[CQ-Contest] Contest Rig

[k3bu at optonline.net]

----- Original Message -----
From: Mario <s56a at bit.si>
Date: Thursday, June 1, 2006 5:01 pm
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Contest Rig

> N6TJ: Next subject??
> 
> American patriotism - buy Orion :-)
> 
> 73 de Mario, S56A, N1YU


Especially on the Memorial Day (WPX) weekend!  :-(

I have been trying to be "patriotic" and forgiving and patient and eager to keep upgrading this software upgradeable contest wunder.

Much of the coming upgrades have been slow, fixing one thing and messing up three more.

Long awaited ver. 2.... turned out to be "more stable" but deaf to weak signals and with messed up DSP. I upgraded just before the contest, it was more stable, didn't quit once, but second night I was trying to dig out weak JAs on 160, switched to my IC781 and those "weak" JAs were perfectly readable on ICOM. What else did I miss? Cost me coming short of beating US record on SSB.
After the contest I found out that ver 2 software has problems with weak signals and beta testers in know were using unannounced, unreleased ver 1.373B3 or B5. Thanks TT and beta testers! Way to keep hotshot contesters informed and armed with the "best".

Next trip to W8LRL, I figured I use his Orion, no need to haul mine, they are the same, I brought his rig up to snuff. Half an hour from his QTH, he cells me that his Orion just went dead. We tried all the resets to rescuscitate it, no luck, orion had to go back to TT mama. Something with processor not liking me and going puff.

Few times I operated QRP or LP (not to offend delicate champion rig) and experienced about 5 - 7 "quits" during the contest. Not a big deal for little pistol, plenty of time between the pileups and to reboot the quits.  Nice "feature" to give the tired contester a break.

Last WPX CW I loaded the best 1.373B3 software, fired up on 160 LP (Orion doesn't like RF in a shack) and braved the QRN and empty band. NB and AN works the best of all the versions and it helped to copy some weak ones among the static crashes. Due to sparse activity I used SWEEP display, trying to see if there are any other brave souls foolish enough to show down on 160. I called plenty of CQs, hoping to attract some multis. Band seemed soooo dead and I would sometimes switch to 80 or 40 to see if anybody is on, or if the contest is still on. No signals there either. Hmmm. Then I realized that my Orion decided to spare me of signal overload and produced perfectly "dead" bands, with no signals just band noise. Power OFF - ON and bands came to life. Sooo, looks like I have been CQing my head off and parading as a baby alligator - no ears. I apologize to those who called me and I kept CQing in their face, I simply did not hear anything except the band noise, which seemed so no
rmal for "empty band".

I think I have reached point, when I realize that I am not good enough for this wunder radio and we have to part our ways, especially when I am gearing up for serious HP operations and can't afford dead air and this "terrific" radio that keeps telling me something. I am getting old fast, and don't have much time to wait for the ultimate software release that will fix everything and not screw anything else. Just keep wondering, is it just me and my lemon, or others have similar experiences?

Apparently original Orion with ver. 1.373 is better than Orion II with ver 2...  software, so if one doesn't mind occasional quitting, it is way to go and they gained value on the used rig market. Anyone looking for Orion with filters and AT with little hours on it, you can have it for $2800.

In the mean time, I will be looking at IC7800 or FT2000, until DR1 gets ready for the prime time.
Otherwise my present favorites are modified FT1000D and IC781 with TimeWave DSP 599ZXs.

There is something good about good old analog demodulation rigs and weak signal reception. When I sold my modified TS870 to OK2RZ, he immediately noticed that he had hard time to decipher weak signals, which on my old modified Drake R4B were "comfortable" copy. It turned out that the DSP demodulation makes it rough copy. Looks like DSP gets "too smart" and has problems distinguishing between good and "no good" weak signals. I know that DSP can do wonders, moonbounce guys and SDR radios seem to benefit from it, but it is something to consider and pay attention to. So don't throw those analog "boat anchors" away yet, looks like FT1000D and IC 781 are still da contester's radios. Add some INRAD roofing filters and even OMNI VI+ would come close to IMD figures of Drakes and Orion and give an edge for the rough rides on crowded contest bands.

FWIW from this and that shack.
Thanks for all them contest Q's and sorry about not hearing you occasionally! It won't happen again!
Congrats to EU, looks like some decent activity in WPX CW on 160!

Yur Blanarovich, K3BU


 


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