[TenTec] K2/100, Orion review

[Rick Westerman]

Tongola,

All Ten-Tec amps are QSK amps.
Always have been.
Also often had problem with the relays.

Most of the Alpha amps as well as the Acom amps also have
compatible keying circuitry.
Also have the same problem as the Ten-Tec's.

Believe me, nobody loves Ten-Tecs more than I do and I wouldn't
be saying this for any reason other than it's the truth.

All you guys who claim they don't behave like this are simply
"Arm Chair Quarterbacks".
Use them in extremely hard contest conditions for a number of
years and they ALL break.

As for the home-brew keying circuitry, well a great circuit was
published by DL7AV in the German ham magazine, CQ DL back in
1978.
I built it then and have used it since.  Works great.  Keys the
amp's PTT first, then a few milliseconds later, keys the "key"
input to the transceiver.  The delay of the amp's relay is
adjustable.  I usually delay mine to fall back in between words.
That way the amp's relay (be it a Ten-Tec amp or otherwise) lasts
about 20 to 30 times longer before it eventually breaks!

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of tongaloa
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 7:48 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] K2/100, Orion review

Kc9cdt at aol.com wrote:

>OK,
>I'm confused (puzzzled).
>
>If ORION was designed for contesting AND weak DX work. THE WHY
DID TT LEAVE
>OUT A KEY FEATURE? PTT FOR CW?
>
>I am currently interested in the DX capabilities, BUT maybe will
get real
>into contesting some day.
>
>Sounds like everyone needs to firmly sugest to TT that we need
that change,
>even if it means sending ORION back to get it updated.
>
>Another question, with all of the reviews, WHY IS IT NONE OF
THEM COMPLAINED
>ABOUT THIS?
>
>Lee
>_______________________________________________
>

PTT is one way to skin the cat.
How about an amp that handles the sequencing?
Pug ones key into the amp. The amp then keys the
exciter. I've not seen one, perhaps they are out there,
but a little external box to handle key sequencing, that
may be adjusted for the gear in use, makes a lot of sense
as a product for the pushbutton, wondows, autotune, world...

Or, build your own.
-t



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