[TenTec] Orion -- Thinking Inside the Box

[Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX]

For what it's worth, I would like to see a rig that is mildly computer
controlled.  I don't want a computer than has a rig attached.

That translates to a "performance" radio not a "bells & whistles" radio.
Yes, operating system upgrade would be nice but that won't address the
technological changes that will take place in hardware over the next 5 or so
years.  One can't upgrade silicon via software code.  At least not yet.

As to a few comments, and these aren't directly slanted to you Bruce,   I
don't want a transmatch inside the box.  It won't be of any use with a power
amplifier.  Well, err unless the "box" will run full legal power.  Besides,
these "inside" transmatches typically are of limited Z matching ability.

Perhaps a box with "contesting operation" in mind is in order.  The
requirements of a contester are totally and seriously different than those
of a casual "rag chewing" operator and they are certainly different
requirements of those that use the HF rig as a foundation for other
operations such as weak signal EME, Tropo and MS modes.  Then of course
there is the digital operator.  Again, the requirements are quite different.
And again, the requirements of the "died in the wool" CW operator.

At this point, looks like some 5 or 6 clearly different rigs or "boxes" are
needed.  One won't do it all.
 Rig A---- Contesting rig
 Rig B---- Rag chewing rig
 Rig C---- Digital mode rig
 Rig D---- CW enhanced rig
 Rig E---- Weak signal rig
 Rig F ---- Software upgradeable rig for the operator that can't figure out
what they want to do.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not poking fun or being sarcastic toward anyone's
desire or pleasure of ham radio.  But in reality we must be careful what we
ask for.  And what we ask for must fit the majority of the ham radio market,
not a select few.  One radio won't do it all.

73
Bob K4TAX

P.S.  - As they say in the TV news, "obtained from reliable but un-named
sources, I hear that there is more than one radio on the drawing board".


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Prior" <n7rr@hotmail.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 9:35 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Orion -- Thinking Inside the Box


> Just after learning about the Orion development, I was reading Joe
> Bottiglieri's review of the Icom IC-756PROII in the February 2002 QST.  I
> noticed that it will decode RTTY on the display screen.  It started me
> thinking about the coming Orion - inside the box.
>
> For those of you whose OMNI-VI+ is front and center at your operating
> position, look at your set up.  Do you have a transmatch?  It could be
> optionally inside the box and be configured with latching relays so that
it
> draws no power and makes no electrical noise after it has found its match.
> Do you have an antenna switch?  It could be inside the box, also with
> latching relays.  Do you have a keyer paddle?  I'd like to keep it out of
> the box, but it should plug into a contest-grade memory keyer inside the
> box.  I'd also like to continue using the four remote buttons on my keyer
> paddle to control principal memories.  Do you have a keyboard?  You should
> be able to plug it into the box and use it for any conceivable digital
mode,
> including CW.  Would you like a front-panel display screen like the
> IC-756PROII and its predecessors?  Sure, but you also should be able to
> attach a full-sized computer monitor to the box.
>
> The Pegasus is a rig inside a computer.  The Jupiter is essentially that
> same rig in a separate box.  The Orion should be an impeccable rig with a
> full-featured computer inside.  That computer should open the whole
digital
> world to the operator.  You should be able to be check your e-mail at the
> same time that you're participating in a 75-m gabfest.  You should be able
> to monitor the DX Cluster on line while you're chasing DX or contesting.
> You should be able to compose a letter while waiting to check into the
> weekly RACES net.  The Orion hardware should allow for future developments
> in digital voice modes.  Speaking of the computer inside the rig:  it
should
> be configured so that, say, five years from now, you could replace the
> computer motherboard without replacing the whole box.  The computer should
> be designed so that it is configurable to your choice of RAM, CD-ROM,
> hard-drive and sound-card capabilities.  Needless to say, the computer
> inside the box should be engineered with extreme care so that it won't
> degrade the performance of the rig.
>
> 73, Bruce Prior N7RR
>
>
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