[TenTec] Popping Noise from Orion and Centurion

[Toby Pennington]

Ken,  Thanks for your thoughts on the popping.  I am using paddles for keying the rig and amp.  In the menu it is called SSB:CW Jack PTT.  This in effect keys the rig and amp on SSB but puts no power out unless I talk into the mike.  So, it doesn't matter what the power setting is on the Orion,  the popping is still there as long as the amp is being keyed.  When the amp is not being keyed, no popping is noticed.  I also can use the PTT button on the mike and the same results occur. So, the pops are still there when I am not generating any RF at all.  Simply just keying the rig and amp with no output.........Of course, when i talk into the mike the pops are there also.  Same popping occurs when using  VOX.  So, in summary,  just keying the rig and amp with no output at all produces popping.

When you say, "keying the load on the power supply" I assume you are referring to the supply in the amp?  Also,  explain where"relay coil switching" occurs.

One of my first thoughts was RF getting into the keying line, but I hooked the dummy load directly into the amp and could still hear the popping, but it was not as loud.  So, it is is RF, then it is being internally generated and not coming from the antenna.  

Thanks for your help!   Toby W4CAK