[TenTec] Omni VI mystery

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

Be sure XIT is not on nor is RIT on.  It seems that the radio might not be 
receiving  or transmitting on the same frequency.  Also be sure you aren't 
in SPLIT mode.

73
Bob, K4TAX




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Allen" <jim.allen at longhornband.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2014 9:25 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Omni VI mystery


>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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