[TenTec] "End of an Era"

[Paul Christensen]

> IC7800.  I have the SDR-1000 and it keeps getting better all the
> time, but there are still some hardware limitations that the
> developers have not come up with software work-arounds for.

The primary limitation is their use of a single PC microprocessor to 
accomplish many parallel tasks.  It's a commendable start -- but when Flex 
and other manufacturers develop an SDR architecture that distributes tasks 
across multiple processors, they will have a serious product for the mass 
market.

Adding a good front panel user interface is also going to be necessary in 
order to attract a large market share.  I suspect that as successful as the 
Pegasus was, Ten-Tec's decision to add a front panel to it and call it a 
Jupiter was the direct result of customer feedback in order to seek 
continued growth in revenue.

My understanding is that Flex's new concept radio will shift a large portion 
of the processing function away from the PC and include it within the radio 
hardware.  Since so much of the performance depends on the quality of the 
audio interface to the sound card device, any slight abnormally in hum, 
buzz, ground loops, etc., can have a profound effect on basic performance. 
Before I would try a Flex, I would want to see them incorporate a 
differential, 3-stage instrumentation input (for high CMRR immunity) so that 
it can better adapt to some of the unknown powering and grounding conditions 
around the shack.

SDR holds great promise for the future, especially as the A-D function 
gradually moves from AF, to IF, and finally to RF.  But at the end of the 
day, the product has to feel like a radio and not a computer.  It also has 
to quickly respond to what we want, when we want it -- whether its fast 
band-changing during a contest, or ultra fast CW QSK.  Otherwise, we may as 
well just make Echlolink contacts all day long.

Paul, W9AC