Hi Yuri,
What the heck is this subject line??
IMHO, DX contests are won by stations who can copy weak stations that are
Adjacent To Strong Stations. (i.e. EU stations running 5 watts to indoor
dipoles right next to W1AW)
I would not hold my breath waiting for radio manufacturers to submit
prototype or initial run radios to you for testing. I think you know why.
73,
John W0DC
----- Original Message -----
From: <K3BU@aol.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 6:10 PM
Subject: [TenTec]
%5BTenTec%5D%20RE%3A%20Topband%20Digest%2C%20Vol%206%2C%20Issue%2020&In-Repl
y-To
> Tommy WD4K among other stuff writes:
>
> > But, in their defense, they are having fun
> > with their equipment which is great, however this Orion factless testing
is
> > very obviously designed to bias the opinions of the general ham
community
> > and affect someone's buying decision and financial investment which I
> > personally believe is over the line. IF it was based on fact, fine...but
it
> > isn't. Hopefully it won't be too long before we, including yours truly,
will
> > get to see the real numbers and hear the opinions of real lab tests.
Until
> > then, I have to look at the opinions of all of these wobbly knobbers
with
> > real skepticism. Maybe their wives found out how much they spent and
they
> > have to have a "reason" to send back the radio to save face:) HI Who
> > knows??
>
> What you call "factless testing" is a practical test by one of the top
hams
> in low band "business" looking for particular feature of the receivers -
> ability to discriminate S/N in real life situation and ability to dig out
weak
> signals. He described the testing method and he does it in A/B tests with
other
> radios to eliminate other variables. He is looking for THAT particular
feature,
> which is very important in weak signal reception on 160 and 10m as two
extremes
> in the range of HF bands (VHFers know this and strive for it). Those who
know
> the "joys" of operating on 160 and are serious contesters and DXers, know
> what we are talking about. Those who are ignorant would fire ignorant
remarks.
> K6SE did not "evaluate" radio as such, with all it's bells and whistles
and made
> recommendation to the ham buying public, he looked at one particular
aspect
> that is important to him and others involved in weak signal reception. He
> purposely avoided to post his findings to this reflector, knowing how this
chorus
> of believers sings (and here we come).
>
> I am very grateful for his work and ranking of rigs, because this aspect
is
> very important to me also. It also made me think what could be the cause
of
> other rigs/designs to be deficient in that aspect. Without doing proper
tests and
> measurements, I can only speculate that most likely it has to do with the
> internal noise floor of the first active device or next mixer. Working way
back
> with "sharp" tubes like 6EJ7 and 6EH7 I know that that situation can be
> improved over run of the mill 6BE6 etc. Time permitting, I will try to
emulate the
> K6SE tests here and subject pile of radios that I have here to this type
of test.
>
> In the normal word (like car racing), manufacturers appreciate the work
and
> suggestions for improvement especially from the competitive and
knowledgeable
> users (drivers). In ham radio world, "they" know the best and don't need
"no
> stinkin' smart alec" comments from hams and you get what is out there. I
offered
> my help to few manufacturers, but they were not interested. So I go buy
used
> radios and modify them and stay half happy still waiting for that ultimate
> rig. Orion would be the exception, buying new rig, thanks to 30 day return
> policy.
>
> Compliments to TenTec for nice job of designing rig with crush proof front
> end (as I read comments) and some nice and useful features. But if you all
sing
> that emperor has nice clothes, then you would look like you know who.
>
> ARRL lab tests? They are nice, but did they test and report on horrible
> clixes, or close spaced overload problems? Nyet! You could be user one of
those
> clixing garbage trucks and be "happy" (nice radio), but when you fire up
with kW
> in crowded contest band (highway), there are bunch of guys that hate you,
your
> call sign, your radio, your momma.... (who are we to tell you that? ARRL
lab
> said it's OK right?)
>
> The point is that work of some of those, who know thing or two should be
> considered, evaluated and maybe even appreciated. That goes double for
> manufacturers, they can only gain. Instead of packing 200 memories and 300
menus in a
> rig, they should pay closer attention to real performance and features
that are
> in demand.
>
> I am still waiting for a call or email, from some manufacturers saying:
what
> you think? Can we improve or implement this or that in our design? There
are
> still few left who are top notch contesters, engineers and designers who
can
> help in the quest for that ultimate mother of all rigs.
>
> Contests are won not by working just those loud stations that everyone can
> work, but also working those that others can't hear. That's where K6SE
> "discovery" comes handy and is welcomed by those who know. Thanks again
Earl!
>
> Yuri, K3BU, VE3BMV, VE1BY etc.
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