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Re: [TenTec] Panadapters

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Panadapters
From: Dalton <w4wuq@att.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2014 14:33:00 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
How did we ever get by with those analog dials in the 1960's and 1970's?  

Dalton - W4WUQ
Sent from my iPad

> On May 7, 2014, at 2:29 PM, "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <RMcGraw@Blomand.net> wrote:
> 
> That's exactly why I purchased an amp that uses a single 3-500ZG.
> 
> Within the past 60 days I've had 10 radios across the bench and from 
> different brands/models.  Although the frequency display seemed very precise, 
> none were correct and some were off as much as 200 Hz.  The most accurate was 
> +2Hz on 75M but progressively got worse as the frequency increased to 6M.
> 
> I have one coming in next week that is reported to be 70 Hz high on 75M.  Oh 
> my, what a crisis.
> 
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP" <Rick@DJ0IP.de>
> To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 12:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Panadapters
> 
> 
>> Wade, the problem with your strategy is, you can't get "good" new tubes
>> anymore.
>> The last good source for 572B's ceased producing them a while back and
>> RF-Parts temporarily removed the tube from its sales.
>> 
>> Apparently they have found a new source now, but each time they have had to
>> do that, the tubes were worse than those from their previous supplier.
>> 
>> BTW, did you ever solve that 30 Hz problem?  ;-)
>> 
>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Wade Staggs
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 6:10 PM
>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Panadapters
>> 
>> *Please, build that Tube Type Rig!..... I can see the Appliance Operators
>> pulling their hair out as I write this message. I had a young fellow on a
>> State Wide Net, recently tell me that my station was 20 Hz low in frequency.
>> And my understanding was that Net Control is the frequency standard to tune
>> to! Reading my Net Preamble again, pointing out the part that says on or
>> about 3xxx KHz. We also expressed thanks to him for telling me that, my 33
>> year old Paragon is only 20 Hz out of alignment. Checking further that day,
>> with good test equipment, maybe his KenYaeCom needs some attention. And we
>> know several folks who could never Tune Up any Tube Type rig. I can see the
>> Magical Mushroom Clouds of Smoke .... Screaming towards the Ceiling in their
>> Shacks ..... * *Please, build us some nice radios. I have just enough time
>> left to own another great station before assuming room temperature. We can
>> only wonder what the guy mentioned above, would have said about my ( built
>> by me
>> ) Heathkit SB-101. Maybe, we will call the Net next time with the SB-101 and
>> it turned on cold. Just my Rant for the day. My vote would be for a Modular
>> Approach. What radio will even nail down another SSB rig as 20 Hertz off
>> frequency? Hey, here is an idea, what about a new Hybrid Rig?
>> Beats the pants off these badly needed 50 volt Finals in the new rigs. My
>> vote is for a conservatively rated 200 Watt radio with One 572B Tube as the
>> PA. The old Hybrids sure do a Great Job....... hi hi ...........*
>> 
>> *
>>  73 from Wade/KJ4WS*
>> 
>> 
>>> On Wed, May 7, 2014 at 7:58 AM, John Henry <jhenry@tentec.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> There are as many wishes for what a panadapter should be and how it
>>> should be used as there are hams in the market. They fall into a few
>>> main classes though (and no, I'm not ranking classes, just
>>> identifying, geesh, don't shoot me. and yes, I'm glad my name is John
>>> Henry, he he he DJ0IP, lol) Don't cut down the need for something that
>>> is a tantamount feature for someone else. Just different is all. If
>>> there was a one size fits all, then would it be a Wyndam antenna or a
>>> Yagi or something from those Spidery people? Or is it a Begali or one
>>> of those from Mr. Robbins? Come on, pick one, you can't have anything
>> else. See, one shoe does not fit all.
>>> 
>>> There are those that will never use it, because they just want to
>>> "surf the web", er, uh, "surf the air" to find someone popping out,
>>> the way it has been done for many many decades. Nothing wrong with
>>> this, so, let them have their rig, at the cost appropriate for that rig.
>>> 
>>> There are those that just want something running real time on the rig,
>>> no real features, maybe a gain adjustment, but they want it on the rig
>>> so that when they take it with them, it is still there, e.g. Field
>>> Day. So, maybe it is an option to the rig of the "surf the air" user.
>>> 
>>> There are those that want a bit more functionality on the rig with the
>>> sweep, e.g. scrolling to the freq they want to see without moving the
>>> VFO, then hitting an Enter button, boom, they are there.
>>> 
>>> There are those that want it as a display option of the rig, like a
>>> panadapter such as the P3. It works great with the K3, KX3, and the
>>> frequency readouts track. Works well with others, only drawback is you
>>> lose the scrolling on the panadapter / click button to control the
>>> rig. But, that too is sufficient for hams, they see the band, and can
>>> move there quickly with the rig controls, be it on a PC or on the
>>> front panel. Again, another option.
>>> 
>>> There are those that will never give up the SDR to the sound card
>>> running their favorite HPSDR/PowerSDR-IF/etc. In my mind, that is the
>>> ultimate integration giving one the flexibility because they can pick
>>> the $39 SDR or the $5k SDR to give them the performance they want that
>> makes them happy.
>>> Just provide the I/Q or IF output, and let this guy enjoy his world.
>>> To me, IF output should be standard anyway on any rig produced...
>>> well, maybe not down into the 506 cost range, but heck, 9MHz IF is on
>>> the 506 anyway, just solder a wire, put in a buffer amp, and boom, you
>>> have a band sweep from your $200 QRP rig, fun fun fun to some.
>>> 
>>> YOUR usage pattern is different from others and you may want something
>>> different than their neighbor or cousin or even XYL.
>>> So, concentrate on what you like about which one you like the best,
>>> bring up the reason why you like it best, and be happy that your XYL
>>> can disconnect your SDR and use it on the front panel as she / he
>>> wants it when they are on the rig.
>>> 
>>> TEN-TEC has to find a happy medium, or provide options for all of the
>>> above.
>>> If TEN-TEC is to satisfy the guy who wants it built into the Orion
>>> III, then TEN-TEC has to finish the 588 sweep board to prove the
>>> concept and then migrate it into the "next big TEN-TEC rig".
>>> 
>>> For now, get the rig you want that we have, enjoy it, and rest assured
>>> that over time, maybe next year or the next, who knows what you will
>>> see on the market from TEN-TEC or our competitors. We all make great
>>> stuff that fills the shack of amateur operators. For me, the main
>>> reason for this is still to just have fun, AND to be ready to assist
>> others in emergency situations.
>>> I still think there is a market for a totally analog rig, no uP, no
>>> features other than mode/band/frequency/rfgain/afgain, the backup for
>>> the EMP, that also means no transistors... hmmm cost, well, probably
>>> prohibitive, but, I still wish there was a way for that rig to be made
>>> as it would fill just about every prepper/emergency management hams
>>> shack and sit in the background covered in dust until everything else
>>> is non-functional.
>>> 
>>> TEN-TEC IS working on things that will tread new ground, and lead the
>>> way in innovation in this market, and those will come out over time
>>> over this year, next year and beyond. We are also working on things
>>> customers have asked for, but maybe not in the way they originally
>>> thought, but, well, better. Plant a seed, and in time it will grow.
>>> Working on things customers haven't asked for but once we get it out,
>>> they will wonder, what they ever did without it.... etc.
>>> 
>>> 'nuff said, lots of code to write, projects to continue, etc.
>>> 
>>> Thanks, and 73,
>>> John Henry, KI4JPL
>>> TEN-TEC Engineering
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TenTec mailing list
>>> TenTec@contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
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