[TenTec] Orion with V2 rf gain

Carl Moreschi n4py at arrl.net
Fri Dec 23 19:31:00 EST 2005


As the S meter goes up by reducing RF gain, it is only the minimum S meter
value that goes up.  The S meter is just telling you what the minimum signal
is that will further reduce gain.  If you have the RF gain reduced such that
the S meter reads say S5, an S9 signal will still move the S meter to S9.
You have not lost anything.  This is actually quite consistent

Carl Moreschi N4PY
Franklinton, NC
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX" <RMcGraw at Blomand.Net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 7:02 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion with V2 rf gain


> The concept of RF gain vs. S meter has always been very strange to me.  If
> the S meter is to indicate relative signal strength then why should the S
> meter move up and down with adjustment of the RF gain control?  Speaking
of
> ancient tube radios, and me being an AMer I have several, my Hammurland
> HQ-170A does not have the S meter move up and down when the RF gain is
> adjusted.  The S meter always indicates relative signal strength
regardless
> of the RF gain adjustment.  And my Paragon and Omni VI Plus does not have
> the S meter move up and down when the S meter is adjusted.  Of course the
> signal level changes because the gain of the stages has bee reduced.
>
> Frankly I dislike a radio that does this.   If I reduce the RF gain on my
> Collins 75S-3A then the S meter moves upscale as if there were signal
> present.  No longer is 100 uV equal to S-9.  (That's Collins reference.)
If
> the gain of the stage(s) is reduced then the gain should go down and the S
> meter should indicate the relative value of the signal for the available
> signal present.
>
> I totally agree with Martin in his last paragraph regarding how the S
meter
> should indicate relative signal strength.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Martin AA6E" <martin.ewing at gmail.com>
> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 5:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion with V2 rf gain
>
>
> > We don't want beta testers to violate their non-disclosure agreements.
> > They would have to sacrifice their first-borns, I think.  (Of course,
> > the O II is now visible "in the wild".)
> >
> > The S-meter rising with lower RF gain is an artifact of how the RF
> > gain control was implemented on ancient tube-type radios.  IIRC, it
> > was by injecting a DC level into the AGC loop.
> >
> > I prefer the current (1.372) system, where the S meter stays constant.
> > In my view, the S-meter should give you the best estimate of the
> > actual signal level at the antenna connector.  When you insert RF
> > attenuation, the S meter should not change, either. An S9 signal
> > should be an S9 signal, no matter how you fiddle with your controls.
> >
> > It's a small thing, of course.  Have another glass of holiday cheer!
> >
> > 73 Martin AA6E
> >
> > On 12/23/05, Able2fly at aol.com <Able2fly at aol.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> _n4py at arrl.net_ (mailto:n4py at arrl.net)  writes:
> >>
> >> Tim,
> >>
> >> The RF gain control on the Orion II and Orion with V2 now  works like
> >> other
> >> radios.  As you reduce RF gain, the S meter goes up  and the background
> >> noise
> >> goes away.
> >>
> >> Carl Moreschi N4PY
> >> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Does that mean that Carl is an O1/V2 beta tester and knows how  Orion
> >> with V2
> >> works? Tell us more Carl. Pleeeease.....
> >>
> >> ;-)  Bill  K3UJ
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> TenTec mailing list
> >> TenTec at contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > martin.ewing at gmail.com
> > http://blog.aa6e.net
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
>
>
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