[TenTec] Basic question - Long

[Tommy]

John,

Very nicely written piece on the Orion and obviously coming from another ham
who  really likes the Orion.

Unfortunately your reference to computer software is seriously scary,
especially if you look at the time it has taken Mr. Gates to get his Windows
op system to really work without crashing. It sends shivers down my back to
think this can be the same long-term problem with SDR's.

Tom - W4BQF

----- Original Message -----
From: <N0KHQ at aol.com>
To: <gtuck at mac.com>; <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 9:02 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Basic question - Long


> Hi Gary,
>
> Welcome back to the ham bands. Meanwhile, while you were away,
manufacturers
> of ham radio equipment have been improving there produces steadily.
>
> To answer your question, I have compared the TT Jupiter receiver to the
> following rigs, IC-756 Proll, and (2) TS-850s. To put it quite frankly,
the Proll
> and TS-850s are gone, they spent 99% of their time under dust covers
anyway.
>
> At present I have (3) rigs, a TS-830S (Gold Label) this rig is like a
cherry
> '49 Ford and is used only on special occasions, a TT Orion (this is my rig
of
> choice) and a TT Jupiter (which spends 99% of its time under a dust
cover).
>
> First, lets compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges.
>
> (Oranges)
> Software Defined Radios (SDR's) are in a class by themselves and to the
best
> of my knowledge Ten Tec is the only SDR manufacturer in the world. Since
the
> TT SDR's use an operating system their operation and performance is only
> limited by processor speed, bus speed and programming (like a PC). In
other words,
> if you buy an SDR you are guaranteed many years of service and do not have
to
> be concerned with buying a new rig every year. TT SDR's are upgraded with
new
> software and uploaded from their site via the Internet. Its like getting a
new
> Service Pack for your PC's Windows system.
>
> (Apples)
> Kenwood, Icom and Yeasu rigs are all very nice rigs......but they are
apples
> and should not be compared to Oranges.
>
> You, being a CW operator, which I am not, I would expect that one of your
top
> concerns is receiver flexibility and performance. The TT Orion is the only
> rig on the market today that offers multi (7 user selectable) first IF
roofing
> filters and fully programmable AGC. Not to mention all the other features
that
> are available for excellent signal reception.
>
> Your past experience with ham radio equipment has been with "Apples", like
> mine. I entered into the world of SDR "Oranges" about 2.5 years ago and
this is
> where I'm staying.
>
> Another way of looking at this whole "Apples" and "Oranges" thing is to
think
> back when IBM (Apples) and (DOS operating system) was king and then Bill
> Gates comes along and says "I've got a better idea, lets do it this way"
(Oranges)
> and (Windows).....the rest is history.
>
> You cant put enough electronic components in a transceiver that will ever
> have the flexibility and performance of an SDR whether its manufactured by
TT or
> anyone else. It just aint gonna happen. Duh!
>
> Take advantage of TT's offer, order an Orion, try it for 30 days, A/B the
> receiver with any rig you own (by the way, as a CW operator you will want
the (3)
> optional filters offered with the Orion - total cost of investment about
> $3500) if you dont like it, send it back.....no questions asked.
>
> With the cost of today's top of the line "Apple" rigs selling for $14K,
$10K
> and the new Ic-756Prolll selling at $3.6K I would expect TT to raise the
price
> of the Orion soon, it only makes good business sense. I also believe that
> TT's sales of the Orion will increase dramatically.
>
> Oh yeah, heres a shocker, when I got my first SDR, the Jupiter, I took the
> cases off and looked inside......the first thing I said was "where the
hell is
> all the parts". SDR's are very light rigs, the Jupiter weighs about 12
pounds
> and the Orion weighs about 20 pounds.
>
> I hope, in my long winded way, I've at least given you some kind of idea
as
> to what the latest and greatest is in ham radio transceivers.
>
> WHEW!
>
>
> 73
> John / N0KHQ / St. Louis
>
> Always on 18.130
>
> Antennas:
>
> You can build 'em better than you can buy 'em
> Please visit the sites below:
> http://www.hamuniverse.com/antennas.html
> http://www.cebik.com/n0khq.html
> http://www.ssb-audio.com/forum/
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