[TenTec] Ten Tec and Orion Year End Thoughts

[N0KHQ at aol.com]

Hello Group and Happy Holidays,
 
Over the last year we have all sat at our comfortable operating positions  
reading email concerning Ten-Tec and the Orion.
 
As this year comes to an end, I cant help to think about the wonderful  
accomplishments Ten Tec has made with the design and development of the Orion  and 
as a world class leader in the market of HF communications  equipment.
 
Ten-Tec has set a new standard for other manufacturers to follow. I'm very  
happy that it is an American manufacturer that has laid it all on the  line.
 
The technology that you see today in other manufactured HF equipment did  not 
come from its country of origin. This technology was developed by very  
bright and capable engineers right here in the USA many years ago. But, due to  USA 
investors seeking immediate returns on their investment and not willing to  
invest in the future, this technology was sold, by Americans, to country's  
like Japan and Germany. And, this is a fact! (check it out)
 
Now, it would be very easy, and probably very profitable for Ten-Tec to  say, 
"the hell with this, we're selling the whole thing to Japan or Germany or  
even China".
 
Ten-Tec is the last USA HF communications equipment manufacturer. If  they 
should decide to give it up.............we're screwed.
 
I, like many others, chose to purchase equipment from Ten-Tec for many  
different reasons. 
 
Reasons why I go with Ten-Tec:
1. If you dont like it, you can send it back. (30 day return policy. This  is 
a big one with me)
2. The service department is great and fast. (got some stories to tell on  
this one)
3. Ten-Tec makes every effort to address purchasers concerns.
4. Ten-Tec will voluntarily make design changes to your rig, when in for  
service, at no charge to you. (this has happened to me  several times)
5. The folks at Ten-Tec speak the same language as I do........English Its  
Smokey Mountain English......but its understandable.
 
I've been a ham for a while and have owned and operated many rigs. I've  
always found something that I didnt really care for in I/K/Y rigs, but I learned  
to live with their annoyances.
 
There have been only a handful of hams on this list that dont care for the  
Orion, and its a shame that possible future purchasers of the Orion are basing  
their decision not to buy on the negative remarks of 4 or 5  hams.
 
I'm sure that Ten-Tec has sold 1000 Orion's or maybe more. To have only 4  or 
5 hams complain about the operation of the Orion isnt bad when you consider  
the number sold. We would all like to see 100% satisfaction, but it aint gonna 
 happen.....you know and I know it.
 
I personally feel honored to be a part of the evolution of ham radio  
equipment. Imagine what it must have been like to see ham radio equipment go  from 
tubes to solid state electronics. I'm sure that some of the old timers  freaked 
out. Now we move along to ham radio equipment that is 10% solid state  
electronics and 90% software. The old timers are really freaking out  now!
 
Future hams coming into the family will look back on all of this and wonder  
what all the fuss was about.
 
So, to the 4 or 5 hams that dont care for the Orion, I wish you well in you  
pursuit of the perfect rig. I'm sure that if you dont like it, you can  return 
it for a refund.
 
To the other 99% of us happy Orion owners, may your Christmas stocking be  
filled with a Titan lll, and yes it does work with the Orion, for those  that 
know what their doing.
 
Happy Holidays All
 
73 & Out
 
John / N0KHQ