Lots of great suggestions, but one I would like to pitch for in any new rig
or as a "stand alone" to be added to existing radios would be remote
control. Certainly the Omni VII has that built in, and you can cobble
together something using the RemoteRig hardware and remote desktop, but
having either a plug n' play hardware control head with built in CODEC's and
internet connection would be great. A simple flexible control system like
the T-Mate2 with audio and Ethernet would be ground-breaking. Add in modular
rotator control, amplifier control, etc. and you have a winner!
With hams growing older and broadband access being more ubiquitous, remote
operations are now the fastest growing sector of ham radio today. There
were numerous discussions about remotes at the Visalia DX convention this
past weekend.
Ron Castro
N6IE
www.N6IE.com
Member:
ARRL
Redwood Empire DX Assn.
Northern California Contest Club
Northern California DX Foundation
-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of John Henry
Sent: April 8, 2014 8:02 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: [TenTec] Varied Wishes and ramblings
I hope everyone can see just from these last two threads, that there is a
huge variation in what hams expect of their rigs. If I look at this from the
outside, looking at TEN-TEC, and what TEN-TEC has made through the years, I
believe that TEN-TEC has done a great job in giving the consumers what they
want, mostly.
Look at the Orion series of rigs. Fantastic performance for contesting,
great features on the front panel, a sweep that works fairly good, but of
course limited by size and other constraints, and so many things to so many
different hams that wanted x and another didn't want x but wanted y instead,
well, mostly, it was there on the Orion. The antenna matrix, fantastic, the
band data outputs, serial control of a lot of the functions for the PC
hounds and the interfaces for the same PC hounds with their SDR's doing
"fantastical" PC sweeps/waterfalls/skimming/coffee making. It's there. For
the audio enthusiast, binaural, spatial, agc tailoring, ground breaking
stuff years ago, that still most don't really comprehend and well, why does
everyone have to? they don't, just use it stock, and it outperforms just
about anything on the market in just about any condition.
The OMNI-VII, only things it's really missing is a second receiver and a
functional sweep (plus a few tricks we have up our sleeves in store for it).
Of course, some would not consider an OMNI-VII because of something it lacks
that the Orion has, or vice versa. Or the competitor rig y has the feature
required. Maybe it is missing band data outputs, antenna matrix, two main
VFOs, etc., but, it is a stellar performer, demo's with the Ethernet are
going fantastic from new hams trying out the rig in the TEN-TEC sales shack
getting audio reports of great audio. Yes, I'm still beta testing one baby
step at a time on a new Ethernet set of code, will be out...xxxx Yes, some
issues, with all the rigs, but, well, all in all, the rigs have done great,
and will continue to do great.
Just look at the differences "REQUIRED" of the one feature, the sweep. Some
could care less and want us to quit working on it for the 588 and will never
fire it up for the 566. Yet some REALLY NEED it to work on the 588.
So, as someone mentioned earlier, that means we need to design interfaces in
the hardware for optional add-ons. Not an issue, because if I start with a
bare OMNI-VII, almost all of those interfaces already exist (talking about
interfaces to additional hardware options, not GUI's). Same for the Eagle,
same for the Orion(s).
As I read some people's inputs, the Eagle has EVERYTHING they will ever
need. Why? Because it is an absolute top notch performer in receiver quality
and sound. For some, it has an absolutely easy to use easy to access feature
set that covers every requirement they need. Some use it connected to a PC
for getting the things they want out of it.
As I read some peoples inputs, the Eagle needs so much more to make it the
ultimate rig, well, those are good thoughts, good wishes.
Same for the OMNI-VII.
With all of the above, the variances in customer wishes, required features,
etc., we try to design something that can do all for the ultimate
configuration users like the super serious PC driving
contesters/dxers/etc.ers, at the same time of hitting the requirements of
the front panel only user who wants to dominate the same contests, at the
same time of hitting the requirements of a rag chewer who gets on from time
to time and wants to drive it from the PC or the front panel or a
combination of both.
When these threads started, my inbox must have had an increase of about
50-100 more emails a day, just on the wishes for an Orion III and it's
"required" features. That also lead to requests for the sweep for the
OMNI-VII, Vox for the Argonaut VI, etc., etc.
It just takes time to get those things out.
Doing what we can.
No, I'm not complaining, don't take this post this way, I do really
appreciate the inputs, it helps confirm the direction we are going, and also
brings to light things we had forgotten that others thought were really
important, that in our way of operating or thinking, well, they weren't
thought of as needed, so we can rethink them again, and why.
heck, even inside TEN-TEC there is a great disparity on some features, what
is included, why, who would ever use this, etc.
Somewhere, in the end, we hope to find the happy middle ground, medium.
Now, sometimes, we will make things that people have no idea why, e.g. the
506 is one of them. I have had MANY emails and calls about that was the
worst way and thing TEN-TEC could ever have made, not an Orion or Eagle or
even a traditional Corsair or Tritan... well, true, but, it helps others get
into the hobby, brings joy back to hams that had gotten out of the hobby
because they were disheartened, and the 506 brought them back, and they are
having fun again.
Of course, when threads like this occur, I do get emails from hams saying
they will wait on their purchase now for the hope of the ultimate x
transceiver. Well, my input to that is... Why wait, I mean, you have the
opportunity now, the rig you are looking at really does fit your
requirements today, and besides, you may get hit by a bus in a month and
would not have enjoyed the rig. TEN-TEC could get hit by a bus itself, and
the future ultimate x transceiver won't see the light of day and you would
have missed out on the rig we have now. Go ahead and get that OMNI-VII, or
get that Eagle, or Argonaut VI, or 506, you can always trade it in next year
or the year after for the ultimate x transceiver, if/when it comes out.
Heck, if everyone waits for the next big TEN-TEC rig, there won't be a "next
big TEN-TEC rig" because everyone waiting will tank the company due to lack
of sales.
I know a lot that have waited on buying their next transceiver, waiting for
the new ultimate xxx that is now on the market, well, it ain't filling their
bill, ain't performing near what their other two rigs were that they traded
in to be able to afford it. ain't living up to expectations, etc.
etc. No, this isn't a knock on a specific one, but sometimes the kool-aid
makes one think it is best to get the one thing, when what they had in the
TEN-TEC rigs did actually fulfill all they needed.
So, go get your OMNI-VII now, ....
'nuff said, time for me to get some shut eye
Thanks, and 73,
John Henry, KI4JPL
TEN-TEC Engineering
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