, 100xxxxx, 101xxxxx, 102xxxxx, ………..

This bulletin only applies to TH-D7A transceivers sold in the USA. This information may not be valid for other TH-D7 equipment sold in Europe or other markets.

This upgrade is covered under the 1-year warranty period to the original owner.