[TenTec] More IP3 Stuff

[John Rippey]

Given the variables involved in lab data results and their interpretation, 
as discussed in this thread, there seems to be no substitute for in-home 
evaluations of transceiver performance by each ham as the final arbiter.

This is no panacea, though, because it's an expensive, time-consuming 
process to obtain, evaluate, compare, resell and then ship out individual rigs.

As an additional complication, most of today's transceivers are designed to 
be pretty much all things to all people--to provide all kinds of modes, 
options, etc., at a certain price point. Each transceiver therefore 
consists of many complex compromises--determined by a host of 
design/production decisions, with an end result that can be a 
mish-mash--perhaps very appealing to some while leaving others unimpressed. 
(As one example, the IC-756 PROII's "dual watch" feature is not the same as 
Yaesu's separate receivers in the 1000 series because, as I understand it, 
in producing the 756 PRO is basically a military transceiver converted to 
amateur use and the original military specs did not call for dual receivers.)

Furthermore, as perhaps in the case of an FT-920 I owned, the rig obtained 
may not meet factory specs, unbeknownst to the purchaser. In other words, 
the ham could be attributing certain faults to a model generically when in 
fact the specific rig under evaluation is defective. This means, ideally, 
that two or three samples of each model (ugh!) should be evaluated before 
reaching a conclusion.

In spite of the valiant ongoing efforts of the ARRL, and to a lesser extent 
CQ Magazine, the reports they provide can only be a first cut in the 
evaluation process. (If you don't have a good curve ball, you won't be 
invited to spring training.) Ultimately, each ham's selection of his/her 
"ideal" transceiver has to be up to him/her, acting alone. And it's a 
complicated, lengthy process. No wonder so many hams either hang on to 
their tried-and-true transceivers from the 80's or, if buying a new rig, 
fall back on brand loyalty as their selection criterion. Being loyal to a 
brand does greatly simplify life. And the good news is that most (all?) of 
the rigs today are pretty good all-round performers so it's not as if you 
end up with a poor performer no matter what rig is chosen and by what 
selection process.

The foregoing makes me wonder how many hams who are not now Ten-Tec owners 
will be motivated to explore on their own the Orion when it becomes 
available--meaning not just reading up on it but actually buying one?

73,
John, W3ULS