[TenTec] More on rig tests, choice etc

Sun Mar 9 16:24:12 EST 2003

There are a lot of factors that would go into what makes a rig "sound good."
Probably the most important is the intermod that takes place within the receiver's
passband.  In recent rigs, the expanded reports contain a graph that shows how 
two or more strong signals inside the passband intermod and form third- and 
higher-order responses also in the passband.

On SSB, the various frequency components of a human voice can intermix,
resulting in distortion.  Also, the audio chain can have some distortion. If a
signal were to have 1% total harmonic distortion, that would be quite discernable
to many people.

73,
Ed Hare, W1RFI

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX [mailto:RMcGraw at blomand.net] 
	Sent: Sun 3/9/2003 1:58 PM 
	To: tentec at contesting.com 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: [TenTec] More on rig tests, choice etc

	Sitting side by side here on the desk, the Omni V receiver sounds better
	than the Omni VI+.  However, the Omni VI+ receiver is better than the Omni V
	receiver.  Guess it is just what your taste demands.  Actually my Paragon
	sounds better on receive than either of them.

	73
	Bob, K4TAX

	----- Original Message -----
	From: <tlogan7 at cox.net>
	To: "tentec reflector" <tentec at contesting.com>
	Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 10:33 AM
	Subject: [TenTec] More on rig tests, choice etc

	> Hi all -
	>   After literally going through a spasm of entire shack equipment/rig
	> turnover in the last few months I heartily agree with John's comments. For
	> the record, after my "shack pverhall spasm" the shack now consists of an
	> Omni VI+, Corsair II (back after a temporary trade to Ten Tec on the
	Argo),
	> K2/100,  OHR500 and Palstar R30. In and out of the shack was an Argo V and
	I
	> let go a very fine Icom 756 ProII.
	>   One thing that surprised me is that, real or imagined, my Omni VI+ seems
	> much better than I remember my Omni V. On the other hand, one of the list
	> members went from an Omni VI+ to an Omni V in the last two months and
	likes
	> the V more. We speculated that perhaps even identical rigs may have their
	> own characteristics - just like a two identical keys will feel different.
	>   Another thing that surprised me was to see myself let the ProII go. I
	was
	> totally enamored with the ProII and very justifiably so. It is an amazing
	> rig. However, when I fired up that Omni VI+ - well it just fit me like a
	> glove and the Pro had to go to help pay for the VI and the Corsair. On
	paper
	> the Pro is better than the VI+. In my shack the VI+ is (for me that is) is
	> 20 times more fun - even without an Icom style bandscope!
	>   My rig shuffling spasm is over, but it certainly proved to me that
	nothing
	> replaces that on the air test that allows us to each subjectively decide
	> what out favorite "operating feel" is.
	> 73/Tim NZ7C
	> ----- Original Message -----
	> From: "John Rippey" <w3uls at 3n.net>
	> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
	> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 6:06 AM
	> Subject: [TenTec] More IP3 Stuff
	>
	>
	> > 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
	> >
	> > _______________________________________________
	> > TenTec mailing list
	> > TenTec at contesting.com
	> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
	>
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	>

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