[TenTec] New Orion Firmware
Bob Henderson
bob at cytanet.com.cy
Thu May 20 10:38:40 EDT 2004
I just returned from Dayton carrying my second Orion, which I am
delighted to report journeyed well. This morning I downloaded 1.37 and
performed the update on my original Orion which was delivered here just
before Xmas. So far I have a few observations:
I am pleased to note that the T/R timing adjustments have had a very
benefitial effect on the quality of CW produced at relatively high
speed. By ear, keying at 40wpm now sounds well timed and no longer
noticeably truncated. I haven't done any scope measurement but it looks
like a good job has been done in removing the ~8mS clipping, which was
very evident before.
I am less happy about the effect of the double rate RIT FAST tuning.
Using the RIT set to Fast on CW now sounds like the control is a very
"dirty pot". Actually, the steppy tuning problem which previously
affected the main tuning dial is now very noticeable on RIT
adjustments. Hopefully Ten Tec will be able to do as good a job in
fixing this as they did when the main tuning suffered this problem.
I have tried the CW MOX setting and I can't fathom it at all. This just
does not seem to work. If I set "PTT in CW as MOX" in the menu then the
rig continues to work in QSK! Not only that but the only effect of
grounding the PTT line is that RX audio is muted. The RX itself is not
muted and the S-meter continues to register received signals. Pressing
the VOX button to ON has the same effect, merely muting RX audio. I
have wondered if maybe something had gone wrong with the flash update.
I did it again and then did a master reset but all to no avail. As a
double check I next flash updated the second Orion just brought back
from Dayton. This behaves identically to the first. Have I overlooked
something or is this feature merely a jape to exasperate contesters?
73 Bob, 5B4AGN, P3F
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