[TenTec] Orion display questions

[Steve N4LQ]

There are no "burn in" problems with LCDs. Life expectancy has improved and 
the modern TFT type display's backlight should last over 30,000 hours. A 
screen saver would obviously reduce the usage of the backlight and give you 
more years of service but there is the unknown factor of repeatedly 
switching the backlight on and off. 30,000 hours is less than 4 years. Using 
the rig 5 hours per day should yield about 16 years before it begins to go 
dim.
The display in the Orion is older technology and may give different results 
than the newer TFT type display in the Icom rigs.
The main enemy of LCD backlights is cold temperature. Operating the display 
in temperatures less than 45F could shorten it's life to as little as 3,000 
hours.
Where I work, we have hundreds of laptops and generally the display failures 
are related to physical abuse, dropping, running over with cars etc. We have 
had only a handful of actual LCD failures due to backlight problems.
Chances of LCD failure are far less than damage due to static electricity 
from the antenna. I think ESD is probably the number one enemy of ham 
equipment these days.
If I were you, I would base my decision on other factors. The LCD life thing 
just isn't much to worry about. The information that is displayed and it's 
appearance is of greater importance.

Steve N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <KD7EFQ at aol.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 8:57 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Orion display questions


> Hello all, I'm still doing my research on my next rig purchase and have
> another question for Orion users. Lately, I'm hearing about display 
> problems /
> failures of the IC pro II series. Is the monochrome display in the Orion 
> less
> prone to display failures & burn in effect than the color displays on the 
> Icom's?
>
> I also see the new Pro III is including a screen saver feature for the
> display, and my friend who is a computer technician said this is just a 
> marketing
> gimmick, as LCD displays don't really need a screen saver, and screen 
> savers
> were only needed on the old CRT displays.
> Is this correct?
>
> The more I hear, the more Orion moves into my first choice spot, even 
> though
> I really would prefer a color display. As always, your replies are 
> appreciated.
>
> 73, Todd - KT0DD - kd7efq at aol.com
> "The race is over...THE RATS WON !"
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