[TenTec] ORION impression after one week of use in EUROPE

[DK2GZ at aol.com]

Hello all

here are the first impressions after one week of usage(used an OMNI 6+ for 
several years before):

PRO:

1. RX is nice, but the factory default setting for the AGC a little to noisy 
for my ears
    I set the decay and treshold far away from default setting

2. very flexbile to adjust for your personal needs

3. the menue system is clear and straight forward to use

4. CW waveform sound nicely on a second RX

5. NR is very good

6. Firmware update from 1.369 to 1.371 perform without any problem


Some points could be changed in a further firmware update:

1. the settings for PREAMP and ATT not stored by band

2. settings for the BW are stored in the bandstacking registers but not the 
PBT setting
    if you switch from LSB(AFSK) to CW you have to reset the PBT

3. QSK is very quiet, but a little on the slow side in comparison to the K2 
and OMNI 6

4. Headphone volume(Heil BM10, SONY with 32 ohm) could be a little louder if 
you are working in loud environment, 
    example: fieldday-style with a loud generator next to you, as I often do

5. SSB audio monitor could be louder

6. Power on and off switch producing a very loud "bang"

7. Cannot use the internal keyer anymore because of the timing, OMNI 6 have 
lambic A and B mode
    on the OMNI had no problem to use the internal keyer, on the ORION had 
use the idom press keyer

8. be carefull with the hardware NB, here in EU it is producing mixer 
products on 40 meter
   even when you think it is off, like in the old FT1000D days, hi


73 from Germany


Harry, DK2GZ