[TenTec] Orion in Contests

[Ron Martin]

Since I have received my Orion in September there has been four software
updates.  I would definitely classify those updates as minor-minor, which
either made minor changes in is functionality or added a new 'feature.' 

I have been a ham since 1963, and my impression of hams at that time and
still today is that as group hams complain a lot....  

As far as the Orion (my first TenTec), it is the best ham radio that I have
had the pleasure to operate (note that I have owned the higher end Kenwoods
and Icoms with the Icom 775DSP sitting next to the Orion).  Running both the
775DSP and the Orion in this weekend's SS, the Orion definitely out
performed the 775. 

Being a former engineering division chief that lead a large software based
engineering division, I would put more credence in ARRL's performance test
results of the 'common standard' that recent radios can be compared against
in an apples-to-apples condition.  eBay, I would take a look to see if the
knobs fell off.

Ron ....... NU1U