[Orion] ORION PERFORMANCE

[Richard Detweiler]

Hi Friends!

Wow!,  I wish I could work py5eg station for a few weeks,  I could complete 
5BDXCC in just a few hours with that antenna system.

I'd like to share my experience with the Orion,

It is a difficult beast,  no question about the learning curve,  Some people 
have returned or sold the Orion because of that one point.  I am hoping Ten 
Tec can automate some of these items over time.

I've gotten good performance from the Orion receiver however, I've learned 
not to use any of the NR or AN features.  In my experience, those work 
better for 80M rag chewing than for weak signal work.

The Noise level is directly related to the AGC settings and band conditions. 
  As you have great antennas capable of pulling weak signals on their own,  
the AGC can be turned upwards considerably.

For weak signal work,  I use a vertical and a dipole here.  Then set up the 
Orion in diversity reception with the Main receiver in the Left ear and the 
Sub receiver in the right ear.  I then adjust the AGC on both receivers till 
I hear the noise drop off and the signal peak in my head phone for that 
side.

It usually makes the band noise go down significantly and I have to turn the 
volume up to near max.  But the S/N ratio becomes quite good in that 
scenario.

On the Great antennas you have,  I would bet any decent radio would be 
outstanding.  I would hope some day to have such an antenna system.  After 
all,  the Antenna system is far more important than the radio.  With my 
compromised antenna system though, I need all the help a radio can give me.

Best 73's
Rich
K5SF



>From: PY5EG <py5eg at iesa.com.br>
>To: "'ORION (E-mail)'" <orion at contesting.com>
>CC: "PY2YU - TON (E-mail)" <py2yu at terra.com.br>,"PY1NX SONI (E-mail)" 
><py1nx at superig.com.br>,"PY2KC RODRIGO (E-mail)" <py2kc at bol.com.br>,"PY1KN  
>MARCELO (E-mail)" <marcelo at alternex.com.br>
>Subject: [Orion] ORION PERFORMANCE
>Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 12:12:00 -0200
>
>Hi friends:
>
>             I have my Orion with all the filters for more than 5 months 
>now
>and comparing the rig with my MARK V , I'm disappointed with the Orion's
>performance.
>             I'm using Tarsus's Xcvrs most of the time, having two MARK V,
>and two FT1000D.
>             Reading some reports on the ORION , I decided to test it. In 
>the
>beginning I thought that I was not customizing the rig to the best
>performance. I got all reports and technical mails available and never
>achieve good results with the rig.
>             Last weekend we organize a M/2 effort PS2T from my station
>PY2OMS in Araraquara . We had 6 contest expert operators reaching more than
>9000 Qs and 20,4 million points.
>             We had side by side a Mark V and the Orion. The opinion has 
>been
>unanimous "The MarkV is by far better than the Orion".
>             The most important disadvantages are:
>
>             Much more noisy - even with all very famous roofing filters
>etc..
>             Poor Pileups intelligibility.
>             We never got the best position on AGC versus NR.
>
>             So, due the fact that are many reports saying the contrary. 
>What
>is happening?
>
>             I would appreciate comments in this regard.
>
>             BTW I'm a Ham for more than 40 years, I already built my 
>radios
>on the past and operated practically with all kind of rigs.
>
>             Thanks in advance.
>
>             Oms PY2OMS
>
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