[TenTec] Duane On the net---

[ac5aa@juno.com]

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
> 
> 
> 
> --
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> 

Duane A. Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas
ac5aa@juno.com -or- ac5aa@earthlink.net
Day:  dacalvin@us.ibm.com

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