[TenTec] Orion reflector discussions

Wed Sep 8 14:33:16 EDT 2004

Troy, Your problem with the display sounds very abnormal.  I think I would 
contact TT and get something done about that, or at least get a few ideas on 
what to try to normalize the condition. Toby W4CAK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Troy Wideman" <w6hv at surfbest.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion reflector discussions

> The display on my Orion darkens frequently right after it's turned on.
> Sometimes to the point of not being able to read the screen. In a few
> minutes it will suddenly brighten then occasionally darken again and then
> finally stabilize at the correct setting. I have the optional fan 
> installed
> plus an additional fan behind the rig to keep the air moving around the
> entire station. The room temperature varies from the 70's to occasionally
> 85. I've monitored the power supply voltage at the input to the rig (it's
> the 963) and don't see anything wrong. I doubt that it's a temperature
> problem, but have no clue as to what might be happening. Possibly it's a 
> bad
> internal voltage regulator, or a bad connection, or maybe even a slightly
> sick LCD screen?
> 73,
> Troy, W6HV
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Duane A Calvin" <ac5aa at juno.com>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 10:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion reflector discussions
>
>
>> The "display darkening" concern is much ado about nothing.  I can see
>> what is being described on my radio, but it took someone pointing it out
>> to me before I noticed it.  It's an "oh, huh" kind of thing, nothing
>> worse, that happens with heavy RTTY contesting in a warm room.  If I have
>> my ceiling fan on, it never shows up.  (My radio room is in the southwest
>> corner of the house here in Texas, so it gets several degrees warmer than
>> the rest of the house, which I keep at 79 F in the summer.)  My Orion has
>> the fan on the final amp.  Like I said, this is a barely noticeable
>> changing of the background on the left 1/3 of the display.  Hardly worth
>> mentioning.
>>
>>         73 Duane
>> (Another Orion user who has had no problems other than a bandscope that
>> locked up once in six months of ownership.  I do CW, RTTY and SSB, chase
>> DX and work contests.  I'm sold on the Orion and am very happy I bought
>> it.)
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 08:57:58 -0700 (PDT) John Sheeley <wb4qda at yahoo.com>
>> writes:
>> > Rick
>> > I have a first production run Orion about 1 and 1/2
>> > years old I have never had the display
>> > darkening in any way . I added the fan kit about 6
>> > months ago but don't think I really need it . the
>> > Orion stays on about 16 ours a day .I am completely
>> > happy with my Orion and Ten-Tec service.I guess the
>> > happy Orion owners don't say much.
>> >
>> > John
>> > WB4QDA
>> >
>> > --- Rick Williams <rick.williams at telus.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > > James I couldn't agree more!  I too don't have an
>> > > Orion (I came close but
>> > > missed a sale in Canada of a used Orion in March)
>> > > but I'm thinking of one.
>> > > Or is that dreaming.
>> > >
>> > > Sure there are still a lot of warts but not that
>> > > many that concern me on the
>> > > software side.  The hardware issues, in particular,
>> > > the display darkening
>> > > due to a heat issue, still concern me.  I notice,
>> > > however, that there has
>> > > not been too much on the issue recently.  Does this
>> > > mean everyone has
>> > > removed the speaker(?) and put in a fan?  I doubt
>> > > it.  But I haven't seen
>> > > anything indicating that the factory has changed the
>> > > rig to provide better
>> > > cooling.  Is it still an issue?  Are all owners
>> > > noticing a problem?  Is the
>> > > factory looking into it?  The reflector has been
>> > > strangely quiet.
>> > >
>> > > >From my viewpoint the software improvements made to
>> > > the Orion have been
>> > > remarkable.  And, for the most part, they've been
>> > > well received by users. I
>> > > think (again I must add that I've never used an
>> > > Orion and my opinion is
>> > > derived from discussions on this reflector) the
>> > > software is fast approaching
>> > > my operating needs. That coupled with a stronger
>> > > Canadian dollar suggests
>> > > that perhaps an Orion is getting closer to reality
>> > > at my QTH.
>> > >
>> > > In all my years of hamming I have NEVER owned a
>> > > brand new fresh from the
>> > > factory HF rig.  If improvements to the Orion
>> > > continue it's quite likely
>> > > that the Orion will be my first.  Hopefully the
>> > > unfortunate experience of
>> > > Eric (ON6CV) won't be repeated with my rig if I take
>> > > the plunge.
>> > >
>> > > Finally, the reflector is certainly helping me with
>> > > my research.  Yes the
>> > > postings at times have been boring and the
>> > > flames/cult issues don't add
>> > > anything to the discussion.  MOST of the discussion
>> > > has been constructive -
>> > > not always positive but at least constructive.  It's
>> > > unfortunate that many
>> > > shoot from the lip without contributing much to the
>> > > database - a little more
>> > > thought and perhaps a little less coffee before
>> > > hitting the SEND key might
>> > > help in their case. But as others have suggested
>> > > there still is a DELETE key
>> > > on the keyboard.
>> > >
>> > > 73,
>> > >
>> > > Rick
>> > > VE7TK
>> > >
>> > > Website:  http://www3.telus.net/ve7tk
>> > >
>> > >
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------
>> > >
>> > > Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 08:43:00 -0500
>> > > From: "James Duffer" <dufferjames at hotmail.com>
>> > > Subject: RE: [TenTec] Tired of Orion
>> > > To: tentec at contesting.com
>> > >
>> > > What you've got from this list should be useful.
>> > > Think about it.  I too
>> > > don't have an Orion.  But what I have gotten from
>> > > this list (IMHO) has
>> > > caused me to not immediately go and buy an Orion.
>> > > Those gripes are sounds
>> > > from some disappointed Orion owners, that should be
>> > > informative to you.  The
>> > > fact that there is quite a bit of gripeing is
>> > > inormative also.  Now when it
>> > > does "lighten up" as you desire and hope for the
>> > > list, then that will be
>> > > informative also.  A bunch of happy Orion owners.
>> > > What will it take?  I
>> > > think you already know.
>> > >
>> > > 73
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > TenTec mailing list
>> > > TenTec at contesting.com
>> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > __________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> Duane Calvin, AC5AA
>> Austin, Texas
>> _______________________________________________
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>
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