----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Erbaugh" <mark@microenh.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 16:44
Subject: [TenTec] New Rig Suggestion
> I find all the discussion of the Orion interesting and I think the Orion
has
> it's place, but I think what is needed is an affordable starter radio.
Yes. Nothing turns off a novice faster than a poor quality receiver.
We
> need a radio that a new ham can buy without breaking the bank, but one
that
> won't disappoint with poor performance. I realize that higher performance
> equipment costs more, but I hope there can be a happy medium.
>
> I don't know if the numbers would work out, but wouldn't it be fantastic
if
> a new ham could get on the air with a new basic rig and antenna for under
> $500?
>
> Here's what I think would be needed:
>
> 0) All mode, or at least CW, SSB, AM (maybe receive only).
>
> 1) Decent receive performance. Able to work in midly harsh RF environments
> (i.e. able to stand up to many 20 or 40 over signals in the same band
during
> a contest or pileup).
>
> 2) Decent selectivity. I don't know if the cost effective approach would
be
> DSP filters or a set of 4 crystal or mechanical filters (2400, 1800, 500
and
> 250 Hz ).
>
> 3) Built in computer interface - a new ham is going to want to do the
> soundcard modes - but the radio should be easily usable without a
computer -
> i.e. have a user friendly front panel interface. While we're talking
about
> a computer interface, how about USB instead of RS232?
>
> 4) Built in keyer. I think any basic radio should support CW. A couple of
> basic memories would proably be a no-brainer and makes it a lot easier to
> call CQ. Personally, I prefer to be able to program the memory with some
> sort of entry where you "type" in the text rather than having to key it
in.
> A ham who is just starting out may have a hard time getting a decent
enough
> fist to enter a basic message. The keyer should be able to reverse dot
and
> dash paddles from a menu rather than requiring a wiring change.
>
> 5) Mechanically rugged and able to run off of 12 V ( not just 13.8 ) so
the
> radio could be used portable. 120V AC operation should be considered.
>
> 6) Built-in wide range automatic antenna tuner.
>
> 7) Minimum of 50 watts (preferably 100). It would be nice if the power
could
> be reduced to QRP levels, but a new ham shouldn't be saddled with the
> challenge of QRP right from the start - for my first few years in the
hobby,
> I remember how frustrating it was to spend a whole evening calling or
> answering CQ's and getting no response.
>
> 8) General coverage receiver - not needed for ham radio, but probably a
good
> selling point.
>
> 9) Relatively complete package without requiring additional options (at
> least at the $500 level). If a fully loaded rig could be bought for $500
and
> options could be left out reducing the price that might be workable - what
I
> wouldn't want to see is a $500 radio that really needed about an
additional
> $300 in options to be usable.
>
> I may be dreaming about what's possible, but I think the cost of equipment
> is becoming a deterrent to geting new folks into the hobby or of getting
> hams beyond the HT stage.
>
>
>
> 73,
> Mark
>
>
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>
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