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Reviews For: Ten-Tec 715 RF Speech Processor

Category: Audio Accessories for Transmitter & Receiver

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Review Summary For : Ten-Tec 715 RF Speech Processor
Reviews: 31MSRP: 249.00
Description:
Model 715 RF Speech Processor is a high performance true RF-type speech processor designed to operate with most modern HF Amateur Radio transceivers. RF speech processing is a superior system to the traditional AF clipping, AF compression, or RF compression found in a typical HF transceiver for achieving the highest ratio of average-to-peak power from an SSB transmitter.
Product is in production
More Info: http://radio.tentec.com/accessories/715
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00314.5
K0EX Rating: 2010-05-04
follow-up Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
i've also had the "freeze-up" problem with my audio. it was resolved by simply turning the "PASS BAND" adjustment. contacting TenTec with this concern, i was told it was a software problem that's being worked-on. second, i initially used the 715 with my Kenwood TS-570DG (as reported in my 1st review). when i changed cables and tried it with my Yaesu FT-950, audio was horrible. this was user error, as i assumed that the adjustments on the 715 suitable for the TS-570DG would be a good starting point for the FT-950... wrong! the Yaesu requires so little drive that the "PROC LEVEL" (on the back of the 715) has to be dialed waaaaaay down. in fact, b-a-r-e-l-y setting it above minimum is plenty! in this range of the potentiometer, however, adjustment is pretty touchy. that was disappointing.

so, in summary, it has worked well with my TS-570DG. it's "OK" with my FT-950. i'm yet to try it with my IC-7200.

i'd have 2nd thoughts about buying it, had i known what i now know.
K5ML Rating: 2010-05-04
Compatibility Problems with Icom Time Owned: N.A.
Hearing great things about the Ten-Tec 715, I ordered one with the hope that it might improve the average output on my Icom 756 Pro III. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Using the Icom SM-20 desk microphone, the Ten-Tec Processor wasn’t as clean as the internal processor in the Pro III and did not boost the average power output as much as the internal processor. To make bad matters worse, the Ten-Tec processor would freeze up intermittently, resulting in no audio whatsoever. Thinking it might be RF getting into the processor, I turned the RF output on the Pro III all the way down. The processor still froze.

I called Ten-Tec's Service Department and spoke with Larry Worth who was extremely helpful. He gave me several things to try in order to solve the problem. When those ideas didn’t work, he sent me a second processor to see if that would solve the problem. The second processor froze immediately and I couldn’t even get it on the air. I returned both processors.

This was my first purchase of Ten-Tec equipment. Although this particular piece of equipment didn’t work in my particular situation, I was very favorably impressed with their level of service, patience, helpfulness and willingness to go the extra mile to take care of the customer. They are an excellent company.
W7CPA Rating: 2010-01-28
Beware Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Don't be fooled by the BANDWIDTH control. I hoped that for once, I could select DX plus strong, good audio. It does not allow enough lows to be dialed in - screaming DX'r sound, all the time, very little useful bandwidth control capability. No reason to even have the knob.

I returned it. It sounds worse that my DX engineering RF processor on my KWM-2A. Mind you, it is a traditional RF processor that does brings up your average talk power as claimed.
K1OYQ Rating: 2009-12-26
Great Cheap Power!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Santa brought one of these to the shack this year. Got it up and running in no time and tested it out with several other stations. This little box works as advertised. On one test I lowered the power out to the minimum possible and the other station could not hear me with the 715 out of the circuit. When I turned it back on he was reading me at S5 on the meter. Tested it on a couple of DX stations and they came right back to me with good signal reports. You sacrifice a little audio fidelity (you should expect this) but all stations reported that it was very easy to listen to and not to sharp or raspy. I'm very pleased and it makes my FT-1000MP MK V really rock on SSB Great piece of gear and I highly recommend it. I may not every have to use my amp again hi hi. The only down side is that you need a Ten-Tec or Yaesu mic for it or you have to rewire a mic per the manual. On the plus side I can use my MD-100 mic on my Kenwood TS-2000 and FT-817 now (purchased extra cables).
WA6IPD Rating: 2009-12-13
Great product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is quite an extraordinary device, it does everything stated, I recommend it highly.

My only negative comment is their reference to a 110 volt power source in their literature. I contacted the sales department to inquire if they did indeed provide a wall-wart rated at 110 volts but they did not reply. The problem is this, we have not used 110 volts in this country since the 1940s, the standard voltage is 120 volts with some utilities serving 125 volts. So obviously a 110 volt wall-wart running on 120-125 volts would be needlessly stressed. The good news is that the unit provided is rated at 120 volts. I find it surprising that electronic engineers lack even the basics of electrical engineering. The ARRL was in this position until the early 1990s when I told them that in QST and the Handbook they were referencing a voltage not in use along with obsolete receptacles and plugs. That letter was like nuking Newington, they were stunned to say the least.
WF1L Rating: 2009-12-08
Much Happier Now Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After talking to several others and working thru the adjustments on the air, I think I've hit the "magic" combination that lets the 715 work with my station set up. I'm anxious to give this little box a shot in it's intended conditions to see if it improves my signal in pileups and where the signal strength is low but the audio boost provided raises me up out of the "grass". It looks promising!
W0IW Rating: 2009-12-07
TEN TEC means made in America !!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This Ten Tec Unit Looks, and works Great. I have two of these units, and as advertised they increase ones talk power, and what I call use radio war paint to make sure folks know your on the frequency..From These little black boxes comes some mighty big audio, and I can tell you that stations will not ignore you! Set this unit at about pass band.. at 1pm and Proc gain 7pm and it works great!!

K1KLA Rating: 2009-11-22
A++ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Highly recommended
Had it running in less than ten minutes
All good audio reports Another job well done by Ten Tec
W4PGM Rating: 2009-10-01
RF issues Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Lots of issue getting the box to work with my FT-950. I have a second floor shack so RF is sometimes an issue. The cable that leads from the processor to the radio is VERY susceptible to RF. The processor works great when it is on, but in pass through the audio is almost unintelligible. (unplugging the mic from the processor and plugging it directly into the radio returns perfect audio) I have completed a few shielding tests on the cable and have determined that the cable to the radio is inadequate for my operations. I will make a new shielded cable and see if that solves the problems. Larry Worth at Ten-Tec has been a life saver in tracking down the issues. Scott in the shop has not! If you are having issues Ask for Larry!
KD8DHH Rating: 2009-09-13
Great piece of equipment! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased the 715 and all I can say is WOW!..... This thing really works. Another fine creation from Ten-Tec. It does everything they said it would. I am very pleased! I have been getting great audio reports. The DX stations hear me on the first call. Keep up the good work Ten-Tec!