[TenTec] V 1.372 for Orion

[Ron Castro]

The problems are with the 2.0xx firmware for both the O1 and O2.  With the 
O2, I can't load back to a v. 1.0xx, so I'm stuck with the problems.

As for offset between Main and Sub, it's most likely that the crystals in 
the two DSP's are slightly off frequency, but a firmware fix is possible if 
the user is allowed compensate for the offset in a menu item, much like the 
offset control for the narrow roofing filters.  Many programs that use the 
soundcard in your computer, such as RTTY programs, allow for such a 
compensation, and since the 14 kHz DSP IF in the Orions is based on similar 
technology as a soundcard I figure it shouldn't be all that hard to do.

You must be older than me if you know the right way to spell Oija!  Actually 
my spell checker also shows Ouija as a spelling....

73...
Ron N6AHA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Tippett" <btippett at alum.mit.edu>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] V 1.372 for Orion


> N6AHA:
>
> >The S-meter is as accurate as a Oigee board.  (For those of you too young 
> >to
> know what a Oigee board is, look it up on Google!)  Should also be
> compensated for pre-amp in or out.
>
>         That's Oija....not Oigee.  ;-)
>
> >The Auto and Manual Notch does not interact with the AGC to increase the
> level after the offending tone has been removed.
>
> >Crash caused by NB, NR and Notch on at same time.
>
> >The Speech processor sounds OK, but it's not loud.  It's only a fast AGC,
> not a real clipper.
>
> >Some distortion on AM receive.
>
> >Needs a firmware routine to cause the Main and Sub receiver DSP to 
> >operate
> on the same frequency when linked to the same VFO.  They are currently (on
> mine anyway) a fixed 6 Hz off of each other on all frequencies.  DSP
> soundcards can be software-adjusted for this type of problem.  There is no
> reason why Orion DSP can't.
>
>         My Orion/v1.373b5 does not have
> these problems except for the last but
> I never use NB/NR/Notch simultaneously.
> In my unit, the diversity mode offset
> is ~2.33 Hz on all frequencies.  I've
> mentioned this to ditsnbits several
> times over the past few years with no
> response.  Diversity mode can be very
> useful on the low bands but Orion's is
> limited by the very poor front-end
> performance of the Sub-RX.  My ~2 Hz
> offset is annoying but not as much of a
> problem as front-end issues.  BTW, you
> can reduce it to <1 Hz by assigning Main
> and Sub to separate VFO's offset by
> 6 Hz (for you) or 2 Hz (for me).  I
> suspect the problem is that the offset
> is not constant offset across all rigs
> which prevents a global fix in firmware.
>
>         An Orion 3 with good front-ends for
> both Main and Sub that could be phase-
> locked would give me what I want for True
> Diversity, but it would cost $5-6k.
>
>                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV
>
> P.S.  Nice summary of outstanding issues for O2.
>
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