[TenTec] Orion, the direction?

[Stuart Rohre]

I disagree that radios have to change looks every year!  That does nothing
for performance which is what old time hams value.  In recent years, the
Yaecomwood styling of cabinets has looked like melted chiclets!  I do not
care for the curvy injection molded plastics of them.  I also think it is
stupid to have so many buttons and gee dads that you cannot use your radio
without a cheat sheet, or open manual every time you want to change
something.  They do not seem to pay attention to human factors design,
something I have studied and really fault manufacturers who forget it.

I also take issue, (as a long time Scout owner and user,) with the assertion
another reader made, that Ten Tec had "problems" with the Scout.  IF you
used it per the instructions there was no drift.  If you disobeyed the
instructions it "might" drift. Most did not. Mine never has.  For those that
did, there were several fixes.  You would never get fixes from Yaecomwood,
you would get a new model!  With other problems.  Also, I have heard plenty
of Omni VI owners say their rigs did not Chirp.  Some folks on the reflector
are pretty nit picking or bad mouth Ten Tec at every opportunity.  If folks
are happy with Yaecomwood, enjoy them.  If you are wanting to support USA,
buy Ten Tec and enjoy them.  Remember, when all industry moves out of USA,
then what choice will we have?  The nice thing about Ten Tec is that they
have not been a me too company.  Some of the VHF Yaecomwood radios cannot be
told apart at a distance.

Each to their own opinion, there is plenty of room for all of us on the
bands.
73,
Stuart K5KVH