[TenTec] Omni-VI QSK with Alpha 87A

[Barry N1EU]

Oops, I think I found the info on the Alpha forum.  I will add it to
the Ten-Tec Wiki.  If anybody has tried this with an Acom 2000A or
Alpha 99, please drop me a line.

73, Barry N1EU

-------------------------------

Omni-VI, Omni-VI+ (maybe others):

Make up a cable with a diode in series to connect the 87A "relay" line
to a "Y" that plugs into the "TX OUT" and "TX EN" jacks on the
Omni-VI. The "TX OUT" and "TX EN" are connected together by the "Y",
the diode connects to the center conductor of the third leg of the
"Y". The polarity of the diode has the cathode (band end) connected to
the Y, diode anode goes to RELAY jack of Alpha. This will allow the
TenTec "TX OUT" signal to key the amp when it enables the radio for
transmit. This works on both CW QSK and SSB. DO NOT do this with any
other amplifier unless you know that the keying line polarity of the
amplifier is correct AND that the amp keying circuit is of very small
current. This is only recommended for use with a Alpha 87A or 89 (they
use PIN diodes for fast T/R switching). Thanks to Terry W6RU for this
circuit (posted on the TenTec reflector).

All other radio/amp combinations, use the amplifier keying relay in
the radio to the RCA jack on back of amp labeled RELAY.


On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 10:02 AM, Barry N1EU <barry.n1eu at gmail.com> wrote:
> Does anybody have the information that was contained in the post that
> W4PA mentions below?  That link doesn't work any longer.
>
> Thanks & 73,
> Barry N1EU
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> [CQ-Contest] Re: Omni-VI QSK with Alpha 87A
> from [Ten-Tec, Inc. Amateur Radio Sales]
> Subject:        [CQ-Contest] Re: Omni-VI QSK with Alpha 87A
> From:   sales at tentec.com (Ten-Tec, Inc. Amateur Radio Sales)
> Date:   Wed Apr 7 12:02:46 1999
>
> Hi John W0UN (and all):
>
> The Omni-VI and Omni-VI Plus will run QSK CW very nicely with
> the Alpha 87A.  The normally open relay jack that is used for
> keying an external linear amplifier in the Omni-VI was designed
> for non-QSK amplifier use and isn't really optimal for QSK.
>
> Rather than repeat what's been posted elsewhere before, do a
> browser point to:
>
> <http://www.contesting.com/_tentec/9809/0383.html>
>
> This very simple hookup uses a pickoff on the Omni-VI QSK
> keying loop through a diode to the Alpha 87A input that will
> provide both with smooth QSK keying.
>
> 73,
> Scott Robbins, W4PA
> Amateur Radio Product Manager, Ten-Tec, Inc.