I need a good Ten-Tec guy.

[W3WN]

Damn.... I've got to do a better job of keeping up!



Hmmm....... How much mullah?

$125, what I have invested in it. Plus shipping costs, which will be a bear.

[KA9MOT]

Hell yeah! I'm in! Let me know how much shipping is.

[W3WN]

Hell yeah! I'm in! Let me know how much shipping is.

Ok. It's yours pending shipping arrangements.

Considering the weight of the 520, and light it's not (I see some online listings that show it at 16 kg. which means roughly 36 lbs) let me see what's going to be involved to do it right.

BTW, did I mention that I have the manual and the DC cord as well? No mike, but I do have the 8-to-4-pin adapter with it.

[N8YX]

I think Joe must have taken pity on me because of my sob story. He sold me a complete DDS Kit. The guy is a credit to this hobby.
I can't wait to put Mike's radio on the air.

Sad to see him departing the DDS market. I think a lot of the older analog gear is worth a time and money investment when it comes to a performance upgrade such as a DDS-based VFO.

Cubic, Drake, Heathkit, Ten-Tec. All used LMOs/PTOs at some point in their product history and in most cases that's the only real shortcoming with any of the stuff. Well...with the possible exception of
Ten-Tec's audio-derived AGC.

Joe's going to hold a couple of his DDS boards for me...these programmed for use with the Corsair series of radios. I've a little project in mind: DDS conversion of both a C-II and the matching external VFO. The Corsair is going to get a few performance upgrades while I'm in it, and I think I'll have a new front panel fabricated and lettered. Maybe some knobs which match my Omnis and Paragons...concentric ones for the AF/RF Gain and a couple other controls so I can gain real estate for some extra functionality. There's a mod floating around for the radio which allows one to bypass the PBT assembly entirely, allowing for a quieter receive section. So...build up a circuit which allows front-panel defeat of the PBT, controlled by a rotary switch. Gang the Notch and BP Offset controls...perhaps a squelch control in the newly opened panel spot?

You get the idea.

The VFO gets another front panel as well. I'll carefully preserve the original and the PTO then come up with a digital readout for the thing. Maybe use the same blue LEDs that I have in my Omni VI and figure a way to convert the Corsair's OEM readout to use them.

This is why I'm not looking for a "collector quality" C-II. When the aim is to turn it into a C-III, a fixer-upper (albeit one that isn't beat to crap) will do nicely.

[W3WN]

Hmmm.

If memory serves, Joe's DDS board was capable of being both the "A" and "B" VFO in & of itself. (If I'm wrong, I may be thinking of another one that's been out there). If that's truly the case, you would no longer require the external VFO with a Corsair/Corsair II that's had the DDS upgrade. Considering the going price for the 263/263G Remote VFO, that is an upgrade worth considering.

There may be a small market out there for a DDS based Remote VFO that would be the functional equivalent of a 263/263G (or similar 5 MHz based VFO for other radios), with the enhancements of a dual VFO in one. Especially to someone who has a fully functioning analog radio, but would like the digital readout on the RVFO, along with the other "enhancements" that the DDS provides, all without making modifications to the main rig.

[W3WN]

BTW, did any of those emails WRT a used C2 pay off? Or are you still looking into it?

On edit... disregard, I see in the other thread that it did. Excellent!

[N8YX]

Hmmm.

If memory serves, Joe's DDS board was capable of being both the "A" and "B" VFO in & of itself. (If I'm wrong, I may be thinking of another one that's been out there). If that's truly the case, you would no longer require the external VFO with a Corsair/Corsair II that's had the DDS upgrade. Considering the going price for the 263/263G Remote VFO, that is an upgrade worth considering...

But I already have a 263 in the bag. Or shall I say, "on the shelf". ;)

As far as "Why would I need one with a DDS conversion": Think very carefully about the 263 and the unique feature it brings to the table when used with a Corsair; consult the Owner's Manuals as needed. That in and of itself is why I want one of these ensembles.

[W3WN]

But I already have a 263 in the bag. Or shall I say, "on the shelf". ;)

As far as "Why would I need one with a DDS conversion": Think very carefully about the 263 and the unique feature it brings to the table when used with a Corsair; consult the Owner's Manuals as needed. That in and of itself is why I want one of these ensembles.

Oh yes, of course.

I'm actually surprised that so few rigs since the Corsair/Corsair II, including their successors, have had that feature, in one form or another. It does come in handy when you're working split and trying to find the calling station!

[N8YX]

Oh yes, of course.

I'm actually surprised that so few rigs since the Corsair/Corsair II, including their successors, have had that feature, in one form or another. It does come in handy when you're working split and trying to find the calling station!

Or receiving two separate frequencies in-band.

Imagine the possibilities.

One can listen to the phun on 14.275 and 313 at the same time. Or 7.185 and 7.200. Or 3.840 and 3.843 - you get the idea...

[W3WN]

Or receiving two separate frequencies in-band.

Imagine the possibilities.

One can listen to the phun on 14.275 and 313 at the same time. Or 7.185 and 7.200. Or 3.840 and 3.843 - you get the idea...

Yeah. But what a waste of a good rig with a great feature.