This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0225_01BDD9DB.81790860
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Since I own the Kachina 505DSP, Yaesu FT-1000MP and the Omni 6+, I can =
say that Kachina's QSK comes with a noisy relay (not a reed type) and =
the T/R turnaround time is much too long. You can hear the receiver =
between most characters, but nothing between dits and dahs. Another =
abnormality is that when you use their excellent CW keyboard interface, =
QSK is automatically turned OFF and it cannot be changed. Why?
Anyway, I continue to enjoy my Omni 6+ for real CW work, particularly =
since I made my keyed waveform and chirp mods back in June, and =
eliminated the slight QSK "thump" altogether. The last mod makes a =
tremendous improvement and requires a non-invasive mod to only one wire =
on the I.F./A.F. Board. Everyone should at least try this since it can =
be restored simply with the push of a connector.
By now, I thought the W1AW 20-meter signal would have improved. While =
listening tonight, the leading edge chirp is clearly evident. I don't =
mean to start another raging discussion on this, but it's evident that =
some Omnis manifest this slight chirp. Hint: the source can be traced =
to the 9 MHz @ 2.4 kHz crystal filter circuit. This is the only filter =
that shares the TX and RX function. Those radios with chirp are the =
same radios that exhibit a truncated trailing CW waveform, particularly =
when adjusted to the most "soft" setting. The new Omni 6+ SMD Control =
Board no longer allows you to make this adjustment. Instead, a fixed =
resistor is now located where a pot used to reside and guess what? The =
fixed value corresponds to what used to be the most "hard" setting. =
Here's another hint for Ten-Tec: The source of the chirp is what also =
causes the USB receive audio to sound a bit thinner in low-end response =
and less "full" than in LSB. Has anyone else noticed this? The good =
news is that the chirp is correctable. Anyway, compare the 20-meter =
signal against the simultaneous 40-meter transmission.=20
Back to the Kachina: The I.F. DSP is at least as good as the Omni 6+. =
The only drawback is that there is some audible digital distortion on =
transient-rich signals, like static crashes. They'll get this worked =
out in time. Their rig is 90% of the way to completely satisfying me, =
but as we all know, getting that couple percent improvement is the most =
difficult to achieve.
-Paul, W9AC
-----Original Message-----
From: Chester Alderman <chestert@pressroom.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com <tentec@contesting.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Sunday, September 06, 1998 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Re: [CW] Kachina vs. Omni VI+
=20
=20
Jim...Unfortunately I can only offer you what I was told via email =
about the Kachina. Someone was using it at a special event station and =
complained that the QSK was very poor; mind you, I don't know =
personally.
=20
=20
As for the Omni 6+ that resets to 14000kc when it's turned =
on, I'm sure your going to find when that fellow reads the manual and =
learns how to set the menu selection, that the Omni 6 will turn on at =
the QRG that it was turned off at. Mine does.
=20
=20
I sure disagree with the person stating that "ultimately =
IF/DSP filter performance will surpass cascaded crystal filters." The =
reason I disagree with that statement is because digital switching will =
probably NEVER have the stop band characteristics that a crystal filter =
can have, if designed correct. They will probably make good strides in =
using IF/DSP for SSB, but I would almost (NOTE: 'almost') bet my Omni 6+ =
that it wont happen for CW operation.
=20
=20
As for TenTec's final testing, I have not witnessed it. =
However not too long ago TenTec got a military contract to build =
receivers to MilSpec and I think the result of that contract is a lot of =
what we see in the Omni 6. Meaning the very good pc board layouts, the =
excellent cabeling routing, and the overall significant improvement in =
the design of the Omni. I think most of their testing is now computer =
controlled, and certainly with computer controlled testing some things =
can be missed. All depends on the communications between the engineers =
and the computer programmer!
=20
=20
73,
=20
=20
=20
>>I think the CW QSK/keying performance was better with the Omni =
also .
>
>Yes. at the Kachina web site, they say they 505 has QSK "only
>above 30 wpm", at QRS the "transmitter hangs", whatever that
>means. They go to say it is because the Kachina completes
>each CW character for you!! That is different.
>
>>I'm sure that ultimately all rigs will be computer-controlled to =
the degree
>that
>>the Kachina is, and I'm sure that ultimately IF/DSP filter =
performance will
>>surpass cascaded crystal filters. Give them 5 years or so!
>
>
>But, I think I will need to order a new rig next week! However, =
a bit
>put off by the fellow who just got his new Omni+ from Ten Tec, I
>guess yesterday, and it would reset to 14000 and 1200 o'clock each
>time he turned in off and later back on! Ten Tec says they burn
>each rig in for several hours, then check performance again, but
>maybe they didn't/don't turn them on/off a couple of times as part
>of the check??
>
>73, Jim, KH7M
>
>73, Jim, KH7M
>
>
>
>--
>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
>=20
=20
Chester Alderman
Tom - W4BQF
chestert@pressroom.com
------=_NextPart_000_0225_01BDD9DB.81790860
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.6"' name=3DGENERATOR>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Since I own the Kachina 505DSP, =
Yaesu FT-1000MP=20
and the Omni 6+, I can say that Kachina's QSK comes with a noisy relay =
(not a=20
reed type) and the T/R turnaround time is much too long. You can =
hear the=20
receiver between most characters, but nothing between dits and =
dahs. =20
Another abnormality is that when you use their excellent CW keyboard =
interface,=20
QSK is automatically turned OFF and it cannot be changed. =20
Why?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Anyway, I continue to enjoy my Omni 6+ for real CW =
work,=20
particularly since I made my keyed waveform and chirp mods back in June, =
and=20
eliminated the slight QSK "thump" altogether. The last =
mod makes=20
a tremendous improvement and requires a non-invasive mod to only one =
wire on the=20
I.F./A.F. Board. Everyone should at least try this since it can be =
restored simply with the push of a connector.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>By now, I thought the W1AW 20-meter =
signal would=20
have improved. While listening tonight, the leading edge chirp is =
clearly=20
evident. I don't mean to start another raging discussion on this, =
but it's=20
evident that some Omnis manifest this slight chirp. Hint: the =
source can=20
be traced to the 9 MHz @ 2.4 kHz crystal filter circuit. This is =
the only=20
filter that shares the TX and RX function. Those radios with chirp =
are the=20
same radios that exhibit a truncated trailing CW waveform, particularly =
when=20
adjusted to the most "soft" setting. The new Omni 6+ SMD =
Control=20
Board no longer allows you to make this adjustment. Instead, a =
fixed=20
resistor is now located where a pot used to reside and guess what? =
The=20
fixed value corresponds to what used to be the most "hard"=20
setting. Here's another hint for Ten-Tec: The source of the chirp =
is what=20
also causes the USB receive audio to sound a bit thinner in low-end =
response and=20
less "full" than in LSB. Has anyone else noticed =
this? The=20
good news is that the chirp is correctable. Anyway, compare the =
20-meter=20
signal against the simultaneous 40-meter transmission. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Back to the Kachina: The I.F. =
DSP is at=20
least as good as the Omni 6+. The only drawback is that there is =
some=20
audible digital distortion on transient-rich signals, like static =
crashes. =20
They'll get this worked out in time. Their rig is 90% of the way =
to=20
completely satisfying me, but as we all know, getting that couple =
percent=20
improvement is the most difficult to achieve.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>-Paul, W9AC</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: =
5px">
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>-----Original =
Message-----</B><BR><B>From:=20
</B>Chester Alderman <<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:chestert@pressroom.com";>chestert@pressroom.com</A>><BR>=
<B>To:=20
</B><A =
href=3D"mailto:tentec@contesting.com";>tentec@contesting.com</A> <<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:tentec@contesting.com";>tentec@contesting.com</A>><BR><B=
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
>Date:=20
</B>Sunday, September 06, 1998 8:48 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>Re: =
[TenTec] Re:=20
[CW] Kachina vs. Omni VI+<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV>Jim...Unfortunately I can only offer you what I was told via =
email=20
about the Kachina. Someone was using it at a special event station =
and=20
complained that the QSK was very poor; mind you, I don't know=20
personally.</DIV><BR>
=
<DIV><X-TAB> </X-TAB>As =
for=20
the Omni 6+ that resets to 14000kc when it's turned on, I'm sure =
your going=20
to find when that fellow reads the manual and learns how to set the =
menu=20
selection, that the Omni 6 will turn on at the QRG that it was =
turned off=20
at. Mine does.</DIV><BR>
=
<DIV><X-TAB> </X-TAB>I =
sure=20
disagree with the person stating that "ultimately IF/DSP filter =
performance will surpass cascaded crystal filters." The =
reason I=20
disagree with that statement is because digital switching will =
probably=20
NEVER have the stop band characteristics that a crystal filter can =
have, if=20
designed correct. They will probably make good strides in using =
IF/DSP for=20
SSB, but I would almost (NOTE: 'almost') bet my Omni 6+ that it wont =
happen=20
for CW operation.</DIV><BR>
=
<DIV><X-TAB> </X-TAB>As =
for=20
TenTec's final testing, I have not witnessed it. However not too =
long ago=20
TenTec got a military contract to build receivers to MilSpec and I =
think the=20
result of that contract is a lot of what we see in the Omni 6. =
Meaning the=20
very good pc board layouts, the excellent cabeling routing, and the =
overall=20
significant improvement in the design of the Omni. I think most of =
their=20
testing is now computer controlled, and certainly with computer =
controlled=20
testing some things can be missed. All depends on the communications =
between=20
the engineers and the computer programmer!</DIV><BR>
<DIV>73,</DIV><BR><BR>
<DIV>>>I think the CW QSK/keying performance was better with =
the Omni=20
also .</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>>Yes. at the Kachina web site, they say they 505 =
has QSK=20
"only</DIV>
<DIV>>above 30 wpm", at QRS the "transmitter=20
hangs", whatever that</DIV>
<DIV>>means. They go to say it is because the Kachina=20
completes</DIV>
<DIV>>each CW character for you!! That is different.</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>>>I'm sure that ultimately all rigs will be =
computer-controlled=20
to the degree</DIV>
<DIV>>that</DIV>
<DIV>>>the Kachina is, and I'm sure that ultimately IF/DSP =
filter=20
performance will</DIV>
<DIV>>>surpass cascaded crystal filters. Give them 5 =
years or=20
so!</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>>But, I think I will need to order a new rig next =
week! =20
However, a bit</DIV>
<DIV>>put off by the fellow who just got his new Omni+ from Ten=20
Tec, I</DIV>
<DIV>>guess yesterday, and it would reset to 14000 and 1200 =
o'clock=20
each</DIV>
<DIV>>time he turned in off and later back on! Ten =
Tec says=20
they burn</DIV>
<DIV>>each rig in for several hours, then check performance =
again, but</DIV>
<DIV>>maybe they didn't/don't turn them on/off a couple of times =
as=20
part</DIV>
<DIV>>of the check??</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>>73, Jim, KH7M</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>>73, Jim, KH7M</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV>>--</DIV>
<DIV>>FAQ on=20
=
WWW: &nb=
sp; =20
<A href=3D"http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm"; EUDORA =3D=20
AUTOURL>http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm</A></DIV>
=
<DIV>>Submissions: &nbs=
p; =20
tentec@contesting.com</DIV>
<DIV>>Administrative requests: =
tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com</DIV>
=
<DIV>>Problems: &=
nbsp; =20
owner-tentec@contesting.com</DIV>
=
<DIV>>Search: &nb=
sp; =20
<A href=3D"http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm"; EUDORA =3D=20
AUTOURL>http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm</A></DIV>> <BR>
<DIV align=3Dcenter>Chester Alderman<BR><B>Tom -=20
=
W4BQF<BR></B><U>chestert@pressroom.com<BR></U></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY><=
/HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0225_01BDD9DB.81790860--
--
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
|