[TenTec] Re: ORION headphone clicks - the fix!

[WA3FIY]

There's been a lot of discussion about the "click" when running 
QSK CW.   Not surprising, as the receiver AGC is reset during 
the transmission of each element.  When switching from 
transmit to receive, the RX is at full gain for the amount of 
time it takes the AGC to respond, hence lots of noise, 
apparently interpreted as a "click".

I am not familiar with the Orion programmable AGC functions 
but I have been using the RF Gain to advantage on all my Ten 
Tec's for a couple decades now.   I find a clear frequency, 
adjust the RF Gain for a noticable but not loud background 
noise and I enjoy quiet, comfortable QSK and I will hear any 
signal that is at or above noise level.    Try playing with the RF 
Gain control.

Regarding the resistors in headphone circuits, by all means do 
it!   Not only to reduce background noise but also to protect 
your hearing!!!

If you use low impedance 'phones unprotected, you can easily 
get potentially damaging sound levels if you are not careful.  I 
put a resistor in the phone plug for each set of phones I use.  
The resistor is selected such that when the radio is producing 
nearly full volume in the speaker, the headphone volume is loud 
but not uncomfortably so.  The resistor value will depend on 
headphone impedance, sensitivity and output from the 
transceiver but will typically be in the range of a few hundred 
ohms to one thousand ohms or so.  I use only one resistor 
because I am deaf in my left ear.  For stereo phones and with 
both ears working you would use two resistors of course.

The manufacturer cannot do this very effectively since they 
have no way of knowing the headphone impedance being used, 
the sensitivity of the headphones or the hearing ability of the 
listener.   Much better to customize you own setup.

73,

-Lee-