I can certainly understand your concern after your experience with
lightning. I don't know whether there is any one correct answer. I'm
sure it depends, in large part, on your comfort level.
However, I am sure Tentec is not inexperienced in finding and assessing
lightning damage. I imagine they found the blown IC in the course of a
very careful examination of all the circuit boards in the rig. The burn
in cycle should flush out any further weaknesses.
Broadcast transmitters are no strangers to lightning strikes. The usual
practice is to swap the damaged board or boards and carry on. I have
never heard of an entire transmitter being replaced unless there has
been a catastrophic fire and melt down.
In view of your other considerations such as the sentimental value, I
think I would keep the rig, use it fairly often for the next several
months and if no further problems arise, put the experience behind you.
On the other hand, if it does experience further problems which
conceivably could be related to the lightning damage, you can always
trade in the rig or make other arrangements at that time.
Bruce W8FU
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kimberly Elmore
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 6:11 PM
To: orion565@yahoogroups.com; tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Lightning Strike Results...
My O II arrived at TenTec service and Paul called today about TenTec's
findings. He said that a hole was blown out of an IC on the logic board.
They replaced the logic board and the rig appears to be fine. They will
place it in the test rack over the weekend to see how it fares.
Assuming it checks out OK during the 48-72 h burn-in test, I'm faced
with a dilemma: the rig has a bit of sentimental value (it's the rig
reviewed by the ARRL from whom I bought it in their on-line auction),
but there may be more, hidden damage that will not be revealed for some
time. Then again, there may not be. I'd like to keep it going if I can,
but I don't want to own the equivalent of a white elephant or a "bench
queen" (a radio that spends most of its time on the repair bench).
I'm open to the collective wisdom. I have ARRL insurance plus whatever
my homeowners insurace will cover. Am I being foolish to even consider
keeping it?
Kim Elmore, N5OP
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