While I find the test reports in QST to be informative, I do not
consider them to be the final word in a rig's performance. Some years
ago they did a rather harsh appraisal of the Ten Tec Argonaut II and
Delta II radios. I have two of the Argonaut II units, and find that
while they are not top end contest quality radios, they work very well
as IF rigs for VHF transverters, and for portable and fixed QRP HF
operation. That one review sank their chance for commercial success.
I have several of the Elecraft transverters, and can vouch for their
superb customer support. These units have had problems with power
amplifier oscillation, especially when trying to drive them with 0DBm
level outputs, and on the 2 meter and above units there is no way to set
them on frequency. Like any other product produced in this vale of
tears they are not perfect. They do work decently with some fiddling.
I also own a number of Ten Tec rigs, and find them to have an utterly
superb service department. We are fortunate to have two such fine
domestic companies serving a rather small and irritable market segment
such as ham radio.
After reading all of the complaints about the Orion rigs here, I doubt
that I will ever buy any software defined radio. Fortunately, my older
equipment meets my needs very well. I hope Ten Tec continues to service
them. I have a Kenwood TS790A and they are not interested in that one
any more. If all else fails, I still have my command sets and my older
tube equipment!
My $0.02 worth.
Steve WA9JML
Marshall Stewart wrote:
Douglas,
You made a statement that "If it (the ORION II) was such a great and
finished product then why did most if not all of the Ham Radio's Top
contest-DX operators bail on TenTec?". I was just curious to know what
source of information you based your statement on. Also, I was curious to
know if your source also included information on what transceivers "top
contest-DX operators" were bailing to. I find it telling that you did not
respond to either question.
The article in NCJ did not come out of a fiery bush onto a tablet of stone,
but the author did cite ARRL Lab test data. A reasonable person might
consider that more than just "opinion".
Marsh
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