[TenTec] Urgent OMNI VII Question

Wed Jul 9 14:13:42 EDT 2014

Hi Bry -- sounds like the Master Reset has resolved the problem.  Rather 
than view a Master Reset as a last resort, consider it a fix of first 
resort.  These computer-based rigs sometimes get wonky and a Master 
Reset is and easy fix.

I have owned my Omni VII for several years and sometimes it acts odd, 
and a Master Reset has always corrected the problem.  I have been 
helping an Australian ham with a headset microphone issue, and he said 
TenTec once told him to re-flash the firmware several times to assure a 
new version has taken hold (although I cannot imagine how this would be 
necessary.)   He said doing that fixed the problem.

The only down side to performing a Master Reset is you must reset your 
MENU settings.  Thus, whenever the rig gets wonky, I do a Master Reset 
and this clears it up.  A slight inconvenience, but the single level 
MENU is easy to reset.

Happy days
==========================JHR ======================

On 7/9/2014 12:42 PM, bcarling at cfl.rr.com wrote:
> Thank you so much Bob...
>
> It shows VER 1035-588
>
> Thanks so much for showing me the settings. I will comp[are to mine and salso give a
> thorough listen to the CW note on rcv after this rest. So far it has sounded better to me.
>
> Bry, AF4K
>
>
> On 9 Jul 2014 at 10:05, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
>
>>
>> Brian: This is a bit long, so take some time to study this before you start turning knobs and
>> punching buttons.
>>
>>
>> Start with a Master Reset. You don't know what is actually resident from previous usage. Also,
>> the current firmware version 1.036 addresses some AGC issues that exist in earlier versions. To
>> see your version of firmware, press and hold the A=B button at the top right. The version will be
>> displayed at the top left as VER x.xxx 588 RADIO.
>>
>> As to background noise the receiver is very quiet and not like of other receivers that have a good
>> bit of internal generated noise.
>>
>> There is no way to "turn the DSP off" as someone posted. Perhaps they were referring to the NR
>> or NB functions. These are controlled by the buttons at the bottom and clearly say OFF when
>> such. Otherwise there is some numeric value from 1 - 9 with 1 being less and 9 being most active
>> for the function.
>>
>> I find the NB should only be used when repetitive pulse noise is present. Noise like the tick tick
>> tick from an electric fence or ignition noise from a vehicle. The NR values will need to change as
>> needed between bandwidth and mode and AGC settings. Typically for SSB I use values of 1 to
>> 3. For AM I use higher values. Again this is somewhat dependant on band noise and mode.
>>
>> On AGC, for SSB I use SLW or MED and for digital modes or CW I use MED or FST.
>>
>> Regarding MENU values, for your thoughts, here are my most current ones:
>> {Sitting here thisevening on 75M SSB, rag chew mode, here's what's in the radio. The antenna is
>> a 75M coax fed dipole.}
>>
>> Front Panel settings:
>>
>> PBT = 0000
>> BW = 2800
>> RF Gain = 35%
>> AF Gain = 30% {using external speaker}
>> AGC = SLW
>> NR = 3
>> AN = OFF
>> MIC = 35%
>> ATTN = OFF
>> PRE = OFF
>> MON = 0%
>> NCH = OFF
>> NB = OFF
>> SP = ON {value is 35%}
>> VOX = OFF
>>
>>  From the MENU:
>>
>> Auto Tuner = ON {internal tuner is installed}
>> TX Meter = SWR
>> Transmitter = ON
>> SSB TX BW = 2600
>> TX Roll Off = 100 Hz
>> Keying Loop = ON {I use my Centurion Amp}
>> Audio Source = MIC
>> Line Gain = 50% {I use a TT 712 USB interface for PSK-31}
>> EXT T/R Delay = 0%
>> FM TX CTCSS = OFF
>> RX Equalizer = 0dB
>> TX Equalizer = 0dB {I use the TT 709A microphone}
>> Recall Sub = OFF
>> Sidetone Frq = 700Hz
>> Sidetone Vol = 2% {works for speaker, needs more for headphones}
>> Spot Volume = 50%
>> CW QSK Delay = 0%
>> CW Weighting = 10%
>> CW Keyer = Mode A
>> CW Rise/Fall = 5ms
>> Auto Sweep = ON
>> Sweep Range = 30K
>> VOX Trip = 85% {will depend on hardware mike gain setting}
>> Anti-VOX = 7%
>> VOX Hang = 15%
>> FSK TX Data = Mark High
>> Remote F1 = Step
>> Remote F2 = Mode
>> Remote F3 = Rev
>> Remote Enc = VFO A
>> POD Encode Rate = Slow
>> VFO Encode Rate = Fast
>> RIT Encode Rate = Slow
>> VFO SPDShift = ON
>> Display = 30%
>> Speech Proc = 35%
>> I-F Filter = AUTO
>> Enable 300 Hz = Yes
>> Enable 500 Hz = Yes
>> Serial IF = Omni VII
>> Regarding the use of the Speech Processor, here are my measurements:
>>
>> I did find is the following data andthe actual SP values vs. power output. It is noted that in
>> between the steps there is no power change. Case and point, at values between 18% and 28%
>> the power remained at 2.0 watts. Between 28% and 29% the power changed from 2.0 W to 3.5
>> W. The same held true for other increment of steps. Back some time ago, John Henry confirmed
>> that there are actually 9 steps in the Speech Processor control algorithm.
>>
>> Power output = 2 W with SP off
>> With the SP on the following is observed:
>> 0%= 0.75W or - 4.3 dB
>> 7% = 1.0W or - 3 dB
>> 18% = 2.0W or 0.0 dB
>> 29% = 3.5W or + 2.4 dB
>> 39% = 6.7W or + 5.3 dB
>> 50% = 15W or + 8.8 dB
>> 62% = 40W or + 13.0 dB
>> 73% = 70W or + 15.4 dB ALC is now on and no further increase in SP gain produced any
>> increase in output power
>>
>> This does concur that the effective SP value should be about 40% to 50% to attain some 6 to 8 dB
>> of increase in output power.
>>
>>
>>
>> In conclusion, I suggest you spend some goodly amount of time reading the manual. Cover to
>> cover several times. This radio does not and will not operate nor perform like other radios you
>> have had on your desk. Don't expect it to, nor try to operate it like the Omni VI or others, it won't.
>> However, once you learn to use the radio and its features and functions, you will discover it does
>> easily outperform the others.
>>
>> 73
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <bcarling at cfl.rr.com>
>> To: "Walt K8CV" <waltk8cv at wowway.com>; <tentec at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 7:06 AM
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Urgent OMNI VII Question
>>
>>
>>> Thanks Walt. I don't know how to turn the DSP off yet - or down.
>>>
>>> Hopefully a reset won't be necessary. I tried adjusting the NB and it did not help.
>>>
>>> On 9 Jul 2014 at 0:18, Walt K8CV wrote:
>>>
>>>> Try turning the DSP off or to 1. Check that NB is off or 1. Turn off the preamp! Maybe do a
>> complete reset?
>>>
>>>
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>
>
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