Ten-Tec T1253 Regen SW Radio Kit SSB demonstration

Ten Tec T1253 Shortwave radio kit receiving upper sideband (USB) air traffic on 49 meter band.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Ten-Tec
• T1253
• shortwave
• radio
• kit
• upper
• sideband

[fenech97]

The Band Switching Board of the Ten-Tec 1253 has solder- pads on bothsides. The components are mounted on both sides. the best way to find the front is to mount the Band -Switch temporarily on the board. Don't solder it, just push it through the four holes. The switch should appear in the small rectangular

hole on the sub- panel. fenech97

.

[NG9D]

@fenech97 Very practical advice! Trial fit-up of sub-assemblies is used frequently in industry and your hint is perfect for building and installing the electronic band switching board in the T1253. The instructions in "phase 5" of the assembly manual are clear when noting the position of the holes in the cabinet for the LED indicators and switch button. The LEDs and switch are on the front, so they can be inserted thru the cabinet holes - the other six parts are on the back of the board. Thanks

[mnpd007]

If anyone builds this kit, AND you have extensive kitbuilding experience, remember to READ the instructions. This is an odd kit. For instance the bandswitch board has a front and a back just like any board.... the screening and component diagrams are on the front, with the solder pads on the back. But, not with Ten-Tec. Because the bandswitch board is mounted ass-first on the front subchassis, Ten-Tec calls the back "FRONT" and front "BACK." I mounted the components in reverse fashion!

[NG9D]

@mnpd007 Hi Tom, I also read your (KA4DQJ) product review on eham.net. I am sorry you had a bad experience. I suggest you contact Ten-Tec for replacement parts. You can also write to me directly, however please understand I am just a fellow ham radio operator. I do not work for Ten-Tec. I wish you the very best. 73 Lynn NG9D

[mnpd007]

I ordered it but won't ever hear it play. The Bandswitch board is screened single-side, but TT expects you to mount the componenents on BOTH sides, following a low-res xeroxed copy of the manual. The sides were not even marked "front" and "back". I tried to understand the mess, mounted the parts on both sides as I thought the lousy print and poor images were instructing, then found I had mounted everything backwards and that it wouldn't fit the panel. I threw the entire kit in the garbage.

[NG9D]

@mnpd007 Don't give up on this cool little project! Your error is easily fixed. Just contact Ten-Tec. From my experience, they will replace minor damaged parts at little or no cost. I know this from experience -- but I won't go into that here ;-) 73 de NG9D . .

[NG9D]

@mnpd007 Good point - I also recommend reading the directions before building. 73, Lynn de NG9D

[fenech97]

I built mine .It works

[NG9D]

I have used an antenna tuner with various antennas to peak the signal. That adjustment is only needed one time on a particular band. After that I tune around within the band and leave the antenna tuner set as-is. Preselectors work in a similar manner. I haven't needed or tried preamps, since the receiver is capable of amplifying weak signals. If used, probably would just need to cut back RF gain on receiver. 73 de NG9D

[higherprofits]

Do you think a preselector and preamp would be of any use with a regen like the 1253? Seams like it would throw off the entire system and require re-adjusting every time the preselector or preamp was adjusted. What do you think? I've only used modern style circuits but want to build one of the TT kits. The 1254 is looking good just because I'm familiar with how it will work!