Now that is an interesting filter; just expensive.
Altogether is will cost us almost $50 plus postage.
On the other hand, a used Model 208 Audio Filter goes for about $60 on ebay.
This can be expensive or a bargain, depending on how well it works.
I generally have built my own, simply copying the original 4-stage analog
audio filter.
That is less than $10 worth of parts.
I have a couple of filter kits in my junkbox, one is for insertion in
low-level stages, and would work with the Argonaut. The other is for
insertion in the headphones jack and will work with the Scout. I just have
to find time to build them. Had both for over 20 years but didn't have an
urgent need yet.
I'm a bit confused by the SOTA filter. It says it has enough audio to drive
ear plugs, but not a speaker. It says it has a differential output. I
don't know if I could just insert something like that into an Argonaut, or
if I would have to completely replace the audio board with a differential
amp. Need to brush up on my theory. It's been 33 years since I was a
technician.
I am hoping to get an Argonaut 515 soon. Looking forward to that and I will
definitely put some kind of low-level audio filter into it. These make all
the difference in the world.
73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bwana Bob
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 3:31 AM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Scout for Sota
Rick, et, al,
I think my IF gain mod is on the Ten-Tec wiki. It just switches some
positive bias voltage onto the AGC line, to drop the gain, so that QRN on 80
and
40 isn't so obnoxious. Good for very strong local signals, too. It only
requires one resistor and a sub-miniature toggle switch.
I came across this filter on the sotabeams web site:
http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/digital-audio-filter-modules/
It looks really interesting!
73,
Bob WB2VUF
On 3/22/2016 3:32 AM, rick@dj0ip.de wrote:
> Hi Bob,
>
> I changed the subject to calm the bitching. ;-)
>
> My "REAL" problem is, I'm already carrying a Centurion amplifier up
> the mountain in the form of excess weight. So in parallel with all of
> this I have begun a low carbohydrate diet and have borrowed a dog that
> I take for a walk every day.
>
> I used the Scout a lot when it first came out. It seemed to me it had
> too much noise, audio accompanying it. I tried a couple of types of
filters.
> Everything helped. I sold it long ago, but bought another last year.
>
> So my first project will be to build a small audio filter and hope I
> can fit it inside the box.
>
> The attenuator is an outstanding idea since the Scout has no RF gain.
> However I won't be on top of any mountains at night so it's not urgent.
>
> I already have re-located the power pot and sidetone level pot to the
> top and cut out a bit of case so I can adjust from above. Moving the
> sidetone was probably a waste of time but having an easy adjustment
> for the power level is priceless!
>
> The main problem is, there is not much space for mods inside the box!
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bwana
> Bob
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 2:52 AM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment; n4py3@earthlink.net
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
>
> Rick:
>
> For 5 or 6 times per year, the Scout is fine, assuming you are hiking
> up to the summit and not "mountaineering". The performance of the
> Scout is underrated. I have always gotten excellent audio reports on
> SSB and the receiver hears just fine. The noise blanker is the best of
any radio I own.
> I did do the VFO stability mod on mine (replace one N1500 capacitor
> with an
> NP0) and I put a switch on the back to knock down the IF gain when
> signals or noise are really strong, like on 80 and 40 at night. My
> only complaint is the mechanical stability of the VFO.
> Someday, I plan to put some cross-bracing inside, so that plugging in
> headphones doesn't make the frequency shift.
>
> 73,
>
> Bob WB2VUF
>
> On 3/16/2016 8:35 AM, rick@dj0ip.de wrote:
>> Nothing wrong with it. It's just too expensive "for me" for a radio
>> that would only be used for SOTA.
>>
>> After my previous post, I decided that maybe I already have the best
>> SOTA radio for me.
>> I threw my Scout on the scales. It weighs 5.3 lbs. Probably twice
>> as much as a good SOTA radio should weigth... but should I spend many
>> hundreds of dollars to save having to carry 3 extra pounds up a
>> mountain, 5 or 6 times per year?
>>
>> I may just buy a YouKits in order to have "something" really
>> lightweight, and then depending on the mountain, decide between the
>> Scout
> or the You.
>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Carl
>> Moreschi
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 12:31 PM
>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
>>
>> What's wrong with the Argo VI for SOTA. It will run on as little as
>> 8 volts.
>>
>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
>> 58 Hogwood Rd
>> Louisburg, NC 27549
>> www.n4py.com
>>
>> On 3/16/2016 2:33 AM, rick@dj0ip.de wrote:
>>> (changed the subject: was Service, overhead and the future A/K...)
>>>
>>> Barry,
>>>
>>> I did a lot of reading in the past day and I believe you are right.
>>> The KX3 is exactly the radio I described. PERFECT.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately it's beyond my budget.
>>>
>>> The basic KX3 costs $1500 here in DL.
>>> Add in a tuner and roofing filter and paddle and it's over $2K for a
>>> 10w radio that I might use 5 or 6 times per year on a mountain top.
>>> The ROI just isn't worth it.
>>>
>>> For home use, say as my 2nd radio, I would need an amplifier.
>>>
>>> Bottom Line: It's a champagne dream on a Budweiser budget.
>>> For that money -(at this point in my life)- I would get more bangs
>>> for my buck out of playing with something else, such as a 7300 or an
>> Annan, etc.
>>> I need a Plan B for SOTA. Maybe it's just "bite the bullet and
>>> carry my Scout up the mountain."
>>>
>>> I don't mind spending $500 or so but I would sure like to know how
>>> the radio is going to perform BEFORE I buy it.
>>>
>>> My primary bands for portable have always been 40 and 20. 15 will
>>> be dying soon. Do I really need 17m for SOTA?
>>>
>>> QUESTION FOR YOU ACTIVE SOTA Ops: What bands do you mainly operate
>>> when you are on a mountain top?
>>>
>>> I've only been on one SOTA outing together with a buddy and we
>>> operated
>>> 40/20/17/15 making a lot of QSOs on each band. Perhaps not quite as
>>> many on 17.
>>>
>>> I think I will take a second look at the LNR offering.
>>> It is indeed an SDR with DDC - so not an NE-605 type of radio.
>>> Unfortunately they don't show much detail; just a block diagram.
>>> There is a box called SDR-RF BPF.
>>> This is a make or break component.
>>> Some SDR radios have ham band BPFs (good), others have an LPF, with
>>> 0-12MHz (useless).
>>>
>>>
>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>>> Barry N1EU
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 5:48 PM
>>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Service, overhead, and the future. A/K/A/ I've
>>> got my
>>> 2 cents!
>>>
>>> Rick, I'm not sure if you would be satisfied by the KX1 or the MTR
> radios.
>>> Unfortunately I don't know the answer to something better but not
>>> too expensive.
>>>
>>> I suggest you try to borrow an MTR-5B. That's the only lesser
>>> expensive radio that will do 40-15M inclusively. And you'd have to
>>> search around to find one for sale currently although LNR should be
>> bringing it out soon.
>>> Or, just stick with the FT-817. I like the radio, although it
>>> really needs an external speech processor to work well on SSB.
>>>
>>> 73, Barry N1EU
>>>
>>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 11:50 AM, rick@dj0ip.de<Rick@dj0ip.de> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Barry,
>>>>
>>>> I'd love to have a KX3 but it is much too heavy.
>>>> It's weight would place too big of a dent in my wallet!
>>>>
>>>> For SOTA I really only need 40/20/17/15m.
>>>> 10 is dying and by the time it comes back, I doubt that I will
>>>> still be running up any mountains.
>>>>
>>>> My next scheduled SOTA operation is 1-April. "Fool on a hill" -
>>>> that's
>>> me!
>>>> I don't know yet if I'll try carrying my Scout up the mountain or not.
>>>> I can borrow an FT-817.
>>>>
>>>> How good is the KX1?
>>>> We have some heavy challenges on our receivers here in EU.
>>>> A weak DR3 destroys 40m, especially at night, and a weak DR2 makes
>>>> working 20m difficult - especially at night. You guys in the
>>>> states can't appreciate that. You have to see/hear it to believe it.
>>>>
>>>> I once built a 20m QRP rig based on a design by Rick Littlefield.
>>>> Had some kind of IC mixer.
>>>> It was marginal.
>>>> I ran a QRP CW contest using a home-brew magnetic loop antenna.
>>>> Sitting in my living room with radio, mag loop, and battery, I
>>>> worked
>>> dozens of QSOs.
>>>> Thought it was great. Then I put it on a big antenna and all hell
>>>> broke loose at night.
>>>>
>>>> So I bought the MFJ 20m QRP CW rig.
>>>> It was no better than the one I built.
>>>> I sold both.
>>>>
>>>> I want something better than that - but not too expensive.
>>>> But I don't know the QRP radios at all, except for the Argonauts.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>>>> Barry N1EU
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 12:25 AM
>>>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Service, overhead, and the future. A/K/A/
>>>> I've got my
>>>> 2 cents!
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 9:40 PM, rick@dj0ip.de<Rick@dj0ip.de> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> My Scout is a bit too heavy and over-powered, but the FT-817 just
>>>>> isn't enough radio for me.
>>>>> I'm looking for something in between. I'd like to see a 10w or
>>>>> 20w radio with a good RX.
>>>>> I want it to have both SSB and CW.
>>>>
>>>> It's called a KX-3
>>>>
>>>> I've got one, but I usually carry a much lighter KX-1 or MTR-5B
>>>> when I actually hike up a mountain. (200 SOTA activations here)
>>>>
>>>> 73, Barry N1EU
>>>> _______________________________________________
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