[TenTec] ORION QRQ tests

[Ken Brown]

Thanks for the well described tests and results. As a non Orion owner, 
and perhaps a future Orion owner, I have a few questions and comments.

Does Orion have a semi-breakin mode or some other less than full QSK 
mode? If so, how does QRQ performance in that mode compare to 
performance in full QSK mode?

Others have already pointed out that there are possible timing errors in 
the keying input, and that in order to be sure we are really analyzing 
what the Orion does, we need to be sure we really know what the input 
is. It sounds like you are pretty confident that the timing of the 
keying input is correct, and the comparison with the Omni VI is a good 
verification. Another method is to use a dual trace o'scope with one 
channel monitoring the keying input line and the other channel 
monitoring the RF output. This way we can see whether the RF out of the 
rig accurately represents the keying input, even if the keying input is 
not properly generated code. This is the setup ARRL uses in their rig 
reveiws. It is easiest to see what is going on with the first few code 
elements this way, and harder to detect lost elements far into a 
transmission. A digital storage o'scope would be nice for this. Most of 
us probably don't have one laying around the shack though. Maybe someone 
who has access to a digital storage scope with PC interface and 
appropriate software, and an Orion can make these tests.

DE N6KB