[TenTec] Mega Sale Pricing

[Duane Calvin]

Martti Lane, several years ago, showed that this calling without identifying
really increased the lids and cops on frequency.  "WHO?"  "UP UP"  "LID"
etc., (and much worse.)  He has DXped's he leads sign on every turnaround.
Much better control of the frequency.

	73, Duane 

Duane Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas
www.ac5aa.com  




-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rick -
DJ0IP / NJ0IP
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 4:22 PM
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mega Sale Pricing

James actually brings up a (sad, but very true) subject.
One can actually see a rare DX station much better than he can hear it - but
not with a Panadapter.

If you are using the bandscope, which is 100% software and totally for free
(for the user), it will list stations that are on the band and calling CQ.
It shows the frequency, call sign, and whether you have worked the station
yet, and if it is a single multiplier or double multiplier.  You immediately
have all of that data in plain view on the screen.
This may not sound like a very big deal until you understand the
consequences of this.

Consequences:  Many DX stations call CQ and identify once or twice, then
don't call again or identify again until stations stop calling them.  This
can sometimes be 10 or 15 minutes.  And even if they do send their call
sign, they typically do it just once for compliance with the regs, and most
likely it is buried in the pile-up calling them.

In the days before the Bandscope, the pileup would die out much quicker, but
now it sometimes runs on for hours.

With the bandscope you usually know who is on that frequency and know right
away if it is worth fighting the battle, or better to move on.

Without the bandscope, I have found myself often waiting 5 or 10 minutes
trying to copy a call sign, only to find out that I had already worked the
DX station before.  

I understand some people believe a panadaptor gives them a competitive edge
in a contest, but I would only accept that if that station is working
"unassisted".  If you are working "assisted", then the bandscope is 100x
more useful than the panadapter.  (your mileage may vary).

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K8JHR
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 10:09 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Mega Sale Pricing

HEY!!  Your reply induced me to re-visit TT's web site, and I see they
provide instructions for adding a 9 MHz output, but I am not too keen on
modifying a rig under warranty... Still, there IS IS a way to do that ...
provided I am willing to modify the rig once I get it.

Shoot... maybe I will try it.  The instructions are very clear and the mod,
itself, appears very easy to do.  That would give one as much power as a
Flex receiver... but with a complete radio interface, knobs, 
buttons, display, etc., as a travel rig!   Cheap second receiver with 
panadapter screen... plus it is a complete portable  QRP rig.

How is that for value?

Hmmm....

I think I would add the Telepost LP-Pan instead of the P3.

The LP-Pan costs around $250 and is complete in itself, providing a 
computer screen size image.   The P3 costs around $750 last time I 
looked, and it has a rather smallish screen.  The optional P3VGA module
costs another $280 - plus the cost of another computer screen - before it
shows as large as the LP-Pan on my computer screen - WOW... that is more
than $1000 compared to $250 for essentially the same result!!!
Ouch.

Of course, part of my conundrum is the fact that, beyond the cool factor,
the panadapter is really a solution looking for a problem, and probably
would not substantially alter my operation.  Will it really enable me to
make more contacts?  Will I be able to SEE rare DX in the wake of a
powerhouse flame thrower?  Can one really see the rare DX stations better
than one can hear them tuning slowly across the band? 
I looked all over the Internet for photos of big contest shacks, and found
only ONE showing a panadapter or spectrum scope, but it was part of a larger
logging and control program, so I doubt the operator was relying on the
scope display to locate other stations.  So, I wonder if it will really
improve my score, or is it just a really cool thing to have ?  Because it IS
way cool looking and fun to use.

Thanks for the push on it!   Now, I gotta decide how badly I want one 
... versus getting that new macro lens for my camera system ... and... 
and...

-------------------  JHR  ----------------------

On 7/9/2014 1:30 AM, Reed wrote:
> Won't the Elecraft P3 Panadapter work with the Argonaut VI?
> http://www.elecraft.com/P3/p3.htm
>
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec

_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec