[TenTec] Orion-One Year Report--Plus the N4PY Orion Control Program.

[Steve N4LQ]

Ken:
I'm trying to justify buying that K1EL winkey. I am using CW Type to key the 
Jupiter via the computer's parallel port through a little adapter. It works 
perfectly. I also use the N4PY software and CW Type is just another window 
on the same screen. I only have one serial port and the Jupiter is using it 
so with Winkey, I would need to add another port or convert something to 
USB. Why would I want to do that? Maybe you can enlighten me.
Steve N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken & Linda Burrough" <w8keb at 1st.net>
To: "Ten-Tec @ Contesting. Com" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 5:37 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Orion-One Year Report--Plus the N4PY Orion Control 
Program.


My Orion is one year old and has never had a major problem.  It has worked 
everytime I have turned it on.  Ok I did take it back to the factory during 
the Ten-Tec Homecoming Hamfest to get the TCXO put back on frequency, it was 
60Hz off.  My hearing is such that I could not adjust it so Paul did it for 
me.

Now I am not a contester, Dx chaser or any of the other things some hams do. 
I am a good old fashion rag chewier.  I love cw and can and do rag chew at 
30 to 40 wpm with the Orion.  The receiver is the best ever, better then my 
old Omni VI Plus.  I have all the roofing filters and during the SS Contest 
this past weekend I could rag chew and not have any qrm.  Where the Orion is 
much better then the Omni VI Plus is in SSB.  Again rag chewing was done in 
the last SSB contest and I could not do that with my Omni VI Plus.

Now for the N4PY Orion Control Program, it is great.  I can move around the 
Orion menus with a click of the mouse.  It has five AGC settings that can be 
set up and can be different from the Orion AGC settings.  The Threshold is 
selectable from the front panel with out going into the menu.  Carl put the 
normal Slow, Med and Fast AGC setting in his menu and once set you do not 
have to do anything except choose the Threshold setting you want or need 
from the slider on the front panel with your mouse.  Carl also put two 
programmable AGC settings in the Orion control program.  I have five agc 
settings at the click of the mouse.  But wait there is more.  Carl has also 
set up the program to "Get the Orion AGC setting", now if you like or do not 
want to change things in the agc you are set up.  When you do this you lose 
the adjustable threshold control but gee life is about setting up the 
program how you want it.  Now the Sweep is the best.  It has never locked up 
and cannot.  I run it in the continuous mode, always sweeping the band. 
Carl did this by using the Sub-Receiver for the sweep and it really works. 
I can make the sweep window three or six inches wide.  The sweep has Peak 
Hold that will hold the signal on the window until it changes.  The sweep 
has nine threshold settings for resolution as you want it.  A mouse click 
and your are on the frequency where the station is, not was.

This past weekend I got the K1EL WinKey working with the Orion Control. 
This was just a matter of setting the menu dialog box, yes Carl has full 
WinKey support in his Orion, Pegasus and Jupiter Programs.  Now if you like 
to Keyboard your CW, this is the keyer to use with the Orion.

If you get Carl's program you can count on Carl being only an E-Mail away 
for help.  I have never waited longer then two hours but most of the time it 
is five to 10 minutes and the answer is on your computer.

I have used the N4PY control programs since 1999 when I bought my first 
Pegasus, still have and use a Pegasus.  I have used it on my one and only 
Jupiter also.  The N4PY Orion control program is the best and if you stop to 
think, Carl has been making this basic program better since 1999.  I have no 
interest in the N4PY Control Programs, don't make a penny from them but I do 
have fun using them.

Yes I am a Ten-Tec nut, I bought my first used Triton IV Digital in 1982 and 
have used Ten-Tec equipment since 1980.  Currently I have the Orion, 
Pegasus, Omni C, Century 21 and two PM-2's.  All work and are used except 
for the PM-2's, they get fired up about once a year.

It comes down to this, with all the control programs out there now days it 
still pays to buy the best and that is the N4PY control programs.

73 from the Buckeye State, Ohio State Football is King.

Ken/w8keb
Flushing, Ohio
USAF Retired
(Ex calls, NE0C, KC0WN, N6EVC and my first KA2HJY)

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