Hi Paul,
I was glad to help out. I really like TenTec equipment, and, as I noted
on the net and in a note to you, I previously owned the Centaur. I
really liked it in spite of what I perceive as a weakness - the fan
noise. I know some state that other amps are worse, and it is a point of
discussion we'll never all agree on. I think it could be remedied in
several ways, but I use headphones almost all the time for both CW and
SSB (Heil ProSet with the HC-5 cartridge) so it turned out not to be a
joy killer. The Centaur is the first linear I owned, and it worked
beautifully. Without it, I never would have worked VK0IR, and a number
of other DX stations. It runs very cool, and the QSK worked beautifully
with both my ICOM IC-765 and my Omni VI+. I ran it on RTTY, SSB, and CW
with no problems at all. Eventually I broke one of the little
mini-toggle switches, but that was my fault - my PC keyboard sat right in
front of the amp, so I found myself working that switch from the side and
put too much pressure on it one time too many. Otherwise, there was
never a failure in the amp or a problem with it. Someone else is
probably using it today as I traded it in on my Centurion (sudden cash
availability, lust for power, and color coordination - hi!)
Vince, K7NA, mentioned the Herc II, and I agree with him that this is a
very attractive alternative. No tuneup instant QRO. I struggled with
which to buy, but eventually ended up with the Centurion. If your
feedlines present reasonably low SWR, then the Herc is very nice. If
they present between 2.5:1 and 5:1 or so, the pi-network in the output of
the tube amps might be able to tune them OK (my Centaur did) while the
Herc will need a matching network. Just one more thing to consider in
your decision.
GL, and enjoy the new TenTec equipment!
73, Duane AC5AA
On Sun, 12 Sep 1999 20:13:40 -0400 "Paul" <pfb@eriecoast.com> writes:
>
> I didn't get the call but thank You for the demo. I still would
> like to
> hear a Centaur. Boy did that Centurian sound good. without the
> linear the
> signal was sold 5x8 at 800 you were 15-17 over on the meter and at
> 500 it
> was around 12-13 over. Audio was superb on the on the 800 and 500
> setting.
>
> You did say that you had a Centaur! I can move now on one of these
> or I can
> wait for awhile and do the Centurian later. Think the move would be
> wise?
> Did you ever regret the Centaur buy? I don't mean for power ---
> 500 is 500
> watts. I mean the reports and the busting thru of a pile up and
> the
> overall unit because of things like the fan noise??
>
> Thank You Duane for the time and effort. This is the first piece of
> Tentec
> and I would like it to be a pleasure!
>
> Paul
> KI8HO
>
>
>
> --
> 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
>
Duane A. Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas
ac5aa@juno.com -or- ac5aa@earthlink.net
Day: dacalvin@us.ibm.com
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
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