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Re: [TenTec] Orion Roofing Filter Cut In

To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Roofing Filter Cut In
From: "Steve N4LQ" <n4lq@iglou.com>
Reply-to: tentec@contesting.com
Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 21:15:28 -0400
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Bernard:
I am refering to the basic block diagram of the receiver section. Yes, the
Orion does have DSP as I mentioned however, the RF chain ahead of the DSP
unit is the same basic superhetrodyne receiver that we've seen for 30 years.
Sure the schematic is different but not the scheme.
Furthermore, we are now seeing direct conversion make a come back as in the
SDR radio by Flex Radio and DC goes back further in history than Superhet.

Steve N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bernard(wtrone)" <wtrone@comcast.net>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Roofing Filter Cut In


>     Steve:
>
>         All I can say is that you are wrong.  Please review the Orion
> diagrams and schematics.  They not the same as what we were used to 30
years
> ago.  Period!
>
>             73,
>
>
>             Bernard, WA4OEJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve N4LQ" <n4lq@iglou.com>
> To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 6:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Roofing Filter Cut In
>
>
> > I disagree. Roofing filers serve the same purpose, are located in the
same
> > place and are even the same physical part they have been for the past 30
> > years. Roofing is simply a new term invented to describe a filter needed
> to
> > overcome the shortcomings of DSP. With adequate "roofing filters" there
is
> > little to be gained from DSP in the cw realm. They have nothing to do
with
> > the "front end". They are in the IF chain as they have always been. The
> > Orion is a superhetrodyne receiver which was invented 70+ years ago. It
> has
> > a first converter, IF and detector. The roofing filter is located in IF
> > stage just like it has always been. The IF is downconverted to a very
low
> > frequency (still considered an IF) and fed into the "DSP" system we so
> > highly revere. The DSP provides, amoung other things, a detector and agc
> > system. If the roofing filter were narrow enough, the DSP would not have
> > much to do on cw. After all, once the filters have removed the QRM from
> both
> > sides of a signal, all we need is a product detector to convert it to
> audio
> > so we can hear it! Shucks, cw is just a tone! What is the point of
> > converting it to digital pulses then trying to reconstruct it into a
tone?
> > Now with SSB were we must wide wide wide filtering like 2.4khz just to
> > understand the stuff it's a different story. Now we can use the DSP to
act
> > as an automatic notch filter and eliminate cw tones which BTW mostly
exist
> > on 40 meters. DSP is also used in the transmitter's circuit to good
> > advantage to intregate voice procession etc.
> > There has been some talk about DSP filtering "not ringing". This is very
> > true in the JA imports but TenTec's filters seem imune from ringing,
even
> > the narrow 250hz filters sound very natural. If you want to hear some
> > ringing, fire up a PROII with a 50hz filter and tune across 80 meters at
> > night. A little time spent with that in your headphones should send you
> > running for a quiet spot.
> >
> > "I noticed the same thing as I started getting to know my new Orion.  I
> > think that part of the confusion is that the roofing filters are not the
> > signal bandwidth filters that we are used to seeing advertised in other
> > rigs.  The roofing filter sets the overall operational bandwidth that
the
> > receiver front end sees.  The signal bandwidth is set using the DSP
> > bandwidth control."
> >
> > Steve N4LQ
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Bernard(wtrone)" <wtrone@comcast.net>
> > To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> > Cc: <ditsnbits@tentec.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 5:53 PM
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Roofing Filter Cut In
> >
> >
> > >     I noticed the same thing as I started getting to know my new
Orion.
> I
> > > think that part of the confusion is that the roofing filters are not
the
> > > signal bandwidth filters that we are used to seeing advertised in
other
> > > rigs.  The roofing filter sets the overall operational bandwidth that
> the
> > > receiver front end sees.  The signal bandwidth is set using the DSP
> > > bandwidth control.
> > >
> > >     Having said that, I think that TenTec confused the situation by
> using
> > > 1.8 and 2.4 kHz values for their "SSB" roofing filters.  Plain and
> simple,
> > I
> > > think that these filters are a mistake for those of us who enjoy
mostly
> > > using SSB!  Why?  They are too narrow.
> > >
> > >     I think that it is reasonable and prudent to have a roofing filter
> > that
> > > is somewhat wider than the desired signal bandwidth.  How much wider?
> > 20%?
> > > 50%?  100%?  I don't know, but I suppose that there are performance
and
> > cost
> > > trades that establish the optimal range.
> > >
> > >     I don't know about the rest of you, but I have great difficulty
> > copying
> > > SSB with a bandwidth less than 2.0 kHz.  I have had rigs with 1.8 and
> 2.0
> > > kHz signal bandwidth filters and I just didn't use them.  They did me
no
> > > good.  I normally set my Orion signal bandwidth between 2.1 and 2.8
kHz
> > > depending on the band conditions.  On automatic filter selection, I
just
> > > don't use the 2.4 kHz roofing filter.  It is too narrow.  I could, of
> > > course, select it and lock it.
> > >
> > >     So, back to the TenTec mistake, IMO.  I think that they should
have
> > > selected a "SSB" roofing filter of about 3.5 kHz and forgotten about
the
> > 1.8
> > > and 2.4 kHz filters.  A 3.5 kHz roofing filter probably would have
> allowed
> > > DSP bandwidth settings of 2.8 kHz or less.  I think that would have
been
> > > "ideal" for us SSB operators.  The 6.0 kHz filter, IMO, is a little
too
> > wide
> > > for DX who are using a 5.0 kHz split.  We need something narrower for
> the
> > > heavy QRM.
> > >
> > >     I do have a question for any of you who have both the 1.8 and 2.4
> kHz
> > > filters.  Have you tried setting the DSP bandwidth at 1.75 kHz or so,
> and
> > > then tried both the 1.8 and 2.4 filters on various SSB signals?  Did
you
> > > hear any difference?
> > >
> > >     Don't get me wrong, I really like my Orion.  I just think that
> TenTec
> > > selected the "wrong" SSB filters.  I suppose that they were more
focused
> > on
> > > CW operation.
> > >
> > >     Just one man's opinion.
> > >
> > >     Comments??
> > >
> > >         73s
> > >
> > >         Bernard, WA4OEJ
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: <K4IA@aol.com>
> > > To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> > > Cc: <ditsnbits@tentec.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 8:42 AM
> > > Subject: [TenTec] Orion Roofing Filter Cut In
> > >
> > >
> > > > I am confused by the scheme used to automatically cut in the Orion
> > roofing
> > > > filters.
> > > >
> > > > Why does the filter not cut in until the DSP bandwidth is
> substantially
> > > less
> > > > than the filter?
> > > >
> > > > For example, the 2.4 filter doesn't switch in until the DSP is at
> 1.990.
> > > >
> > > > The 1.8 doesn't engage until the DSP is at 1.400  This is way too
> narrow
> > > for
> > > > SSB - thus there is no effective roofing filter for narrow SSB and
one
> > > could
> > > > argue this roofing filter is useless for SSB.  Yes, I know you can
set
> > the
> > > > passband for +150 and still be able to decipher SSB at that narrow a
> DSP
> > > setting,
> > > > but speech is very difficult to understand.
> > > >
> > > > The 1.0 comes in at .740  Is this one of the reasons some have
> switched
> > > out
> > > > the 1.0 in favor of the INRAD 600 in this position?
> > > >
> > > > The 500 is at 350.  I don't have the 250 so I can't comment on that
> one.
> > > >
> > > > Wouldn't it make more sense to have the roofing filter match the
DSP?
> > > >
> > > > Would it make sense to have the roofing filter kick in "early" as
the
> > > INRAD
> > > > 600 does when placed in the 1.0 position?
> > > >
> > > > Radio k4ia
> > > > "Buck"
> > > > Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > TenTec@contesting.com
> > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > > >
> > >
> > >
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> > >
> >
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>
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