[TenTec] Basic question

[Jim Brown]

On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 10:20:35 -0700, Gary Tuck wrote:

>Has anyone put  these side by side?  

Here's a non-religous answer. I own an Omni V, an Omni A, an 850SAT, a 746 (internal audio 
DSP), and a K2/100 w/audio DSP. I also own a 599ZX. (I also own a Hercules 444 and a Titan 
425, but you're talking transceivers.)

Random thoughts. I very much like the audio DSP in the k2 and 746. The 850 lacks DSP (other 
than a receive antenna input, its only serious shortcoming). The Omni V also lacks DSP.  I like all of 
these radios, but the DSP is a very useful tool. The 599ZX is pretty lame compared to the DSP in 
the K2 and the 746.  As receivers, I would rate the K2 at the top, the 850 and the Omni V 
somewhere below it, and the 746 below that. I also own an Omni A, but it is a notch below the 
newer Ten Tec gear. 

My 850 and 746 are all loaded with factory filters for CW and SSB. So are the Omni V and Omni A. 
I'm mainly a CW guy but work some SSB in contests. The 850 is a VERY nice radio for both CW 
and SSB. A K2 beats it on CW, but is far from competititve on SSB. I haven't used Ten Tec radios 
newer than the Omni V, but I like the Omni V a lot. It currently resides at my mountaintop QTH. My 
friend, K9OR, has Inrads in two of his 850's and says they beat the stock filters by a signifcant 
margin.  

>From a practical point of view, the main thing you could gain by upgrading from the 850 is DSP. But 
the 850 is a damn good radio, and yours is bought and paid for. :)  I haven't used the later Omni's 
with DSP or the Orion, but both are highly regarded. Audio DSP is very useful if done well. IF DSP 
is a step up from that, and that's what's in the Orion. 

Hope this helps. 

Jim Brown  K9YC