[TenTec] Omni VI mystery

[Lee]

Is the rig turned on?
On Apr 27, 2014 7:25 AM, "Jim Allen" <jim.allen at longhornband.net> wrote:

> I have an Omni VI with Opt 3 installed, purchased from an SK estate about a
> year ago.  After our move to Texas, I got an antenna up and got on the
> air.  The meter and a couple of other functions were inop so off it went to
> TenTec.  They fixed all this, gave it a good checkout and got it back to me
> very promptly.
>
> I have the output going to a wattmeter, thence on to the AH-4 remote tuner
> which feeds the 130' dipole with twin lead.  On CW, the transmitter loads
> to 100 watts output, good SWRs etc.
>
> I have noticed an inability to get replies on CW.  I spent an hour the
> other night calling W1AW/5 in Missouri, another hour or so each this week
> calling W1AW/1 and /2, and various other stations.  Some of this I
> attribute to being a 100 watt station with a wire antenna in a pile up.
> There have been other instances where I have called and called only to have
> the other station start up a CQ again.
>
> Yesterday I decided to fire up my Icom 706 at QRP levels and work the
> Florida QSO Party on 20M.  To my astonishment, I had no trouble making
> contacts with every station I heard, running 5 watts, other than being
> treated as a weak signal (AGN?) which I'm sure was true.  While doing this,
> I heard HB9CA in the Helvetia contest, gave him a call and after going QRO,
> made contact.  I also worked W1AW/1 with 5 watts in 1 or 2 calls.  I made
> 25 or so contacts in Florida with the 706, all QRP.
>
> This started to puzzle me, so I shut down the 706 and fired up the Omni
> VI.  Once again, I had trouble getting responses.  I tried fiddling with
> the sidetone, thinking maybe I was not tuning to be inside the other
> station's passband, but did not improve things.  The "split" switch was
> off!
>
> I am stumped to imagine why I can make contacts at 5 watts with the 706 but
> not on the Omni VI at 100 watts, same antenna.  The radio appears to be
> operating normally in every respect.  Is there something I am overlooking
> in the set up of the Omni VI?  Any other possibilities?
>
> TIA
>
> 73 de W6OGC  Jim Allen
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