[TenTec] Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment

Wed Sep 28 08:10:47 PDT 2011

Glen,
Very interesting for sure...
I too have TT and several vintage rigs which I have restored/improved.

The Orion II is my main station and I find it superb in every way 
except...wanting the pan adapter and the NR and NB still are not up to 
par.
I love the audio it is very nice for SS rig. I like a big radio...so 
the K3 while very capable is not for me.

Then, my next love here is my drake C line with all the Sherwood mods 
except the FS4 one......That is one contest grade setup as well.

I also enjoy the Collins KWM-2, Halli SX-115/HT-32B...Halli Sx117/HT44, 
and the SR-150.

73,
Lee, KC9CDT

-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn <wa4aos at aol.com>
To: wb8yqj <wb8yqj at yahoo.com>; tentec <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, Sep 28, 2011 11:01 am
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment

Hi Don,

One thing I am setting up for, in particular, is logic board work for 
the Omni 6
and the Paragon series.
I have built 4 test beds with special adapters that I fabricated to 
raise
components above the surface of the board, once removed for testing.
I am using a logic analyzer and have stored all of the state 
transitions that
occur on the processor busses once functions are invoked on the front 
panel or
during encoder rotation,
The schematic for the Omni 6 had a number of errors and I have redraw 
an over
sized version for my lab.
Finally, I have procured at least 30 pieces of every IC on the Omni 6 
logic
board as well as the zeners, diodes and transistors.
At the customers request, I can replace any removed IC's with good 
quality
machined IC sockets so future replacement of that part will be easy.
I have discovered a number of reoccurring faults and in my opinion 
those IC's
should go into sockets once failed.

On one of my Omni 6+ here, I replaced every IC with a machined socket, 
24 total,
and  new IC's,  I did extensive testing to make sure
I saw no extra racket on the spectrum analyzer with the small addition 
of lead
lengths that the sockets would possibly generate. Absolutely nothing 
negative
was realized.
I do have a number of fixes to reduce the racket that the processor 
board
generates and some of those are listed on the Internet.

Bottom line, is personally, I think the Omni 6 and Corsair have two of 
the best
receivers for Ham bands ever offered.
Both are a little different and both have advantages and weaknesses, 
this is why
my shack has 2 Omni 6+'s, 2 Corsair II's, 2 Paragon II's a Drake C line 
with
Sherwood/DSM mods
and several of my R 390A receivers that I have restored. I had several 
K3's and
although they performed very well, I could never get used to it's RASPY 
audio.
I also had an Omni 7 and just sold it after waiting nearly 5 years for 
the real
time band scope that never materialized. I will replace it with the 
small Flex
just for the band scope.

Many areas of technology have certainly improved with digital 
technology. And
the Orion, in my opinion, is a very good example of this. However, the 
only DSP
derived IF that I have been able to tolerate so far
has been the Orion. Out side of it they all give me a headache to 
listen too.
The other rigs I have are the ones I use because they don't.

At this point of my life, I can afford anything I want to occupy space 
in my
shack. I have had Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, AOR and other rigs. Personally, 
for one
reason or another,
Ten Tec and modified Drake C lines are what I prefer and is where my 
dollars are
invested. Your mileage may vary.. hi hi

73,
Glenn WA4AOS
DSM Labs

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Rasmussen <wb8yqj at yahoo.com>
To: Glenn <wa4aos at aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Sep 27, 2011 9:04 pm
Subject: Re: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment

You should see what they are consuming around here Glen!

I am so glad I asked. I have a pair of Corsair II, an OMNI 6+, a pair 
of C lines
and a B line.

Some of this gear will need work beyond what I can do at some point, 
and I
really enjoy using it.

I have a bunch of capacitors from Hayseed Hamfest, kits for all of the 
receivers
and the B line needs it first.

Will be saving your info - especially for parts solutions on that 6+, 
and for
possible help with the Corsairs - I have had instances in the past 
where TenTec
refused to work on even lightly modified gear!!!

73,
Don
;-)

--- On Tue, 9/27/11, Glenn <wa4aos at aol.com> wrote:

From: Glenn <wa4aos at aol.com>
Subject: Re: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
To: wb8yqj at yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 8:34 PM

Don,

"personal consumption"????? I didn't know they were to be eaten???
You guys in CA??????

I have a business, DSM Labs, where I service and restore certain radio
equipment.

Primary  R 390, R 390A and R 392 receivers. However, I do restore 
Corsairs,
Corsair II's, Paragon's and Omni 6 transceivers.  I would like to do 
more with
Drake C line work but have not had time recently.
Oh....., I have a about 12 or so pairs of those too...

How do you cook a Corsair in California   ! ! ! !  Lot's of pepper I 
bet..

Oh, I actually have 18 Corsair's including both models..  You could 
have more
Corsairs too if only you didn't consume them.. hi

Glenn WA4AOS
DSM Labs

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Rasmussen <wb8yqj at yahoo.com>
To: wa4aos <wa4aos at aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Sep 27, 2011 7:05 pm
Subject: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment

Glenn, please tell me what you are doing with so many Corsair II's?

I only have two. ;-)

But that is still under the acceptable count for "personal consumption".

Don in Carlsbad, Ca.

Glenn <wa4aos at aol.com>
Reply-to:	 Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
Date:	 Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:59:12 -0400 (EDT)
List-post:	 <tentec at contesting.com">mailto:tentec at contesting.com>
Hi Jerry,

I received the (10 ) display clock replacement  boards for the Corsair 
II.
I am very impressed with the layout, silk screening and general 
machining of
the board.
This is truly a first class effort and Thanks for you part of getting 
this done.

Shame the other boards in the Corsairs are not as nice as this one Hi 
Hi.

Now I can start refurbishing the 20 or so Corsairs I have in stock..

73,
Glenn WA4AOS
DSM Labs

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