I tend to think a "Scout" would be an excellent choice for use by "Scouts".
Especially when it comes to ease of use.
But the Omni VI would probably be as good or better.
From: <ad9t_tentec@burnshome.org>
Reply-To: tentec@contesting.com
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] Best Radio for a Scout Camp?
Date: Sun, 23 May 2004 16:32:22 -0500
Recently a significant amount of amateur radio equipment was given to the
Boy Scouts in my area. I am in the process of setting up a station at the
council camp. This station will be used during summer camp to teach the
Radio Merit badge. During the rest of the year the station will be
available
for use by anyone associated with scouting that has the appropriate amateur
license. I would like some advice on what is the best HF rig for the
station.
Currently, we have a Kenwood TS-520s. This is a nice radio for SSB, but the
need to tune the finals makes it more difficult to operate than I prefer
for
a station that will have many walk-in users. It is also not a great CW rig.
CW may not be that important, but I think youth find it interesting so I
want the rig to work well for CW. Also, the internal VFO in the TS-520s
does
not work. We have the external VFO so the rig can be used, but this will be
very confusing for walk-in users.
I am hoping to get a newer HF rig for the camp. Ease of use is probably the
most important criteria. Reliability is next in line. Contest radio
performance is not needed, but I do want the radio to be good enough to
attract a supply of volunteer operators. Knowing that anything we purchase
works is also very important. I definitely will not be risking the scouts'
money on an e-bay purchase. Ten-Tec's warranty on used radios fits this
need.
The Ten-Tec Jupiter seems like an excellent possibility for the scout
station. I have never used one, but it appears to meet all our needs. The
Omni series radio may also be a good possibility. I recently acquired an
Omni VI for my personal use, and it seems to be easy to use. The menus are
a
bit cryptic, but there are not many menu settings. I might consider selling
my Omni VI to the Scouts for what I have in it. This is considerably less
than what a used one from Ten-Tec costs.
Please share your ideas about what will make the best HF rig for a Boy
Scout
camp amateur radio station.
Jeff Burns
AD9T
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