I think that it was economics. The PTO's used in the Tritons, Omnis
and Corsairs were all individually temperature compensated. I suspect
that the Scout PTO's were not.
73,
Bob WB2VUF
Steve Ellington wrote:
>
> Well I'de rather have the drift than the jump any day. Wonder why this
> paticular PTO was subject to so much drift or "fade" as you called it while
> the old Triton IV just required a occasional correction with the tuning
> knob? Furthermore...I've head jumpy Scouts with lots of non elite cw ops. So
> I can only assume it was just a dumb engineering goof. Also, I don't see why
> it couldn't have been fixed sometime during it's production life time. I
> talked to TT about it and all I got was some wise crack like "what do you
> expect for only $600"?
> Today, while I was CW/M I heard a $150 Century 21 flying along at 30wpm with
> wonderful cw keying, no drift, click, chirp or jump. Now how'd da do dat?
>
> Steve Ellington
> N4LQ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "robert k stephens" <bstephens1@mindspring.com>
> To: "Steve Ellington" <N4LQ@iglou.com>; <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 9:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Scout instability-was Orion direction
>
> > Re Scout frequency stability:
> >
> > My manual states the following:
> >
> > The Scout [uses] * one ...microprocessor to accomplish 3 tasks:
> > 1.manage LED display
> > 2.emulate Curtis B keyer
> > 3.frequency lock system (FLS)
> >
> > "The main frequency determining element in the SCOUT is the [PTO]
> ...since
> > this is not synthesized (locked ) it is subject to frequency variation ...
> > The microprocessor compares each frequency reading with the previous
> > reading... and automaticlly corrects the PTO...Readings are taken every
> > 220ms..."
> >
> > [In other words the PTO can fade a bit but is checked and corrected every
> > 200ms]
> >
> > "CW operation is more complex. If the internal keyer is being used , it
> > will take preference over any other operation [ I assume that means that
> if
> > the internal keyer is not being used it will not take preference over
> other
> > operation thus an external keyer will solve the problem]... there will be
> > no correction during CW transmit ...corrections are made between
> > characters,words and other pauses" [*if internal keyer is being used]
> >
> > Unless I am misinterpreting this, the problem only exists "if the internal
> > keyer is being used ..."[solved with external keyer] and even then the
> > fading will happen only if the operator does not pause for 200ms during
> > long ragchews. This is not a problem for all but elite cw operators.
> >
> > The Scout is no longer made because it was inexpensive yet a bit old
> > fashioned in 1991 and by 2001 it was no longer inexpensive and quite old
> > fashioned. It was time to kill the design in 2001 but it wasn't a mistake
> > to produce it back in 1991 when it was a good basic bargain priced design.
> > As long as there is nothing actually wrong with the rig (mine is getting
> > repaired) the rig does *not* frequency jump during normal use.
> > 73 Bob KB1CIW
> >
> >
> > At 07:29 PM 3/1/02 -0000, Steve Ellington wrote:
> > >Tell me how an external keyer stops the Scout from Jumping frequency?
> > >
> > >I thought the manual said that when operating higher speed cw that you
> were
> > >supposed to stop, pause and give it a chance to recover, cool off or
> > >whatever, which is a rather strange thing to be doing during a qso. I
> must
> > >admit though: It's a one-of-a-kind-rig.
> > >I worked on one for a guy once. I liked the sound of the receiver and the
> > >QSK was very smooth. I would probably have one in my car now if it
> weren't
> > >for the jumping problem they all have. And yes, any rig that jumps
> > >frequency,for any reason in 2002 does indeed have a problem regardless
> what
> > >the manual says.
> > >Did they quite making them for some reason?
> > >Steve
> > >N4LQ
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "robert k stephens" <bstephens1@mindspring.com>
> > >To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> > >Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 7:52 AM
> > >Subject: [TenTec] Scout instability-was Orion direction
> > >
> > >
> > >> Every now and then someone mentions the Scout "instability problem".
> > >> What problem ?
> > >>
> > >> I agree with Stuart. If the Scout is operated according to directions
> the
> > >> frequency stability is more than adequate for the ssb and moderate
> speed
> > >cw
> > >> operation it was designed for.
> > >>
> > >> The problem is that the internal keyer caused instability at speeds
> higher
> > >> than about 25 wpm or so. Tec Tec said that right in the manual. Use an
> > >> external keyer and the problem goes away.
> > >>
> > >> 73 Bob KB1CIW
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> TenTec mailing list
> > >> TenTec@contesting.com
> > >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >>
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >TenTec mailing list
> > >TenTec@contesting.com
> > >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
> >
>
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