[TenTec] Panadapters

Wed May 7 15:29:11 EDT 2014

That's exactly why I purchased an amp that uses a single 3-500ZG.

Within the past 60 days I've had 10 radios across the bench and from 
different brands/models.  Although the frequency display seemed very 
precise, none were correct and some were off as much as 200 Hz.  The most 
accurate was +2Hz on 75M but progressively got worse as the frequency 
increased to 6M.

I have one coming in next week that is reported to be 70 Hz high on 75M.  Oh 
my, what a crisis.

73
Bob, K4TAX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP" <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Panadapters

> 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
>> _______________________________________________
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>> TenTec at contesting.com
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>>
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