[TenTec] OII Audio testing/optimization

[Ron Castro]

I forgot I had to go to a school open-house last night, and didn't get home 
until late, so by the time I got on 40, everyone was gone.

The settings look interesting.  I'll try doing frequency response testing if 
I get a chance with those settings, although I found it is pretty hard to 
get the O2 to hold an audio level without it 'hunting' with its digital and 
analog gain controls and trying to correct the level, even when it's way 
down.  One thing I did find on my earlier testing is that the TX EQ 
settings, which are calibrated in dB, read much higher than the actual 
equalization.  IOW, setting it at +6 dB is more like +3 dB at the cut-off 
frequency when actually measured.

Ron N6AHA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Kc9cdt at aol.com>
To: <ronc at sonic.net>
Cc: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 5:31 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] OII Audio testing/optimization


> Ron,
> I guess I missed you last night....
>
> I did hook up with another OII owner, Charles K5UA, and Ron N9AU on the 
> side
> (coild not copy Ron).
>
> We did some extensive on air audio testing with my OII and Heil Goldline 
> with
> excellant results.
>
> Net results: Both Charles and Ron have Orion II's with a major audio 
> problem
> that is hardware (there have run the same V2 as I am). Charles has sent 
> his in
> to TT and it's been there quite a while, I beleive Ron is planning on 
> sending
> his in soon?
>
> Looks like some OII's have a problem and some don't.
>
> OK, now to add some feedback for you on our test last night:
>
> My OII with Heil Goldline e element Mic with standard Heil Yaesu cables:
>
> Wide setting (Studio)
>
> Gain = 65
> SP = 3
> BW = 3150
> Rollogff = 150
> TX EQ = -8
>
> Resuilted in good audio.
>
> Narrow Setting (HC5) NOT HC4
>
> All settings the same EXCEPT TX EQ = +10
>
> Resulted in a nice DX audio
>
> What did we learn.
>
> 1) Some OII's must have a HW problem, as some sound good and some can't be
> adjusted to sound good.
>
> 2) If you run SP any higher than 3 you get high end audio distortion and
> crackling sound.
>
> 3) In our opinions even with the OII setup as well as we can, Original 
> Orion
> still sounds better!
>
> 4) We hope TT puts the audio 'STUFF' back he way it was in Orion. (Along 
> with
> some other things as well, like NR, NB, AN)
>
> 5) TT has some kind of QC issue with OII Audio HW, as some work OK some
> don't.
>
> This is all FWIW and is a result of real life testing, not type 
> engineering
> analysis with test equipment.
>
> I hope it helps some folks to sort out any audio issues.
> Net result if you can't get your audio to at least sound OK with known 
> good
> station setup (Mic, No RF feedback etc) then send her back to TT.
>
> 73,
> Lee, KC9CDT
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