Fw: [TenTec] Orion commentary

[Jim]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim" <pywacker@fuse.net>
To: "Carl Morris, WN3DUG" <wn3dug@comcast.net>; <sales@tentec.com>
Cc: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion commentary


> It wouldn't break my heart if it look alot like the 340 both color,
cabinet
> hardware and knobs.
>
> 73 de KE4WY Jim
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carl Morris, WN3DUG" <wn3dug@comcast.net>
> To: <sales@tentec.com>
> Cc: <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 8:45 PM
> Subject: [TenTec] Orion commentary
>
>
> >
> > Scott Robbins, W4PA,
> > Amateur Radio Product Manager
> >
> > Thanks for giving us your comments on the Ten-Tec Orion, from an
> "official"
> > viewpoint.
> >
> > Three ham friends of mine went to the Charlotte Hamfest and thought the
> trim
> > was "Gold", in color, so maybe it was the lighting, or whatever.  Their
> > comments to me were that it looked "Art Deco" (From the Fifties).
> >
> > The main point is that they did not like the appearance of the Orion,
> > especially the black color, among other things.  They did, however,
really
> > like the Model 516  "QRP" Transceiver.
> >
> > Ten-Tec doesn't have to make its transceivers the same color as the
> > competitors, in order to increase sales.  You just have to make them
look
> > like a quality Ham Transceiver, not a stereo or CB transceiver.  The
main
> > point is that it must be a great operating transceiver!
> >
> > After viewing the digital pictures of the Orion, on the Internet, my
first
> > impressions were as follows:
> >
> > 1.  Ten-Tec ORION logo.......... Way too large and "Garish".  Maybe
should
> > be just white lettering like the 516.
> > 2.  The LCD Display looked awful.............Should be Color to even
hope
> to
> > compete with the competition.
> > 3.  Looked like an MFJ product from the back view.............Should
have
> > PEM nuts and nice screws.
> > 4.  Enclosure color looked "Too Black"............Should be more Gray
and
> > flat or matte finish.
> > 5.  AF Gain Control(s) should be on the bottom row, maybe below the
Tuning
> > Control knobs, or on the left.
> > 6.  Chrome ("Gold"?) Trim made unit look "Cheap"...........I would get
rid
> > of on Logo and Knobs.
> >
> > I have an Icom IC-2800H Dual Band mobile transceiver, that cost about
> > $500.00, that has a great Color TFT 3" Display, that has adjustable
> > brightness and colors, on-screen switch displays and a great band
spectrum
> > analyzer, that Ten-Tec's Orion, at approximately $3,300.00, should be
able
> > to beat. (MUST be Color Display!)
> >
> > I strongly disagree with your statement that  "the performance can be
> > secondary as long as it's within the same realm of other comparable
rigs."
> > Who's going to pay $3,300.00 for a transceiver that doesn't provide MUCH
> > more performance than a comparable rig, just because you think it has to
> > look appealing?  If it doesn't perform, and perform well, I don't think
> > anyone is going to be concerned with what it looks like.  Performance
> should
> > still be Number 1!  I sure hope that Ten-Tec is not becoming a "Me Too"
> > Company.
> >
> > Thanks for your comments and insight, Scott.
> >
> > 72/73, Carl,  WN3DUG
> > Ten-Tec Model 544 Triton IV
> > Ten-Tec Model 1220 2 Meter
> > Ten-Tec Model 1230 220 Meter
> > Elecraft K2 S/N:  1320
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
>