I too, picked up the Corsair II for use with transverters. So far I
haven't any transverters to fit. I was looking closely at Omni V or VI
but didn't like their going to LSB for CW on 28 MHz which disrupts VHF
contest operation where mode switches and mixed mode contacts are
common. The external VFO should be a nice option giving dual receive if
desired within the same band anyway. On the way to transverters, I found
the FT-857D and traded TS-130 and my dad's TS-440 in on one and its
compact, hears well, has a super noise blanker, and is fairly convenient
to operate. When on SSB one menu option allows CW with no mode
switching, just start sending CW with key. Except I found last summer
that it stays on USB for CW, a menu selection, even when listening to
LSB on 75 or 40.
Long long ago I made 2m contacts in the St. Louis area with a borrowed
portable using a super regen receiver, then later I bought a Heathkit
twoer with super regen receiver.
All my antennas are down, working on moving. I'm not sure what I'll be
using in the new hamshack or exactly where in the house or machine shed
it will be.
73, Jerry, K0CQ
On 4/25/2010 6:22 PM, Steve Berg wrote:
HI Jerry,
Thanks for the info. Ten Tec told me that the Corsair II is designed
along the lines of Rohde's ideas, and that is not half bad. I initially
got the Corsair II to use with my Swan TV2 transverter on 2 meters. I
tried it on 80 meters one night, and it has been the HF rig of choice
ever since. I have the external VFO for it also, which adds some nice
features. I put the Omni V.9 over on the VHF desk, and use it with an
Elecraft transverter and a pre-MFJ Mirage brick. It works really well,
although the noise blanker in the Argonaut II is much more effective.
For 2 meters, I got a Kenwood TS-790A which has had some problems, but
now is working. Unfortunately, the center conductor in my 2 meter
feedline has open circuited, and while I can receive fairly well, it
does not transmit much as the VSWR is too high. I need to get that
fixed, but have been too busy at school to get to it. I am seriously
thinking of relocating to my place in EN55, and as the state budget
crunch has cut my course load in half, may well just pull the plug, get
the cabin built, and head up there with my 91 year old Dad.
The Kenwood covers 432, but the only time I ever got on the air on that
band was with a modified Vocaline CB rig, that I retuned to cover 432.
With a superregen receiver and a modulated oscillator transmitter, I did
not try to make any contacts, though I could hear some of the locals on
AM.
Well, back to grading local government budget papers.
Thanks again.
Steve
On 4/25/2010 5:47 PM, Dr. Gerald N. Johnson wrote:
Probably because there are differences in the RF and first IF circuits.
Those in the Corsair II use multiple transformer coupled feed back
(Ulrich Rohde's favorite circuit though patented by Anzac) and in the
Omni V uses Jfets in grounded gate in parallel. The dynamic range of the
transformer feedback circuit may be a bit better, quieter and harder to
overload. And while the synthesizer in the Omni V is fairly quiet, it
may not have as low phase noise as the PTO in the Corsair II which means
less reciprocal mixing of unwanted signals and noise. I don't know that
either has been tested for phase noise as much as more recent radios.
73, Jerry, K0CQ
On 4/25/2010 2:12 PM, Steve Berg wrote:
I have been enjoying this thread quite a bit. One question that I have
about receiver performance may bear a bit on what has been discussed so
far. Since upgrading to extra several years ago, I have been having a
lot of fun on the low end of 80 and 40 meters, working DX on CW. I have
two Ten Tec rigs, a Corsair II and an Omni V.9. Both have the 500 Hz
and 250 Hz filters in the IF string, and the Omni also has a 250 Hz
filter in the first IF. What I have noticed is that the Corsair II is
seemingly able to pull out really weak signals more clearly than does
the Omni. I am reasonably familiar with both radios, and also have a
pair of ears that have given their all to heavy weapons and artillery
many years ago, and been further damaged by loud motorcycles, since
then. Why might I seem to notice a difference in clarity from otherwise
somewhat similar radios?
Steve WA9JML
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