----- Original Message -----
From: "Len Umina" <umina@theuminas.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 23:39
Subject: [TenTec] Orion relay
> I had the same problem. Nothing in the manual (if you can call it that).
> No schematics.
aREN'T oRION SCHEMATICS ON EITHER THE tt OR rfsquared SiTES.
>
> However by tinkering I found that:
>
> 1. If I DID NOT have an amplifier connected the amp TR relay does did not
> click.
> 2. The TR relay you are talking about is very noisey, worse than my
756P2.
> 3. In full QSK mode, if you can get the TR relay to not function, the
radio
> is really
> fun to operate! [oh, so that's why Tentec has such a following, duh!]
> 4. You can program the radio to delay the TR relay so it only switches at
> the end of your
> transmission, which is similar to semi-breakin. The % markings in the
> delay mean nothing
> and whatever they meant to whoever decided to put them there isn't
> documented either.
>
> Initially I thought the TR relay that makes the noise was due to the
> internal tuner. I tried putting my antenna on ANT 2 and suddenly the TR
> noise was gone. Of course when I went to use the amplifier, it was still
> connected to the output for ANT 1, so it wouldn't key! After putting it
> over to ANT 2, the TR relay started to clack again! GREAT NEWS, IT WASN'T
> DUE TO THE TUNER!
>
> In a normal radio (everyone except Tentec) one would be able to disable
the
> TR relay, and it's obvioius people have been searching for this
non-existant
> function. This is for those times you just want to enjoy some QSK and
know
> you don't need QRO.
>
> After playing with the setup, I decided that barefoot I'd probably like
the
> internal tuner, so I put the amp keying line on ANT 2, added an external
> antenna switch, and now I have the best of all worlds. I do believe you
can
> do the same thing however by switching your amplifiers keying circuit on
and
> off. This is an open collector circuit (if you can believe the manual)
and
> if you put voltage on it, the TR relay will cycle as you transmit.
> Unfortunately, my keying circuit has 12V on it all the time, even when the
> amp is off.
>
> THIS MEANS THE TR RELAY NEVER STOPS CLACKING!
>
> I therefore conclude:
>
> 1. Those people who report NOISEY ORION QSK have amplifier keying
circuits
> that are
> energized all the time, as mine is.
> 2. You can get rid of the TR relay noise by opening your amplifier
> switching line so the
> Orion does not see voltage when you do not need your amp OR
> 3. You can connect an external 2 position antenna switch. On the switch,
> run 1 cable to ANT 1, and the
> other to ANT 2. Key your amp with the ANT 2 keying interface. The
> common port on the switch
> should go to your amplifier input. Then you operate as follows:
>
> FULL QSK 100 WATTS OR LESS, INTERNAL TUNER AVAILABLE, QUIET
> OPERATION (a joy)
>
> ANT SWITCH TO POSITION 1 (connects amp input to to ANT 1)
> AMP OFF (signal passes through)
>
> FULL POWER QSK or SEMI BREAK IN, NO INTERNAL TUNER, NOISEY (big
> signal mode)
>
> ANT SWITCH TO POSITION 2 (connects amp to ANT 2) AMP ON
> (orion drives amp)
> In this position the keying circuit of the amplifer causes
> the internal TR relay to
> cycle with each char unless delayed by some "%".
>
> The real question is, if the TR of the Orion is being done with the silent
> reed relays, and if the TR ouput is in fact open collector, what is the
> noisey TR relay really doing? My guess is that it's related to the keying
> Loop function, but why? If the keying loop is off (in the TX menu) this
> relay should not be needed, however there may be no way to disable it from
> the micropocessor.
>
> On the other hand, it's a simple matter to redesign the amplifier keying
> circuit so that it shuts down when the amp is off. This will by my goal
> eventually. For now the switch works.
>
> BOTTOM LINE
>
> If your TR relay is making noise it's because there's voltage on your
> amplifier keying line. Remove it and the problem goes away. (note you
can
> also unplug the keying line when not in use if that is possible, for me
it's
> not)
>
> 73,
> Len
> WT6G
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> TenTec@contesting.com
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>
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