[TenTec] Omni VI - soldered joints. Caution.

[Mike]

Hi All.
Just had a problem with my Omni VI, option 1, serial # 05A 10575.
Max power out on 160m fell to 50W, no other indications. Checked LPF board
81592 & found doubtful-looking soldered joints on the 160m toroids,
resoldered & re-assembled, all fine & back to 100W on all bands.
Next day, rig dead - completely. This time remove the DC input power board
81591 & find another doubtful-looking soldered joint on the K1 relay.
Resoldered this & all OK again.
After the 2nd problem, I re-soldered all joints, particularly the
through-hole pins on both these boards.
Am not an expert on 'solder ageing' - maybe somebody here knows for sure if
soldered joints deteriorate over time (I SUSPECT they do!). If so, the Omni
VI maybe reaching a 'critical age'.

Oh, BTW, I've been using a 1200-ft-long (overall) horizontal loop at 45-ft
height here for 17 years now, all bands 160 to 10m. What I can hear (plenty,
its a very quiet Rx ant), I can work. My 3-ele yagi remains under the house,
unassembled.
73 to all, de Mike, zl1mh.