[TenTec] Orion Color

[John Clifford]

I don't know why people knock the idea of a color display.  IMO, it would
make a great radio even better.

The implementation on the 756 Pro and Pro II is a start, but Icom could have
used color to better effect.  Having displayable bitmaps as on the Pro II is
just a waste of firmware, but the way the bandscope shows latency is pretty
neat.

Imagine having a 'waterfall' display on the rig to help you find those
really faint CW signals, and to help you zero-beat your rig.  Imagine having
a color signal strength display so that you could give valid S-meter
readings to other ops.  Imagine having the active VFO be in a contrasting
color (say, red) while other text is in shades of blue.  Imagine having the
separate VFO settings in different colors, and having related groupings
(filter selections, modes, etc.) be adjacent on the screen rather than being
on each side... you could identify which VFO had what settings by color.
Imagine that, rather than having one-dimensional outlined tags for each of
the soft buttons around the screen's peripheracy, you could visually
separate the button status from the rest of the screen by having the text in
a reserved color... a lighter hue for 'off' and a deeper hue for 'on'.

I can think of a LOT of utility (not just glitz) for color on an HF rig.
Aesthetics and utility CAN go hand in hand... just look at the layout on a
new pickup truck dashboard versus one from 30 years ago... most of the same
controls and gauges, but the newer dashboards are generally easier to use
and to read, and much better looking to boot.

I bet there will be an Orion II in a few years that has a few additional
features (maybe two DSP chips and two identically hot receivers?) plus a
color display.

 - jgc

iJohn Clifford KD7KGX

Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9
Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2/KPA100
Ten-Tec Omni VI/Opt1
Alinco DR-605TQ
Icom T90A

email: kd7kgx at arrl.net


> -----Original Message-----
> From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Steve Baron - KB3MM
> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 9:58 AM
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Color
>
>
> AH!  Then we could have a thread on who has the best news <vbg>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Hyder --N4NT--" <N4NT_Mike.Hyder at charter.net>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 16:17
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Color
>
>
> > Yeah, color would be good.  That way we could maybe get an update that
> gave
> > us "Picture in Picture" so we could watch Fox News while we operated.
> >
> > 73, Mike N4NT
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ron Martin" <royalct at inr.net>
> > To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 11:17 AM
> > Subject: [TenTec] Orion Color
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Gee guys, if you want color please send an email to TenTec.  I brought
> my
> > > Orion about 6 Weeks ago, and not having a color display is transparent
> to
> > > me.  I will admit that I would like to have color (a nice to have
> feature
> > > that makes it look pretty).  However, in my response to Orion's survey
> for
> > > new owners I stated that I would prefer to have color only if
> it did not
> > > increase the cost of the radio (like that will happen).
> > >
> > > I own, and still do, an Icom 775DSP, which I consider to have the best
> > > receiver of the current asian radios...(yes, better than the PRO II).
> In
> > > looking for an increase in receiver performance I looked at the two
> > american
> > > candidates and the upcoming Icom 7800 (full color every thing 7 inch
> > > display).  I quickly discounted as kinda dum paying in the
> neighborhood
> of
> > > 10 grand for a ham rig.
> > >
> > > Color is nice if it adds utility, other than looks good, but
> I needed to
> > get
> > > the best receiver at the lowest or resonable cost....and the Orion's
> > > monochrome display is very functional and does the job.  BTW,
> the Orion
> > was
> > > much easier to learn to use than the Icom 775DSP; I belive that that
> says
> > > something about the Orinon's design and the display.
> > >
> > >
> > > Ron ......... NU1U
> >
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> >
>
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