[TenTec] Orion II Problem

[art N4UC]

Believe me I was really trying to find that bad connections were the source of the problem, but no joy.  When all this started happening I went completely through the radio (I'm not shy about taking radios apart) and disconnected and cleaned every connector contact in the radio and then exercise each several times during re-mate. That includes removing each board from it's motherboard connection.  All to no avail.  I subsequently repeated that scenario many times over several days thinking I just hadn't hit the magic pin/socket. But after all the cleaning, pushing, and flexing of every connection and every board on multiple occasions, I never detected any change or effect on the problem.  

But as W2NSD used to say, Never Say Die!

Art/N4UC

> Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 20:52:28 +0000
> From: aa4nu at comcast.net
> To: n4py3 at earthlink.net; tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II Problem
> 
> Hi Carl,
> 
> For the 565 platform, I agree that is worthy of consideration.
> 
> For the 566 platform, I thought (perhaps incorrectly) there
> was a pin design change so help reduce that from repeating?
> 
> So yes, by all means do what Carl suggests BEFORE packing it
> up to TT for their review.
> 
> 73 de Billy, AA4NU
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carl Moreschi" <n4py3 at earthlink.net>
> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:41:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II Problem
> 
> Sounds like the classic "clean the connectors behind the front panel" 
> problem to me.  There's a few connectors that over more than 100 
> connections and because Tentec did not use gold pins, they need to be 
> cleaned once in a while.  Because there are so many connections, almost 
> any symptom is possible.  But the key is the problem starts out 
> intermittent.
> 
> Remove the front panel, get some good contact spray, unplug the 
> connectors, spray them, then plug them in and out about 10 times to 
> clean them.
> 
> Carl Moreschi N4PY
> 58 Hogwood Rd
> Louisburg, NC 27549
> www.n4py.com
> 
> On 10/16/2014 3:25 PM, art N4UC wrote:
> > I have been experiencing the exact same problem for months with my Orion 565. It started out mostly only on 20M and would clear up if either changed bands or cycled the power. Then it progressed to other bands as well and now does not clear up regardless of what I try. It affected only the main rcvr, the sub was fine. Listen on a separate radio to  see if it also affects the transmitted signal. In my case the transmitted CW signal sounds just like the received signal audio, warbly and buzzing almost like a spark gap signal!. So I'm guessing it's somewhere in the local oscillator/IF chain.  I've talked to TT a few times and there's no way to diagnose my symptoms without getting it on the bench.
> >
> > Currently it's sitting on the shelf unusable while I decide how much I want to spend on it. Good luck. If you think of it, drop me a note if you resolve the problem.
> >
> > Art/N4UC
> >
> >> From: Doug.Speer at FairbanksMorse.com
> >> To: tentec at contesting.com
> >> Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:37:22 +0000
> >> Subject: [TenTec] Orion II Problem
> >>
> >> I am starting to believe my Orion II has developed a problem.  On the main receiver I am hearing distorted, buzzing sounding signals that are well outside the DSP and roofing filter bandwidth.  I am not hearing signals outside the filter bandwidth on the RX-366 sub-receiver.  The problem is most notable on 160m but to some extent present on 80m.  I don't really notice it above 80m.  I have tried a master reset which did not resolve the problem.
> >>
> >> Do any of you have any immediate thoughts or does the rig need to visit Sevierville?
> >>
> >> Doug, W9PN
> >> Janesville, WI
> >>
> >>
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