Steve, I've had similar experiences with the technicians at Ten-Tec,
and--in fairness--at other places too. I used to be a service technician at
Heathkit for many years, so I know what it's like. But, the key thing for a
tech is to say "I don't know" when you don't, and then study the schematics,
etc (as you did) to find out what is correct. I suspect the technicians you
spoke with didn't have that acumen, or were too busy, or not technical
enough.
I had occasion to chat with TT's techs once about my 961 power supply,
and
they really didn't have a clue about how the circuit worked. I understood
the nuance of the circuit I was asking about, but they most certainly did
not. However, in fairness, they gave me the typical voltages to look for on
certain pads. That kind of information will likely serve 95% of the hams
calling in.
If you can deal with TT's low cost boards and sometimes strange way of
mounting components, the saving grace is that you can typically service the
equipment yourself.
When people ask me about TT---and I own an Argo 515 and an Omni-V, and
have owned other TT rigs too---I always say that the equipment is excellent,
and add that, to me, it's akin to very fine, nicely constructed
high-performance homemade gear.
Don't shoot the techs at TT. They didn't design the equipment.
You're obviously capable of checking out your own rig and seeing how
things
work. Look at TT as a terrific resource, factor in what its techs tell you
with your own experience and knowledge, and know the company will gladly
supply you with spare parts if it can. I think that's an unbeatable
combo--and it underscores the old premise that hams should be able to fix
their own rigs!
Vy 73, AI2Q, Alex in Kennebunk, Maine .-.-.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-tentec@contesting.com [mailto:owner-tentec@contesting.com]On
> Behalf Of Steve Ellington N4LQ
> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 9:39 PM
> To: Ten Tec List
> Subject: [TenTec] Dead List?
>
>
>
> Hey, where is everybody. I'm not copying any mail today.
> I called TenTec today and asked them to send the connectors so I could
> interface my Omni C to the Hercules II. Two of them said it wouldn't work
> because the switch on the Omni C was wired differently, have the contactor
> for the switch grounded. I quoted the Hercules II manual which showed the
> diagram for the interface plus even said "for Omni and Corsair 1. Note:
> Corsair 1 not Corsair 2. Still I couldn't convince them otherwise. So they
> agreed to send me the connectors anyway and I told them I would rewire the
> Omni C so it's swich produced 12v for the band change function. I
> came home,
> checked my Omni C manual and sure enought, the switch has a floating rotor
> and can be connected however you want. The manual was right and both techs
> were wrong. Well nobody's perfect. Now to actually check the rig with an
> ohmmeter and see if the manual is correct.
>
> So is anyone out there???? Hellooooooooooo
> Steve N4LQ
>
>
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>
>
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