[TenTec] Omni VI mystery

Sun Apr 27 14:44:58 EDT 2014

The sidetone is what you hear and does not directly affect either transmit 
or receive signal.  Thus when you use the VFO to match the sidetone 
generated in the radio to the CW stations tone, you two are then on the same 
frequency.   Thus varying the sidetone does not change the tone of the 
received signal.  The sidetone is not transmitter offset.

I suggest putting the Omni VI on the dummy load, set the power to some 
nominal value, key the transmitter and tune the 706 to find where the Omni 
VI is transmitting.  I also suggest seting VFO A= VFO B just in the event 
SPLIT is not engaged.  I have a feeling that either XIT or RIT or SPLIT is 
engaged even though the indications are that they are not engaged.  Othewise 
a logic or keyboard issue.

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 1:20 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Omni VI mystery

> So far, it appears to be ok with WWV although USB and LSB are a few clicks
> different.
>
> RIT/XIT both off, Split off, VFO on A, side tone set for 700 hz.
>
> I set the Omni to CW on 14.050.00 on a dummy load.  I set the 706 with no
> antenna at all on 14.050.000.  Bring up power to a few watts on the Omni.
> As I change the sidetone, but not the frequency in either radio, the 
> signal
> in the 706 does not change, indicating to me that the transmit frequency
> isn't changing either, merely the sidetone.  I thought the sidetone
> indicated the transmitter offset, which would vary exactly with the
> sidetone,
>
> Varying the sidetone throughout its range doesn't vary the received 
> signal.
>
> I hooked up the antenna, and tuned in AD4ES, good strong signal on 14,032,
> matched his tone to the sidetone at 700 hz, pushed the power to 100 watts,
> and after his CQ sequence, gave him a call.  Nothing!  4 or 5 times, I
> repeated this.  He stopped each time and began calling CQ again by the 
> time
> I sent my call.  XIT/RIT off, PBT at 12 noon, VFO on A, Split off.
>
> I should be able to be heard at the station with a strong signal here.
> Something is goofed up.
>
> 73 de W6OGC  Jim Allen
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 12:13 PM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX 
> <RMcGraw at blomand.net>wrote:
>
>> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TenTec mailing list
>>> TenTec at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>>
>>>
>>
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