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Re: [TenTec] 566 Orion II Firmware Version V3.029---SpectrumDisplay&Tuni

To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] 566 Orion II Firmware Version V3.029---SpectrumDisplay&Tuning...
From: "chacuff" <chacuff@cableone.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:54:16 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
I agree...I'm finding it crazy that the claims that the OII does not work 
that way is being brushed aside as us just not understanding.  I've been a 
component level tech for nearly 40 years...I fix these things too as well as 
restore tube radio gear...from point to point to surface mount.  I 
understand well...and on my OII "it just ain't so"...

I'll be happy to do a short video of just how it reacts and post it if that 
would help.

I do have a desire to understand why we are experiencing differences...

Some of the confusion I think is that while we started this discusion on the 
model 566 suddenly three or four different Ten-Tec radios have been brought 
into the discussion assuming that they were all designed the same or that 
the software writers stayed true to the same functional requirement...which 
I'm sure they didn't.

I brought the Omni VI+ into the discussion because there was a statement 
that that was the way all Ten-Tec radios were designed.  I was fully aware 
that it was a traditional analog design.

It is indeed hard to make comparisons between apples and oranges in any 
analytical way.

Cecil
K5DL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kc9cdt@aol.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 12:00 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] 566 Orion II Firmware Version 
V3.029---SpectrumDisplay&Tuning...


> The Omni VII obviously works different than OII.
> 73,
> Lee
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: chacuff <chacuff@cableone.net>
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tue, Apr 24, 2012 10:17 pm
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 566 Orion II Firmware Version
> V3.029---SpectrumDisplay&Tuning...
>
>
> Bob something is missing here for sure.
>
> If I do exactly what you say my "S" meter does not react the same.
> That is
> on my Orion II with the latest firmware and with the earler 2.044 and
> also
> my Omni VI+.  Add attenuation and the meter goes down.  On the Orion at
> preamp and the meter goes up.  It's not broken it's just different and
> we
> haven't identified why.
>
> I agree with your assertion that that may be an ideal way for it to
> work
> because none of what you did with attenuation or preamplification
> changed
> the signal leve received at the antenna...but the fact is my rigs don't
> work
> that way.
>
> Cecil
> K5DL
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <RMcGraw@Blomand.net>
> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 566 Orion II Firmware Version
> V3.029---SpectrumDisplay&Tuning...
>
>
>> According to Art Collins, generally credited with the adoption of the
> S
>> meter system,  it was intended to give meaningful signal strength
> reports.
>> The old "green magic eye" on radios was a tuning indicator.  Yes, the
>> original value per my Collins 75A-3B manual shows S-9 = 100 uV.
>>
>> Sitting here this evening in front of my Omni VII listening to WWV on
> 10
>> MHz, at 100% RF Gain the S meter indicates S-9 +6dB.  Switching in
> the
>> ATTN
>> in 6 dB steps to 18 dB the S meter stays at S-9 +6dB.  The answer is
>> simple.
>> Add 18 dB of attenuation to the input, which automatically adds 18 dB
> of
>> gain to the S meter circuit.  The opposite is true when the preamp is
>> engaged.  Add 12 dB of gain to the receiver circuit which
> automatically
>> adds
>> 12 dB of loss to the S meter circuit.  I refer to this as a smart S
> meter
>> system.  SMART =   Signal Measurement, Accurate, Reliable, True
>>
>> The Eagle, no matter what one does in terms of Attenuation or RF Gain
> or
>> Preamp activation, the S meter reading does not change.  Again, same
>> concept.
>>
>> Think about it, if you are receiving a station at S-9 + 20 dB and you
>> switch
>> in 18 dB of attenuation, did you change his signal strength at the
> input
>> of
>> your radio?  The answer is NO.  You changed the signal at the input
> to the
>> receiver first stage.  Then shouldn't the S meter always reflect the
>> signal
>> strength regardless of what one did to their receiver gain system?
> Hence
>> you can always be assured that the S meter system in the Tentec Omni
> VII
>> and
>> Eagle will reflect the correct value at the input to the radio.
>>
>> Even with a signal at the input of -23 dBm or 15,811 uV which is 50
> dB
>> over
>> S 9, reduction of the RF Gain to 0% the S meter does not change.  It
> still
>> shows the signal at 50 dB over S 9, hence the system inversely adds
> gain
>> to
>> the S meter circuit to make up for the reduction in RF Gain.
> Therefore,
>> the
>> S meter is correct reading regardless of RF Gain setting.  Of course
> once
>> you remove the 50 dB over S 9 signal with RF Gain at 0% you will see
> the S
>> meter display drop to 40 dB over S 9.  The point being that the RF
> Gain
>> does
>> not affect the accuracy of the S meter reading above AGC threshold.
>>
>> Now what one does see with no signal applied, as one reduces the RF
> Gain
>> the
>> S meter moves upscale in 6 dB increments or 1 S unit.  This reflects
> the
>> threshold of AGC reference to S 9 being 50 uV.  At 100% RF Gain, as
> one
>> engages the ATTN function in 6 dB increments you will observe the S
> meter
>> indication move up scale 1 S unit per 6 dB.  Now once reaching 18 dB,
>> engage
>> the Preamp and you will see the S meter move down scale by 2 S units
>> indication that 12 dB of gain has been added.
>>
>> All of the math works and so does the radio respond accordingly.
>>
>> 73
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <k3miy@csonline.net>
>> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 11:10 AM
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 566 Orion II Firmware Version
>> V3.029---SpectrumDisplay
>> &Tuning...
>>
>>
>>> You're right, Ray. In the old days, the S meter was regarded as a
>>> tuning aid, and nothing else.
>>>
>>> Ron
>>> K3MIY
>>>
>>>
>>> Quoting Rsoifer@aol.com:
>>>
>>>> Not only that, but the old Collins spec was 3 S units = 10 dB, not
> the
>>>> modern standard of 6 dB per S unit.
>>>>
>>>> More broadly, I'm afraid I just don't understand the continuing
>>>> preoccupation with S meter and spectrum display issues.  Neither
> has
>>>> much
>>>> to
>>>> do with
>>>> performance, which is where I'd like to see T-T focus their
> attention.
>>>> Flak
>>>>
>>>> jacket on!
>>>>
>>>> 73 Ray W2RS
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> TenTec mailing list
>>>> TenTec@contesting.com
>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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