Ken,
The power supply I have been using is an Astron 35A. I may switch supplies to
see if that makes a difference. I do have an Amplifier but it does not matter
if it is running or not for this to happen. Amplifier relay is Off and I am
familiar with this relay and of course how it sounds.
Yea, your right about relays and what one person thinks is loud another does
not. I also agree with you and others that this seems like a power supply
problem/connector problem. I am going to check the voltage at that Molex
connector.
Thanks!
Jay - KT5E
----- Original Message -----
From: Ken Brown
To: Jay Schwisow
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 12:19 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Omni VI locking up
Hi Jay,
What kind of power supply are you using? I wonder if the voltage regulation
in the power supply has too slow a time constant somewhere. So that when you
let your key up and transmitter PA collector current drops, the power supply is
for just a moment putting out too much voltage. DCC Input Board has a relay to
switch the 12 VDC power to much of the rig. It also includes over voltage
protection. If the supply voltage is too high, the relay releases to protect
the radio.
Since you did not mention that you are operating split band, or using an
amplifier that requires you to have the "Amplifier Relay" activated, nor did
you say you are using a separate RX antenna, there are not many relays that
should be switching as you key, perhaps only K1 on the Lowpass Filter Board.
That relay should be fairly quiet, I never hear mine. (Some people say that the
Omni VI is not a QSK rig because that relay makes a terrible racket though, so
relays and opinions certainly vary!) If my theory were correct the meter lamps
would go out altogether, unless something is plugged in wrong inside the radio.
I suggest that you check to see that the "RELAY [N.O]" (otherwise known as
external amplifier keying relay) is turned off, as long as you are not using
it. Check the user options menu LCO (Linear Control Relay) setting. This might
eliminate some fault in that circuitry as the cause. I think the relay on the
input power board is more likely the one you are hearing.
Also next time the problem happens, see if you notice whether it occurs just
as you let the key up, as opposed to at key down.
You may want to try sending a string of dits, or perhaps dahs, while
adjusting the keyer speed. (of course you should be transmitting into a dummy
load for this.) If it is some interaction between the time constants in the
power supply regulation and the keying, you might find a speed that causes it
to happen regularly. Still the fact that the meter lamps are dimming, rather
than turning off, contradicts this theory. If you could monitor the DC supply
voltage with a oscilloscope using DC coupled input you could also see if this
power supply regulation idea is worth persuing. Perhaps a DMM (digital
multimeter) which has a "peak hold" function could be used to see whether the
supply voltage ever goes too high.
I hope this helps you find the problem. I would be interested to hear when,
and how you resolve it. I have an Omni VI version 2 and have never had this
problem, but if I ever do, your experience solving it would be helpful.
73 DE N6KB
Jay Schwisow wrote:
Ken,
I have not tried all the buttons to unlock the rig. Again, it does not lock
in transmit it just clicks a relay and the display goes blank.
This has happened with the iambic key hooked directly to the rig and most
recentlry through a W5XD IF. It has never locked in SSB but then again I
have only had 2-3 Qs on SSB.
It has happened on 15, 17, 20,30 and 40 meters.
Meter illumination dims.
Not sure about LEDs....I will pay attention to this.
Thanks,
Jay - KT5E
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Brown" <ken.d.brown@verizon.net>
To: "Jay Schwisow" <kt5e@arrl.net>; <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 1:20 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Omni VI locking up
What other methods (besides power cycling) unlock it? How about reducing
the PWR control on the rig? Will that unlock it? That information would
be one more clue as to what is happening.
How are you keying it? Microphone PTT button? Straight key to keying
input jack? External keyer to keying input jack? Paddle connected to
internal keyer? Does it do the same thing with any of these keying
methods? Does it matter what band you have it on? Do meter illumination
lamps dim, or just LED display affected? LEDs next to pushbuttons go out?
intermittent problems with my Omni VI (Opt 3 upgrade) on CW.
Keying it up on CW will sometimes lock the rig (not transmitting) and
blank
the display. There is a pretty good "klunk" when it does this.
Usually,
just turning rig off and back on for it to reset and go on.
This happens into a nicely matched antenna 100 feet from the shack or
straight into a dummy load so it does not appear to be outside RF.
It happens with power settings from 50 watts to 100watts. I have not
spent
alot of time at 5 watts to see if it will happen QRP. Has anyone seen
this
before?
Any suggestions?
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