Great thoughts John, tnx
>
> 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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