[TenTec] Orions & contesting

[holladayfd]

Scott,
I have read all the posts on this subject and have decided that Wm.
Shakespeare had the correct spin on ti when he titled a play "Much Ado About
Nothing".
Regards,
Frank, K4VMO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ten-Tec Inc. Amateur Radio Sales" <sales at tentec.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orions & contesting


> At 09:44 AM 12/30/03 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >  Elecraft $800 radio is awfully close in important specs and
> >can hear weak signals that Orion could not.
>
> Nothing against Elecraft - but I don't agree with that conclusion,
> much of the feedback that has appeared on the Internet
> doesn't support it and neither would measured specs from ARRL
> Product Reviews.   We'll leave the "human interface for contesting"
> aspect vis a vis Elecraft alone as I don't think Eric and Wayne
> were targeting HF contesting specifically when they designed their
> radio; it wouldn't be a fair comparison.
>
> There is much more to the Orion than merely the #1 receiver
> performance, Yuri - you know that.  The points of Orion versus other
> HF transceivers have been made in numerous places on the Internet
> and in the amateur magazines.  I don't need to repeat them.
>
> > >Just to underline:
> > >Advantages of having and using PTT control line on CW:
> > >1. Smoother, not chopped up CW characters.
> > >2. Positive control over timing, control of linears, and other gizmos
in
> > SO2R
> > >setups.
> > >3. Saves relays.
> > >4. Eliminates QSK chatter, noise between characters when not wanted.
> > >5. Maintains wiring, continuity, functionality between SSB and CW
modes.
>
> All of this is do-able with the Orion as-is.   MOX CW operation defeats
> the purpose of full break-in CW operation.  There is not going to be a
> change made - if you feel that this is a "must have" versus the other
> amazing aspects of the rig - then the Orion is not the transceiver you
> need to meet your needs for serious HF contesting.
>
> If you have external devices that need to be MOX CW PTT operated
> because you need proper sequencing, all the tools are available in the
> radio.  Enable the QSK keying loop but don't hook anything to it.
> Run the CW output of your contest software to pin 3 for PTT on
> the AUX I/O jack of the rear of the Orion.  Take the PTT line from
> the computer keying and run it to the TX EN jack on the back of the
> Orion.  The TX EN jack will now act as a TX inhibitor and will not
> allow the radio to transmit in the absence of the PTT signal.   You may
> now determine when RF comes out of the radio by whether or not
> there is a PTT signal present from the computer - just like you need.
>
> Go into the menu, turn up the QSK delay to whatever value suits your
> ear to defeat the QSK keying.
>
> Set the EXT T/R DELAY control in the menu for whatever value you
> need to assure the proper un-key value so ancillary equipment releases
> after RF output has stopped from the transceiver.  The key-up value is
> already present to prevent initial hot switching.
>
> Sequence of events:  PTT command is sent from the computer to the
> TX EN jack enabling the radio to transmit.  (In its absence, nothing
> will happen).   CW is then sent from the computer to the CW input.
> AMP KEY 1 interjects a 20 mS delay to key the linear and whatever
> devices you have after the linear.  On un-key, the selected (which,
> you, the operator, have determined) EXT T/R DELAY time hangs
> an amount between 0 and 1 seconds after the disappearance
> of RF output power from the radio.   If you want to cut the RF
> drive from the radio off *by your control via PTT* - then tell the
> PTT output from the computer how fast you need to have it removed.
> When that PTT signal disappears from the TX EN jack on the keying
> loop, the radio will stop transmitting.
>
> You have now achieved 1 through 4 on your above needs list.  #5 is
> going to have to be up to you.
>
>  >>Reasons so far given for not implementing it by TenTec?
>  >>"We know better that you don't need it!"
>
> We do things differently than the Japanese - and if you interpret this
> as arrogance or "we know better" that is entirely your spin on it,
> not mine.  If you're not willing to listen to an explanation of why our
> method is *in our opinion* superior, than really there isn't a whole lot
> more than I can say.  We developed the radio (and previous ones)
> with full break-in CW in mind.  If your chief aim is to defeat the CW
> capabilities of the Orion, this may not be the radio for you.
>
> Never has so much been written about something that the radio is already
> capable of - and capable of without needing anything other than a good
> read of the operator's manual.
>
> Yuri, tell me.  When you owned an Omni-VI, it didn't act any different
> from the Orion regarding CW keying.  Why is this an issue for you now?
>
> 73
> Scott Robbins, W4PA
> Amateur Radio Product Manager, Ten-Tec, Inc.
>
>
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