[TenTec] Scout instability-was Orion direction

[Steve Ellington]

Well I'de rather have the drift than the jump any day. Wonder why this
paticular PTO was subject to so much drift or "fade" as you called it while
the old Triton IV just required a occasional correction with the tuning
knob? Furthermore...I've head jumpy Scouts with lots of non elite cw ops. So
I can only assume it was just a dumb engineering goof. Also, I don't see why
it couldn't have been fixed sometime during it's production life time. I
talked to TT about it and all I got was some wise crack like "what do you
expect for only $600"?
Today, while I was CW/M I heard a $150 Century 21 flying along at 30wpm with
wonderful cw keying, no drift, click, chirp or jump. Now how'd da do dat?

Steve Ellington
N4LQ
----- Original Message -----
From: "robert k stephens" <bstephens1@mindspring.com>
To: "Steve Ellington" <N4LQ@iglou.com>; <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Scout instability-was Orion direction


> Re Scout frequency stability:
>
> My manual states the following:
>
> The Scout [uses] * one ...microprocessor to accomplish 3 tasks:
> 1.manage LED display
> 2.emulate Curtis B keyer
> 3.frequency lock system (FLS)
>
> "The main  frequency determining element in the SCOUT is the [PTO]
...since
> this is not synthesized (locked ) it is subject to frequency variation ...
> The microprocessor compares each frequency reading with the previous
> reading... and automaticlly corrects the PTO...Readings are taken every
> 220ms..."
>
> [In other words the PTO can fade a bit but is checked and corrected every
> 200ms]
>
> "CW operation is more complex. If the internal keyer is being used , it
> will take preference over any other operation [ I assume that means that
if
> the internal keyer is not being used it will not take preference over
other
> operation thus an external keyer will solve the problem]... there will be
> no correction during CW transmit ...corrections are made between
> characters,words and other pauses" [*if internal keyer is being used]
>
> Unless I am misinterpreting this, the problem only exists "if the internal
> keyer is being used ..."[solved with external keyer] and even then the
> fading will happen only if the operator does not pause for 200ms during
> long ragchews. This is not a problem for all but elite cw operators.
>
> The Scout is no longer made because it was inexpensive yet a bit old
> fashioned in 1991 and  by 2001 it was no longer inexpensive and quite old
> fashioned. It was time to kill the design in 2001 but it wasn't a mistake
> to produce it back in 1991 when it was a good basic bargain priced design.
> As long as there is nothing actually wrong with the rig (mine is getting
> repaired) the rig does *not* frequency jump during normal use.
> 73 Bob KB1CIW
>
>
> At 07:29 PM 3/1/02 -0000, Steve Ellington wrote:
> >Tell me how an external keyer stops the Scout from Jumping frequency?
> >
> >I thought the manual said that when operating higher speed cw that you
were
> >supposed to stop, pause and give it a chance to recover, cool off or
> >whatever, which is a rather strange thing to be doing during a qso. I
must
> >admit though: It's a one-of-a-kind-rig.
> >I worked on one for a guy once. I liked the sound of the receiver and the
> >QSK was very smooth. I would probably have one in my car now if it
weren't
> >for the jumping problem they all have. And yes, any rig that jumps
> >frequency,for any reason in 2002 does indeed have a problem regardless
what
> >the manual says.
> >Did they quite making them for some reason?
> >Steve
> >N4LQ
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "robert k stephens" <bstephens1@mindspring.com>
> >To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> >Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 7:52 AM
> >Subject: [TenTec] Scout instability-was Orion direction
> >
> >
> >> Every now and then someone mentions the Scout "instability problem".
> >> What problem ?
> >>
> >> I agree with Stuart. If the Scout is operated according to directions
the
> >> frequency stability is more than adequate for the ssb and moderate
speed
> >cw
> >> operation it was designed for.
> >>
> >> The problem is that the internal keyer caused instability at speeds
higher
> >> than about 25 wpm or so. Tec Tec said that right in the manual. Use an
> >> external keyer and the problem goes away.
> >>
> >> 73 Bob KB1CIW
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> TenTec mailing list
> >> TenTec@contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>
> >
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>