I'm glad to hear a good negative report on dsp. Chester is absolutely
correct. Where dsp helps is when you have some old boatanchor radio with
a 6kc wide I.F. and hang the dsp on the audio output. For rigs with
filters like the Omni VI, dsp only makes things sound weird. On SSB with
the dsp turned on you will hear all kinds of spooky little sounds in the
background. I find these more distracting than QRN!
For CW, an MFJ 281 ClearTone speaker does far better to enhance cw than
any dsp I've ever tried and I've tried several.
As for RINGING......I've found that I can copy cw faster through TenTec
ladder filters than the Jap lattice filters. There is less ringing and
the TT filters tend to punctuate cw instead of engulfing it in a
quagmire of mush as do the JA filters.
Yes. Why should I want to listen to audio that has been chopped up,
processed and converted when I can listen to the real thing? Sorry if
I got carried away. Maybe I should be.
73 Steve N4LQ
Chester Alderman wrote:
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> >Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 20:42:09 -0400
> >To: Del Seay <seay@Alaska.NET>
> >From: Chester Alderman <chestert@mail.pressroom.com>
> >Subject: Re: [TenTec] Omni-6 Plus Upgrade
> >In-Reply-To: <34057B16.427@alaska.net>
> >
> >At 06:20 AM 8/28/97 -0700, you wrote:
> >>I'd like to pass along my observations on the Plus upgrade for
> >>those who are contemplating.
> >
> >As an Omni 6 owner for six years and a factory modified Omni 6+ owner
> now for only a few weeks, I'd like to use your message to add my
> observations and comments.
> >>
> >>First, I made a mistake ordering the 1.8 kHz 2nd filter for ssb.
> >>I don't use ssb that much, and the filter is far too steep,
> >>with the resulting audio being extremely limited. My fault, not
> >>Ten-Tec's.
> >
> >I have a 2.4kc, 1.8kc, and 500 Hz filters in the first IF, and the
> full complement in the second IF. I am finding the 1.8 kc in the 1st
> IF and 500 Hz in the 2nd IF to be very good for digging out weak DX
> signals on 80 and 40 mtrs. I like the sharpness of the skirts and do
> not notice any degredation of the signal level, no matter what filter
> combinations I select.
> >
> >>A couple of years ago, I bought and played with one of the high
> >>end DSP units, and was not impressed. Now, the built in DSP
> >>in the OMNI appears about the same. The low pass filter works well,
> >>the auto notch is great for the phone operators, but I have yet
> >>to find a signal that I can copy with the dsp, that I can't copy
> >>without. I guess it could be considered a nice toy, but not of
> >>great help in serious dx chasing.
> >
>
> >However, I still reserve judgement on the DSP, with hopes that this
> winter, especially on the low end of 80 mtrs, with no QRN, the DSP
> will function much better. Right now I would say with good filters in
> the 1st and 2nd IF, DSP is not providing a significant enhancement to
> copying signals.
> >>
> >>The additional filtering has really sharpened the receiver, and is
> >>well worth the upgrade. I have 2-500 Hz filters, and find that it is
>
> >>great. I can't imagine ever needing, or being able to use a 250 hz
> >>filter with it.
> >>
> >>There is one item that has been dropped from the menu - to my
> dismay.
> >>The ability to change the cw offset was great in the original. Now,
> >>it appears we must be satisfied with 670 Hz.
> >
> >This problem, I do not have. I can adjust the CW sidetone from 400 Hz
> to about 900Hs. I can adjust the RIT and XIT the factory advertised
> amount. I do, however, notice that when using RIT, the tuning
> transition is not consistant. Say I have tuned the RIT up 200 cps from
> my xmit freq and start tuning it back down toward zero. As I watch the
> digital readout, the count will go something like
> ....5.4.3.2.3.2.1.3.2.1...etc. The frequency does not seem to jump as
> indicated, only the digital readout.
> >>
> >>Now - the built-in keyer seems better, although I doubt that there
> was
> >>any intentional change. Probably just a result of the new firmware.
> >>However, it does still change speed as the cpu works with other
> >>functions. Very disturbing to a guy who has to keep a real close
> grip
> >>on his hand or send undistinguishable garbage. It veries about 2 wpm
>
> >>at the 30 wpm rate. I think that the cpu is probably too busy to
> keep
> >>up with all it is trying to control.
> >
> >I don't use the internal keyer, but I'm sure everyone is aware that
> the Omni 6 will not key above 68 wpm? Truely not a big deal to most,
> but only to a very few (and I am among the very few). When you key
> above 68 wpm, the characters start changing the weight ratio, to the
> point when you get to about 74 wpm, it is no longer code. I have
> talked to TenTec (many years ago) and they explained the problem (PLL
> lock time) and I'm perfectly happy with their answer. The trade off
> would be to lose the
> >>
> >>All in all, I am very satisfied, and there were no surprises.
> Everything
> >>appears to be just as advertised. Another damned fine rig. Think
> I'll
> >>keep it!
> >
> >I really like the additional filter selection for the 1st IF (however
> I would have perfered that the selected 1st IF filters all be
> cascadable!). I like the new menu system and I especially love the
> ability to set the tuning rate on both SSB, CW, and RIT! A big thumbs
> up for TenTec!!
> >
> >
> >>
> >>de KL7HF
> >>
> >>--
> >>FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
> >>Submissions: tentec@contesting.com
> >>Administrative requests: tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
> >>Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
> >>Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
> >>
> Chester Alderman
> W4BQF -- Tom
> chestert@pressroom.com
>
> -- FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm Submissions:
> tentec@contesting.com Administrative requests:
> tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
> Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
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Administrative requests: tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
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