In addition to muting the receiver, the PTT line should be closing
the AMP KEY line to your amplifier. I agree that the radio still works
in QSK, but of course you can adjust EXT T/R Delay so that the amp will
still work in Semi-Breakin in case you forget to depress PTT. As I
recall,
this is exactly how my MP worked. Although my preferred mode was to
press my footswitch, Semi-breakin was there to "rescue" me in case I did
not depress it fast enough for the computer keying (I also use manual
keying
in parallel with CT for contests).
Bottom line to all of this is Orion's PTT should definitely be
closing your amplifier's T/R relay in addition to muting Orion. If it
is NOT doing that, something is wrong with your setup, but it works fine
for me. This is what I expected when I first set up my Orion last
August,
and was very disappointed when my footswitch via the MIC connector gave
me a key-down carrier on CW! Thanks to Ten-Tec for listening.
73, Bill W4ZV