[TenTec] Meter replacement in Omni VI and Paragon II

[Ken Brown]

Hi Scott,

     Thanks for the information. You are right, the job is pretty easy.
A total of twelve screws removed and two loosened. For anyone else
interested, here are the details for an Omni VI or Paragon II.

1) Remove eight screws holding top and bottom cabinet pieces on, and
remove the cabinet, unplugging the speaker in the case of a Paragon II.

2) Loosen, but do not remove two lower screws that hold front panel
assembly to the rest of the radio.

3) Remove two upper screws that hold panel assembly to radio.

4) Pivot front panel assembly forward to access back of meter.

5) Remove two screws that hold meter retaining plate in position. Remove
plate and meter.

6)  Mark or photograph meter so that correct connection will not be
forgotten when meter has been disconnected. (I write resistor color
codes 0 and 9 on the meter with a "Sharpie" pen to indicate black and
white wires.)

7) Disconnect wires from old meter. Easiest just to cut them off. Strip
insulation off ends of wires and solder to new meter, being very careful
to not melt plastic meter case.
To keep finger prints from new meter, I did not remove meter from the
plastic bag it was shipped in, until after it was connected. I was able
to install the meter without ever touching the front of it.

8) Undo steps 5 through 1. Check that both pilot lamps are working 
before putting top cover back on.

DE N6KB

Scott Prather wrote:
> Ken: I'm not familiar with the Omni VI, but I have taken the meter out of a
> Paragon and a Paragon II, and this job is very straightforward. It's been a
> while since I had the Paragon II apart, but as I recall the front panel can
> be "hinged" by removing the top screws that hold it to the chassis but
> leaving the bottom screws in on each side. You can't tilt the front panel
> down very far, but I seem to remember that the clearance is sufficient to
> allow access to the meter. 
>
> When soldering to the meter terminals, be careful, as the meters are made of
> really cheap plastic and the terminals will loosen up with heat from
> soldering quite easily.
>
> Scott
> N7NB
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
> On Behalf Of Ken Brown
> Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 3:27 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: [TenTec] Meter replacement in Omni VI and Paragon II
>
> Hi all,
>
>      I received new meters for my Ten-Tec transceivers, and will be 
> replacing them soon. I wonder how much disassembly is necessary, and if 
> there are any special cautions when doing this job. It looks like it may 
> be a pretty straightforward job, but it does not hurt to hear from 
> someone who has already done it before I get into it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> DE N6KB
>
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