[TenTec] New Rig Suggestion

[Jim Davis]

Mark,

I've been wondering about that one fact that you had
mentioned about the software "reversal" of the keyer
paddle function (software-wise) in that ICOM did that
in my IC-756PRO!!!  I'm sure that TT is an "Intuitive"
Group" but they have to keep up with the
"ever-demanding needs" of their USERS, myself
included!!!

ORION-OWNER:Since Dec.2004!!!)
*******************************************************

Jim/nn6ee
--- Mark Erbaugh <mark at microenh.com> wrote:

> I find all the discussion of the Orion interesting
> and I think the Orion has
> it's place, but I think what is needed is an
> affordable starter radio.  We
> need a radio that a new ham can buy without breaking
> the bank, but one that
> won't disappoint with poor performance.  I realize
> that higher performance
> equipment costs more, but I hope there can be a
> happy medium.
> 
> I don't know if the numbers would work out, but
> wouldn't it be fantastic if
> a new ham could get on the air with a new basic rig
> and antenna for under
> $500?
> 
> Here's what I think would be needed:
> 
> 0) All mode, or at least CW, SSB, AM (maybe receive
> only).
> 
> 1) Decent receive performance. Able to work in midly
> harsh RF environments
> (i.e. able to stand up to many 20 or 40 over signals
> in the same band during
> a contest or pileup).
> 
> 2) Decent selectivity. I don't know if the cost
> effective approach would be
> DSP filters or a set of 4 crystal or mechanical
> filters (2400, 1800, 500 and
> 250 Hz ).
> 
> 3) Built in computer interface - a new ham is going
> to want to do the
> soundcard modes - but the radio should be easily
> usable without a computer -
> i.e. have a user friendly front panel interface. 
> While we're talking about
> a computer interface, how about USB instead of
> RS232?
> 
> 4) Built in keyer.  I think any basic radio should
> support CW. A couple of
> basic memories would proably be a no-brainer and
> makes it a lot easier to
> call CQ.  Personally, I prefer to be able to program
> the memory with some
> sort of entry where you "type" in the text rather
> than having to key it in.
> A ham who is just starting out may have a hard time
> getting a decent enough
> fist to enter a basic message.  The keyer should be
> able to reverse dot and
> dash paddles from a menu rather than requiring a
> wiring change.
> 
> 5) Mechanically rugged and able to run off of 12 V (
> not just 13.8 ) so the
> radio could be used portable. 120V AC operation
> should be considered.
> 
> 6) Built-in wide range automatic antenna tuner.
> 
> 7) Minimum of 50 watts (preferably 100). It would be
> nice if the power could
> be reduced to QRP levels, but a new ham shouldn't be
> saddled with the
> challenge of QRP right from the start - for my first
> few years in the hobby,
> I remember how frustrating it was to spend a whole
> evening calling or
> answering CQ's and getting no response.
> 
> 8) General coverage receiver - not needed for ham
> radio, but probably a good
> selling point.
> 
> 9) Relatively complete package without requiring
> additional options (at
> least at the $500 level). If a fully loaded rig
> could be bought for $500 and
> options could be left out reducing the price that
> might be workable - what I
> wouldn't want to see is a $500 radio that really
> needed about an additional
> $300 in options to be usable.
> 
> I may be dreaming about what's possible, but I think
> the cost of equipment
> is becoming a deterrent to geting new folks into the
> hobby or of getting
> hams beyond the HT stage.
> 
> 
> 
> 73,
> Mark
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> 


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com