[TenTec] Orion II and new 2K-FL amp

[Al Gulseth]

First rule of troubleshooting: check the simple stuff first. Case in point: I 
was at a local auto shop recently to get a new set of tires installed. A 
couple of the mechanics were discussing a problem with a customer vehicle. 
Prior to bringing the vehicle to them, the customer had installed a used 
engine in it because it had an issue with gasoline getting into the oil. 
Since the engine was from a different model year, the intake manifold had to 
be swapped - and the problem persisted even with the replacement engine. The 
tech who was being consulted appeared to be the resident "guru" on that 
particular line of vehicles. After hearing the above saga, he told the other 
tech to check the coolant temp sensor: if it was malfunctioning, it could 
cause the computer to think the vehicle was "in the Arctic" (if I remember 
his comments right) and thus would be triggered into dumping way more gas 
into the mix than normal. My guess is that changing a coolant temp sensor in 
the first place would have been a LOT less expensive than an engine swap....

73, Al

On Fri October 21 2016 6:06:07 pm K3GHH wrote:
> Thanks, Mike! That's the simplest potential solution (pardon the pun...
> it really was unintentional!) offered yet. I'll try it tomorrow.
>
> --John K3GHH
>
> On 10/21/2016 04:41 PM, Michael Tortorella wrote:
> > John, last time this happened to me it was the trimpot on the regulator
> > board had gotten dirty.  Cleaned and exercised and that solved the
> > problem. Hope this helps.
> > 73
> > Mike w2IY
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K3GHH
> > Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 4:01 PM
> > To: tentec at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II and new 2K-FL amp
> >
> > Progress report... or lack thereof...
> >
> > I was ready to take the next step with this amplifier when my primary
> > station power supply, an Astron VS-35M, failed. Zero output. I had
> > replaced the bridge rectifiers in 2012 and they're OK --- 21 VDC out of
> > them. Problem is somewhere farther downstream. I posted a request for
> > help on the eHamnet "repair" forum and have one reply so far.
> >
> > QRT for a while unless I drag out a little 12v supply and fire up the
> > Scout.
> >
> > --John K3GHH
> >
> > On 10/18/2016 09:02 AM, Carl Moreschi wrote:
> >> The amp key line comes on about 15 msec before RF is produced.  This
> >> allows the amp relay to transfer.  QSK should be fine this way..
> >>
> >> Carl Moreschi N4PY
> >> 58 Hogwood Rd
> >> Louisburg, NC 27549
> >> www.n4py.com
> >>
> >> On 10/18/2016 9:00 AM, d.e.warnick at comcast.net wrote:
> >>> So how is QSK implemented with this setup, or would one need to
> >>> purchase an amp with a loop like my Herc II to run full QSK??
> >>> Dave
> >>> WA3F
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>
> >>> From: "K3GHH"<k3ghh at arrl.net>
> >>> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment"<tentec at contesting.com>
> >>> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:43:59 AM
> >>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II and new 2K-FL amp
> >>>
> >>> Thank you, Rick. That's what I suspected.
> >>>
> >>> And yes, Barry, the Keying Loop 1 and 2 are already off. Thanks.
> >>>
> >>> On 10/18/2016 08:02 AM, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:
> >>>> John,
> >>>>
> >>>> Your O2 has two means of keying linear amplifiers:
> >>>>
> >>>> 1. Single Cable using the AMP KEY
> >>>> 2. Dual Cables using TX EN and TX OUT. (Keying Loop)
> >>>>
> >>>> You amplifier does not support a keying loop.
> >>>> You must use the AMP KEY.
> >>>>
> >>>> I haven't had an Orion for many years now but I seem to recall you
> >>>> have to
> >>>> select or enable whichever keying method you want in the software
> >>>> menu.
> >>>>
> >>>> There is no problem with voltage incompatibility. It is plug and
> >>>> play once
> >>>> you enable the correct keying method in the menu.
> >>>>
> >>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> >>>> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K3GHH
> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 1:56 PM
> >>>> To: tentec at contesting.com
> >>>> Subject: [TenTec] Orion II and new 2K-FL amp
> >>>>
> >>>> Baby steps here, coping with my first-ever amplifier... First
> >>>> question: A phono cable must run from the amplifier's "Relay 1" jack
> >>>> to ... something on the O2. Is it TX OUT 1, TX EN 1, or AMP KEY 1?
> >>>>
> >>>> The SPE Expert 2K-FL manual states: "RELAY This essential link
> >>>> allows the
> >>>> amplifier to be put in the transmit state. To do that it is
> >>>> necessary that
> >>>> the inner pin of the phono connector is connected to signal ground.
> >>>> This is
> >>>> normally done at the transceiver with either a 'close-on-ground'
> >>>> relay, or
> >>>> with a switching transistor. It is important that the voltages at that
> >>>> terminal do not exceed 12 Vdc. On the transceiver this link is often
> >>>> called
> >>>> SEND or TX GND. Refer to your transceiver manual for more details."
> >>>>
> >>>> This seems to come first, before dealing with ALC and CAT.
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> -- John K3GHH
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> 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