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Re: [TenTec] Paragon problem

To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon problem
From: "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <RMcGraw@Blomand.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 15:15:41 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
As to any reed relays, K1 and K2 on the Low Pass filter board toggle between being closed or open alternately by the T and R voltages. If for some reason these relays are both closed at the same time, RF from the transmitter would be fed into the High Pass filter board for the receiver. If the K2 relay is stuck closed, then the same issue of RF from the transmitter is fed to the Band Pass filter board.

Thus on receive, K1 is open and K2 is energized by the R voltage, connecting the Low Pass filter to the receiver antenna at connector 13. From connector 13 the receive signal is passed through the receive High Pass filter board by way of the rear RX/TRX switch. The TX/TRX switch on the rear has been noted to cause issues. I just replaced one of these switches a Corsair II as it was showing a 3 to 6 S unit signal loss on receive.

In as much as diodes D1 - D8 were open I more suspect a nearby lightning strike took out these. I find this is quite a common occurance.

73
Bob, K4TAX




----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <RMcGraw@Blomand.net> To: "Walt K8CV" <waltk8cv@wowway.com>; "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon problem


Since there are no reed relays, or relays of any type, one would do better to do a DC voltage check of each filter section for each band. This can be done with the RX HP Filter removed but connected to the radio via the ribbon connector. This way the radio can switch bands and one can measure to confirm switching is taking place by measuring the voltage across each of the 16 diodes. There's 16 of them as indicated on the schematic.

Out of the radio and no power applied, each diode can be accurately checked for forward and reverse resistance with an ohm meter with a suitable diode test feature. Or use one of the old fashion VOM type meters.

One other note, be mindful if the issue exists on all bands or just one or two bands. The switching voltage can be observed on connectors #16 and #14.


73
Bob, K4TAX


----- Original Message ----- From: "Walt K8CV" <waltk8cv@wowway.com>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 7:41 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon problem


Have you changed the reed relays or talked to TenTec about them? A stuck / pitted transmit reed will suck off the receive.



Walt K8CV
-----Original Message----- From: Vic Klein
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 6:34 AM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon problem

Thanks for the suggestions. A few days of sleuthing and talking to Garry at
Ten Tec led me to discover that all the input (D1-D8) switching diodes on
the Hi-Pass filter board (81330) were "open". Garry said In4148's could be
substituted, which I did, and now all the sections seem to test OK and
switch appropriately...but the same symptoms remain: all functions seem
normal, but sensitivity is off by around 4 S-units. None of the RF chokes
seem to be open, and bypassing the Lo-pass FX board by selecting the
external receive antenna makes no difference. I am looking at the 1st Mixer now, although I do get the appropriate 20dB reduction when switching in the
attenuator, which shuts off the RF stage, so I am still befuddled.

One anomally I see is the the voltages on the band switching diodes seems a
bit low. I would have expected a lower voltage at D1 as it has more
resistance in the path, but the reverse is true and it reads about 9.4v as opposed to the other 7 Hi-pass sections at about 7.25v when selected. That still seems plenty to bias the diodes and pull in the low-pass relays, but
curious.

=Vic=
WA4THR
____________________________________________________________
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon problem
From: Wade Staggs <tvman1954@gmail.com>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 17:39:05 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>

*Far from being an Expert myself, The first place I would look would be the
RX High Pass Filter Board ( 81330 ) At the Antenna Input to the High Pass
Filter Board, there are two LC Coils and a Diode ... Any of which could be
Shorted or open in the case of the LC Coils. You should be able to inject
signal or an antenna input on each side of the High pass Filter Board. I
would use a Clip Lead and touch my Antenna to the output connection from
the board and see what happens. The High Pass Filter board uses Switching
Diodes to select the correct Filter for each Band. I am believing that like
Ivory Soap, 99 44/100s percent sure that the problem is somewhere on the
High Pass Filter Board.*
* 73 and May God Bless from Wade/KJ4WS*


On Wed, Jul 9, 2014 at 5:20 PM, K8JHR <jrichards@k8jhr.com> wrote:

Hi Vic -- I am far from expert on this, but I wonder if you can locate
ANOTHER protective diode in the receiver circuit.  I once killed my Omni
VII receiver by hot-switching an "active" receive only antenna - the power connector arced to case ground of a bias-tee injector as I plugged it in,
and that fritzed the receiver.  Gary at TenTec service called me to
explain
it before he fixed it, and I believe he said there were multiple diodes to
protect the rig in such cases.

So... perhaps you have more than one diode or fuse or other prophylactic
device to check?

-----------------------------K8JHr ------------------

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