Wonder what that new TS-990 on the back of QST will cost, $10 grand like the
big Yeasu rigs? My Orion 2 is the most expensive rig in my shack, and there
are 25 of them, and I agonized for years before parting with that much
retirement money.
I put a separate filament transformer into my HQ-170, when I had it years
ago, for the mixer and oscillator tube if I remember right. Those were the
days when they touted some kind of heating element in the bottom of your rig
to keep it from mildewing and drifting.
What is " negative and negative " got me flummoxed with that one! I haven't
used a mike on the low bands in many years.
Walt K8CV
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glenn" <wa4aos@aol.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 12:58 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Top receivers
Isn't it funny though... How much we use to enjoy the hobby with our
horrible Hammarlund, Hallicrafters, National, Heathkit, and other
receivers before we all got in the habit of becoming OVERLY focused on
specifications. I restore R 390 and 390A receivers and these are very
sensitive units but are deficient in other areas; but they have
personality and so do my other old boat anchors.
My SECOND favorite CW position is a Johnson Valiant and R 390. FIRST
place, for me, is one of my restored Ten Tec Corsair II's or an Omni 6+.
followed closely by a Drake C line with Sherwood mods. Yes, first place is
a big lot here; all are excellent in their own way. I have had 3) Omni 7's
and like my K3, just never liked the audio.
I also wonder about the guys who want the best of the best so they can
check in to the nightly nets and say, "NEGATIVE AND NEGATIVE."
The truth is almost everything on the market now is much more stable,
sensitive and selective than our old big box radios were. I never minded
chasing another signal on my HQ 170 because it drifted so bad, not to
mention the other guy might be drifting but never in sync with my drift.
I assumed that was part of the hobby and everyone had to do the same.
Don't most of us remember when RIT showed up and FINALLY if we were on
freq and the other guy was drifting we could keep up with him and not move
our TX signal. Now, I may go a year and never use RIT and if I do it's
because some fellow in Cuba is doing his best to be on the air with dried
up filter caps and he's drifting and buzzing up and down the band.
However, most of those guys are EXCELLENT CW ops but can't afford stuff
most of us would consider junk here in the States.
Ten Tec has brought us MANY fine radios but so have the Japanese
companies, Elecraft and others. Don't beat me up for using the "E" word on
this reflector. Hi Hi... The K3 has an IMPRESSIVE receiver, however, it's
audio fatigues my ears but that's another story.
Just a few thoughts from my perspective. I was first licensed in 1971 at
the age of 15 and just turned 56. So. that's over 40 years in this hobby.
I have played with MANY of the digital modes, RTTY through Packet, Pactor,
PSK and others as well as, SSB and AM but still prefer to finger talk
using CW. Hi
73,
Glenn WA4AOS
DSM Labs (dot com)
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick@DJ0IP.de>
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Sun, May 13, 2012 9:22 am
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Top receivers
Joel, thanks for pointing out that it was from Bob... (says so right at
the
bottom, doesn't it).
I just assumed it was from Mark.
Sometimes it's a big advantage when you can read! (hi)
Bob has brought up a good point.
Most modern receivers have gotten so good that there really aren't many
bad
ones on the market anymore, at least not in the mid-range and high end
rigs.
Until we can get the manufacturers to do something about the cruddy signal
their transmitters are producing, it makes no sense to focus on the
receivers anymore.
It's kind of pathetic that today there are only 2 transceivers on the
market
whose 3rd order (and higher) IMD is as good as the old KWM-2, 40 years
ago.
Most are vastly worse and that is a major contributor to the impression we
get that the bands are so full. It the transmitters were all as clean as
the
40 year old KWM-2, we would have more space on the bands.
And, the two rigs that are clean are 200w versions which are only clean
when
you run them at 75w in Class A mode!
If you run them at their normal power levels, they are as bad or worse
than
all the rest.
WE ALL NEED TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THIS AND START DEMANDING THAT THE
MANUFACTURERS CLEAN UP THEIR (TRANSMITTING) ACT!
For many years, I didn't even look much at a rig's transmitter specs. I
just assumed 100w is 100w and they're all about the same.
THEY ARE NOT.
Over the years we became very critical of our receivers and with the help
of
ARRL tests and Sherwood tests, we forced the manufacturers to improve
their
receivers.
Now let's fix the transmitters!
73
Rick, DJ0IP
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