[TenTec] "End of an Era"

[Douglas Shock]

Nicely stated Jerry, I can respect your opinion. I own both a flex sdr and
the Orion II. Both are great solutions depending on the need and the mood. I
do agree that I stand to be left in the cold someday for software support
with both radios as we have seen with the Pegasus but I will enjoy the ride
as long as it lasts.

cheers
Doug / K0ZU


On 8/17/06, Jerry Volpe <kg6tt at arrl.net> wrote:
>
> I don't think so. [now for my opinion]
>
> I started working in the computer field in 1968 and have stayed current
> ever since and as an RF engineer at different intervals since 1972. So
> my experience with systems, trends, and fads go back a few years.
>
> Today, I can find many a transceiver still working and workable after 30
> years or more.... yet I have a garage packed full of computer 'junk'
> five years old that I can't give away. The trouble with today's SDR
> concept is that you are paying for hardware (regardless of how little)
> that is dependent on a backend computer/software solution that has
> historically a very limited lifetime. Add to that the fact that working
> for 'free' programmers (no matter how noble) eventually tire of projects
> after a few years. Once they do who takes up the gauntlet? Why would
> they want too?
>
> When Ten-Tec introduced the Pegasus in 1999 it had a lot of attention
> and a lot of hobby programs worked on solutions to better the freeware
> provided by Ten-Tec. Now merely seven years later where are the
> innovative software packages for the Pegasus? Yes, you can still use
> it.... and let us be thankful that only the GUI is external so even when
> all the current software solutions are too old for the next generation
> of computers and operating systems it will still be possible to whip up
> a GUI with the tools of the day. Would someone want to spend all that
> time reinventing a complete software environment for a ten year old
> FlexRadio? How about a 20 year old one? A 30 year old one? I think you
> get my point. On the other hand I think SDR is a cool idea and an
> interesting branch of the solution tree, but I am glad it is not the
> only viable branch.
>
> Every time I see a FlexRadio demonstration I go away thinking I have to
> try one of those. Then I read about the latency issues and I scratch my
> head. Today, a friend of mine attempted a demo of a few Soft Rocks at my
> station. Unfortunately none of my sound cards were up to the task and
> the reception was very poor (something to be learned there). During our
> meeting he told me that he had heard that the latency problem had been
> solved! I replied that I have to look into that, so I did. What I found
> was that the FlexRadio developers claim they have now created a SDR
> environment that allows for the best 'semi-break' in performance of any
> SDR to date. Oh well. I have been using 'full break in' CW with Ten-Tec
> rigs for over 30 years. He told me that I needed a Delta 44 sound card
> (I knew this already) and that I shouldn't be dismayed by the $150 to
> $200 that they cost. I replied that my Triton IV only cost $225 and it
> was total plug-n-play even after 30 years.
>
> Now I am curious by nature and profession and always looking for a
> better mouse trap. I have owned and subsequently discarded a JRC
> NRD-545, a Ten-Tec RX-350, and a Ten-Tec Jupiter.... all nice DSP
> concepts but simply not as refined or as capable as many of the pure
> discrete solutions I already own. After taking a year or so away from
> the DSP solutions (well my Omni-VI+ did have some DSP functions) I now I
> have an Orion, which I like a lot.... yet no matter how much I use it I
> find more ease and simple pleasure using a 30 year old Triton IV or my
> 20 year old Corsair II. And with a sincere smile I'll let you know now
> that you will have to pry both of those from my cold, dead fingers after
> I am gone. :)
>
> 73,
> Jerry, KG6TT
> Fairfield, CA
>
>
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