[TenTec] N4PY Orion Control

[Steve N4LQ]

Ron:
That was a very informative post. I've been playing around with PY software 
and the Jupiter for a few days and picked up a few tips from you. The 
logging program is especially interesting and hopefully I will be able to 
make use of it. I've read through the instructions 4 times now and some of 
it is beginning to sink in.
Now what about contest logging? How do you operate the PY radio control and 
log contest at the same time? Do you switch back and forth between the 
contest software and radio control just to change volume and agc modes?
Something that seems strange about the "log" program. When I tab between 
columns, the radio disconnects from the computer then reconnects, twice! 
This 5 second of silence is deafening! Is this normal or another XP bug?
The WinKey comments were helpful and I also use CW type for sending at 
times. Otherwise I use a keyer. I suppose if I had the WinKey I could 
eliminate the keyer but how does that reduce the hardware since I had to add 
the WinKey? You lost me on that one.
Too band the Orion has no color. The Jupiter is pea green so it's a step up. 
:*)
Steve N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Hinton" <rjhinton at seidata.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2004 5:27 PM
Subject: [TenTec] N4PY Orion Control


I have been reading about the different control programs being used on the 
Orion and wanted to share my opinion
of the N4PY program. I chose to purchase this package and have been using it 
for about a month now.
I  heard about the program over the airwaves and when I attended Ten Tec's 
Ham Fest this year I saw a demo of it.
I did manage to come home with a rather broad understanding of its 
capabilities and I thought about it for a while
then decided to buy it.  I am so impressed with it for the following 
reasons:

Some 34 Hot Keys, (Alt H) to bring up the list, is provided. These keys 
allows a person to use the keyboard instead
of mouse clicking on the radio display for changing the Orion controls.Nice 
feature when you are at the keyboard already.

The memory files are a must if you are wanting to select your preset 
frequencies and recall them in a flash. I use this
feature all the time. I particularly like seeing a reminder of the use of 
the frequency. Example I have one set for a SSB freq
that I occasionally use and in the setup I stated "Sunday 8:00 SSB group" 
this reminds me the freq is the group's place of
meeting and the time.  When I call up that memory I will see the information 
on the program's display along with the frequency.

I like the Sweep function and use it a lot. It is a vivid display of 
frequencies being used/unused and allows me to just click
on the one I want the Orion to tune to. I often am on one frequency, lets 
say 7.185 SSB but want to see when a frequency, say 7.040 becomes active. If 
it does, I just click on that freq and immediately my Orion is tuned to it. 
I use the various widths of sweeps and the different choices I have for 
centering the sweep.

K1EL's WinKey support is now offered in Version 1.12.  This has really been 
a fine feature for me.  I am a CW nut and I like switching from a paddle to 
a keyboard. I was using K1EL's K20 keyer with paddle input and CwType for my 
CW generation.  I sometimes use CwGet when the code being received is out of 
my comfort range. The use of the three along with a home brew electronic 
logging program required me to have three programs and the K20 keyer up and 
running.   With the added feature for WinKey I can now just have two 
programs up and running. N4PY's control program with the CW feature which 
also allows interface of a paddle and my logging program. I no longer need 
the K20 and keyboard nor CwType. This means space for other things.
By the way if you have not looked into the WinKey you owe it to yourself to 
do so. N4PY's control program has great support.

AGC control is a biggie for me. I change it as conditions change. One day it 
will be on prog1 and a few mins later it will be on prog2 with the AGC 
slider way up.

I remember the earlier talk about the Orion's display not having color. 
That is not a big issue with me but I can handle the color display in the 
program just fine. I particularly like the delectability of the various part 
of the screen.  Seeing the frequency change colors at TX is just dandy.

Selectable step tuning for both VFO's is a big plus but I maintain the 
memory file is my most used. I am a frequency jumper. When I do use this 
feature, I find it very handy and there are lots of choices for setting the 
steps up.

Well I will stop here.  I will say that I no longer use the controls on the 
Orion unless my wife is using the computer.

Ron NA9F
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