[TenTec] On the Corsair II revival idea and receiver noise

Mon Nov 28 13:25:33 EST 2016

We know that crystal filters do affect the shape of an RF envelope.
Question: Don't the JA rigs use lattice instead of latter crystal filters?
Anybody know? I always assumed that was part of the difference.

On Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 10:22 AM, Barry N1EU <barry.n1eu at gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree on the sweet cw sound but I don't know if it's attributable to the
> filters - just a guess, but I'd be more inclined to look at the prod
> detector or post prod detector (AF) rather than upstream of the prod
> detector (RF/IF).
>
> 73, Barry N1EU
>
> On Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 10:00 AM, Steve Ellington <steven4lq at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I have heard it said that the crystal ladder filters used in TenTec rigs
> is
> > what gives them their unique sound for cw that pleases so many of us.
> > Something sure does!
> > Steve N4LQ
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 7:53 AM, Paul Christensen <w9ac at arrl.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Ladder and Cohn IF filters are easily made with 6-8 common HC-6 or
> HC-49S
> > > crystals.  In production quantiles, these should be no more expensive
> > than
> > > the original Ten Tec IF filters modules.
> > >
> > > https://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/Nov-Dec_
> > > 2009/QEX_Nov-Dec_09_F
> > > eature.pdf
> > >
> > > Paul, W9AC
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bwana
> > Bob
> > > Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2016 10:32 PM
> > > To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [TenTec] On the Corsair II revival idea and receiver noise
> > >
> > > There is another problem with crystal and mechanical  filters:
> > > Availability.  Collins recently discontinued their filter line. With
> the
> > > DSP
> > > revolution ongoing, analog filters will become even more expensive.
> > > One of the filters in my Paragon went bad with high insertion loss,
> and I
> > > bought a replacement from INRAD.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Bib WB2VUF
> > >
> > >
> > > On 11/24/2016 6:25 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
> > > > Even if it equaled the K3 performance, it would be outstanding.
> > > > But the problem is and remains Xtal Filters.
> > > > We'll need 6, maybe 8 of them and we'll be lucky if they are priced
> > > > under
> > > > $100 each.
> > > >
> > > > 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> > > > (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Barry
> > > > N1EU
> > > > Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2016 11:31 AM
> > > > To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> > > > Subject: Re: [TenTec] On the Corsair II revival idea and receiver
> > > > noise
> > > >
> > > > If the Corsair III ended up equaling or exceeding the K3S in
> > > > performance with the body of an Omni VI+, I'd buy one.
> > > >
> > > > 73 & Happy Turkey Day,
> > > > Barry N1EU
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, Nov 24, 2016 at 4:13 AM, GARY HUBER <GLHuber at msn.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Before I bought my Corsair-II and was looking at the Paragon and
> > > >> Corsair-II, I was asked by one of the TenTec staff manning their
> > > >> booth at Dayton, "What radio are you using now and what is your
> > > >> principal use, DXing, nets, rag chewing or something else?" When I
> > > >> responded that I was using a model 546-C and matching external VFO
> to
> > > >> chase DX from a quiet rural location, his response was, "you'll be a
> > > >> lot happier with a Corsair-II... you'll be able to hear weak
> stations
> > > >> with it that will be covered in noise in the Paragon!" I bought the
> > > >> Corsair-II and sold my OMNI-D to my best friend who had just become
> a
> > > >> General licensee and was looking for a radio.
> > > >>
> > > >> I still have that Corsair-II which was built in the last production
> > > >> run of model 561s. I did A-B tests with it and the Paragon (model
> > > >> 585) I bought several years later for MARS work for Operation Desert
> > > >> Shield and Operation Storm. In those tests which were done using a
> > > >> DOW Key Relay reversed so that only one radio was connected to an
> > > >> antenna or with a coaxial jumper between the two radios with one
> > > >> switch set for AUX ANT and the other to AUX RX and with the radio
> > > >> with the switch set to AUX RX having a good antenna connected to its
> > > >> SO-239, the Corsair-II was always slightly better. Its those signals
> > > >> below S-2 and into the RX/band noise where the Corsair-II comes out
> > > ahead.
> > > >>
> > > >> I also had a fully loaded OMNI-VI+ (model 564) and found it, through
> > > >> testing in the manner above, to be at least equal to the Corsair-II,
> > > >> mostly due to 1.8 kHz and 500 Hz filters in BOTH I.F.s, making it
> > > >> more selective and a bit quieter. The CAT serial port on the 564 is
> a
> > > >> huge advantage for those doing computer logging while DXing or
> > > Contesting.
> > > >> The lack of frequency / mode information from an un-modified
> > > >> Corsair-II like the one I own is its major drawback, in my opinion.
> > > >>
> > > >> I currently have an OMNI-VII (model 588) with a FLEX-1500 as its
> > > >> sub-RX (N4PY mod) as my primary radio and with the Corsair-II as the
> > > >> back radio. (see AB9M at QRZ.com for the station photo) While the
> > > >> OMNI-VII is a great radio for my needs, in my opinion (and
> > > >> experience) it needs to some careful adjustment of the RF gain to
> > > >> avoid digital artifacts which are created from strong signals in the
> > > >> passband when trying to work 2 kHz to 10 kHz from the DX station
> with
> > > lots of callers.
> > > >>
> > > >> Regarding the cost of any Corsair-II replacement; I know there is
> the
> > > >> issue of price, but I believe its also a matter of value for an
> > > >> experience which cannot be matched by others. If you provide a pure
> > > >> analog receiver and transmitter chain like the model 561 with only
> > > >> DDS VFO and CAT serial ports then perhaps your market segment is in
> a
> > > >> different range than the IC-7300. Today absent any product from
> > > >> TenTec to replace my OMNI-VII and FLEX-1500, I'll keep my Corsair-II
> > > >> and buy a FLEX-3000. The Eagle may need a replacement, but one for
> > > >> the OMNI-VII and ORION is long overdue.
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> 73 ES DX,
> > > >> Gary - AB9M
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> TenTec mailing list
> > > >> TenTec at contesting.com
> > > >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > > >>
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > TenTec mailing list
> > > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > TenTec mailing list
> > > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ---
> > > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> > > https://www.avast.com/antivirus
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > TenTec mailing list
> > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > TenTec mailing list
> > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>