[TenTec] TT Orion: Also SEMI-BK-IN possible ? (V/UHF considerations)

[Bob Henderson]

Duane

You may well be correct about what was in Ulrich's mind when he made the 
statement.  I really don't know and I'm not sure it matters, as I 
believe we both responded to it with good intent.  All of us are 
constrained to interpret statements and situations within the context 
and limitation of our own understanding.

I am certainly not a VHF contester, though in my youth I did play at 
it.  If, given your specialisation, you were to point out some 
functionality that you felt was abscent though necessary for the success 
or advancement of your VHF contesting endeavours, I would have no 
inclination to trivialise or rubbish what you say, as some have done to 
those concerned with the lack of PTT control.

 From my perspective the Orion along with other rigs, is intended to be 
suitable for use in a multitude of circumstances.  It seems to me that 
interaction on this reflector would be a lot better, were everyone to 
accept that the way they individually intend to use the radio is not 
necessarily the way everyone else should.

73 & season's greetings.

Bob, 5B4AGN, P3F



Duane Grotophorst wrote:

>--- Bob Henderson <bob at cytanet.com.cy> wrote:
>
><snip>
>
>  
>
>>"I'll not use a 
>>PTT for contesting, I only have two hands, one for
>>the PC, one for the keyer, that's all."
>>
>>Perhaps I am wrong, but this suggested to me that
>>Ulrich perhaps thought 
>>that those asking for PTT control, were looking for
>>a manual, perhaps even hand operated control.
>>    
>>
>
>In his specific question I did not get that impression
>at all because I didn't make HF centric contesting
>assumptions about what he's wanting to do. But on the
>other hand doing exactly that (using manual control)
>would have place in V/UHF contesting. Unlike the fixed
>mode contacts in most (all?) HF contesting Q's in VHF
>contesting are frequently made using mixed modes. Also
>the contest logging software will likely be left in
>"phone" mode at all times, that means the CW sending
>is being done outside of the contesting software,
>either using a simple hand key or traditional
>electronic keyer. The CW used in V/UHF contesting is
>rarely over 15-20 WPM or even being used all that
>much. Nor is there much of an issue of having big
>pileups, so a relatively slow RX/TX CW turn around on
>VHF isn't a big deal. But to be competitive you do
>need to be able use CW (and now the new digital modes
>like FSK441/JT44/JT65 as well) because that's where
>many of the new multipliers will come from.
>
>So the phone PTT arrangement could very well be done
>by both computer and foot switch. And since the CW is
>quite likely being sent by hand having to depend on
>the timing of the "foot" isn't all that reliable. And
>using the computer to send CW isn't a very good option
>either since the logging program is most often left in
>phone. So using good old fashioned semi QSK for CW
>RX/TX switching is often the simplest way to go,
>especially so since full QSK capable equipment as
>already pointed out is rarely an option in the V/UHF
>world. 
>
>So this is an example of why some the global
>assumptions that the HF only contesters will make are
>not always valid for V/UHF "weak signal" operating. It
>is sufficiently different from HF for several reasons
>and therefore applying HF ideas and methods are not
>always effective.
>
>There are also several other different requirements
>about how to optimally setup the station. It is not
>uncommon for a single-op VHF contester to be
>listening/searching/watching for Q's on 4 or more
>bands all at the same time, and to then be quickly
>jumping between each of the radios that are dedicated
>to each of those bands making Q's. So a single radio
>or two bandswitching between bands is not always the
>norm.
>
>All of this is relevant to a radio like the Orion
>because it holds some tremendous possibilities for the
>VHF crowd because arguably 6&2M contest conditions can
>be the most demanding there is. This is because the
>natural noise floor for these bands are so much lower
>than HF and the antennas typically being used are so
>much higher in gain. So when you are pointed towards
>that "line of site" multi-op station who is pointed at
>your station with 1KW or more into 15+ dB of antenna
>(on both ends) you will have some very strong signals
>to deal with. But yet your station will still need to
>be able hear signals approaching -150dBm that are only
>a few kHz away. So a transverter IF radio having
>extremely low phase noise like the Orion has is a
>distinct advantage, so is its IP3 and close-in BDR
>specifications. It is no accident that Ulrich is
>looking to an Orion to mate with those top notch
>transverters to improve his station for V/UHF rather
>than some 'all mode', 'all band' wonder box. So
>whatever future optimizations are in order for the
>Orion they also need to consider V/UHF transverter
>operation in addition to HF.
>
>Duane
>N9DG
>EN53bj
>
>
>
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