----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Morris, WN3DUG" <wn3dug@comcast.net>
To: <sales@tentec.com>
Cc: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 8:45 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Orion commentary
>
> Scott Robbins, W4PA,
> Amateur Radio Product Manager
>
> Thanks for giving us your comments on the Ten-Tec Orion, from an
"official"
> viewpoint.
>
> Three ham friends of mine went to the Charlotte Hamfest and thought the
trim
> was "Gold", in color, so maybe it was the lighting, or whatever. Their
> comments to me were that it looked "Art Deco" (From the Fifties).
>
> The main point is that they did not like the appearance of the Orion,
> especially the black color, among other things. They did, however, really
> like the Model 516 "QRP" Transceiver.
>
> Ten-Tec doesn't have to make its transceivers the same color as the
> competitors, in order to increase sales. You just have to make them look
> like a quality Ham Transceiver, not a stereo or CB transceiver. The main
> point is that it must be a great operating transceiver!
>
> After viewing the digital pictures of the Orion, on the Internet, my first
> impressions were as follows:
>
> 1. Ten-Tec ORION logo.......... Way too large and "Garish". Maybe should
> be just white lettering like the 516.
> 2. The LCD Display looked awful.............Should be Color to even hope
to
> compete with the competition.
> 3. Looked like an MFJ product from the back view.............Should have
> PEM nuts and nice screws.
> 4. Enclosure color looked "Too Black"............Should be more Gray and
> flat or matte finish.
> 5. AF Gain Control(s) should be on the bottom row, maybe below the Tuning
> Control knobs, or on the left.
> 6. Chrome ("Gold"?) Trim made unit look "Cheap"...........I would get rid
> of on Logo and Knobs.
>
> I have an Icom IC-2800H Dual Band mobile transceiver, that cost about
> $500.00, that has a great Color TFT 3" Display, that has adjustable
> brightness and colors, on-screen switch displays and a great band spectrum
> analyzer, that Ten-Tec's Orion, at approximately $3,300.00, should be able
> to beat. (MUST be Color Display!)
>
> I strongly disagree with your statement that "the performance can be
> secondary as long as it's within the same realm of other comparable rigs."
> Who's going to pay $3,300.00 for a transceiver that doesn't provide MUCH
> more performance than a comparable rig, just because you think it has to
> look appealing? If it doesn't perform, and perform well, I don't think
> anyone is going to be concerned with what it looks like. Performance
should
> still be Number 1! I sure hope that Ten-Tec is not becoming a "Me Too"
> Company.
>
> Thanks for your comments and insight, Scott.
>
> 72/73, Carl, WN3DUG
> Ten-Tec Model 544 Triton IV
> Ten-Tec Model 1220 2 Meter
> Ten-Tec Model 1230 220 Meter
> Elecraft K2 S/N: 1320
>
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