TenTec
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TenTec] Orion II: nothing at startup

To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II: nothing at startup
From: John K3GHH <k3ghh@arrl.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:28:58 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
On 11/06/2012 08:57 AM, John K3GHH wrote:
Several times in the past few days my O2 (firmware 3.028) has had no transmit output, and no audio output except faint background hiss, when I first turn it on. The paddles produce a nice sidetone, but neither the Orion's nor the antenna tuner's meter moves.

So far, at least, switching the Orion's power off and then back on has restored operability (e.g., the tuner's meter shows forward power 115w on 80m CW). I just checked the power supply (it's on the floor under the desk) and found its meter showing 13v --- lower than I thought but not likely the source of this problem. Obviously I'd rather not have to rely on the off-on "fix." Any suggestions?

Progress report:

A couple of weeks ago the O2 display finally quit entirely. There are three suggestions in this thread: capacitors, cables, and battery. Starting with the easiest (not necessarily the most likely), I replaced the battery. No display. The plan was to clean the cable contacts next, but since the case was open I decided to replace the capacitors too. With three new 470uf capacitors on the A9 board, and the A and B cable contacts cleaned, the radio is working again. I'm pretty sure the new capacitors solved the problem.

This was my first work with printed-circuit boards --- probably not the wisest project to begin with! I was unable to remove the original capacitors without destroying them, but new ones were only $1.39 at the local Radio Shack. The biggest trouble was clearing solder out of the holes so the new capacitors' leads could be inserted.

It was fun playing with the Scout in the interim, but I'm very glad to have the Orion back!

--
John K3GHH

_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>