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Re: [TenTec] Re: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 17, Issue 20

To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Re: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 17, Issue 20
From: "Tommy" <aldermant@alltel.net>
Reply-to: tentec@contesting.com
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 13:07:07 -0400
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Yea...but what I don't understand is why the dumb quarterback didn't throw
the ball to the receiver over on the left....heck that guy was wide
open...gosh, I could have done a better job myself..!!!   and on...and
on....and on....and on

Tom - W4BQF

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Detweiler" <rdetweil@hotmail.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 11:29 AM
Subject: RE: [TenTec] Re: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 17, Issue 20


> Interesting reading from the other reflector.
>
> The Idea of the Orion Expedition V is very nice,  a smaller more robust
> version with color display and bullet proof operation would be nice next
> step in the evolution.
>
> To help in thing,  by following of the threads here a few months ago,
There
> was some pretty harsh words exchanged and perhaps some still remembers
them
> clearly and painfully.  I'm sure allot of people would like to pull back
on
> some of those words.
>
> I would look to the future,  There is opportunity for everyone and I
> personally would enjoy seeing what the DR1 would be as much as I would
enjoy
> seeing the Orion improved on.
>
> I have a different path,  That is to see the American Radio art improved
> beyond it's current place.  That isn't going to happen without the leaders
> running hard to stay ahead.
>
> Clearly,  Very clearly, the Hardware of the Orion tops anything,  Yuri and
> everyone else is clearly saying that.  No one will argue this point.  The
> Orion is the Standard to beat.
>
> I am more than happy to work with people who want to see the Orion be
> better,  I am equally happy to see a good idea come to production.
>
> It Advances the Ham Radio art.  If the DR1 can come to production and even
> only serve a few,  it is worth it. To see what technology combinations
Yuri
> comes up with will perhaps be an inspiration that further advances of our
> Hobby.
>
> For me having had the Orion for a while now,  the Fun is back in the
Hobby,
> I am bothered by some aspects of the Orion which I wont discuss here, but
> for me I actually enjoy tinkering with it's innards and trying to figure
out
> where it could be improved.  Seems to me the firmware has a lot of
> possibilities and challenges.  Any SDR is going to have this challenge and
> by putting it out,  the next Generation has a standard to beat.  That is
my
> fun.
>
> The definition of SDR is that it can and should be improved on.  So,  Why
> not improve on it.
>
> I remember buying a rig from a foreign company,  and it literally turned
me
> off of Ham radio for a few years,  At the time it was all I could afford.
> Everyone was saying it was the best,  many years later, though,  it was
> determined by the community to be a total flop.  That kind of
disappointment
> is what we have to avoid in every piece of equipment.  We have to aspire
to
> provide good Rigs for New hams coming in to the hobby.  I think Ten Tec
and
> any others willing to pioneer the way is the answer for the future.
>
> 73's
> Rich
> K5SF
>
>
>
> >From: "Ron Notarius" <wn3vaw@verizon.net>
> >Reply-To: tentec@contesting.com
> >To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
> >CC: tentec@contesting.com
> >Subject: [TenTec] Re: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 17, Issue 20
> >Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 10:01:59 -0400
> >
> >Actually Yuri, rumor has it that Ten Tec is going to counter the new
Yaesu
> >&
> >ICOM rigs sometime soon.
> >
> >It will be three Orion's in a blister pack!
> >
> >Seriously, I don't understand your continued animosity towards the Orion
in
> >particular and Ten Tec in general.  While I don't own one yet, I have had
> >many opportunities to use one from a local ham, both in casual operating
> >and
> >in contest situations, and I've never had a problem with it.  For that
> >matter, outside of a few minor tips the owner showed me (which I would
have
> >caught on to quickly), I found operating the Orion to be very intuitive,
> >unlike some of the recent offerings from the Big Three.  And I don't
> >understand your complaints about ergonomics; a color display would have
> >been
> >pretty, but other than that, I never ran into any of the concerns you
> >mentioned.
> >
> >I think the "how many people" comment about returns deserves some
> >quantification.  First, how many is "how many?"  Second, let us not
forget
> >that no matter how well a rig is designed, your dream rig is someone
else's
> >nightmare, so matter what, there will always be returns.  And third, let
us
> >not forget that Ten Tec, to their credit, has the most liberal return
> >policy
> >around.  Naturally it gets taken advantage of (in both senses of the
term!)
> >
> >Finally, I think that crack about the "Ten-Tec hallelujah" reflector was
> >uncalled for.  Just because someone doesn't agree with you, that does not
> >mean that they are a zealot for the other side.  Careful reading of the
> >reflector posts over the last few months would clearly show that while
most
> >Orion owners are very happy, there have been problems (what rig doesn't
> >have
> >problems in the production run?), there have been returns to the factory,
> >and some have gotten their money back.  You don't have to "lurk" there to
> >find this out.
> >
> >73, ron wn3vaw
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> > > Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 13:36:57 EDT
> > > From: K3BU@aol.com
> > > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Dayton atendees - tell us about the new
> > > Yaesu
> > > To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> > > Message-ID: <155.3517208f.2dda5239@aol.com>
> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
> > >
> > > Howdy conquesters!
> > >
> > > I will report briefly on things that were of interest to me in the
area
> >of
> > > rigs, receiver performance and where are we going.
> > >
> > > If I had to judge by Icom and Yaesu offerings in the top end (heavy
> >suckers)
> > > radios, like IC7800 and FT9000 (bigger number Eh?), then gentlemen,
> >start
> >your
> > > engines! This at least according to Icom display featuring cutout
> >automotive
> > > engine, racing jackets, pile of JA rig drivers, or perhaps helpers to
> >carry
> > > the radio. This is when seen from the distance. 7800 is reality, looks
> >nice,
> > > ergonomics are supreb in the Icom fashion, I would say decent value
for
> >the
> > > money.
> > >
> > > In the other corner, from closer look at Yaesu booth, not much racing
> >stuff,
> > > except more mature version of K7JA and bullet proof plexi case over
> >FT9000,
> > > the DX DNA "thing". This must be on steroids, because the sucker would
> >require
> > > one and half JA sumo carriers. Rumors are that it will weigh about 70
> >lbs.
> >For
> > > sure 400 W Godzilla among the rigs. Judging by the plexi condom, this
> >was
> >just
> > > cardboard mockup, dummy, there was no action on the displays, just as
> >shown
> > > on the brochure.
> > >
> > > So, in the competition for the biggest, baddest mother of all radios,
> >appears
> > > that Yaesu is the (theoretical) leader, with Icom real thing right
> >behind
> >at
> > > 50 lbs and with bunch of "happy" owners already. In category of
> >performance,
> > > Icom radio is out, can be measured, tested and some real specs will be
> > > available soon. Yaesu has only foggy specs, everybody is claiming out
of
> >this world
> > > performance, beating the others, but indication based on reality is
not
> >exactly
> > > IT.
> > >
> > > Rob Sherwood, AC0B gave RX performance and testing presentation at the
> > > contest forum. He outlined importance of front end design architecture
> >and
> >presented
> > > some data on his tests. The clear winners are the old/new classic
radios
> >with
> > > low IF single conversion mixing scheme and at close spacing front end
> > > overload test the leaders are Orion and "Sherwooded" Drake R4C. The
> >detailed chart
> > > should be posted on Rob's web site. IC7800 was down on the totem pole
> >and
> >at
> > > close spacing test (done by ARRL on pre-production sample) is not what
> >the
> >foggy
> > > specs are claiming. It should be noted that marketing departments of
the
> > > biggies are not shy of blowing things up, especially at their own
> >unspecified
> > > terms. So before I would plonk my hard earned dollars for any of those
> >over $10k
> > > pieces of furniture, I would wait for more info and test results
> >especially
> > > because I care about overload and selectivity performance.
> > >
> > > The Orion, as I reported earlier in my review (www.K3BU.us) has
> >excellent
> > > strong signal handling capabilities, filtering, good clean transmit
> >signals, but
> > > lot of ergonomic shortcomings and unfinished buggy software engine.
For
> >this
> > > contester, it does not fare well for those reasons. When you read
> >advertising,
> > > they all say THIS IS IT! When you get your hands on IT, it is
something,
> >but
> > > not IT. It has one thing better, then the others, but it is left to
the
> >user to
> > > pick the least of the evil based on what you don't care for. While
> >talking
> >to
> > > contest buddies at the hospitality suites, I was quite surprised to
find
> >how
> > > many people had problems with Orion and sent it back. Lurking on
> >"Ten-Tec
> > > hallelujah" reflector you will not find this out.
> > >
> > > As far as contester's concerns, and expeditioners in particular, I
doubt
> >I
> > > would take any of the above on expedition. The scratch on the covers
> >might
> >take
> > > away $3k out of the price. I would not check it in for the airline
> >Gorillas to
> > > play football with gem like that and it is definitely out of question
to
> >fit
> > > IT in carry on luggage.  IC7800 is more realistic in that department,
> >but
> > > FT9000 is more for people with private Yacht or airplane.
> > >
> > > Don't despair. George, W2VJN is working on, displayed some, and coming
> >out
> > > with roofing filters for the rest of the "old loser" radios like
FT1000D
> >etc.,
> > > so don't dump them yet. While they would still use high IF
upconversion,
> >but
> > > the improvement in performance would rival IC7800, going from 60ies
some
> >dBs to
> > > high 80ies (Orion is in low 90ies). My personal opinion is that this
is
> >the
> > > more realistic alternative to $10k gorilla radios. If you like
expensive
> > > furniture and big size and money is no object, the go for it and enjoy
> >the
> >sculpted
> > > monsters.
> > >
> > > DSP is coming on strong, displacing more and more circuitry, making
> >things
> > > more flexible, shrinking size and cost. Quite a few vendors displaying
> >DSP
> >based
> > > receivers and spectrum analyzers. Not ready for prime time yet, but
> >around
> > > the corner. Interesting times are ahead and contesters have a lot to
> >look
> > > forward too. More help with operating and integration of
> > > computer-radio-gadgets-software is on the horizon.
> > >
> > > My personal impression  is that Orion is "bad" enough, I enjoy it's
> >strong
> > > signal handling performance, hate its guts for quitting on me in the
> >middle of
> > > the contest run, clumsy controls and ergonomics, but for the run radio
> >it
> >would
> > > do, if supplemented with IC781 or other race horse. IC7800 or FT9000?
> >Not
> >at
> > > this time and for THAT money. I am not into collecting expensive
> >furniture. I
> > > beat my radios on the trips, no diapers around here, I look for
> >performance
> > > and functionality for decent price. Until my "Dream Radio One" becomes
> >reality I
> > > am happy with Orion, FT1000D, IC781, TS950 (all filtered and modified)
> >for
> > > serious contesting, TS870 for carry on expeditioning, IC706 for
> >portable,
> >mobile
> > > fooling around.
> > >
> > > Personally, I got preview of what's cooking and got reinforced in my
> >strategy
> > > and design goals for "Computeradio DR1". I see what is available,
where
> >the
> > > technology is going, I know what I and other's want. After I was
> >challenged by
> > > one of the Ten-Tec Cult worshippers to design better radio, I decided
to
> > > embark on the task of putting together that DREAM radio I and YOU have
> >been
> > > dreaming about. The project has started, design is in progress, the
> >DREAM
> >TEAM is
> > > coming along very nicely, so soon you will be able to enjoy the radio
> >station
> > > that will outperform the rest for a reasonable cost. Those interested
> >can
> >check
> > > the web site www.computeradio.us for the latest info and any comments
> >and
> > > requests for features are welcome.
> > >
> > > It was a great pleasure to be back in Dayton after long pause, meeting
> >old
> > > friends and competitors, I enjoyed the forums, dinners, midnight pizza
> >with old
> > > contesting buddies. Now back to salt mines.
> > >
> > > 73 Yuri, www.K3BU.us
> > > www.computeradio.us home of DR1
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > > CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >
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>
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