[TenTec] Panadapters

Wed May 7 13:05:18 EDT 2014

Wade, the problem with your strategy is, you can't get "good" new tubes
anymore.
The last good source for 572B's ceased producing them a while back and
RF-Parts temporarily removed the tube from its sales.

Apparently they have found a new source now, but each time they have had to
do that, the tubes were worse than those from their previous supplier.

BTW, did you ever solve that 30 Hz problem?  ;-)

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

-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Wade Staggs
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 6:10 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Panadapters

*Please, build that Tube Type Rig!..... I can see the Appliance Operators
pulling their hair out as I write this message. I had a young fellow on a
State Wide Net, recently tell me that my station was 20 Hz low in frequency.
And my understanding was that Net Control is the frequency standard to tune
to! Reading my Net Preamble again, pointing out the part that says on or
about 3xxx KHz. We also expressed thanks to him for telling me that, my 33
year old Paragon is only 20 Hz out of alignment. Checking further that day,
with good test equipment, maybe his KenYaeCom needs some attention. And we
know several folks who could never Tune Up any Tube Type rig. I can see the
Magical Mushroom Clouds of Smoke .... Screaming towards the Ceiling in their
Shacks ..... * *Please, build us some nice radios. I have just enough time
left to own another great station before assuming room temperature. We can
only wonder what the guy mentioned above, would have said about my ( built
by me
) Heathkit SB-101. Maybe, we will call the Net next time with the SB-101 and
it turned on cold. Just my Rant for the day. My vote would be for a Modular
Approach. What radio will even nail down another SSB rig as 20 Hertz off
frequency? Hey, here is an idea, what about a new Hybrid Rig?
Beats the pants off these badly needed 50 volt Finals in the new rigs. My
vote is for a conservatively rated 200 Watt radio with One 572B Tube as the
PA. The old Hybrids sure do a Great Job....... hi hi ...........*

*
   73 from Wade/KJ4WS*

On Wed, May 7, 2014 at 7:58 AM, John Henry <jhenry at tentec.com> wrote:

> There are as many wishes for what a panadapter should be and how it 
> should be used as there are hams in the market. They fall into a few 
> main classes though (and no, I'm not ranking classes, just 
> identifying, geesh, don't shoot me. and yes, I'm glad my name is John 
> Henry, he he he DJ0IP, lol) Don't cut down the need for something that 
> is a tantamount feature for someone else. Just different is all. If 
> there was a one size fits all, then would it be a Wyndam antenna or a 
> Yagi or something from those Spidery people? Or is it a Begali or one 
> of those from Mr. Robbins? Come on, pick one, you can't have anything
else. See, one shoe does not fit all.
>
> There are those that will never use it, because they just want to 
> "surf the web", er, uh, "surf the air" to find someone popping out, 
> the way it has been done for many many decades. Nothing wrong with 
> this, so, let them have their rig, at the cost appropriate for that rig.
>
> There are those that just want something running real time on the rig, 
> no real features, maybe a gain adjustment, but they want it on the rig 
> so that when they take it with them, it is still there, e.g. Field 
> Day. So, maybe it is an option to the rig of the "surf the air" user.
>
> There are those that want a bit more functionality on the rig with the 
> sweep, e.g. scrolling to the freq they want to see without moving the 
> VFO, then hitting an Enter button, boom, they are there.
>
> There are those that want it as a display option of the rig, like a 
> panadapter such as the P3. It works great with the K3, KX3, and the 
> frequency readouts track. Works well with others, only drawback is you 
> lose the scrolling on the panadapter / click button to control the 
> rig. But, that too is sufficient for hams, they see the band, and can 
> move there quickly with the rig controls, be it on a PC or on the 
> front panel. Again, another option.
>
> There are those that will never give up the SDR to the sound card 
> running their favorite HPSDR/PowerSDR-IF/etc. In my mind, that is the 
> ultimate integration giving one the flexibility because they can pick 
> the $39 SDR or the $5k SDR to give them the performance they want that
makes them happy.
> Just provide the I/Q or IF output, and let this guy enjoy his world. 
> To me, IF output should be standard anyway on any rig produced... 
> well, maybe not down into the 506 cost range, but heck, 9MHz IF is on 
> the 506 anyway, just solder a wire, put in a buffer amp, and boom, you 
> have a band sweep from your $200 QRP rig, fun fun fun to some.
>
> YOUR usage pattern is different from others and you may want something 
> different than their neighbor or cousin or even XYL.
> So, concentrate on what you like about which one you like the best, 
> bring up the reason why you like it best, and be happy that your XYL 
> can disconnect your SDR and use it on the front panel as she / he 
> wants it when they are on the rig.
>
> TEN-TEC has to find a happy medium, or provide options for all of the 
> above.
> If TEN-TEC is to satisfy the guy who wants it built into the Orion 
> III, then TEN-TEC has to finish the 588 sweep board to prove the 
> concept and then migrate it into the "next big TEN-TEC rig".
>
> For now, get the rig you want that we have, enjoy it, and rest assured 
> that over time, maybe next year or the next, who knows what you will 
> see on the market from TEN-TEC or our competitors. We all make great 
> stuff that fills the shack of amateur operators. For me, the main 
> reason for this is still to just have fun, AND to be ready to assist
others in emergency situations.
> I still think there is a market for a totally analog rig, no uP, no 
> features other than mode/band/frequency/rfgain/afgain, the backup for 
> the EMP, that also means no transistors... hmmm cost, well, probably 
> prohibitive, but, I still wish there was a way for that rig to be made 
> as it would fill just about every prepper/emergency management hams 
> shack and sit in the background covered in dust until everything else 
> is non-functional.
>
> TEN-TEC IS working on things that will tread new ground, and lead the 
> way in innovation in this market, and those will come out over time 
> over this year, next year and beyond. We are also working on things 
> customers have asked for, but maybe not in the way they originally 
> thought, but, well, better. Plant a seed, and in time it will grow. 
> Working on things customers haven't asked for but once we get it out, 
> they will wonder, what they ever did without it.... etc.
>
> 'nuff said, lots of code to write, projects to continue, etc.
>
> Thanks, and 73,
> John Henry, KI4JPL
> TEN-TEC Engineering
> _______________________________________________
> 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