| K7LJ |
Rating:  |
2021-04-20 | |
| Nice radio - when it works. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have an Omni VI+, have had for many years. It started having a problem where all receive audio (and transmit capability) would suddenly go away. There would be just a loud "pop - pop - pop" sound. Giving the radio a good solid whack on the side fixed it, for a while. I sent it back to Ten-Tec four times, for repair. I discussed the problem with the Ten-Tec reps at the Dayton Hamvention several times, they had no idea what could be the problem. The last couple times I sent it to Ten-Tec for repair (all the way across the country, so shipping was quite expensive, both ways) I included a cassette tape of the radio making the popping noise, and the "whack" that brought it back to life. Each time, it came back "fixed" and would run for an hour or so, before the problem started, again. I finally gave up and went with ICOM gear. It is a nice radio, when it works. But it doesn't work very often, and Ten-Tec can't seem to fix it! |
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| VE2AIU |
Rating: |
2021-04-18 | |
| Awesome Radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I just got my OMNI VI+ less than a week ago and so far it performed flawlessly, I really like the simplicity of the OMNI VI+ no crazy menus to get lost in.. it's just awesome
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| N6BIZ |
Rating: |
2017-02-19 | |
| GREAT |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Love mine
Can find no faults |
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| W0RDX |
Rating: |
2017-02-18 | |
| So-So- Needs Improvement |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Had some TT"s in the past, picked up a Omni VI plus Opt 3. The radio's operation has been discussed. The build of the radio is something less then desireable.
My buttons were nearly flush with front panel making it difficult to engage the functions. The TUNE control rocked side to side and you had to hit it dead center. The chassis is cheap aluminum to say the least and poor, very poor board/electrical connectors internally. The ergonomics of the TT radios is a bit odd to me, as compared to the rice boxes which to me, for the most part, are far superior.
All in all, to me, from a user experience, I won't get another one again any time soon, that is, if they ever come back under new management. My last attempt to "like" TT products. Sorry. |
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| KZ4B |
Rating: |
2016-08-31 | |
| Great SSB (& CW) Rig with correct filters and audio mod. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
As the very satisfied owner of three Ten-Tec TITAN I (Model 425 using 2 X 3CX800A7 Ceramic Triodes) Linear Amplifiers--it was only logical to purchase at least one matching OMNI 6+ Transceiver. About five years ago I obtained a ("loaded" filter-wise) OMNI 6+ --but was immediately disappointed with the poor audio quality in both SSB transmit and receive. After replacing ALL of the original Ten-Tec (un-shielded "home-brew" looking) cascaded monolithic filters mounted on open boards at the Ten-Tec Factory with higher quality INRAD Filters of the same bandwidth along with the $15 INRAD OMNI 6 Audio Mod Kit the audio quality was remarkably improved. Numerous radio contacts familiar with the OMNI 6+ remarked without prodding that mine was the best sounding 6+ they had ever worked. Received audio was now on par with the best sounding Yaekensu rigs. Back before INRAD was bought by VIBROPLEX there was a more extensive write-up on the INRAD Website regarding OMNI 5 or 6 Filter options that stated that one (and only one) "stock" Ten-Tec sourced SSB Filter in particular had a very distorted response curve--but I don't recall which one!
I also added the INRAD 2400 HZ Roofing Filter Option selected by the N1 Button with a similer width filter selected by the N2 Button. According to INRAD this yields a 85 DB 3rd Order Dynamic Range at 2 KHZ offset and a 95 DB 3rd Order Dynamic Range at 5 KHZ offset.
Along with the top-quality "stock" Audio DSP Filtering in the 6+ one gets the best available (at any price) crystal bandwidth filtering (think Yeasu FT-2000 as similar) in an attractive transceiver with superb ergonomics!
My only gripe is that the OMNI 6+ is ham-band only and lacks any AM transmit capability. At the time the OMNI 6+ was designed, Ten-Tec was still optimizing CW performance over all else with even SSB being an afterthought.
If CW is your only interest--then forget everything above EXCEPT for the INRAD Roofing Filter which is available in a CW optimum 600 HZ Bandwidth. |
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| WB4EJZ |
Rating: |
2013-11-16 | |
| Super Rig!!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Just acquired the OMNI VI+ and external speaker this week - what a rig! Receiver performance is exemplary - quiet and sensitive. Mine has all the filter slots stuffed and has the Inrad audio mod. I appreciate the clean and uncluttered panel and absence of endless menus. Only capability I'd add would be general coverage and an internal tuner. This one's a keeper! |
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| N4LCD |
Rating: |
2012-01-19 | |
| Great CW rig |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
My third Tentec rig in 28 years is a used Omni VI Plus I bought 3 months ago. Very easy to use large form factor with lots of knobs and buttons instead of layers of menus...thank you. The manual is excellent and the yahoo group is there if needed. I soldered up a serial cable per the pin outs in the manual and computer logging is a breeze. I haven't plugged in the mic yet so I can't comment on SSB, and I haven't used any of the digital modes other than the original digital mode, CW, on 40 meters only so far, for which it works fabulously. I really like the feel and sound of it. Last four rigs were an Icom IC-756 Pro II, an Elecraft K2/100, an Elecraft K3/100, and a Kenwood TS-590S, all excellent rigs, but the last three of the four had very small form factors and more menus than I wanted.
Paul N4LCD |
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| W3ULS |
Rating: |
2011-11-07 | |
| Good Rig, Simple to Use |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Following are my personal observations after extensive listening over the weekend on 20 meters in the ARRL CW Sweepstakes. Radios used: an
OMNI VI Plus, a Mark V Field (with INRAD roofing filter mod) and a new Icom IC-7410.
1. From the standpoint of listening, both the OMNI and the Field offered first-rate audio (clear, crisp, clean CW notes) and had no trouble
separating the numerous signals (both rigs have a full complement of optional filters). The geomagnetic K index was minimal, so conditions were excellent. Little or no QRN.
2. To state the obvious, the OMNI is refined and smooth, ergonomically speaking. All I
did was twirl the tuning dial. hit the various filter buttons depending onwhat I wanted to hear--from everything when using the two OEM 2.4 kHz filters, to a 500/250 combination to isolate a particular signal. Also used the PBT
control occasionally and ditto the NR button. The Field was almost as smooth, requiring very little fiddling with the controls, except The Field's
filter arrangement doesn't allow for mixing and matching like the OMNI but it does have a second receiver which was fun to use when I wanted
to open up the bandwidth. In short, a draw. But the OMNI still wins on ergonomic simplicity.
As for the IC-7410, I will posit that Icoms contain the most sophisticated firmware and software in the ham world, and even in the cheaper 7410 it shows. The filtering, noise reduction, etc., are all very effective. I did
not find any reciprocal mixing problems that one might expect in a lower-priced rig. But using all of the DSP circuitry to its fullest requires a lot of adjusting, both with the knobs and dials and with the menus. The CW sound, which is very good, still betrays its DSP origins.
At the end of the day Saturday I went to the OMNI, and then to the Field. Very easy listening. I'll keep the 7410 as a third rig just in case.
Thanks for reading.
73,
John, W3ULS |
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| KC8HXO |
Rating: |
2011-04-21 | |
| Wow! I Like it!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Ok, first, please realize I had an Omni VI (not a plus), and liked it, but the drift (shack temp is usually quite low) on initial start-up was disconcerting to say the least. On the Plus, you get either an ovenized oscillator, or a temp compensated one, and it makes all the difference. Mine is loaded with filters, including the Inrad roofing filter. It is outstanding. Not wide enough for ESSB, but I'm not into that. GREAT communications audio, and that's what's important to me. The audio DSP doesn't work miracles, but the roofing filter puts this baby right up towards the top of the famed "Sherwood Dynamic Range Chart. She's a keeper! |
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| MI3LVZ |
Rating: |
2010-09-09 | |
| So far so good. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After my first experience with Ten-Tec and their Paragon which was a disaster for me, hence my very poor review and i hasten to add was wrote moments after it had expired for the umpteenth time which should explain my rant but i thought it would only be fair the give Ten-Tec another chance. Firstly some bad points. The radio does not have the quality feel of Japanese equipment of the same period, say a Kenwood TS 870. The push buttons have a rather flimsy and cheap feel to them and lack a positive touch. The same goes for any of the potentiometers and the VFO felt too firm and almost notchy. When i received my 6 Plus i noticed that when i turned the VFO the display would miss a turn every now and then, particularly when the radio was cold. I traced this down to a faulty VFO encoder and replaced it with an updated unit from Ten-Tec. This has cured the problem and also transformed the VFO action in to silky smooth which is much nicer to use. The radio was also off frequency a tad but this was a very easy fix and you will find the cans on a board directly under the speaker. There are still traces of digital birdies floating around the receiver from the cpu but i am now at the stage were i just dont hear them anymore. I was fortunate to buy my 6 Plus with all the filter slots filled with TT and Inrad units and the Inrad audio mod has been done as well. The DSP and filter system is just superb in getting rid of most interference and QRM although this is my first experience of a DSP radio. Pass band tuning is very selective and the notch is adequate. I run mine with an Astatic 878DM deskmic and also a computer headset and mic boom which i bought from Ebay. Time and time again i constantly get unsolicited audio reports particularly when using the headset. The display is big and bright and generally the radio is very handsome to look at. Given my first experience with Ten-Tec i bought this radio with certain trepidation however i am starting to warm to the yank. In my shack i have a sea of the usual Japanese black box's but my hand is starting to wander towards the Ten-Tecs VFO more often. So far i am very happy and thoroughly enjoy using it. As for marks i would give it a 4.5..
Martin.
2I0GIQ |
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