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Re: [TenTec] Paragon II LSB/USB audio differences.

To: "Ken Brown" <ken.d.brown@hawaiiantel.net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon II LSB/USB audio differences.
From: "Mark Kenward" <k8vf_mark@centurytel.net>
Reply-to: Mark Kenward <k8vf_mark@centurytel.net>, Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 08:58:20 -0400
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Thanks, Ken.

Yes, my first job was to set the bfo's correctly, at least LSB, USB and CW transmit...got them within one Hertz. I had to mal adjust the FSK bfo's in order to get the other 3 on freq...(neither I nor the friend uses FSK, bust uses AFSK, so no worries there. But if I adjusted whichever is first in the manual, FSK low, I think, it was impossible to set the CW transmit offset, it would be 985 Hz, or some such.
I chose to set LSB/USB and cw transmit since FSK was not being used.

I set the reference oscillator, and adjusted the passband tuning frequencies.

Also set carrier balance.

I tried adjusting the LSB BFO a bit, but as soon as you do that, you are off frequency according to the dial frequency.

I even tried replacing the 9mHz 2.4 filter, to no avail, same situation.

I thought of going to WWV on 10 MHz, and setting sideband frequencies the same, by using a soundcard scope to show and set according to the 500 and other WWV transmitted frequencies. But when I did this, you couldn't switch from one sideband to the other and be on frequency..might be 1/2 kHz apart, and although they both sounded the same, the dial readout was wrong.(and adjusting reference oscillator would just make it off on the other bands.

As I had posted earlier, I am within 50 Hz from 160 to 10 meters carrier wise, and cw transmit is right on across the bands, dead center in my cw filters on my omni 6 PLUS rigs, so it seems isolated to LSB BFO circuit. (I was actually hoping there was an adjustment to center the sidebands in the balanced modulator loop, and freely admit I am not an expert at this, but I dont twirl slugs or caps just to "see" what will happen, ha ha ha) So apparently, I have an aged component in LSB BFO circuit.


Again, USB sounds great, good frequency response. LSB is clean, on frequency, but just narrow, maybe 2.1 kHz.....I have been using it, but I traded it to a buddy, (with full disclosure, of course), and he is happy with it. But I just wanted to make it perfect for the guy. he deserves it.

My other thought was to put in a 2.8kHz filter...this might solve the problem, though in a back door way.

Thanks to all for advice.

K8VF

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Brown" <ken.d.brown@hawaiiantel.net> To: "Mark Kenward" <k8vf_mark@centurytel.net>; "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2014 12:13 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Paragon II LSB/USB audio differences.


The LSB or USB transmit signal is produced in the balanced modulator, and then filtered to remove the unwanted sideband. The DSB signal that is eventually run through the filter, to remove the unwanted sideband is generated by combining the voice audio with the BFO. The signal produced by the balanced modulator is supposed to be a clean double sideband signal, with very little carrier. The carrier balance adjustment nulls the carrier, and any residual carrier is further attenuated by the SSB filter. What is left of that DSB signal after passing through the 2.4 kHz filter is dependent on the BFO frequency and the shape of the filter. If it sounds real good using one sideband, and not good using the other, they are really only two possible causes either 1) the BFO frequency is wrong or 2) the filter has poor symmetry. (This assumes there is not something else changing, that should not change, when you change sidebands, such as some control signal which should be identical for both sidebands, but somehow changes. For instance, the balanced modulator gets unbalanced to produce CW. It the logic that controls that is messed up, and unbalancing the modulator in one SSB mode, that could be a problem. A leaky diode or bad gate in the control logic might do that.) The only things that should change between operation on LSB versus USB is the BFO frequency, and some correction to the frequency readout, or shift of some other oscillator to make the frequency display correct. There should be no change in the audio level or frequency response feeding the balanced modulator, and no change in the way the balanced modulator works.

Most SSB filters are not perfectly symmetrical, and there will be some minor difference in the sound of your transmitted signal when switching sidebands. The difference should be something you really have to listen carefully to notice. It should not be such a big difference that it sounds "bad" on one sideband and "great" on the other.

How have you confirmed the BFO frequencies are correct?

DE N6KB




On 4/5/2014 4:34 PM, Mark Kenward wrote:
i have set  Reference oscillator , and the BFO's on the rig.

Rig is on frequency as discussed a week or so ago.

My issue is this.

USB sounds great on transmit.

LSB, however, is thin. Narrow, like you are talking through a 1.8-2.1 kHz filter.

I tried another 2.4 filter in 9mHz slot, with no change.

Can someone tell me what to adjust to move the USB and LSB transmits more to the center of their respective ranges.

I am happy with the rig so far, but it is obvious that LSB needs an adjustment, and of course, it is not the BFO.

I have a friend who wants the rig, and I would like to make it perfect for him.


Thanks for any help.

Mark
K8VF
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