[TenTec] Ten tec omni 6+ (5 mhz PLL board)

Thu Nov 12 08:32:26 EST 2015

Thanks Joe, very helpful troubleshooting info for my favorite radio of all
time!

73, Barry N1EU

On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 8:03 AM, Joe Papworth via TenTec <
tentec at contesting.com> wrote:

>  Hi Mike,
> Here's my final synopsis. There's more here than you'll probably ever need
> to know. By the way, the info is also on the reflector from back in '09
> when I had the problem.?
> http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/TenTec/2009-10/msg00238.html
>
>
> I suggest you compare my symptoms to what you're rig is doing and
> if it's the same (or very similar), just go for the?jugular and hit ALL
> the connections on the 5 mhz PLL board.?
>
>
> Later, Joe
>
>
> Radio Dudes: I figured I'd give you a final (I hope) synopsis on the
> PLL/Synthesizer  problems I dealt with recently. The info may come in handy
> for someone, some  day. By the way, thanks to those who steered me towards
> the PLL board.  Otherwise, my radio might still be broken. (or in
> Sevierville) Symptoms:The display reads correctly. It even changes when you
> turn the VFO.  However, the received freq doesn't change. How did I know
> that?   When I changed bands to 160, I could hear an AM broadcast station.
> Turning the VFO didn't change what I was hearing. Fixing it:It was
> suggested that I check the 5 to 5.5 Mhz output from the PLL. I  didn't have
> a freq counter, so I used a Tektronix 456B, which is a 200 Mhz  scope. The
> output showed as 5.8 Mhz and it did not change when cranking the VFO  or
> hitting the up/down buttons.   The 2 inputs to the board (10  Mhz clock and
> serial freq data) appeared to be good,  so I  was pretty sure I was on the
> right track.  NOTE: The output also h
>  ad what seemed like a low voltage level (1 volt  p/p). I called Ten Tec
> about the sig level, but they didn't know what it should  be. (More on that
> later) Another Ham who had PLL board problems strongly suggested that I
> re-heat suspect connections on the board. I did this (in fact, I  hit every
> connection on the board) and the radio worked for 2  days. While it was in
> the working state, I scoped the PLL output and saw it  change with the
> up/down buttons. The voltage level was 1 volt p/p in the working  state, so
> I now knew that was correct. For the next few days, the radio would work
> then not work. I tried to "make  it fail" with heat and cold, but those
> didn't seem to make a difference. During  this process, I made a few notes
> and drawings of various waveforms and  levels around the board.
> Unfortunately, 3 weeks have passed and some  of those notes don't make any
> sense to me now. Here are the ones that  do: 1) At the junction labeled
> "Test point" (duh...go figure) on the P
>  LL  schematic: When working, and the rig set to 40 meters, it had a 100
> mv  sine wave riding on a 325  mv DC level. (I forgot to record the
> freq).  When failing, it was nearly at ground potential (less than 15 mv),
> with no sine wave. 2) At U4, pin 5, with the rig working, I saw 775 mv when
> on 40  meters. I didn't record it in a failed state. 3) At R11 and R12,
> with the rig working: You should see a 5 volt level,  with negative-going
> spikes to ground, every 100 usec. 4) U5, pin 6, with the rig working: 133
> Mhz signal. I can't remember if it  was square or sine. 5) U4, pin 7, with
> the rig working: 2 v DC 6) U4, pin 1, with the rig working: 3.5 v DC
> "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good" While beating on components
> to try make it work, I noticed that a  slight tap on L12 could make the rig
> fail or work. I re-heated the connections  to L12, (including L12's case to
> ground on top of the board) and the  radio has been fine since. That was
> over 2 weeks ago. I even got brav
>  e enough to  put it all back together several days ago and it's still
> working.  Hopefully, it's been put to bed. Later,  Joe
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike <w4mjr at att.net>
> To: k8mp <k8mp at aol.com>
> Sent: Wed, Nov 11, 2015 8:48 pm
> Subject: Re: Ten tec omni 6+
>
>   OK Joe that would be great. I like my 564 and miss it when not in use. I
> moved the Hercules II over to my ICOM 751A for the time being.? Ok Joe look
> forward to your repair info. Thanks agn. Mike W4MJR
>  Sent from my ALCATEL ONETOUCH A564C
>  On Nov 11, 2015 7:33 PM, k8mp at aol.com wrote:  You jogged my brain and
> yes, that was me Mike. I fixed it myself with help from the guys on the Ten
> Tec reflector.
>        It involved removing one of the boards (PLL board, think) and
> re-heating EVERY connection (top and bottom) with an iron (and add new
> solder if necessary)
>
>          I'll look over my notes and get back to you with the details,
> probably tomorrow.
>          Later, Joe
>
> Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike <w4mjr at att.net>
> To: k8mp <k8mp at aol.com>
> Sent: Wed, Nov 11, 2015 07:36 PM
> Subject: Re: Ten tec omni 6+
>
>
>       602606e"              Sorry Joe but I might have you mixed up for
> someone else. I have a ten tec omni 6 plus and started losing audio sound.
> It would come back in and then go back out. I could put it on the 160 meter
> band and hear an AM station but could not make it out what they were
> saying.? I replaced the 3 volt battery backup and did a reset but nothing
> changed. Anyway Joe I have been reading so much about trying to figure out
> what was wrong before I send it in to ten tec for repair.? Anyway I thought
> I had read on the contesting.com about you and your omni 6 plus. I know
> it had to be an old thread. I just didn't pay any attention to the date. If
> I have you mixed with someone else problem I appolize.??????????????
> Thanks, mike w4mjr
>         Sent from my ALCATEL ONETOUCH A564C
>                 On Nov 11, 2015 5:14 PM,         k8mp at aol.com wrote:
>                   Hi Mike,                     Can you refresh my memory
> by pasting the details into an email?
>                      Thanks, Joe
>
> Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike <          w4mjr at att.net>
> To: k8mp <          k8mp at aol.com>
> Sent: Wed, Nov 11, 2015 12:46 PM
> Subject: Ten tec omni 6+
>
>
>                        Joe I am having the same problem with me 6+ as you
> had with losing the audio. This might be old stuff because I was just
> searching thru the web and saw where you were looking for answer about your
> rig. Did you get yours repaired and what was the cause.? Thanks, Mike
> w4mjr  Sent from my ALCATEL ONETOUCH A564C
>
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