[TenTec] New Computer

[Jim Brown]

On 10/28/2017 11:21 AM, denton sprague wrote:
> am due for a new one here and am wondering which one with its power supply is least likely to create rfi.

Over the last 20 years, I've owned at least 6 different generations of 
T-series Thinkpads. All have been pretty well behaved with respect to 
RFI, but I do recall having a problem with weak signal work on 2M with 
one of them in a very quiet environment. I DO wind AC and DC cables for 
the PSU through #31 cores, and I do the same with extension video 
cables. BTW -- wired Ethernet cables also radiate noise at both HF and 
VHF. So do internet modems and WiFi routers. Chokes can suppress the HF 
and 6M components, but you may need to get serious if the cables are 
close to antennas.

Note that these comments are based on having computers in close 
proximity to antennas in very quiet locations for county expeditions, 
and with a 160M vertical right outside my shack. If something in the 
shack is noisy, I'll hear it on that antenna!

The last time I studied consumer product reviews (a year or two ago), 
Thinkpads scored near the top for reliability, and I've gotten good 
warranty service the few times I've needed it. Documentation is very 
good -- both user manuals and service manuals are online. Accessories 
are also widely available, but are fairly expensive. I've bought genuine 
Lenovo docking stations and port extenders from the big auction site for 
30-50% of retail cost. Some new, some off lease.

Lenovo has a website and sells direct. I strongly suggest that you study 
their product line and look for their occasional sales. I've bought five 
laptops that way over a period of 6-8 years, and always at a discount of 
at least 20%. That shack computer was at a discount of about 50%

BTW -- the last time I bought a computer that wasn't a laptop was about 
1999, and it was a loaded 2-processor Dell running Win2K. A major virtue 
of laptops is their built-in battery backup! UPSs tend to be RFI 
generators, and most go through batteries because they overcharge them.

73, Jim K9YC