Down the Rabbit Hole
In the last post, I described a used Ten Tec Triton IV and addressed the most immediate issues. I also mentioned making a cosmetic restoration, but after using it in the shack for an evening, it was apparent there were other problems. The “Offset Tuning” (OT) LED didn’t work, and more seriously, the transceiver didn’t always mute in transmit. Strange sounds issued from the speaker at times.
eBay has provided a lot of entertainment (and used equipment!) over the last few months, and after the purchase and restoration of a Ten Tec Century 21, I started looking for a Triton IV. This was the first radio I purchased new in 1978. I really enjoyed it and wanted to own one again. It didn’t take long. I ended up having two in the shop at almost the same time — one for my shack, and one for a fellow ham.
Over the years, Ten Tec has released a surprising number of CW (continuous wave or Morse Code) Keyers for Amateur Radio use. There have been two basic designs, single paddle and double or imabic paddle models. Released in about 1975, the Model 670 is a single paddle version, intended for use with the Century 21 CW transceiver.
The Ten Tec Triton I/II transceivers were released in the mid-1970’s and marked a milestone in High Frequency (HF) radios. With coverage for the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10-meter amateur radio bands, 50 to 100 watt output on SSB and CW, they may have been the first affordable, fully solid-state models.
I’ve been a Ham for over 45 years, but have never really gotten comfortable with Morse Code. Sure, I was able to pass the code requirement when I first got my Technician and later Advanced License, but my CW chops were always shaky at best. I had been more interested in building and modifying equipment anyway, so it didn’t seem like a major deficit.
I look at Ebay from time-to-time, and lately I’ve been having a little too much fun. A Ten Tec Century 21 CW Transceiver (model 570) attracted my attention recently. The “570” was a solid-state radio intended for Novice hams and covered five bands: 80, 40, 20 (and with accessory crystals) 15 and 10 meters.
I’ve had a small air compressor in the shop for over a dozen years, and it’s served me well. Inflating tires, brad nailers, blowing dust — even some small air tools — it’s been fine. I turned it on recently, and it sounded much different. It’s always been noisy being one of those oilless types, but this sounded much worse.
I began to haunt flea markets and old book and record stores looking for vinyl treasures. I still had a decent turntable, and had recently upgraded the cartridge, but my phono preamp was at least 10 years old and not the best to begin with. It sounded ok, but the next logical upgrade was a more serious audiophile phono preamp.
Ikea makes a wonderful work light (JANSJÖ) that sells for about $13. I have several of them, and love the warm pool of light they…
I’ve wanted to to weld for some time now. My best friend from High School went through the pipe fitter apprenticeship program when we were just out of High School. He was such a good welder by the time he completed the program, that he won a gold watch with his final test.