[TenTec] Bring back the corsair 2

Darrell Bellerive ve7iu at runbox.com
Wed Nov 23 15:25:08 EST 2016


Wasn't there also a jump in noise from the Tritons to the Omni ABCDs?


On 16-11-23 12:05 PM, Barry N1EU wrote:
> Warms my heart to see W9AC and N4LQ posting on the Ten-Tec reflector
> lately, like the good old days!!!
>
> Only want to add one comment Steve.  I'm almost certain you already know
> this, but I think there was a significant jump in noise from the Omni ABCD
> to the Corsair series and then another jump up to the Omni V/VI series.
> You can mitigate much of the Corsair noise by replacing the AF op-amps etc,
> as described here: http://corsair.wikidot.com/corsair-opamp .  I think my
> Omni VI is as quiet as my Corsair, but both of them have been heavily
> tinkered with.
>
> Barry N1EU
>
> On Wed, Nov 23, 2016 at 6:59 PM, Steve Ellington <steven4lq at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I had a loaded K3s then bought an IC-7300 and the noise level was slightly
>> lower to the point that the K3s started gathering dust.
>> Recently I picked up a couple of Corsair II's having forgotten what they
>> were like. After listening to the Corsair II for a while the noise coming
>> from the IC-7300 sounds like Darth Vader's breathing. Just a few minutes
>> ago I tried to have a QSO with a guy and I was having a terrible time
>> trying to copy his CW. I switched to the Corsair II and felt total relief
>> flood by frazzled brain. I kicked in the 500 hz xtal filter. The noise
>> actually goes down instead of up as it does in DSP rigs. I then brought in
>> about 50% audio filtering and he sounded like a CPO...Remember those?
>>
>> The Corsair II was the last of long like of analog rigs from TenTec. PLL
>> and DSP started creeping in and up came the noise.
>>
>> Here's a couple of videos I made to help get the point across. Again let me
>> say that the 7300 is one of the quietest (modern) radios I've had and boy
>> does it sound noisy next to the Corsair II!
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX8EWUcnvBU
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBbiXXRex8
>>
>> It's frustrating. I don't want it to be this way. I want a receiver that's
>> better than the Corsair II. What to do?
>>
>> steve n4lq
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 23, 2016 at 1:32 PM, Steve Berg <wa9jml at frontier.com> wrote:
>>
>>> There is no way that it would be profitable to recreate the Corsair II
>>> these days.  I really love my Corsair II, and its external VFO.  But, I
>>> also realize that its days are numbered because many of the parts in it
>> are
>>> no longer available.  And, while it was an outstanding DX and contest
>> radio
>>> when it was built, it is not suitable for contesting any more.  Mine has
>>> done a great job for DXing from my rather poor location.
>>>
>>> I like it because after several years I have learned its quirks, and how
>>> to best use it under varying conditions.  Realizing its age, I bought an
>>> Omni VII during the fire sale so that I would have a decent and much
>> newer
>>> radio when the Corsair II finally breathes its last.  After several
>> months,
>>> I put the Omni VII on the shelf, and went back to the Corsair II.  I
>>> eventually found a good home for the Omni with a newly minted ham.  I
>> don't
>>> miss it. It seemed to require a lot of menu usage for simple operations,
>>> and for which the Corsair II just requires a bit of adjustment of a knob
>> or
>>> two.  I was very impressed with the Eagle when I used one at the factory
>>> several years ago.  Would I buy one at $1700 to have a backup for the
>>> Corsair II?  Most likely yes, especially to help keep Ten Tec afloat.
>> Most
>>> of the Japanese radios make extensive use of menus, and I don't like
>> using
>>> those.  I have two Argonaut VI radios, and the receivers in those are
>>> simply incredible.  I would like to buy 2 more of them for use as VHF/UHF
>>> IF radios for transverters.  They are apparently similar to the receiver
>> in
>>> the Eagle, so that would be yet another reason to buy an Eagle.  Since I
>>> have little use for contesting, that does not enter into my preferences
>> in
>>> rigs.
>>>
>>> I have also worked in economic development as a city administrator and
>> was
>>> on the county economic development board out where I last worked in this
>>> field.  What Mike describes is what we referred to as elephant hunting.
>>> And, I suspect that his comments about economic development being taken
>>> over by the local Chambers of Commerce is sadly true.  What these people
>> do
>>> not understand is that by helping out smaller companies, there is a
>>> significant increase in a multiplier effect through the local economy.
>>> And, the local governments also have to provide less in the way of tax
>>> expenditures and other incentives.  Where I live now local governments
>> give
>>> too many incentives to retail and warehousing, which do not pay enough to
>>> support a family.  They are trying to capitalize on the local university
>>> students, but wind up shooting themselves in the foot rather
>> frequently.  I
>>> would love to see a federal suit challenging economic incentives on the
>>> basis of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.  That would
>>> really start to level the playing field in local economic development.
>>>
>>> Your Mileage May Vary...
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve WA9JML
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/23/2016 10:33 AM, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
>>>
>>>> Yeah, like that's going to happen...
>>>>
>>>> Considering what Dishtronix has dealt with, prior to the Ten Tec
>>>> acquisition, in regards to overseas manufacturers, I have some serious
>>>> doubts that Mike would seriously do this.  Even if there is sufficient
>>>> market for the rig today, which I suspect there isn't.
>>>>
>>>> Now if you could design a Corsair III, including a DDS type dual VFO,
>> and
>>>> could afford to build it domestically and sell it at a small profit for
>>>> circa US$600, you might have something.  Maybe.  But built in China?  I
>>>> doubt it.
>>>>
>>>> 73, ron w3wn
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of gary
>>>> mankoff
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2016 10:36 AM
>>>> To: tentec at contesting.com
>>>> Subject: [TenTec] Bring back the corsair 2
>>>>
>>>> We need a new corsair 2 ,just like the old one with the filters
>> installed
>>>> ,made in China.
>>>> This is the only way TT can compete.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
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-- 
Darrell Bellerive
VE7IU



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