[TenTec] Orion / Pro II DSP Question

[K Van Horn]

Hi Todd,

The receiver in the Orion is quieter and the noise blankers (hardware and 
DSP) in the Orion work better. Quite frankly, Icom could have left the NB 
switch off of the IC756PRO II and it would work the same as it does with the 
switch in the "on" position on 75m. The NR function on the IC756ProII is 
probably a little better than the one in the Orion as the one in the Orion 
induces some distortion. The important thing to remember is that the IC756 
series DOES NOT have the ability to update its firmware over the internet 
for free...so what you initially buy is what you got..period! With the 
Orion's ability to update its firmware for free over the internet, 
improvements can (and are) be made. The user interface on the Orion is not 
as user friendly as the Icom, but is also infinitely more flexible. The 
Orion is harder to set up, because the Icom setup is forever fixed at 
predetermined values. The Orion is not, so there is a learning curve with 
the Orion that is not present on the IC756 series. The receiver of the Orion 
is much quieter than the 756 series of radios. This is a result of using the 
patented Jones Oscillator circuit in the Orion. In practical terms, on 75m 
SSB, when comparing the 2 radios, I found that with the IC756PROII, I could 
talk to and reliably copy 2 stations in a roundtable (they were on the west 
coast and running typically 100watts) and with the Orion, I could talk to 
and reliably copy 6 stations in the same group. My test went on for one week 
and at the end of the week I SOLD my IC756PROII because the Orion's receiver 
(when properly set up) was so much better(quieter and with less internally 
generated noise and distortion due to the use of the above mentioned 
circuits). The Orion is so much more flexible than the IC756 series of radio 
that you can change virtually all of the parameters of the radio to match 
band conditions (this can also be a curse initially if you are not familiar 
with the radio). For example, with the Orion you can set both receivers to 
tune from one knob, so that you can simulate diversity reception to take 
advantage of your brains ability to hear signals in stereo (which makes them 
more intelligible).

Now to get back to your original question, the noise level in my urban 
neighborhood on the IC756PROII, IC756PRO, and IC756 is typically S9+15 on 
75m during the summer months. Using the Orion with its various roofing 
filters, the noise level at the same time of year(same antenna etc) on 75m 
is typically S6.

If you do decide to buy the Orion, make certain to get the one with the 
antenna tuner installed, as the radio is not upgradable with respect to the 
internal antenna tuner. The resale value of the radios w/the antenna tuner 
installed seems to be much better that the ones without the internal tuner 
installed. The internal tuner will match up to a 10 to 1 SWR while the Icom 
will only match a 3 to 1 .

73 es Guid DX,

Kirby, K7EC


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <KD7EFQ at aol.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2004 9:31 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Orion / Pro II DSP Question


> Hello all, still contemplating a new rig after the first of the year. Is
> there anyone here who has owned both the Orion and Pro II, that can tell 
> me which
> DSP / NR sytem is better for handling urban background noise on SSB 
> operation?
> I live in a small city, but I seem to have a fair amount of background 
> noise,
> usually anywhere from S-4 to S-7, and would like to know how the two rigs
> compare on noise handling.
>
> 73, Todd - KT0DD - kd7efq at aol.com
> "The race is over...THE RATS WON !"
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