Centaur 411 Amp

[Alan l Hagen]

Hello there,
     If you want long distance phone service for 9.9 cents a minute 
24-hours a day, 7-days a week, all US. NO PRIME TIME. NO CIRCLES.
Any body any time..... I've been using this service for over a year and
I am very happy with it. They also gave me a calling card so when I
am on the road I can make calls for 15.9 cents a minute with NO 
surcharge like ATT MCI SPRINT charges up to $.85 cents access.
Well I'll get off my soap box just saw that you said you were spending
.23 a minute..... 73, Alan    mlmpro@juno.com

On Sun, 22 Dec 1996 09:37:32 -0500 RD501@aol.com writes:
>Hello.  Like you, I am also having numerous problems with my Centaur, 
>except,
>I bought a NEW one.
>
>First of all, the Wattmeter was completely out of calibration, or 
>should I
>say it wasn't calibrated at all.  I called Ten-Tec, and they 
>instructed me in
>how to calibrate it, which I did, but am only getting 375-400 watts 
>out as
>indicated by a Bird wattmeter.
>
>After some investigation, it was found that the SWR between my rig and 
>the
>amp was very very high, close to 3:1 on all bands, except over that on 
>10
>meters.  After more long distance phone calls to Ten-Tec, they sent me 
>out a
>new "Input Board".  This was after they had me check the cathode bias, 
>look
>at the tubes in operation for uneven reddish glow on the plates, and 
>check
>various other things.  These were all done over day-time long distance 
>phone
>calls, at 23 cents per minute!
>
>As I send this, I am in the process of soldering in the input board.  
>We'll
>see if that cures things.
>
>Some comments on my part:
>
>1.  This is a really nicely laid out amp, and looks to be of decent 
>quality,
>especially considering the price.
>
>2.  The QSK is fabulous on CW.
>
>3.  The quality control should have been much much better.  All these
>problems cropped up right from the start, which means it left the 
>factory
>this way.  If a problem develops after a week or so of operation, 
>that's not
>the manufacturer's fault.  Shipping something that isn't functioning 
>up to
>spec is.
>
>4.  The service people at Ten-Tec have been very very helpful and 
>courteous.
> I had the replacement board in my hands two days after they said 
>they'd ship
>it.
>
>My intent here is not to slam Ten-Tec.  Its to do what hams do best,
>communicate (especially about equipment) and any deficiencies that 
>exist.
> C'mon Ten-Tec, do the QC thing.  We don't want you to go the way of 
>AEA or
>Heathkit!
>
>73s
>Bob Dianetti, WB2JGH
>
>--
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>

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.html
Submissions:              tentec@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 w9tw@contesting.com
Sponsored by:             Akorn Access, Inc & KM9P