[TenTec] Orion Issues or Not - kinda long

[N0KHQ at aol.com]

Hello All,

Well, after using the Orion  with Ver. 1.372 for a while, I am satisfied with 
the update (33 fixes) after 6  months and 23 or 24 beta versions.

In "my opinion" there are 4 Orion  issues that need to be addressed:

1.    "Sub RX" "RF Gain"  - doesn't work below a setting of 32
2.     Slow sweep  display and intermittent freezing when in the "Sub RX" 
mode and you  push
one of the buttons (AN, NR.  etc) below the display. (returns to normal after 
 reboot)
3.     The CW "BW" issue.
4.     The Monitor Level - when listening to your transmitted audio (too low) 
crank it  up!

That's all I can think of, and none of the above restricts my  operation of 
the rig. (SSB only)

I've just got to tell someone what  happened on 160m last night. The guys 
were all complaining about how noisy the  band was and that they were having 
problems copying stations that they normally  don't have any problems with. One of 
the guys says to me "what's your noise  level down there" and I politely 
responded "my meter shows 10 to 20 over S-9"  but "I cant hear the noise, all I 
can hear is your audio" Man! You gotta love  it. I've been waiting years to say 
that.

I've been running my Main and  Sub Receiver "Prog AGC" settings at:

Hang: 1.03 s (acts like a Peak Hold  for me)
Decay: 5 db/s
Threshold: 37.25 uV

Then I just use the "RF  Gain" Controls to tidy things up a little.

If your having issues with  your Orion call Ten-Tec and talk to Paul or Gary. 
Bitch'in about the rig on the  reflector isn't going to solve any problems.

The bottom line is this: If  your so darn unhappy with the Orion.....sell it. 
As for me, there is absolutely  no rig on the market today that's better than 
what I've got. I've been there and  done that, and so have a lot of others.

In conclusion, I would just  like to say that Ten-Tec has created one hell of 
a receiver. To try and describe  the receiver operation of the Orion to 
another ham using XYZ brand is difficult  or impossible, its something that they 
just have to experience.

As always  CONSTRUCTIVE comments and suggestions are always welcome.  

Happy Holidays to all of you and Ten-Tec
 
73 & Out
 
John / N0KHQ
(The Bugcatcher)