[TenTec] OMNI VII vs. K3 ? Opinions invited.,

Sun Apr 25 17:24:35 PDT 2010

I too, picked up the Corsair II for use with transverters. So far I 
haven't any transverters to fit. I was looking closely at Omni V or VI 
but didn't like their going to LSB for CW on 28 MHz which disrupts VHF 
contest operation where mode switches and mixed mode contacts are 
common. The external VFO should be a nice option giving dual receive if 
desired within the same band anyway. On the way to transverters, I found 
the FT-857D and traded TS-130 and my dad's TS-440 in on one and its 
compact, hears well, has a super noise blanker, and is fairly convenient 
to operate. When on SSB one menu option allows CW with no mode 
switching, just start sending CW with key. Except I found last summer 
that it stays on USB for CW, a menu selection, even when listening to 
LSB on 75 or 40.

Long long ago I made 2m contacts in the St. Louis area with a borrowed 
portable using a super regen receiver, then later I bought a Heathkit 
twoer with super regen receiver.

All my antennas are down, working on moving. I'm not sure what I'll be 
using in the new hamshack or exactly where in the house or machine shed 
it will be.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 4/25/2010 6:22 PM, Steve Berg wrote:
> HI Jerry,
>
> Thanks for the info.  Ten Tec told me that the Corsair II is designed
> along the lines of Rohde's ideas, and that is not half bad.  I initially
> got the Corsair II to use with my Swan TV2 transverter on 2 meters.  I
> tried it on 80 meters one night, and it has been the HF rig of choice
> ever since.  I have the external VFO for it also, which adds some nice
> features.  I put the Omni V.9 over on the VHF desk, and use it with an
> Elecraft transverter and a pre-MFJ Mirage brick.  It works really well,
> although the noise blanker in the Argonaut II is much more effective.
> For 2 meters, I got a Kenwood TS-790A which has had some problems, but
> now is working.  Unfortunately, the center conductor in my 2 meter
> feedline has open circuited, and while I can receive fairly well, it
> does not transmit much as the VSWR is too high.  I need to get that
> fixed, but have been too busy at school to get to it.  I am seriously
> thinking of relocating to my place in EN55, and as the state budget
> crunch has cut my course load in half, may well just pull the plug, get
> the cabin built, and head up there with my 91 year old Dad.
>
> The Kenwood covers 432, but the only time I ever got on the air on that
> band was with a modified Vocaline CB rig, that I retuned to cover 432.
> With a superregen receiver and a modulated oscillator transmitter, I did
> not try to make any contacts, though I could hear some of the locals on
> AM.
>
> Well, back to grading local government budget papers.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Steve
>
>
> On 4/25/2010 5:47 PM, Dr. Gerald N. Johnson wrote:
>> Probably because there are differences in the RF and first IF circuits.
>> Those in the Corsair II use multiple transformer coupled feed back
>> (Ulrich Rohde's favorite circuit though patented by Anzac) and in the
>> Omni V uses Jfets in grounded gate in parallel. The dynamic range of the
>> transformer feedback circuit may be a bit better, quieter and harder to
>> overload. And while the synthesizer in the Omni V is fairly quiet, it
>> may not have as low phase noise as the PTO in the Corsair II which means
>> less reciprocal mixing of unwanted signals and noise. I don't know that
>> either has been tested for phase noise as much as more recent radios.
>>
>> 73, Jerry, K0CQ
>>
>> On 4/25/2010 2:12 PM, Steve Berg wrote:
>>> I have been enjoying this thread quite a bit.  One question that I have
>>> about receiver performance may bear a bit on what has been discussed so
>>> far.  Since upgrading to extra several years ago, I have been having a
>>> lot of fun on the low end of 80 and 40 meters, working DX on CW.  I have
>>> two Ten Tec rigs, a Corsair II and an Omni V.9.  Both have the 500 Hz
>>> and 250 Hz filters in the IF string, and the Omni also has a 250 Hz
>>> filter in the first IF.  What I have noticed is that the Corsair II is
>>> seemingly able to pull out really weak signals more clearly than does
>>> the Omni. I am reasonably familiar with both radios, and also have a
>>> pair of ears that have given their all to heavy weapons and artillery
>>> many years ago, and been further damaged by loud motorcycles, since
>>> then.  Why might I seem to notice a difference in clarity from otherwise
>>> somewhat similar radios?
>>>
>>> Steve WA9JML
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TenTec mailing list
>>> TenTec at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TenTec mailing list
>> TenTec at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>