[TenTec] Fw: Rob Sherwood on Orion II

[Lynn Lamb]

Thanks Bill for Robs words on the Orion..   Couple of comments for potential 
owners who read this reflector and as some say get the wrong impression.  We 
are open to hearing criticism on this great reflector and we can dish it out 
too, but these comments are just singing the song for the Orions.  A dear 
late friend use to say often 'compared to what?'.  Well folks I can say I've 
compared it to many many rigs.. enough.

Agree as would Ten-Tec I think, that the Orion isn't for everyone, but let
 me offer another scenario perhaps different from most of the 'low end of 40
 during the contest' comments and the numbers many don't understand or care 
about.

 I'm sitting on 40 SSB with my buddies on Sat morning.  It's awful with QRM
 believe me, but after 15 years it's still good with my friends.  The QSOs
 are everywhere, but I slide between others perhaps 2 or 3 kHz off.
 Frankly I don't have any problems coping my friends with the Orion.... 
others do have problems with me at times..

My friends do not run much power nor are they using a beam.  Some times 
others complain and we move a little either way, but they are not using 
Orions.  I don't run max power and with the Orion as you know we can cut our 
transmitted band width and I never run it wider than 2550Hz at 150 Hz L.F. 
rolloff with almost no compression.  I'm not broad as others may be.  Point 
is, the receiver is just that good and wish everyone had one.  Weak signals 
are NOT desensed by a strong RF environment and no one can buy this at this 
level in another rig on the planet.

 I don't operate 75, but from what I've heard some of the same thing goes on
 down there and likewise Orions could come in handy.

 If one operated only in an area/band that isn't bothered with close QRM, go
 get another rig, you don't need the Orion receiver.  Lots of good rigs out
 there.

Being a CW bloat, I notice key clicks a lot but again with the Orion
 they are not there.  Orion's and a few other rigs have the capability to
 control the rise/fall time and that is good.  The Orion defaults at
 5ms... .change it to at least 7ms.. I even use 10 at times, but never 5ms.
 As this is increased it cuts down on QSK speed.. perhaps 40wpm!  If you 
want
 to hear a good note listen to Bill W4ZV on 160 most nights and he runs at
 7ms I believe.  He and I are very conscious of others with rigs not capable 
of what
 the Orion can do FOR OTHERS and therefore HATE key clicks.

So if you are shopping, not only consider yourself but others as they will 
benefit when Orions are on your desk.

 FWIW... Lynn W4NL


 ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill Tippett" <btippett at alum.mit.edu>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 7:57 PM
> Subject: [TenTec] Rob Sherwood on Orion II
>
>
>> The Orion II has the highest close-in dynamic range at 1 kHz spacing
>> I have ever tested. At 50 kHz and 20 kHz, the dynamic range is
>> synthesizer noise limited at 95 dB. At 5 kHz the synthesizer loop is
>> quieter, and it measures 97 dB on 3rd order products. At 2 kHz it was
>> 95 dB with the 600 Hz roofing filter and at 1 kHz it was 95 dB with
>> the 300 Hz roofing filter, both on IMD, not phase noise. All tests
>> were on 20 meters. There are things I don't like about the Orion II,
>> as with the Orion I, but that is true of any radio. There is no
>> perfect transceiver. If a near by station is bothering you, and you
>> are using an Orion II, it is likely the other guys fault: key clicks,
>> transmitted phase noise, SSB splatter, etc. At this point we are at
>> the limit due to IMD produced in the roofing filters, at least for
>> commercial, affordable products. In general, there is room for
>> improvement in the overall product, but not in dynamic range. The
>> close-in dynamic range is 10 dB better than most people need most of
>> the time. Full test data to be posted soon at www.nc0b.com.
>>
>> http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5564
>>
>>                         73,  Bill  W4ZV
>>
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>