[CQ-Contest] TenTec Orion questions regarding SO2R suitability

[Eric Scace K3NA]

   I would pay significantly more (but rather less than 2x) for a variant of the Orion with two identical receivers of "main"
quality, where the only receiver that gets muted during transmit is the one that either (a) is using the same antenna as the
transmitter or (b) the user chooses to mute.

   If one can get a "SO2R in a box", one eliminates the need for a second radio box on the desk.  Eliminating the second radio box
on the desk in a contest also eliminates a 25A 13vdc power supply and the associated antenna switching hardware -- both of which are
non-trivial work or expense.

   The only thing given up with a SO2R-in-a-box is redundancy.  If the transmitter quits, the contest is over.

   Some responses have pointed out that contesters are a minority of hams, and SO2R contesters a minority within this minority.  But
I suspect that contesters buy a very disproportionately large percent of the high-end radios... and SO2R contesters even more so.

   So I'm with Bill AA4LR: there is an unserved market demand.

73,
   -- Eric K3NA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Coleman [mailto:aa4lr at arrl.net]
Sent: 2003 May 8 Thursday 18:49
To: Bill Tippett; cq-contest at contesting.com; eric at k3na.org
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] TenTec Orion questions regarding SO2R
suitability


On 5/8/03 12:46 PM, Bill Tippett at btippett at alum.mit.edu wrote:

> >POTENTIAL PROBLEM #1:
> >
> >Can an Orion user clarify if any receiver continues to operate while
>transmitting?
>
>         Orion is not SO2R in a box...neither is any other radio.  Yes,
>both receivers are muted while transmitting.

You know, this is a problem.

Ever since the FT-1000D, these radios that pack two receivers and one
transmitter into the same box have 99% of the circuitry needed to do SO2R
with one radio.

You'd think that the Orion, designed with input from Scott, might have
leaped this hurdle. But it sounds like they didn't even try!

When the Orion was first rumoured on the Ten-Tec site, I sent an e-mail
to Ten-Tec asking this very question -- can you receive while
transmitting. I never received an answer.

Whoever is the first manufacturer to pack two quality receivers and one
transmitter into a single box will sell a ton of them.


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901