> I am in the process of planning a mobile setup.
> I am looking very seriously at the Ten Tec Scout for a mobile rig.
> I would appreciate any observation/opinions on the rig.
Joe:
Ive used the Scout as a mobile radio, on and off now since the day it
came out (around August 1993, I think). At some point, I would like to
take the time to put together a "review" of the Scout in mobile
operation, but for now, heres a summary of what Ive found.
Upside:
- The noise blanker works better than any other that I can recall.
For mobile operation, it's a must, especially at $19.95!
I couldn't operate mobile without it (my car is electrically noisy).
- The compact package is great
- The simple controls are great (other mobile HF rigs seem to have
too many multifunction buttons, menu levels, etc.) I find that I
can operate the Scout "blind", and for mobile ops, that's a great
feature -- possibly one of the best.
- For SSB work (I haven't done alot, but used to once in a while),
the Scout and the Ten-Tec 700C hand mike are a winning combination.
I've had many comments about how superb the audio is with that
combination. If you do mobile CW with the Scout, I highly recommend
the 700C ($39.95 at last check).
Downside:
- I can't read the display when it's in direct sunlight.
- The speaker sometimes rattles or resonates, and it seems to be very
"directional" -- try the MFJ Clear Tone speaker (MFJ-281) for
mobile operation ($9.95, and N4LQ says it works great on CW!).
- There doesn't appear to be much protection in the rig for voltage
surges when you start the car. The manual warns about this. I am
very careful to turn the power off before starting the car, but
once in a while I forget. So far, no problems though. Unfortunately,
this means I have to bump the internal keyer speed back up from
its default 25, since it reverts back to this at powerdown. A minor
inconvenience to me though.
Other comments:
- Some people have commented on the Scout's frequency instability at
high speed CW. My Scout drifts badly at 40+ WPM, but I have never
had this problem when mobile, and I usually do 35 to 38 WPM.
Hope this helps Joe, and others. If you have other specific questions,
please email me, or the list.
Andrew M. Moore, NV1B
dmm@bronze.lcs.mit.edu
..
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