[TenTec] Orion freezes due to RFI?? (Long)

[N0KHQ at aol.com]

Hello All,

One more time:

I realize that some Orion and Jupiter owners are not having RFI problems. 
Good!

For those of you out there that are, I would like to recommend the following:

1. Purchase a T-4 Line Isolator from Radio Works. The Isolator connects 
inline with the
    coax coming out of the back of the rig. Cost, approx. $39
2. Install a 0.01uf cap across the audio pin to the ground pin on the mic 
connector.
   This application may have to be applied to the CW key pin and PTT pin.
3. Contrary to popular consensus, I recommend that the grounding inside the 
rig/s be 
    reinforced. I have applied this procedure to my Jupiter and have spoken 
with Ten Tec
    about this issue. I don't want to mention any names, my Jupiter just 
returned from TT
    with the grounding reinforcement still installed, I was insured that the 
installation could
    only help and in no way would damage the rig. I can tell you this, if 
they didn't like it
    they would have removed it.
4. Your station should incorporate what is called a single point ground 
source. In my case 
    the last piece of equipment in my chain is the antenna tuner. From the 
antenna tuner
    grounding lug. From the grounding lug there is a small length of 14ga 
wire running to a
    TT 1251 RF Counterpoise Tuner. From the tuner to outdoors there is a 
length of 14ga wire
    running to what is called a common tie point for .15 wavelength pieces of 
14ga wire for 
    every band that I operate on. These pieces of wire are buried 1" below 
the grass level. At 
    the ends of each wire is soldered a 2' piece of 1/2" copper pipe that is 
driven into the 
    ground below grass level. When tuning up the TT 1251 is adjusted for 
maximum current
    as shown on the TT 1251 Tuner meter. This type of installation will not 
only rid you 
    station of any RF but when adjusted properly will add 3DB to 6DB of gain 
to the antenna
    you are presently running. (ref. ON4UN "Low Band DXing) It works!!
5. If you can measure any resistance from the grounding lug on the rear of 
the rig to the
   ground pin on the mic jack you have a path for RF to sneak in.

Some hams have returned their rigs back to TT because they couldn't get rid 
of the RFI, that was a big mistake on their part. 

The Orion and Jupiter rigs are "Computers in an RF Environment". Proper 
grounding is key
to trouble free operation.

Happy Holidays

73
John / N0KHQ / St. Louis 

Always on 17M
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