I agree. My point was not that the Orion would not catch on with contesters,
only that it hadn't happened yet. Actually, I'm going to enjoy being ahead
of the curve when my new Orion arrives in a few weeks. It will be fun
already being there when other contesters arrive! I don't know what the
timeline will be. I guess your estimate is a few years. And an unknown
factor is what other competetive offerings come along in that time period.
The Icom 7800 is going to draw a lot of ooh's and aah's, but with a $9000+
price tag, probably not a lot of paying customers (let's see, SO2R with 2
7800's hooked to 2 Alpha 87a's, that would be $30,000 before you even
connect an antenna!). But what about an Icom 7800 at say $5000? Could
happen. And what might Yaesu have in development? One of the benefits of
Orion, in additiuon to being a great radio, is it forces the competition to
get better.
Interesting times ahead.
73
Bob K4LW
> The Orion slow to catch on? Not if my usually accurate memory is correct.
>
> The FT1000D was introduced just before I got back into the hobby, when
Kenwood's 940 was pretty much top dog with Icom a distant second. It was at
least four years before any great number of contesters/DXers migrated to
Yaesu. Even then, the consensus was to go with the D, the MP was considered
a dog. How times change!!!
>
> It takes time for most people to accept new things; just as it takes time
to work a new high end rig into the budget. I suspect the Orion will become
de rigeur in due time. I note a couple of the hams who have TOL rigs and
tried my Orion are planning a change - just as soon as the household
treasurer gives the go signal.
>
> 73 Pete Allen AC5E
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