[TenTec] Scout for Sota
rick@dj0ip.de
Rick at DJ0IP.de
Wed Mar 23 12:19:24 EDT 2016
Hi Tim,
I honestly can't say. I might be able to find out.
We're talking 1970s here.
I built several and at least one was exactly the 208 circuit.
I think I still have some ICs from that era but I'm not sure.
I basically stopped building things about 1983 when changing jobs from
technical to sales and moving to a small city apartment with no place for a
workshop.
The only thing I've built since then is several antenna matchboxes, and
about 100 antennas!
Oh and also about 100 baluns.
I could not specify an IC today. I would have to do some research and see
what people are using.
I'm sure someone else here has a suggestion.
73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tim
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 4:11 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Scout for Sota
Hi Rick,
When building a filter what chip did you use or would you use now? The chip
used in the 208 was discontinued years ago and I haven't done any real
building since, well about that long ago...
Thanks,
Tim
KE4KE
On 03/23/2016 02:20 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
> Now that is an interesting filter; just expensive.
> Altogether is will cost us almost $50 plus postage.
>
> On the other hand, a used Model 208 Audio Filter goes for about $60 on
ebay.
>
> This can be expensive or a bargain, depending on how well it works.
> I generally have built my own, simply copying the original 4-stage
> analog audio filter.
> That is less than $10 worth of parts.
>
> I have a couple of filter kits in my junkbox, one is for insertion in
> low-level stages, and would work with the Argonaut. The other is for
> insertion in the headphones jack and will work with the Scout. I just
> have to find time to build them. Had both for over 20 years but
> didn't have an urgent need yet.
>
> I'm a bit confused by the SOTA filter. It says it has enough audio to
> drive ear plugs, but not a speaker. It says it has a differential
> output. I don't know if I could just insert something like that into
> an Argonaut, or if I would have to completely replace the audio board
> with a differential amp. Need to brush up on my theory. It's been 33
> years since I was a technician.
>
> I am hoping to get an Argonaut 515 soon. Looking forward to that and
> I will definitely put some kind of low-level audio filter into it.
> These make all the difference in the world.
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bwana
> Bob
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 3:31 AM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Scout for Sota
>
> Rick, et, al,
>
> I think my IF gain mod is on the Ten-Tec wiki. It just switches some
> positive bias voltage onto the AGC line, to drop the gain, so that QRN
> on 80 and
> 40 isn't so obnoxious. Good for very strong local signals, too. It
> only requires one resistor and a sub-miniature toggle switch.
>
> I came across this filter on the sotabeams web site:
> http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/digital-audio-filter-modules/
>
> It looks really interesting!
>
> 73,
>
> Bob WB2VUF
>
> On 3/22/2016 3:32 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
>> Hi Bob,
>>
>> I changed the subject to calm the bitching. ;-)
>>
>> My "REAL" problem is, I'm already carrying a Centurion amplifier up
>> the mountain in the form of excess weight. So in parallel with all
>> of this I have begun a low carbohydrate diet and have borrowed a dog
>> that I take for a walk every day.
>>
>> I used the Scout a lot when it first came out. It seemed to me it
>> had too much noise, audio accompanying it. I tried a couple of types
>> of
> filters.
>> Everything helped. I sold it long ago, but bought another last year.
>>
>> So my first project will be to build a small audio filter and hope I
>> can fit it inside the box.
>>
>> The attenuator is an outstanding idea since the Scout has no RF gain.
>> However I won't be on top of any mountains at night so it's not urgent.
>>
>> I already have re-located the power pot and sidetone level pot to the
>> top and cut out a bit of case so I can adjust from above. Moving the
>> sidetone was probably a waste of time but having an easy adjustment
>> for the power level is priceless!
>>
>> The main problem is, there is not much space for mods inside the box!
>>
>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>> Bwana Bob
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 2:52 AM
>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment; n4py3 at earthlink.net
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
>>
>> Rick:
>>
>> For 5 or 6 times per year, the Scout is fine, assuming you are hiking
>> up to the summit and not "mountaineering". The performance of the
>> Scout is underrated. I have always gotten excellent audio reports on
>> SSB and the receiver hears just fine. The noise blanker is the best
>> of
> any radio I own.
>> I did do the VFO stability mod on mine (replace one N1500 capacitor
>> with an
>> NP0) and I put a switch on the back to knock down the IF gain when
>> signals or noise are really strong, like on 80 and 40 at night. My
>> only complaint is the mechanical stability of the VFO.
>> Someday, I plan to put some cross-bracing inside, so that plugging in
>> headphones doesn't make the frequency shift.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Bob WB2VUF
>>
>> On 3/16/2016 8:35 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
>>> Nothing wrong with it. It's just too expensive "for me" for a radio
>>> that would only be used for SOTA.
>>>
>>> After my previous post, I decided that maybe I already have the best
>>> SOTA radio for me.
>>> I threw my Scout on the scales. It weighs 5.3 lbs. Probably twice
>>> as much as a good SOTA radio should weigth... but should I spend
>>> many hundreds of dollars to save having to carry 3 extra pounds up a
>>> mountain, 5 or 6 times per year?
>>>
>>> I may just buy a YouKits in order to have "something" really
>>> lightweight, and then depending on the mountain, decide between the
>>> Scout
>> or the You.
>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>>> Carl Moreschi
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 12:31 PM
>>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] SOTA RADIO
>>>
>>> What's wrong with the Argo VI for SOTA. It will run on as little as
>>> 8 volts.
>>>
>>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
>>> 58 Hogwood Rd
>>> Louisburg, NC 27549
>>> www.n4py.com
>>>
>>> On 3/16/2016 2:33 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
>>>> (changed the subject: was Service, overhead and the future A/K...)
>>>>
>>>> Barry,
>>>>
>>>> I did a lot of reading in the past day and I believe you are right.
>>>> The KX3 is exactly the radio I described. PERFECT.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately it's beyond my budget.
>>>>
>>>> The basic KX3 costs $1500 here in DL.
>>>> Add in a tuner and roofing filter and paddle and it's over $2K for
>>>> a 10w radio that I might use 5 or 6 times per year on a mountain top.
>>>> The ROI just isn't worth it.
>>>>
>>>> For home use, say as my 2nd radio, I would need an amplifier.
>>>>
>>>> Bottom Line: It's a champagne dream on a Budweiser budget.
>>>> For that money -(at this point in my life)- I would get more bangs
>>>> for my buck out of playing with something else, such as a 7300 or
>>>> an
>>> Annan, etc.
>>>> I need a Plan B for SOTA. Maybe it's just "bite the bullet and
>>>> carry my Scout up the mountain."
>>>>
>>>> I don't mind spending $500 or so but I would sure like to know how
>>>> the radio is going to perform BEFORE I buy it.
>>>>
>>>> My primary bands for portable have always been 40 and 20. 15 will
>>>> be dying soon. Do I really need 17m for SOTA?
>>>>
>>>> QUESTION FOR YOU ACTIVE SOTA Ops: What bands do you mainly operate
>>>> when you are on a mountain top?
>>>>
>>>> I've only been on one SOTA outing together with a buddy and we
>>>> operated
>>>> 40/20/17/15 making a lot of QSOs on each band. Perhaps not quite
>>>> as many on 17.
>>>>
>>>> I think I will take a second look at the LNR offering.
>>>> It is indeed an SDR with DDC - so not an NE-605 type of radio.
>>>> Unfortunately they don't show much detail; just a block diagram.
>>>> There is a box called SDR-RF BPF.
>>>> This is a make or break component.
>>>> Some SDR radios have ham band BPFs (good), others have an LPF, with
>>>> 0-12MHz (useless).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>>>> Barry N1EU
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 5:48 PM
>>>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Service, overhead, and the future. A/K/A/
>>>> I've got my
>>>> 2 cents!
>>>>
>>>> Rick, I'm not sure if you would be satisfied by the KX1 or the MTR
>> radios.
>>>> Unfortunately I don't know the answer to something better but not
>>>> too expensive.
>>>>
>>>> I suggest you try to borrow an MTR-5B. That's the only lesser
>>>> expensive radio that will do 40-15M inclusively. And you'd have to
>>>> search around to find one for sale currently although LNR should be
>>> bringing it out soon.
>>>> Or, just stick with the FT-817. I like the radio, although it
>>>> really needs an external speech processor to work well on SSB.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Barry N1EU
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 11:50 AM, rick at dj0ip.de<Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Barry,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'd love to have a KX3 but it is much too heavy.
>>>>> It's weight would place too big of a dent in my wallet!
>>>>>
>>>>> For SOTA I really only need 40/20/17/15m.
>>>>> 10 is dying and by the time it comes back, I doubt that I will
>>>>> still be running up any mountains.
>>>>>
>>>>> My next scheduled SOTA operation is 1-April. "Fool on a hill" -
>>>>> that's
>>>> me!
>>>>> I don't know yet if I'll try carrying my Scout up the mountain or not.
>>>>> I can borrow an FT-817.
>>>>>
>>>>> How good is the KX1?
>>>>> We have some heavy challenges on our receivers here in EU.
>>>>> A weak DR3 destroys 40m, especially at night, and a weak DR2 makes
>>>>> working 20m difficult - especially at night. You guys in the
>>>>> states can't appreciate that. You have to see/hear it to believe it.
>>>>>
>>>>> I once built a 20m QRP rig based on a design by Rick Littlefield.
>>>>> Had some kind of IC mixer.
>>>>> It was marginal.
>>>>> I ran a QRP CW contest using a home-brew magnetic loop antenna.
>>>>> Sitting in my living room with radio, mag loop, and battery, I
>>>>> worked
>>>> dozens of QSOs.
>>>>> Thought it was great. Then I put it on a big antenna and all hell
>>>>> broke loose at night.
>>>>>
>>>>> So I bought the MFJ 20m QRP CW rig.
>>>>> It was no better than the one I built.
>>>>> I sold both.
>>>>>
>>>>> I want something better than that - but not too expensive.
>>>>> But I don't know the QRP radios at all, except for the Argonauts.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>>>>> Barry N1EU
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 12:25 AM
>>>>> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>>>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Service, overhead, and the future. A/K/A/
>>>>> I've got my
>>>>> 2 cents!
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 9:40 PM, rick at dj0ip.de<Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> My Scout is a bit too heavy and over-powered, but the FT-817 just
>>>>>> isn't enough radio for me.
>>>>>> I'm looking for something in between. I'd like to see a 10w or
>>>>>> 20w radio with a good RX.
>>>>>> I want it to have both SSB and CW.
>>>>> It's called a KX-3
>>>>>
>>>>> I've got one, but I usually carry a much lighter KX-1 or MTR-5B
>>>>> when I actually hike up a mountain. (200 SOTA activations here)
>>>>>
>>>>> 73, Barry N1EU
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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