[TenTec] Re: Kachina...

[Paul Christensen]

> Take a look at the QST review QSK 'scope trace photo of Kachina. It
> truncates the CW dots to an extreme degree. Not so with Ten-Tec.

The Kachina's CW waveform isn't too band if you ignore the leading edge of
the first element in a string.  Like many radios, a sharp power spike is
evident due to ALC overshoot.  What I found is that if you decreased the ALC
setting on the software, the power spike would disappear, but it was a pain
to find the ALC "sweet spot" for every band.

The worst aspect of the Kachina's T/R keying is that one cannot get around
the noisy keying relay.  They could have used a small reed relay like most
Ten-Tecs.  It's makes for an incredible racket in "full QSK."  Further, the
Kachina's QSK is really semi-break-in.  In full QSK, receive audio between
keyed elements completely disappears even at slow keying speed.

I never understood their amp interface either.  As an option, they supplied
an external relay housed in a DB-15 connector to key an external amp.  Yet,
the transistor used to drive the optional relay was rated at 1.0 amp @ 160
Vceo.  Like the Pegasus, this transistor used as an open collector is good
enough for keying most any amp that does not use an AC key line.   But, as a
manufacturer, you have to cover yourself from any type of interfacing that
is possible by the end-user.  Dry contact closures with a relay is the safe
way out.

I enjoyed mine while I had it.  But ironically, I sold it when I purchased
the Pegasus.  The Kachina's built-in CW keyboard mode is a joy to use.  But,
the user interface on the Pegasus is so much better and with the N4PY
control software it's even better.

Also, take a look at the ARRL's measured performance specs of the Jupiter in
the most recent issue of QST, particularly phase noise and IP2.  Performance
is actually quite good.

-Paul, W9AC


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