[TenTec] Best Radio for a Scout Camp?

[EDWARD CRAWFORD]

I tend to think a "Scout" would be an excellent choice for use by "Scouts".
Especially when it comes to ease of use.
But the Omni VI would probably be as good or better.


>From: <ad9t_tentec at burnshome.org>
>Reply-To: tentec at contesting.com
>To: <tentec at contesting.com>
>Subject: [TenTec] Best Radio for a Scout Camp?
>Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 16:32:22 -0500
>
>Recently a significant amount of amateur radio equipment was given to the
>Boy Scouts in my area. I am in the process of setting up a station at the
>council camp. This station will be used during summer camp to teach the
>Radio Merit badge. During the rest of the year the station will be 
>available
>for use by anyone associated with scouting that has the appropriate amateur
>license. I would like some advice on what is the best HF rig for the
>station.
>
>Currently, we have a Kenwood TS-520s. This is a nice radio for SSB, but the
>need to tune the finals makes it more difficult to operate than I prefer 
>for
>a station that will have many walk-in users. It is also not a great CW rig.
>CW may not be that important, but I think youth find it interesting so I
>want the rig to work well for CW. Also, the internal VFO in the TS-520s 
>does
>not work. We have the external VFO so the rig can be used, but this will be
>very confusing for walk-in users.
>
>I am hoping to get a newer HF rig for the camp. Ease of use is probably the
>most important criteria. Reliability is next in line. Contest radio
>performance is not needed, but I do want the radio to be good enough to
>attract a supply of volunteer operators. Knowing that anything we purchase
>works is also very important. I definitely will not be risking the scouts'
>money on an e-bay purchase. Ten-Tec's warranty on used radios fits this
>need.
>
>The Ten-Tec Jupiter seems like an excellent possibility for the scout
>station. I have never used one, but it appears to meet all our needs. The
>Omni series radio may also be a good possibility. I recently acquired an
>Omni VI for my personal use, and it seems to be easy to use. The menus are 
>a
>bit cryptic, but there are not many menu settings. I might consider selling
>my Omni VI to the Scouts for what I have in it. This is considerably less
>than what a used one from Ten-Tec costs.
>
>Please share your ideas about what will make the best HF rig for a Boy 
>Scout
>camp amateur radio station.
>
>Jeff Burns
>AD9T
>
>
>
>
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