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Re: [TenTec] Information Sharing: Curing a Corsair I Drift Problem

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Information Sharing: Curing a Corsair I Drift Problem
From: "Mike, K9UW" <k9uw@wi-net.com>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:02:07 -0600
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Pete, there is an article in the September issue of QST called "Amplifier Care and Maintenance" (pages 33-37). You can obtain a PDF from the ARRL web site if you're a member.

73, de Mike, K9UW
Amherst, WI

On 12/6/2011 4:57 PM, N6QW wrote:
I am new to this list and did check the archives to see if perhaps this was 
specifically covered by others.  While there were references to drift 
correction in the Corsair's, I did not see this cure mentioned.

Earlier this year I purchased a Corsair one that I would call in "medium" shape and was 
generally pleased with the purchase save for the drift problem that would take about 2 hours to 
finally stop drifting.  But it was the  the drift in the first half hour that was a killer. Keeping 
the rig powered on all of the time was not optimal. There are several manufacturers of "vfo 
stabilizers" including rolling your own.

I decided to try a product from the UK called the X-Lock 2 which will be 
discontinued this month to make way for X-Lock 3. Now I can turn on the Corsair 
and after about 2 seconds it will lock on frequency and stay there. The kit 
price depends on the exchange rate but typically is around $40. I have no 
affiliation with the company but have included a link on my website so you can 
see how it was installed.

5 wires are used for the interface with two of those being power which is 
tapped into the Corsair rear apron aux power. 2 connections for the coax that 
samples the RF output and a 1 connection to the Offset pin on the PTO. There is 
a tri color led that shows the lock / unlock status and that I simply routed 
out the bottom of the Corsair Case and taped it to the bottom of the case. The 
range of the Offset is somewhat less with this fix but I am happy to forego a 
smaller range to gain the frequency stability. YMMV but I am only sharing what 
I experienced.

see: http://www.jessystems.com/X-Lock%20(rev%201).pdf

The manufacturer is Cumbria Designs, Ron Taylor G4GXO  
http://www.cumbriadesigns.co.uk/x-lock.htm


73's
Pete N6QW
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