[TenTec] [Orion] O2 Tx audio quality

Thu Mar 23 11:50:51 EST 2006

I would like to hear what their diagnosis is.  I'm convinced now that there 
is a problem that effects only some of the O2's...maybe a bad run of chips 
from a 3rd party supplier.  My O2, which does not suffer from the audio 
distortion problem, was from the first run of units that were released in 
December.  This one was returned as a "demo" and I got it early in February. 
I think so far there have only been two production runs, and I wonder if the 
bad units all came from the same run, or all have consecutive serial 
numbers?

Ron N6AHA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ronald Gorski" <R.Gorski at Astronautics.com>
To: "Ron Castro" <ronc at sonic.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 6:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Orion] O2 Tx audio quality

> At 12:19 PM 3/22/06 -0800, you wrote:
>>Thank you for the kind comments on the audio.  I should be on 40 meters 
>>this evening sometime after 0000 UTC, and possibly as late as 0400.  Look 
>>around 7165 to 7195, and we can share some ideas!
> Sorry we did not have a chance to chat last evening.Got tied up in 
> conversation with my friend K5UA . Charles has the exact same audio 
> symptoms as I. He sent his O2 back to the factory a month ago. Plan on 
> calling the TT service manager today.
> 73,
> Ron N9AU
>
>
>
>
>>Ron
>>N6AHA
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronald Gorski" 
>><R.Gorski at Astronautics.com>
>>To: "Ron Castro" <ronc at sonic.net>
>>Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 5:38 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Orion] O2 Tx audio quality
>>
>>
>>>At 11:54 AM 3/20/06 -0800, you wrote:
>>>>Then the problem is probably isolated to the SSM2166 mic preamp chip in 
>>>>the A7 section (schematic 81917_9.pdf) or its associated components, 
>>>>U201AA or U200A (Main Codec, schematic 81917-6.pdf).  The U200A chip 
>>>>could have a problem although it's not in complete failure mode, or you 
>>>>would have no receive audio in the speakers.  The headphones are fed 
>>>>from the chip that handles the Aux input.
>>>>
>>>>My first course of action would be to look at all the cables and 
>>>>connections from the back of the mic connector through to the A7 board, 
>>>>and all associated connectors and cables to and from that board, plus 
>>>>'the usual suspects' like bad solder joints, etc.  If there is nothing 
>>>>obvious, then a trip back to Dolly Parton Parkway is indicated!
>>>>
>>>>Ron N6AHA
>>>Ron, my initial observation (listening to internal monitor) was that 
>>>driving the AUX mike input produced significantly better transmit audio 
>>>than using the front panel 8-pin connector. On-the-air tests showed that 
>>>this was false. The harsh (raspy) edge was still present on voice peaks.
>>>
>>>I heard you chatting on 40m last evening. Your audio is outstanding (must 
>>>be the $17 mike). Would have called but band went south. Also had a 
>>>chance to view your web site. Interesting comments. Also viewed many many 
>>>comments from Orion I owners.
>>>Saw a few comments indicating past problems withe the TT switching 
>>>supply. Suspect that the regulator circuitry was susceptable to RF. Just 
>>>for grins, I swapped out the supply with a Lambda. Also wrapped the DC 
>>>cord to the radio on some ferrite.  By far, you have the best sounding O2 
>>>that I have heard (you have become the default "standard").
>>>
>>>Would very much like to chat with you on the air. Specifically, I wish to 
>>>pick your brain for RFI related issues. The only ground connection to 
>>>radio is through coax (tied to ground rods at base of tower) and the AC 
>>>mains ground pin on the amplifier. An electrically short groung wire is 
>>>not possible. I've not had RF issues with other radios.
>>>
>>>Let me know if an on-the -air test is possible. Thanks for your time.
>>>
>>>Ron N9AU
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronald Gorski" 
>>>><R.Gorski at Astronautics.com>
>>>>To: "Ron Castro" <ronc at sonic.net>
>>>>Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 11:19 AM
>>>>Subject: Re: [Orion] O2 Tx audio quality
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>At 11:03 AM 3/20/06 -0800, you wrote:
>>>>>>Another question---can you check if the distortion is also on the Aux 
>>>>>>input as well?  If it is not, that narrows down the problem quite a 
>>>>>>bit.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Ron N6AHA
>>>>>Funny you should mention that! I have an old electret mike with an 
>>>>>equalizing pre-amp. I connected same to the AUX input last night (just 
>>>>>because I didn't have an 8 pin cable made up). I set the aux mike gain 
>>>>>at 50 and adjusted the pre-amp output til I had plenty of ALC action. 
>>>>>Turned up the monitor to near max so as to pick up any audio flaws. The 
>>>>>audio (at the monitor) sounded GREAT. Switched back and forth between 
>>>>>the Heil (connected to the front 8 pin connector) and the electret and 
>>>>>the difference was substantial.
>>>>>I have yet to check this with an on-the-air report.
>>>>>Ron N9AU
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronald Gorski" 
>>>>>><R.Gorski at Astronautics.com>
>>>>>>To: "Ron Castro" <ronc at sonic.net>
>>>>>>Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 10:30 AM
>>>>>>Subject: Re: [Orion] O2 Tx audio quality
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>At 09:01 AM 3/20/06 -0800, you wrote:
>>>>>>>>A couple of questions:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--Have you tried a Master Reset?
>>>>>>>Yes, I have performed master resets following firmware updates. The 
>>>>>>>TX audio issue has been with me since day 1.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--Can you hear the raspy sound in the monitor?
>>>>>>>Yes, I can hear it in the monitor. Doesn't matter what user setting I 
>>>>>>>have nor the type of microphone. TX into antenna same as TX into a 
>>>>>>>dummy load.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--Can you hear the raspy sound in another receiver?
>>>>>>>Yes, another receiver sounds same as the monitor. Audio is 
>>>>>>>intelligible.........just not world class.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--What happens if you turn down the mic level control to the point 
>>>>>>>>where the ALC light is not flashing?
>>>>>>>On-air reports indicate some improvement when gain is reduced to low 
>>>>>>>level (35). The improvement is not, however, significant.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--What power supply voltage are you running and how much does it dip 
>>>>>>>>at the rig connector under key-down, full power?
>>>>>>>I am using the TT 22A continuous supply. I have no voltage monitor 
>>>>>>>connected.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I heard another O2 user over the weekend who's audio sounded 
>>>>>>>>distorted, but since I was just getting ready to leave the house I 
>>>>>>>>didn't have a chance to talk to him.  If I run into him again (he's 
>>>>>>>>usually around on 75 at night) I'll see if I can get an idea about 
>>>>>>>>what might be causing his problem, and report it back here.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Please do. I think there are more of us out there. I am starting to 
>>>>>>>think that there may be a hardware problem with the audio board.
>>>>>>>73, Ron
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Ron N6AHA
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronald Gorski" 
>>>>>>>><R.Gorski at Astronautics.com>
>>>>>>>>To: <orion at contesting.com>
>>>>>>>>Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 6:32 AM
>>>>>>>>Subject: [Orion] O2 Tx audio quality
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I have received reports of a raspy edge on all voice peaks. The 
>>>>>>>>>problem
>>>>>>>>>does not appear to be RFI related nor is it affected by TX EQ or LF
>>>>>>>>>roll-off settings or the type of microphone used (condenser mike or 
>>>>>>>>>heil
>>>>>>>>>GM-5). I know of one other O2 owner that has experienced the same 
>>>>>>>>>problem.
>>>>>>>>>His is at the factory for troubleshooting. Are there others?
>>>>>>>>>Ron N9AU
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>Orion mailing list
>>>>>>>>>Orion at contesting.com
>>>>>>>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/orion
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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