[TenTec] Orion relay

[Ten-Tec Inc. Amateur Radio Sales]

At 12:08 PM 5/11/04 -0700, W6HV wrote

>  I've been trying to listen carefully to the sound and it sounds like a
>relay (probably a reed type) and --with the audio turned off-- it is quite
>noticeable from the top of the rig in the vicinity of the speaker. I can't
>determine exactly where without removing the cover. It sounds just like the
>Omni VI (upgrade 3) did before being able to turn the relay off. I would
>guess that some relays are more noisy than others or that the acoustical
>environment that the rig is in plays a role. Whatever--- maybe Ten-Tec would
>like to offer a comment?
>73,
>Troy, W6HV

The relay you are hearing is a small reed relay used for QSK CW - it cannot
be disabled.  Whether or not it is objectionable is subjective - over the 
past two
days it's been described as everything from inaudible to a racket, but they all
sound approximately the same.  My hearing is pretty good, I can hear it softly
pinging while sitting in front of the Orion.

This is the same as used in the Omni-V and Omni-VI series.  Every Omni has a
small tick or pinging from that little reed relay QSKing away.  These 
little relays are
much more reliable long-term than PIN diode switched QSK - it is rare to see
a radio here for repair because the little relay has quit.

Scott Robbins
W4PA


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