TenTec
[Top] [All Lists]

[TenTec] Orion - Week 3

To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Orion - Week 3
From: John Rippey <w3uls@3n.net>
Reply-to: tentec@contesting.com
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 09:33:12 -0400
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
I've owned two Mark V's. Kept them a total of 18 months, and sold them. I did not like the way the analog filters were arranged, and they were pricey as well. The existence of audio-level DSP seemed incongruous in a top-end rig, and not very effective--the OMNI VI's NR button did better IMHO.

It appears that recent Mark V's have reverted to the major QC problems that appeared in the first production runs and seemed to have been solved in later runs. Maybe Vertex/Standard has outsourced parts and assembly. Whatever, it's now caveat emptor all over again with regard to new Mark V's.

Barring a windfall of cash (Orion's out of reach), the radios of choice in my shack are a TS-870, IC-746PRO, and an Argonaut V. Once getting used to how the IF all-DSP filtering in these rigs works, it becomes increasingly difficult to go back and use the old analog designs, even the venerable OMNI VI.

My sense is we hams have never had it better in our choice of transceivers priced under $1,500.

73,
John, W3ULS

_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>