KENWOOD TH-K4E (01) PDF Document

Please observe the following precautions to prevent fire, personal injury, or transceiver damage:

• Do not transmit with high output power for extended periods. The transceiver may overheat.

• Do not modify this transceiver unless instructed by this manual or by KENWOOD documentation.

• When using a regulated power supply, connect the specified DC cable (option) to the DC IN jack on the transceiver. The supply voltage must be between 12 V and 16 V to prevent damaging the transceiver.

• When connecting the transceiver to a cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle, use the specified cigarette lighter cable (option).

• Do not expose the transceiver to long periods of direct sunlight nor place it close to heating appliances.

• Do not place the transceiver in excessively dusty, humid, or wet areas, nor on unstable surfaces.

• If an abnormal odor or smoke is detected coming from the transceiver, turn OFF the power immediately and remove the battery case or the battery pack from the transceiver. Contact your authorized KENWOOD dealer or service station.

Before using the battery pack, it must be charged. Follow these steps to install it:

1. Unlock (open) the safety catch located at the bottom of the battery pack.

2. Match the guides of the battery pack with the corresponding grooves on the upper rear of the transceiver, then firmly press the battery pack to lock it in place.

3. Flip the safety catch into place to prevent accidentally pressing the release latch and removing the battery pack.

To remove the battery pack, lift the safety catch, then press the release latch to unlock the battery pack. Lift the battery pack away from the transceiver.

1. To open the BT-14 battery case lid, insert your thumb or finger into the hole on the top of the battery case, then pull the cover up.

2. Insert six AA (LR6) Alkaline batteries. Be sure to match the battery polarities with those marked in the bottom of the battery case.

3. Align the two tabs at the bottom of the battery case, then close the cover until the locking tabs on top click.

4. To install the battery case onto the transceiver, follow the same steps as installing the PB-43N Ni-MH battery pack.

Note:

• Do not use Manganese batteries or Ni-Cd batteries in place of Alkaline batteries.

• Always replace all batteries at the same time. Mixing old and new batteries or mixing types will reduce overall performance and could cause leakage or rupture.

• Remove all batteries from the case when it is not expected to be in use for several months.

Hold the supplied antenna by its base, then screw it into the connector on the top panel of the transceiver until secure.

1. Loosely insert the two supplied screws into the holes on the back panel of the transceiver.

2. Slide the belt hook into position, under the screws.

3. Tighten the screws until secure.

Note: When the belt hook is not attached to the transceiver, remove the screws from the transceiver to avoid scratching other materials.

The Ni-MH battery pack can be charged after it has been installed onto the transceiver. The battery pack is provided uncharged for safety purposes.

1. Confirm that the transceiver power is OFF. Leave the power OFF while charging.

2. Insert the charger plug into the DC IN jack of the transceiver.

3. Plug the charger into an AC wall outlet. Charging starts.

4. It takes approximately 12 hours to charge an empty PB-43N Ni-MH battery pack. After 12 hours, remove the charger plug from the transceiver DC IN jack.

5. Unplug the charger from the AC wall outlet.

Important Notes:

• Do not transmit while charging.

• Ambient temperature must be within 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) for charging to start.

• Do not plug the charger into the DC IN jack for more than 24 hours to avoid over-charging.

• If the battery pack is recharged repeatedly before it is fully used, the memory effect may occur, preventing a full charge. To resolve this, use the transceiver until it stops receiving to fully discharge the pack, then recharge it as normal.

To connect the transceiver to the cigarette lighter socket in your vehicle, use an optional PG-3J Cigarette Lighter cable. When the PG-3J is connected, the transceiver automatically starts charging the PB-43N Ni-MH battery pack. While you operate the transceiver, it charges the battery pack in the background.

Note: If the input voltage exceeds approximately 16.5 V, warning beeps sound and “DC ERR” appears.

To connect the transceiver to an appropriate regulated DC power supply, use an optional PG-2W DC cable.

1. Confirm that the power of both the transceiver and the DC power supply is OFF.

2. Connect the optional PG-2W DC cable to the DC power supply; the red lead to the positive (+) terminal, and the black lead to the negative (–) terminal.

3. Connect the barrel plug on the DC cable to the DC IN jack of the transceiver.

While a DC power supply is connected, the transceiver automatically initiates charging the PB-43N Ni-MH battery pack.

Note: The supply voltage must be between 12.0 V and 16.0 V to prevent damaging the transceiver. If the input voltage exceeds approximately 16.5 V, “DC ERR” will appear.

1. Press and hold [POWER] briefly to switch the transceiver power ON.

2. Turn the VOL control clockwise to the 11 o’clock position.

3. Turn the Tuning control to select a reception frequency.

4. To transmit, hold the transceiver approximately 5 cm (2 inches) from your mouth.

5. Press and hold [PTT], then speak in your normal tone of voice.

6. Release [PTT] to receive.

7. Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 to continue communication.

To switch the transceiver power ON, press [POWER] briefly. A high-pitched double beep sounds and a Power-ON message appears briefly, followed by the frequency and other indicators.

To switch the transceiver OFF, press [POWER] again. A low-pitched double beep sounds. The transceiver stores the current frequency and parameters when it is turned OFF and recalls them the next time you turn it ON.

Turn the VOL control clockwise to increase the audio output level and counterclockwise to decrease the output level.

If you are not receiving a signal, press and hold [MONI/SQL] to unmute the speaker, then adjust the VOL control to a comfortable audio output level.

The purpose of Squelch is to mute the speaker when no signals are present. With the squelch level correctly set, you will hear sound only while actually receiving signals.

1. Press [F], then [MONI/SQL]. The current squelch level appears.

2. Turn the Tuning control to adjust the level. Select the level at which the background noise is just eliminated when no signal is present. There are 6 different levels (0: Minimum to 5: Maximum; 2 is the default value).

3. Press any key other than [LAMP] or [MONI/SQL] to store the new setting and exit.

Selecting a lower transmission power is the best way to reduce battery consumption if communication is still reliable. Press [F], then [PTT] to cycle between “H” (high), “M” (medium), and “L” (low) power levels.

There are two primary modes for selecting a frequency:

VFO Mode: This is the basic mode for changing the operating frequency. Turn the Tuning control clockwise to increase the frequency and counterclockwise to decrease the frequency.

MHz Mode: If the desired frequency is far away, use this mode for quicker tuning.

1. Press [F]. The MHz digit blinks.

2. Turn the Tuning control to select the desired MHz value.

3. Press [F] to exit the mode and return to normal VFO Mode.

4. Continue adjusting the frequency as necessary using the Tuning control.

Many functions are configured via a software-controlled Menu. To access and use the menu system:

1. Press [MENU]. A brief explanation of the Menu, the setting, and the Menu No. appear on the display.

2. Turn the Tuning control to select your desired Menu number. As you change the Menu No., a brief explanation of each Menu appears along with its current parameter.

3. Press [MENU] to configure the parameter of the currently selected Menu No.

4. Turn the Tuning control to select your desired parameter.

5. Press [MENU] to store the new setting. Otherwise, press any key other than [LAMP], [MONI/SQL] or [POWER] to cancel.

You must first select an amateur radio repeater downlink frequency. Then, follow these steps to program the offset and tone:

1. Selecting an Offset Direction:

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 6 (SFT).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select “+” (higher TX frequency), “–” (lower TX frequency), or “-7.6” (for a –7.6 MHz offset, TH-K4E only).

5. Press [MENU] to store the setting.

2. Selecting an Offset Frequency (for non-standard offsets):

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 8 (OFFSET).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select the appropriate offset frequency (0.000 MHz to 69.950 MHz in steps of 50 kHz).

5. Press [MENU] to store the setting.

3. Activating the Tone Function (if required by the repeater):

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 2 (T.CT.DCS).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select “TONE”.

5. Press [MENU] to store the setting. The “T” icon appears.

4. Selecting a Tone Frequency:

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 3 (T).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select the desired tone frequency.

5. Press [MENU] to store the setting.

To transmit a 1750 Hz tone, simply press [CALL] without pressing the [PTT] switch. This will transmit the tone (default setting). Release [CALL] to quit transmitting.

If you press [CALL] while transmitting, a 1750 Hz tone will be transmitted.

You can also configure the transceiver to remain in transmit mode for 2 seconds after releasing [CALL] by accessing Menu No. 19 (HLD) and selecting “ON”.

The Reverse function exchanges a separate reception and transmission frequency. While using a repeater, you can use this to manually check the strength of a signal you receive directly from the other station to see if a direct (simplex) connection is possible.

To swap the transmission and reception frequencies, press [F], then [MENU] to switch the Reverse function ON (or OFF). The “R” icon appears when the function is ON.

While using a repeater, the Automatic Simplex Check (ASC) function periodically checks the strength of the signal you are receiving from the other station. If the station’s signal is strong enough to allow direct contact without a repeater, the ASC icon starts blinking.

To switch the function ON (or OFF), press [F] and hold [MENU] for 1 second. The ASC icon appears when the function is ON.

The Tone Freq. ID Scan function scans through all tone frequencies to identify the incoming tone on a received signal.

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 3 (T).

3. Press and hold [MENU] for 1 second. When the transceiver receives a signal, the scan starts, and the decimal point blinks.

4. When the tone frequency is identified, a beep sounds and the identified frequency blinks.

5. Press [MENU] to program the identified frequency in place of the current tone frequency. To cancel, press any other key. To resume scanning, turn the Tuning control while the frequency is blinking.

You can store frequencies and related data (like offset and tone settings) that you use frequently.

Storing Simplex or Standard Repeater Frequencies:

1. Press [VFO] to enter VFO mode.

2. Turn the Tuning control to select your desired frequency.

3. If storing a standard repeater frequency, select the offset direction and tone function as needed.

4. Press [F], then [MR]. A memory channel number appears and blinks.

5. Turn the Tuning control to select the memory channel where you want to store the data.

6. Press [MR] to store the data to the channel.

Storing Odd-Split Repeater Frequencies (non-standard offset):

1. Store the desired reception frequency and related data by following the procedure above.

2. In VFO mode, turn the Tuning control to select the desired transmission frequency.

3. Press [F], then [MR].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select the memory channel you programmed in step 1.

5. Press [PTT] and [MR] simultaneously. The transmission frequency is now stored in the memory channel with the reception frequency.

1. Press [MR] to enter Memory Recall Mode. The memory channel last used is recalled.

2. Turn the Tuning control to select your desired memory channel.

You cannot recall an empty memory channel. To return to VFO Mode, press [VFO].

1. Recall the memory channel you want to clear.

2. Press and hold [POWER] to switch the transceiver OFF.

3. Press [MR] and [POWER] simultaneously. A confirmation message (“DEL ?”) appears.

4. Press [MR] to clear the channel data. The contents of the memory channel are cleared.

To quit clearing, press any key other than [MR], [LAMP], [MONI/SQL], or [POWER]. Note that the Call Channel data cannot be cleared.

You can name memory channels with up to 6 alphanumeric characters. To use this function, the memory channel capacity must be set to 50 channels via Menu No. 13 (M.CH).

1. Press [MR] to recall your desired memory channel.

2. Press [MENU] to enter Menu Mode.

3. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 14 (M.NAME).

4. Press [MENU]. A blinking cursor appears.

5. Turn the Tuning control to select a desired alphanumeric character (0-9, A-Z, -, /, space).

6. Press [MENU] to move the cursor to the next digit.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to enter up to 6 digits. To complete the entry, press [MENU] without selecting a character.

This function copies data from a memory channel to the VFO, which is useful when you want to monitor a frequency near one stored in memory.

1. Press [MR], then turn the Tuning control to recall a desired memory channel.

2. Press [F], then [VFO] to copy the memory channel data to the VFO.

The KENWOOD TH-K4E offers several scanning modes:

Band Scan: Scans the entire band of the selected frequency.

1. Press [VFO].

2. Ensure the selected frequency is outside any Program Scan ranges.

3. Press and hold [VFO] for 1 second to start Band Scan.

4. Press [VFO] or [PTT] to stop.

Program Scan: Scans a limited frequency range you define.

1. Store the start frequency in a memory channel L0-L2 and the end frequency in the corresponding U0-U2 channel.

2. In VFO mode, select a frequency within that range.

3. Press and hold [VFO] for 1 second to start Program Scan.

All-Channel Scan: Scans all memory channels in which you have stored frequencies.

1. Press and hold [MR] for 1 second to start.

2. Press [MR] or [PTT] to stop.

Call Scan: Alternates between monitoring the Call Channel and the current operating frequency.

1. Select the frequency you want to monitor (in VFO or Memory Recall Mode).

2. Press and hold [CALL] for 1 second to start.

3. Press [PTT] or [CALL] to stop.

Priority Scan: Checks the Priority Channel (Pr) every 3 seconds while monitoring another frequency.

1. Program your priority frequency into the “Pr” memory channel.

2. Access Menu No. 10 (PRI) and set it to “ON”.

3. Press any key other than [PTT], [LAMP], and [MONI/SQL] to exit the Menu. The transceiver will now perform Priority Scan.

CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) and DCS (Digital Coded Squelch) allow you to ignore unwanted calls on the same frequency. The transceiver unmutes only when it receives a signal with the matching tone or code.

Using CTCSS:

1. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 2 (T.CT.DCS).

2. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select “CTCSS”.

3. Press [MENU]. “CT” appears on the display.

4. To select a specific CTCSS frequency, access Menu No. 4 (CT), press [MENU], and turn the Tuning control to choose the desired frequency. Press [MENU] again to store it.

Using DCS:

1. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 2 (T.CT.DCS).

2. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select “DCS”.

3. Press [MENU]. “DCS” appears on the display.

4. To select a specific DCS code, access Menu No. 5 (DCS), press [MENU], and turn the Tuning control to choose the desired code. Press [MENU] again to store it.

Storing a DTMF Number in Memory:

1. Press [MENU] to enter Menu Mode.

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 32 (DTMF.MR).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select your desired DTMF memory channel number (0 to 9).

5. Press [MENU]. The DTMF code entry display appears.

6. Turn the Tuning control to select a DTMF code.

7. Press [MENU] to select the DTMF code and move the cursor to the next digit.

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to enter up to 16 digits.

9. To complete the entry, press [MENU] without selecting a DTMF code.

Transmitting a Stored DTMF Number:

1. While pressing and holding [PTT], press [MENU].

2. Release [MENU] (continue pressing [PTT]), then turn the Tuning control to select the desired DTMF memory channel number.

3. While still holding [PTT], press [MENU] again to transmit the selected DTMF tones.

The APO function automatically switches the transceiver OFF if no keys or controls are used for a set period. One minute before shutoff, warning beeps will sound.

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 17 (APO).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select the APO time from OFF, 30 (default), 60, 90, 120, or 180 minutes.

5. Press [MENU] to store the setting.

You can confirm the remaining battery capacity when you transmit in low power.

1. Press [F], then [PTT] until the “L” (Low Power) icon appears.

2. Press and hold [PTT]. The bar-graph shows the remaining battery capacity.

• Full bar: High battery power

• Partial bar: Medium battery power

• Small bar: Low battery power

• No display: Recharge or replace the batteries.

3. Release [PTT] to exit.

The Battery Saver extends operating time by shutting the receiver circuit OFF for a programmed period when the squelch is closed and no key is pressed for more than 10 seconds.

1. Press [MENU].

2. Turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 16 (SAV).

3. Press [MENU].

4. Turn the Tuning control to select the receiver shut-off period (OFF, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 (default), 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 seconds).

5. Press [MENU] to store the setting.

Note: A longer shut-off period saves more battery but increases the chance of missing a signal.

The lock function disables most of the keys to prevent you from accidentally activating a function.

To lock the keys, press and hold [F] for 1 second. The “key” icon appears when this function is ON.

The following keys cannot be locked: [LAMP], [MONI/SQL], [PTT], [F] (1 s), [POWER], [F] then [LAMP] and [F] then [MONI/SQL].

To unlock the keys, press and hold [F] for 1 second again.

The Tuning control is also locked. To unlock only the Tuning control while the Lock function is ON, access Menu No. 30 (ENC) and select “ON”.

VOX allows the transceiver to automatically switch to Transmission Mode when it senses you are speaking into the microphone. This function requires an optional headset microphone (like the KHS-21).

Activate VOX:

1. Press [MENU] then turn the Tuning control to select Menu No. 20 (VOX).

2. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select the desired VOX gain level from 1 (least sensitive) to 9 (most sensitive). Selecting a level activates VOX.

3. To turn VOX OFF, select “OFF” in step 2.

Adjust VOX Gain:

1. With VOX ON, press any key other than [LAMP], [MONI/SQL] and [MENU] to exit Menu Mode.

2. Speak into the headset microphone using your normal tone of voice to transmit. Adjust the VOX Gain level in the Menu until the transceiver reliably switches to transmission mode when you speak, but not from background noise.

Adjust VOX Delay Time:

To prevent your transmission from cutting off too quickly, you can set a delay time.

1. Access Menu No. 22 (VD).

2. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select the desired delay time (250, 500 (default), 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, or 3000 ms).

3. Press [MENU] to store the setting.

If your transceiver seems to be malfunctioning, resetting the microprocessor may solve the problem. Performing a reset may erase memory data, so back up important information first. Ensure the Lock function is OFF.

Full Reset (Resets all parameters to factory default):

1. With the transceiver turned OFF, press and hold [F] while pressing [POWER]. All indicators will light up.

2. Release [F]. The message “FL.RST?” appears.

3. Press [F] to proceed. “SURE ?” appears.

4. Press [F] again to reset the transceiver.

VFO Reset (Resets parameters excluding DTMF and memory channels):

1. With the transceiver turned OFF, press and hold [VFO] while pressing [POWER].

2. Release [VFO]. The message “VF.RST?” appears.

3. Press [VFO] to proceed. “SURE ?” appears.

4. Press [VFO] again to reset the transceiver.

Reset using the Menu:

1. Press [MENU] and select Menu No. 99 (RESET).

2. Press [MENU] and turn the Tuning control to select “FULL” or “VFO”.

3. Press [MENU]. “SURE ?” appears.

4. Press [MENU] again to reset the transceiver.

If nothing appears on the display, or the display is blinking ON and OFF, check the following:

• The battery pack may be discharged. Recharge the battery pack or replace the batteries.

• If using an external power source, the DC cable or connection may be bad. Check the connection and replace the cable if necessary.

• If using an external power supply, the fuse may be blown. Investigate the cause for the open fuse and replace the fuse.

The Transceiver Lock function is likely ON. Look for the “key” icon on the display. Press and hold [F] for 1 second to turn the Transceiver Lock OFF.

There are several possible reasons for being unable to transmit:

• You may have selected a frequency outside the allowable transmit range. Select a frequency within the allowable range.

• You may have selected a transmit offset that places the transmit frequency outside the limit. Select a proper offset direction or offset frequency.

• TX Inhibit may be ON. Access Menu No. 25 (TXI) and select “OFF”.

• The battery pack voltage may be too low to transmit. Change or replace the battery pack.

If you cannot access a repeater, check the following settings:

• You may have the wrong access tone frequency selected. Select the proper repeater access tone.

• The wrong repeater offset frequency may be selected. Access Menu No. 8 (OFFSET) and select an appropriate offset frequency.

• The wrong shift direction (+ or -) may be selected. Try other shift directions.

The VOX (Voice-Operated Transmission) function is likely ON. Access Menu No. 20 (VOX) and select “OFF”.

The Automatic Power Off (APO) function is likely ON. This feature turns the radio off after a period of inactivity. To disable it, access Menu No. 17 (APO) and select your desired time length or “OFF”.

The transmission time has exceeded the programmed Time-out Timer (TOT) limit. This is a safety feature to prevent overheating. Access Menu No. 23 (TOT) to select your desired transmission length. The TOT cannot be turned OFF.