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write your own review of the Ten-Tec Omni C.
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KB1OF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 2, 2012 05:31
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Time tested rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've been a ham for 31 years and have had all kinds of HF tranceivers but have never had one better than the Omni C. The first Omni I bought was the Omni D. A few years later the ham I bought it from was having memory problems and wanted to buy back the Omni D. He was having trouble tuning his TS 430 and could tune the Omni because of its simplicity. I traded with him for the Kenwood but missed the Omni D. Then I had a chance to buy an Omni C with all the filters, mike and speech processor, remote VFO and power supply for $200. The problem was with the VFO in the main rig. I sent it in to Ten Tec who rebuilt the VFO and realigned and tweeked it before they returned it. I sold teh Kenwood and moved into the Omni with ease. Later when the ham with the Omni D became a silent key, I was able to buy it too. I am now the proud operator of both the Omni D and the Omni C. I use both and keep the D set up for CW where I spend 99% of my radio work and the Omni C mostly for SSB. There is no rig with as sensitive a receiver or as quiet as the Old Omnis. From time to time I have chances to operate the new rigs, and am delightfully proud to get back to my Omni D and C. KB1OF - Bud
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OLLIEOXEN27
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Rating: 4/5
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May 14, 2011 15:42
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re review
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is a revision of my original review of the Omni C in which I gave the transceiver a 2/5. The transceiver has amplification in the IF stage which greatly increases noise and listener fatigue. My solution for this problem has been to set the RF gain level to 5 (half scale) and to slightly detune the resonant control. How this affects radio performance such as minimum discernable signal and sensitivity is uncertain nor have I done A/B testing with my other Ten Tecs but the radio has become much more pleasant to use and so earns a 4.
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KT8DX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 18, 2010 17:41
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Bliss!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Every few years I get away from Ten-Tec and suffer through noisy receivers, obtuse menus, AGCs that don't, clicking relays (in 2010!) and the usual that one gets from current crop of rigs. The joy of CW just leaves the building.
Then I see a good deal somewhere and pick up another Ten-Tec and realize what I've been missing. The "C" is just so quiet, sensitive, and selective with a full filter complement and the audio filters to kick in if needed. The signals on a noisy 80 meter band just pop through with the filters, attenuation, and RF gain controls set properly.
Of course, the QSK just goes without saying.
I know with time, I'll drift back towards Yaesu's seductive orange letters, menus, paramilitary styling, and promises of a ham radio experience superior to what I currently have. I'll buy one, and have a fling for a while. It'll be exciting while it lasts. Eventually the thrill will be gone as always.
But I know in the end, I'll come home to my easy chair, pipe and slippers, and the love of my life - a Ten-Tec of some variety. Perhaps it'll be older, frumpier, more time-worn, and perhaps even a little hard of hearing. But it'll be faithful, loyal, and will bring back the joy I had when I first started out in Amateur Radio.
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N7INO
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 6, 2009 21:36
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Ten Tec Omni D
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The omni D is my base rig I got rid of my 2 late modle Yeasus, NOT USER FRIENDLY. I sent my Omei D And My Triton back to Ten Tec, Both work VERY WELL and user friendly using LDG Turners both base and mobile.I have owned both for over 20 years and sent both back to Ten Tec for alignment and new mics.I enjoy HF again, don't have to check with manual to do a procedure. I give the Ten Tecs a 5 Plus. Jim n7in0
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W8IDL
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2009 19:43
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Excellent Radio - Excellent Value
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The "Omni C" (actually an Omni D Series C) is a superb radio that performs extremely well. Yes, from the factory, it has a "pop" on the agc in the presence of a very strong signal. So did the Collins KWM-2 (remember service bulletin 8?). The agc pop is easily cured by a simple mod on the Omni as it is on the KWM-2. As for audio hiss, i surely do not hear it on my radio. I do remember another early 1980s radio, the Collins KWM-380, that cost THREE TIMES the price and didn't have QSK. The KWM-380 had so much hiss from synthesizer noise that they had an audio filter board limiting the upper end audio to 2400 Hz. And let's see: the KWM-380 had over twenty service bulletins? In retrospect, the Omni D Series C looks great in comparison with these contemporary radios. I have all three radios, and love all three radios, but the Omni is the radio of choice, especially on CW. I always get GREAT audio reports on SSB. The receiver has a VERY low noise floor. The SSB received audio is pleasant for ragchewing over extended periods. The QSK on CW is second to none. This radio is just plain fun to operate! The most remarkable thing is the Ten-Tec factory that made it will still service this transceiver, though I have never needed it. I rate the Omni D Series C an solid 5 based on my experiences with it over the long term.
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KK8WV
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 10, 2009 15:21
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I Love This Rig
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I started my Ten-Tec adventure with an Omni V, it was a nice radio and only sold it for need of cash. Then found a Kenwood 940 and liked it but I had the Ten-Tec bug. I then found this Omni C in pristine condition with pwr supply spkr, VFO and fell in love. One of the most fun HF rigs I have ever operated. I would love to keep this rig just for the fun and memories it brings.
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K0PD
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 10, 2008 07:17
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Still a Good Radio//
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Would love to be able to give my old Omni C a 5/5 but would have gladly gave it a 4.8 if the option were available. Bought mine used and can only say i'm very happy to have found one used that performed as well as the seller stated.I have newer DSP radios and i'm in total agreement with the previous writer as far as performance goes. Will only ad that i think at least every Ham should have one of these because it does in so many way's stand up to the newer radios....
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N7IC
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 10, 2008 03:29
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Good rig with small issues
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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There are a few people on here who are hammering this radio badly due to a couple of issues. Yes, on CW you do get AGC popping. It is an annoyance. Hopefully I will get to remedy it in mine one of these days.
But in definite contrary to others about RX, it is a very quiet receiver and pleasant to listen too. You hear signals, you dont hear background noises (ok, you do, but not nearly as loud in JA rigs). That is the most important thing to aim for with any radio and Ten Tec did it right. It's all about S/N, not how many microvolts your RX is sensitive too. It is even quieter than my TS-570D and IC-706 MKIIG which both have DSP!!!
Of course as just about everyone in here has mention, QSK is great. Typical for Ten Tec though. Why JA companies can't implement pin diodes in their rigs is beyond me. Technology that has been around for over 2 decades, and they still use mechanical relays in most of their rigs.
This radio is a good bargain now days. A very good rig for the beginner or good CW operators.
Only rate it a 4 due to the AGC popping and PTO. Think Ten Tec could have gone synthesized with these radios. Maybe perhaps they didnt to keep the noise down from PLL circuits. Any rate, the drifting is a bit of an annoyance as well til your rig warms up.
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AE4TO
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 25, 2007 14:39
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Fun to Operate
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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If you like cw this radio should be in your shack. The QSK is excellent, the 500 cw filter does a good job other wise use the audio filters.On SSB I received good audio reports.This is a very reliable radio and is easy to repair too.There is three version the A, B & C. No big diference between them. The C version came with WARC capabilities but you had to add the crystals.No menus, easy operation, 100% Cycle.A fun radio to operate.AE4TO
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WA5JAW
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2007 13:44
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Super Transceiver
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Yesssssss,
For a rig built in 1980 this is a class action rig. CW operation is great!!! Support by Ten Tec is outstanding also and second to none.. Thanks John Ellenburg at Ten Tec..
WA5JAW
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