[TenTec] OMNI D type C help please

[Mike Hyder -N4NT-]

Hello, Tony--

Before you do other troubleshooting, I suggest you clean the switches and
controls.

To clean switches (including bandswitches), Ten-Tec uses Deoxit DN5 Power
Booster made by Caig Laboratories, Inc.  Then they use a lubricant by Caig
but I do not know its name or number.  Keep in mind the caution, "The less
you use, the better it works."  It is very important not to use "TV tuner
cleaner" or any other cleaner that leaves a residue.

After you have cleaned the radio, then you can begin troubleshooting and
describe your remaining troubles here to see if we can help you.  It is
pointless to troubleshoot a radio as dirty as yours seems to be, but those
radios can go into oscillation if their ALC circuit is not working properly.
The ALC voltage is generated by diodes which are on the same board as the
SWR diodes.  If working there, replace them all.

73, Mike N4NT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony" <g3zrj at morsekey.fsnet.co.uk>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 12:27 PM
Subject: [TenTec] OMNI D type C help please


Hi,

Tony G3ZRJ here,

I've just bought an OMNI D..C  which has come with complimentary faults.

I would be grateful for any advice on trying to get the transceiver in fully
working order, I used to have a similar rig and consider it one of the best
CW rigs around.

The transceiver does function on CW and SSB but with limitations as follows

Can any of you experts out there suggest cures for the following:

a) ALC not operating, LED doesn't light, ALC control appears to have no
effect.

b) Bandswitching is intermittent,  reading the handbook I have resisted the
temptation to use switch cleaner

c) 10 MHz is not operating,  I can get the vfo to tune but the preselector
doesn't peak any signals that resemble the real ones on 30M.

d) AF  filter switches unreliable when selecting the narrow AF filter

e) Crystal Filters: I cannot select the narrow IF filter,  there is a 250Hz
(219) unit fitted on the filter board along with the 1.8 kHz.   The 2.4 and
1.8 kHz filters are fine.

With d) and e) can I used switch cleaner spray on the filter switches
please?

The transceiver is opeating from a type 255 PSU which has a transformer with
only the 115v ac available on the primary,  the radio was supplied with a
0.75 KVA  240v/115v transformer.
At present I dont possess a circuit breaker (Ten Tec 1140) and thus have not
attempted to run the OMNI from a conventional 25A psu.

I have discovered that trying to us the radio at more than approx 50W output
on CW results in spurious output,  I'm not sure whether this is a
combination of the PSU and the ALC problem or what?

Does anyone have a cct breaker unit they could sell me please ?

I have access to a test meter and the usual soldering iron and tools,  due
to health problems I do not feel competent to really dig in an do anything
too "heavy" but I would be grateful for any guidance you can give me.

Having compared the RX performance with the Kenwood TS-50 I've got on loan I
would love to get the Ten Tec working properly.

thanks in advance

      Tony G3ZRJ   FOC 1774  FISTS 7727