[Rover] VHF on the cheap question

[Phil Lefever]

At 03:55 PM 7/17/02, you wrote:
>Since I haven't played around very much with the TenTec transverter, since
>mine was stolen, he was hoping I could find out what the general feelings
>are about them from the group. He understands that the DEMI unit is better
>and I feel he will end up with one eventually, but he just doesn't want to
>spend that much initially.

My Ten Tec 1210 works great for the price. You won't
find many better deals in amateur radio! I highly
suggest buying it as a kit provided the owner knows
which end of the soldering iron to grab. The kit is
simple with well written instructions. Not a lot of
test equipment is needed either.

The only complaint I have with mine is that it drifts
a bit as it gets hot. The total drift was minimal but
enough to make a SSB signal change pitch. Maximum drift
was around 300 to 500 Hz. I added a thermistor on the
crystal to heat it and this stopped almost all the
drift. I also added an external keying input and an
external variable power control.

As far as noise figure and receiver performance it is
just fine. One has to remember it is a $150 transverter.
Put a good antenna on it and use it with a decent IF
radio and it will serve you well. I'm sure one day I
will end up with a DEM box for 2m though for the improved
performance and since it will integrate well with my other
DEM boxes.

73

Phil



----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
--
Phil Lefever - KB=D8NES			Twin Cities Repeater Club
kb0nes@tcrc.org			Tech Team Co-Chairman
http://www.tcrc.org  			53.37 147.21 224.54 444.30