[TenTec] 7/20/05: Ten-Tec announces ORION II

[Ron Notarius]

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that once the O2 hits the market,
the value of the O1 will be in the neighborhood of $2000 - $2500; after all,
it is still (arguably) one of the best rigs on the market, if no longer "top
of the line."

Now, let's consider the (unknown) cost of the circuit boards, filters,
screen, and jack that need to be replaced.  Could it be, say, $1000 to
$1500, including labor?  Or am I guessing low here?

Regardless, if you have to spend that much or more to upgrade an O1 to an
O2, you start approaching the point where it makes more sense to sell you O1
to someone willing to pay what it's now worth (see paragraph 1 above) and
invest that money plus the upgrade cost (and maybe a few more bucks,
depending on what the final price is) into a new O2.

Further considering that software upgrades will still be available
indefinitely (right Scott?), the O1 will continue to be a viable rig for
many years to come.

Hardly seems like a dead-end, unlike some of the product upgrades from many
others I could mention.

Yes, it is a bit of a surprise... but really, should it have been?  Hasn't
one of the many gripes with the O1 from almost day one was the lack of a
color screen?  Now we have one.  Wasn't there griping a few months back
about a processor being discontinued?  Sounds like it's been replaced.
Those two factors alone should be a clue that some re-engineering was
required -- to say nothing of additional improvements (ie the filter
situation) that users have requested, or that 3rd parties have stepped in to
fill.  So the lack of a hardware upgrade is unfortunate, but hardly that
surprising, once you think things through.

In short, it sounds like we (the TT user community) have gotten exactly what
we've been asking for; maybe without as much advance notice as we'd have
liked, but still, we got it.  Which is hardly a "screw you" or a blemish on
Ten-Tec's legendary service or support.  So what's the problem here?

73, ron wn3vaw

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Henderson" <bob at cytanet.com.cy>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2005 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] 7/20/05: Ten-Tec announces ORION II


> > >Will there be an ORION to ORION II upgrade that we can  get?
> >
> > No upgrade from one to the other. 7 circuit boards, filters, screen, mic
> jack
> > have all changed.  The cost to upgrade one to the other would be
> prohibitive -
> > we've elected not to offer it as an option.
> >
> > Scott Robbins
> > W4PA
>
> Having invested heavily in Orion and the provision of feedback to Ten Tec
to
> aid advancement of the product, these are not the encouraging words I had
> hoped for.  This reads very much like a "screw you" and not at all what I
> expected of the legendary Ten Tec customer service.
>
> Just now, I'm feeling I have just been appointed to the ranks of the
> disenfranchised.
>
> I am awestruck that Ten Tec is prepared to risk trashing its reputation in
> this way?
>
> Bob Henderson, 5B4AGN
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec