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Reviews For: Ten-Tec Universal BFO Kit #1050

Category: Ham Radio Kits

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Review Summary For : Ten-Tec Universal BFO Kit #1050
Reviews: 14MSRP: $10
Description:
455 kHz BFO kit
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.tentec.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00143.4
KA4DQJ Rating: 2014-12-14
It's Fair Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The kit goes together in a half-hour like any BFO, but seems to have more parts than necessary for such a device. I found that I was always opening up the case I built it in to re-adjust the can settings; the pot just didn't have the range when you changed bands or radios. Inexplicably, it wouldn't work with some 455khz IF radios. The injection level on mine seemed to be a bit weak too.

I built another even cheaper BFO with fewer parts and no adjustments which is just as stable and works fine on all radios I've tried. I've ended up using this one exclusively when I need a BFO and have retired the #1050.
K1EAR Rating: 2014-05-15
Demise unfortunate.. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sad to hear they are not making this any longer. Had a good time using mine with 1936-era SW radios (Arvin and Fairbanks-Morse)and working 80, 40 and 30 meter CW with same. Steady hand needed for SSB, but usable. Mounted mine in a modem box and moved around on top of receiver, depending on how much injection was needed...
IK3SSG Rating: 2014-04-19
info pls Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
HI everyone!
the kit is no longer available in TENtec...
someone has the schematic diagram and documentation
to make it ?
thanks a lot

Graziano IK3SSG
WX9DX Rating: 2014-03-07
Great Kit! Lots of uses Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used these kits for many projects over the years. They are amazing when wanting to make a CB or Short-wave AM only radio hear sideband or CW. This kit also can be used for other projects as the heart of a nice VFO by changing the coil. There have been many things I've done over the years with this BFO Kit. Hope Ten Tec keeps making it. 73, Jimmy, ARRL TC, WX9DX
K9QHO Rating: 2013-09-06
Nice little kit. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This kit draws about 12 mA @9.6 Volts. Used this kit to upgrade a old Hallicrafters S-120 for a fun project. Utilized the S-120's power supply (97V) with a 2 resistor divider and a zener to power this PCB. The fine tune trim pot(R6)was not used. Instead, wired to a 10K pot on the front panel at the original BFO control. The Standby/Receive switch was changed to BFO on/off. Had trouble with output at collector. Instead, I picked up signal at emitter (much stronger). I injected the signal using a wire coupled parallel to the antenna input wire (inside chassis) using a couple of cable ties(1.5 inches). The tank coil is a Mouser 421F201 (Xicon 421F201RC). This circuit can be simulated easily. Strong SSB signals will sometimes not get enough injection (this probably because of my coupling technique). Works wonderful on weaker SSB signals and CW. Very stable, can copy CW easily on 40 meters.
K2OWK Rating: 2013-08-04
Works about the same in the case Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I put this little BFO in a case. While it is easier to use and transport. It still has the same problems. Very complex wave form. Very sharp tuning. It still is a good fun kit for just $13.00, but can not be considered for a good method to tune sideband.

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Earlier 2-star review posted by K2OWK on 2013-07-05

Nice kit. Well made. Very easy to assemble. Mine came missing a 1N2001 diode. I was lucky I had a 1N2002 in my junk box and was able to complete the assembly. Directions are excellent. The output is a complex wave according to my scope that my counter can not recognize, but it must be 455 KHZ as it does zero beat my old Zenith Trans-oceanic model 3000. Like someone said the tuning is very sharp and the can has to be adjusted each time the frequency is changed by a few KHZ (very annoying). The price has gone up by $3.00, but it is still worth it as a do it your self fun project. I will repost this review when I put the BFO in a metal case. I will also try to do something about the narrow tuning range and the output wave.
NG9D Rating: 2011-01-08
Just for Fun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It won't turn your shortwave radio into a communications grade receiver but it will allow you to hear some CW and SSB on radios lacking a BFO. To listen to a few on-air examples see
http://www.youtube.com/user/NG9D?feature=mhum#p/search/1/VEJVrOXGgRU
Enclosing it in a case adds stability. I had fun assembling it and using it with various 455kHz I.F. radios. 73 de NG9D
W8RMV Rating: 2010-12-04
So So Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a HQ100 & wanted to add a BFO to it like the HQ100A. So I bought the TenTec hoping I could get it to work with the HQ100. I did not have good success. It was still easier & more effective using the Q multiplier & BFO on the 100. So I tried it on a few SS SW radios I have, and had mixed results. It was cheap & worth a try even tho I knew mixing SS with Tube stuff, isn't always effective. The signal coming out of the TenTec BFO does not look like a sine wave at all, but my counter tells me it is 455kHz.
KG6QNK Rating: 2010-09-16
Fun to build; actual use not that great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Easy to build Fun Kit; does what it is designed to do; but not that great. Output is very high and varies from Band to Band. Would need to tame and regulate (hope you have good AGC) before putting this inside receiver enclosure. My unit would not track very far before I would need to readjust variable inductor... Ten-Tec attributes this to the Receiver; could very well be. As a Fun stand alone kit it's allright; however, I would not buy another. I just obtained an old Sony 8 Transistor pocket AM only Radio and am using it as a BFO to beat a Note over to my ShortWave Radio. Still somewhat mickey mouse; however I do prefer it overall to this kit in general performance. CW sounds excellent. Main tuning capacitor is air variable, and no matter the band can find a beat note. SSB is ok; don't listen to it too much . Just get yourself an old AM Radio with variable tuning and use for BFO. Save your money for good RCVR with SSB/CW capability.
KC4FKX Rating: 2010-05-30
Simple to Build...Does the Job Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received an AM/FM/SW pocket radio from C.Crane (CCRadio-SWP) for Christmas. While I really like this radio it does not receive CW or SSB....until now! The kit is very simple and straight forward to build. Initial testing and setup is a breeze. I connected an alligator clip from the 455 KHz out to the antenna, connected a battery, set the radio to 4.032 MHZ (my favorite cw watering hole), set the pot to its mid-range setting, tuned the coil a turn or so and wham, the signal came in like gangbusters! The pot makes for a very nice fine tune adjustment. While I did experience a little hand capacitance I expect it will go away once everything is mounted in the suggested TP-13 aluminum case. Well worth the $11.