[TenTec] Orion no Tx, no main Rx

[Toby Pennington]

One sure way to crash the rig while using 1.375b3 or b5 is by using the
sweep when on cw mode.  Just have the sweep turned on and turn the BW
encoder at random back and forth and the receiver will crash.  Don't know
what happens with transmit as I never tried keying the rig up while in this
condition.

Your can get rid of this problem by keeping the sweep turned off.  Or go
back to 1.372 to 1.371.  Have you been using the sweep while working CW?
Toby  W4CAK


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin AA6E" <aa6e at ewing.homedns.org>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>;
<orion at contesting.com>; <orion565 at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 5:01 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Orion no Tx, no main Rx


> Folks,
>
> I've had years of mostly happy experience with my barefoot Orion.  So
> recently decided to install an SB-220 amp.  This one has a number of the
> AG6K mods installed for QSK, bias cutoff, low-level keying control,
> anti-parasitics, etc.
>
> I installed the amp and was able to load it up and operate CW on various
> bands and antennas.  No sign of trouble, no RF in shack.  The amp is
> using the Orion's Amp Key output.
>
> What has happened twice now, is that the Orion (1.373b5) is hung up in
> an odd state:
>
> -No main Rx signal (normal noise, however).  Sub Rx is fine on same VFO
> and same antenna input.  No change in main Rx noise with preamp or
> attenuator settings.  Main Rx hears nothing on either antenna input or
> on Rx ant.
>
> -No Tx level. (normal CW sidetone, however)  When you key the rig, the
> Amp Key output is asserted and the panel meter goes to zero.  There is
> no RF out.
>
> At first I thought I had somehow blown something in the Main Rx system
> and was contemplating a shipment to TN.  (Though when the Tx was
> working, I had no indication of trouble with the amp on or amp off.)
>
> I tried all the known Orion resets, power, master, battery, etc.  No
> effect. Changing bands, modes, disconnecting amp control has no effect.
>
> But then I was fiddling with the buttons (couldn't tell you which) and
> the Rx came back!  That was yesterday.  Today the problem has come back...
>
> It kind-of feels like a dead early IF or mixer stage, and I kind-of
> remember having this experience one time a while back without the amp.
>
> So before starting wheels turning with TT, I thought I would ask the
> net-mind for its wisdom.  Is this a known problem?  Can you think of
> other tests to try?
>
> TIA
>
> 73 Martin AA6E
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