[TenTec] The future of The Orion I

Williams, Barry Bnwilliams at varco.com
Mon Jul 25 15:41:59 EDT 2005 

I should probably said software modules.  When you write a program to operate a piece of equipment you have a main program which is developed (usually in modules) and then you have particular modules that interface to the hardware, we called these "drivers" in the 70s.  The idea is that when you finish writing a piece of software and the engineer suddenly finds a new device to replace the display system (only it has a different protocol for sending and receiving data to the hardware).  If you hard coded all the display interface software in the main program you have to go find everywhere you "talk" to that piece of hardware and change it.  By using a module of software to drive that piece of hardware you have all the interface information captured in one module.  The main program may decide what is to be displayed on the display device, it hands this information to the module or driver that takes care of actually displaying the data in the correct place and colors (or monochrome).  Then you have a choice, you can have the program check and see if it is a monochrome or color display equipped unit and then call the correct module to display the data (color module or monochrome module), or you can simply link the correct module when you compile the program.
 
The information to date indicates that there are no new great features not related to the hardware improvements, just improvements in existing features and a few different pieces of hardware which will require different modules.  As someone mentioned, it is possible that with the faster processor there may be new features that can be accomplished in software by the faster processor and not by the slower processor.  But the main features that control the radio are not processor time dependent.  The DSP is where new features and improvements could be added in software, and the DSP processor has not changed.
 
This would make it probable that the software developed for the O2 would be downward compatible with the exception of improvements in the new hardware.  For example, if the original O2 software has a problem with the color display, then the work to impove the display will probably not be downward compatible, because it is not relevant to the operation of the O1.
 
Hope this helps,
Barry

________________________________

From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com on behalf of Steve Baron - KB3MM
Sent: Mon 7/25/2005 12:29 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] The future of The Orion I



What drivers?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Williams, Barry" <Bnwilliams at varco.com>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 14:39
Subject: Re: [TenTec] The future of The Orion I


We need to remember that this is a faster processor, not a totally different
one.  It is more like getting a 3.4 gigahertz Pentium to replace a 1.7
gigahertz one.  The software should be interchangeable with the exception of
the "drivers" for the sections of hardware that have been replaced.  The
Orion V2 software will be different between the original and the new
versions only in the software modules that have changed such as the color
screen vs. monochrome.  In addition the change in filter setup will have
different module for selecting filters.  You may not see a lot of work on
the monochrome display module, but most of the other modules will not change
between the two sets, improvements in the O2 will probably be good for
either the original or new Orion.

My penny's worth.

Barry

________________________________

From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com on behalf of NJ0IP
Sent: Mon 7/25/2005 9:15 AM
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'
Subject: Re: [TenTec] The future of The Orion I



Chuck, I agree with nothing you said.  It was entirely content-free, except
for the fact that you are dissatisfied, and that's your good right.

Your comments on the firmware are wrong and you will feel pretty silly once
V2 ships.

In my opinion, the O2 will drive the used price of the O1 up, not down,
unless you panic sell today.

My 1 cent worth.

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Chuck Gerarden
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 8:23 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] The future of The Orion I

I was very disturbed when Ten Tec decided to discontinue the Orion I.
Normally I would expect this from any other manufacturer, but over the
past 2 years Ten Tec has been telling us it is upgradable. False
advertising? I think so. I have been waiting for the software fixes that
resolve the various problems. I doubt they will ever come. I bought the
Orion only because it was advertised as being upgradable.

So now I am being asked to shell out another $1700.00 for O II with new
filters that I could not even use from my old O I.  Got to hand it to
TT, they got this right from the American Corporate Greed Handbook.
Everyone remember the Classic Coke debacle? TT is either acting out of
sheer ignorance, desperation, or with complete disregard of their
customer base. Have they forgotten the type of hams who buy TT? Talk
about being a disenfranchised TT customer.

While Scott of Ten Tec has indicated there is a 2.0 release coming. I
would bet this new code is really aimed and supported for the new Orion
II. No doubt there will be a token attempt to provide a 2.0 release for
O I, but as a software engineer I know how easy it is to slap a new
release number on code and "ship it" anybody really think the developers
for the O II processor and platform really cared enough to make it
backward compatible for the O I, a soon to be discontinued product.
Don't be naive.

I now have my TT Orion up for sale, a month ago it would have sold for a
good price in a day. after 3 days, no inquires, and no sale.
This boat anchor will probably go down in history as the rig that sunk
TT. There will be TT sales for the O II but it won't be enough and not
enough people will upgrade. Despite what .gov says, our economy is not
that great and guys who whipped out $3300.00  for the greatest rig on
earth most likely will not whip out another $1700.00. How long before
the O III comes out? 2 years, because they forgot to make the O II
upgradable!

All you guys who talk about cars, consumer electronics, and  computers
being discontinued, it is not the same with the Orion. TT clearly laid
out a  path for as to follow, they just slaughtered us at the end of
it.  I have been a big TT fan for  years, but now will buy  amps from
Alpha, Tuners from Palstar and look into SDR-1000 and other
alternatives. The Orion I is a great radio, but perception is stronger
than reality and it will be thought of as the radio TT could never fix.
Watch the classifieds on Eham and QTH,  We will be flooded with Orions
nobody can sell.

Chuck

W0DLE
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