[TenTec] TT (Orion) Future improvements!!!

Sun Feb 13 19:39:15 EST 2005

Yes Bernard,

I agree, and also, by the time that some new hardware design comes out with
the Yaesu and Icom rigs, TenTec will probably be able to still exceed the
receiver performance with more advanced algorithms in the receive firmware /
software programs that will be downloaded to the Orion 
In the future.

Jim 
K4PV
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Bernard(wtrone)
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 5:22 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] TT (Orion) Future improvements!!!

    Tommy:

        Just my personal opinion, but I think that TenTec made an error in
not paying more attention to customer wants/ desires/ likes in terms of a
color display and a better looking cabinet.

        I asked Scott, at the Huntsville Hamfest, a couple of years ago
about the color display.  His comment was that it was a cost driven issue.
Personally, I would have paid extra for a color display and a few more color
driven options.  But, that was TenTec's decision and it is hard to fault
them.

        I selected the Orion because of its receiver specifications.  I have
not regretted that decision.  The new Icom does not exceed the Orion specs
and the new Yaesu specs are still undetermined.

        The Orion design is probably somewhere between 3-4 years old (from
initial design).  No doubt that the processors could be replaced with much
higher speed units.  I would not be surprised to see this in the future.  I
have also heard rumors of a color display.  Will these occur?  Well, only
TenTec knows for sure.  If these occur, I hope that I can upgrade my Orion!

        In the mean time, I will enjoy my Orion and not worry about the Icom
and Yaesu rigs.

        Just one man's opinion.

            73s,

            Bernard, WA4OEJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tommy" <aldermant at alltel.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 4:22 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] TT (Orion) Future improvements!!!

> This is my opinion only!
>
> I think it's becoming obvious that what the ham radio user community
> wants in a radio has changed to more 'glitz' that actual operational
> performance. Ten Tec probably designed the Orion with customer
> loyalty in mind, the 'IY' manufacturers designed their latest rig's
> with the customer's wallet in mind. (Acknowledging the 'IY'
> manufacterers current radios technical performance IS quite good.)
> The Orion is just about as perfect 'hardware design' as one could
> ask from amateur equipment. The ONLY snaffu in the Orion design is
> possible the added stages of amplification on the last two narrow
> roofing filter positions, done with their user community in mind.
> The selectable roofing filters, which help provide the very best
> receiver performance available kinda caught the competition grasping
> for some way to use the term 'roofing filter'. Ten Tec again, with
> the user community (cost to the user) in mind, used a non-color
> display. The concept of a near-perfect hardware design and firmware
> downloadable updates should have been a 'killer' system for the ham
> community IF the ham community was still technical-orionted.
>
> Two major problems; 1) The very old addage "One aw-s**t will kill a
> thousand 'Atta-Boys'!" remains true today. While the Orion is an
> extremely excellent hardware design, Ten Tec kinda dropped the ball
> with the Orion's firmware; 2) probably 95% of today's ham community
> think a color screen (so to speak) is much more important than
> actual radio performance under extreme operating conditions.
>
> What I saw yesterday at the Orlando hamfest kinda brings home the
> point about today's hams. During my walk around at that hamfest what
> I saw was shocking to me.
>
> First walk through approximate number of ham visitors:
>
> Yaesu booth:        25 to 30 visitors at the booth.
> Icom booth:          30 to 40 visitors at the booth.
> Elecraft booth:      10 to 15 visitior at the booth.
> FlexRadio booth:  8 to 10 visitors at the booth.
> Ten Tec booth:      Only person present was the sales guy.
>
> Two hours later:
>
> Yaesu booth:       20-30 visitors
> Icom booth:         20-30 visitors
> Elcraft booth:       8-10 visitors
> FlexRadio booth: 5-10 visitors
> Ten Tec booth:    Myself and the TT sales guy.
>
> My immediate impression was the non-technical ham of today probably
> ranks pretty color screens over pure absolute technical performance.
> I think even if Ten Tec had a flawless firmware package in the Orion
> today, the 'average' ham would prefer showing his friends the
> 'pretty color screen' and boast about how much it cost instead of
> proudly boasting about the technical excellence of their Orion.
>
> In my opinion, the "Guys @ TT" had the wisdom to produce the best
> hardware design offered to the ham community on their first try, and
> I personally do not see the need for "Hardware" improvements via an
> Orion Pro II, or what ever. Of course, advancement in technology
> would require such, in the future.
>
> Tom - W4BQF
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim Davis" <nn6ee at yahoo.com>
> To: "Ten-Tec List" <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 1:51 PM
> Subject: [TenTec] TT (Orion) Future improvements!!!
>
>
> > Gentlemen,
> >
> > In the future I hope that the Guys @ TT have the
> > wisdom to offer "Hardware" improvements (when
> > available) instead of offering a entirely new version
> > of our Rig. Look what manufacturers like Icom did to
> > us  when they brought out the IC-756, then the PRO,
> > then the PRO 2, then the PRO 3!!!  All similar rigs
> > but enough differences to preclude any chance of
> > up-grading any of them by their owners which I think
> > is an insult to all of us who ARE NOT independently
> > wealthy or have a psycotic need to keep up with the
> > "JONESES!!!"  $3400.00 is too big a chunk of change to
> > have to part with every time TT brings out a better
> > rig?
> >
> > The "ORION" is a stellar rig, no doubt about it, BUT
> > still the hardware should be made avaialble when the
> > time comes and it WILL!!!
> >
> > Any thoughts???
> >
> > Jim/nn6ee
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
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> >
> >
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