I have an Omni VI/Opt1, which is a VI with the VI+ firmware but without the
extra 9 mhz filter position. It has through-hole componentry. It is a
great radio and, as other posters have mentioned, the full schematics
coupled with the well-thought-out design of the product makes it easy to fix
and/or modify the rig.
I've used mine for hundreds of CW and PSK QSOs and several SSB QSOs (I do
most of my hamming at night when everyone else is asleep and my voice
booming out throughout the house isn't a good idea). I've had excellent
signal reports on my SSB QSOs, and while the received audio isn't hi-fi
quality it's certainly sharp and clear and very understandable. The audio
DSP works well to remove static crashes and other noise. If you are really
into the hi-fi sound, then get the Inrad 2.8 Khz filters and also install
their audio mod.
My only criticism of the rig is that it is not a frequency-stable as the
latest designs. I would ASSUME that the Orion and Jupiter have all relevant
oscillators referenced to a TXCO. My VI has had the crystal/oven swapped
out for the TXCO, and the BFO board xtals swapped out for closer tolerance
crystals and will hold within 10 Hz once warmed up, but the original radio
had a tendency to drift 50 Hz during a PSK31 QSO. Of course, that is within
the original Ten-Tec specs for stability, and the rig was really designed
for low- to medium-duty cycle modes like CW and SSB instead of 100% duty
cycle modes like PSK31 that need frequency stability (RTTY is a lot more
tolerant of drift).
I'm sure the Orion is a nicer rig, but could I tell the difference as a
non-contester? Probably not. Quite honestly, although the VI has a hotter
receiver than the Jupiter one probably couldn't tell the difference for most
QSOs either. I look at the VI/Opt1, 2, and 3, and the VI+, as the best deal
when it comes to price versus performance in a ham radio today... with the
VI/Opt1 being the real sleeper.
- jgc
John Clifford KD7KGX
Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2/KPA100
Ten-Tec Omni VI/Opt1, Centaur, 238B
Alinco DR-605TQ, DJ-V5
Icom T90A
IRLP #3978
email: kd7kgx@arrl.net
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