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Re: [TenTec] Orion II

To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II
From: "Bob Henderson" <bob@cytanet.com.cy>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 10:24:24 -0000
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Tom

This is the rate at which the DragonBall processes commands issued via the
RS-232 port.  It is nothing to do with line speed, which as you know is
probably as fast as any radio.  The new firmware is intended to be more
efficient and hence provide improvement here.

73

Bob, 5B4AGN
www.5b4agn.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Wagner" <tfwagner@snet.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 10:02 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II


> Bob --
>
> What do you mean by RS-232 command speed issue?
>
> 73,
> Tom Wagner - N1MM
> Check out the N1MM Free Contest Logger at:
> http://www.n1mm.com
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N1MMLogger/
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Bob Henderson
> Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 4:57 AM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II
>
>
> I have already made clear my concerns raised by the Orion II product
> announcement.  Subsequently, I have communicated with Jack Burchfield
> directly about the outstanding issues of front panel control/RS-232
command
> speed & narrow roofing filter performance. I would not normally make
> reference to a private communication between myself and Ten Tec management
> but as the Orion II product announcement urged me to be directly critical
of
> them, I will make an exception here.
>
> I have been reassured by Jack that the new control firmware will provide
> "more speed and faster access".  Of course, only time will tell whether
the
> quantum of improvement will meet the expectations of Orion users.  Jack
also
> confirmed, Ten Tec will provide the means for existing Orion owners to
make
> use of narrow roofing filters.  Needless to say, I find comfort in these
> reassurances being provided.
>
> What a pity the Orion II announcement wasn't written with outstanding
> concerns of existing Orion owners more in mind.  Had the announcement
> included something like:-
>
> "The sheer extent of physical rework required, renders a full hardware
> upgrade from Orion I to Orion II both impractical and uneconomic. So with
> regret, Ten Tec will be unable to offer such a path.  However, established
> Orion owners can take heart, for they are far from forgotten.   Our
Version
> 2 firmware will yield substantial performance benefits for Orion I owners,
> as indeed it will for new owners of Orion II.  In addition, though details
> are yet to be finalised, we will soon announce an option under which Orion
I
> owners can take advantage of the benefits of narrow bandwidth roofing
> filters."
>
> Certainly, the inclusion of something like that above would have made my
> reaction to events a whole lot more positive.
>
> Take good care in treatment of your customers, for without them your
future
> is bleak.
>
> Bob Henderson 5B4AGN
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Henderson" <bob@cytanet.com.cy>
> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 8:57 AM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II
>
>
> > There are certainly many fascinating views expressed here and apparently
> > some confusion over what is going on.
> >
> > It is quite reasonable that product enhancements be confined to an Orion
> II.
> > Colour display, 8 pin mic connector and independent control of levels
for
> > digital mode operation are examples of such enhancements.  If it makes
> > business sense to only offer these in the next generation of Orion, then
> so
> > be it.
> >
> > It is wholly unreasonable that product fixes be confined to a
replacement
> > product and not made available to users of the faulty product.  Roofing
> > filter operation and adequacy of processor speed are examples of fixes
> > required which have been acknowledged by Ten Tec management for around a
> > year.
> >
> > Assessment of whether fixes are minor or not is subjective.  Rather like
> > beauty, which someone once said "exists in the mind of the beholder".
Put
> > simply, if you find the operation of the Orion I roofing filter schema
> meets
> > your needs, ( and if you are a phone op, it will meet them extremely
> well )
> > then you will consider this change to be minor.  OTOH if you find that
> Orion
> > failed to live up to its promise in this area and have had discussions
> with
> > the Chief Exec of the company about providing a fix, then it is likely
you
> > consider this problem something more than minor.
> >
> > If the processor speed fix can be achieved in firmware I will be
delighted
> > but whatever is required, Orion I users should have reasonable
performance
> > here.
> >
> > The roofing filter fix can only be achieved by a change in the hardware
> > used.  There is no "new technology" or ethereal magic at work here.  To
> > suggest such, is unmitigated BS. The plan to re-use Omni 9MHz filters at
> 250
> > & 500 Hz was flawed.  The hardware did not perform as it was supposed to
> do.
> > A new roofing filter scheme has been introduced to correct this design
> flaw.
> > This fix should be made available to current users who need it.
> >
> > Bob Henderson, 5B4AGN
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
>
>
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