[Orion] Comments on using an Orion for the CQ 160 CW contest

[Eric Rosenberg <wd3q@starpower.net>]

From my comments on the just-passed CQ 160 CW contest, posted on the 
3830 reflector.

----------

"A summer lightning storm brought a new Orion into to replace the fried 
Omni-6+, and combined with the inverted L, I learned all about intermod 
induced by local AM broadcasters.  With an "AM Brickwall Filter" from 
WB5WPA, the intermod virtually disappeared and I was able to hear the 
weak stations I've never heard before.

"Using the Orion (and a Hercules II) for the first time in a CW contest 
was a great experience. While the Orion's ergonomics are very different 
than the Omni, operating the radio was really no different than before, 
with two major exceptions.

"In his presentation at the PVRC meeting earlier in January, Scott, 
W4PA, talked about the Orion's panoramic sound and diversity reception 
capabilities. With my meager station and mediocre CW skills, I tried 
the panoramic sound capability.  It was very good, indeed, in helping 
me discern signals in the bandpass. The other unique  characteristic, 
as pointed out by others (K3ZO and W4ZV come to mind) is the ability to 
crank down the bandwidth and watch nearby offensive signals go away.  I 
did this  couple of time to great effect, or so I thought, until I 
realized that -- at least in one instance -- I was *very* close to a 
weaker station CQing (sorry LX7I).  This was an  instance where the 
panoramic audio helped make that discovery - I heard him in my left 
ear, clearly off my frequency, but still awfully close.

---------------

Eric W3DQ
Washington, DC  


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