[TenTec] Orion Aux Audio output (explained)

[wn3vaw at verizon.net]

Mike, once I got done chuckling, I figured I'd pass on a similar tale... a little OT, but still...

I once worked at the State College remote studio for the old WGMR-FM Tyrone/State College.  The chief engineer who worked at the studio was and old-fashioned kinda guy, very set in his ways... and didn't believe in grounding.  Just didn't believe it was neccesary!  Waste of time!

Well, for a long time, if someone was recording commercials in the late morning, afternoon, or evening, I noticed on playback that you sometimes heard a voice or CW in the background.  Of course, I immediately recognized the source of the background noise, since I was an alumni of the Penn State ARC; K3CR sat about, oh, 100 yards or so on the other side of West College Avenue from the studio.  So if someone was in the shack working DX or a traffic net or ragchewing at the same time the commercials were being recorded...

The CE's response?  He was all set to complain to the FCC and Penn State and have "those kids!" thrown off the air and out of school.  Until I also pointed out to him that we were sometimes picking up the State College police, Alpha Fire, the 146.74 K3HKK/R repeater, even my 1 W Wilson 1402 HT.  

He still didn't believe it was "his" studio at fault, until just to humor me, he grounded everything.  Problem went away.  Imagine that.

And FWIW, this is the same guy who helped build the original WBLF-AM studio in Bellefonte PA.  In a converted apartment.  He always claimed the original transmitter remote controls were located in the bathroom... specifically, in the tub & shower.  Supposedly, when the FCC people came to inspect the station before it went on the air, they took one look at THIS setup and broke up laughing (and worse).  I heard THAT tale from a number of people, and I don't know if it's actually true -- but if it's not, it should be!

73, ron wn3vaw

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From: Mike Gorniak <mgorniak at genesiswireless.us>
Date: Tue Mar 28 12:07:30 CST 2006
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Aux Audio output (explained)

Larry, I agree with you in principle. However, I must add an anecdote that illustrates the problem in the real world:

I once worked for a radio station that had a sound system that they used at various remote broadcasts and other events that required a PA system. For some reason, the Chief Engineer had chosen good old fashioned AC Plugs and modified extension cords as the interconnects. 

The results were eminently predictable. The CE received a phone call from an intern who was working an event. It seems that every one of the loudspeakers had the same fault...he'd plug it in, briefly hear a very loud hum, and then the speaker would belch black smoke. As I recall, he did that with 4 600 dollar loudspeakers before bothering to call anyone. 

Now, who is responsible? The CE or the intern? Or both?

73,

Mike
NM7X
 

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Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 09:38:18 -0600
From: "Larry Menzel" <retire at means.net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion Aux Audio output (explained)
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>

Yes, I must admit to several "gozinta" errors while getting to know my 
Orions.  None fatal, however, thus far.

RANT ON:

But you know, as I look at my amplifiers, my oscilloscope, my audio gear, my 
sig-gen, all have common ports for many functions, any one of which, 
misaligned, will yield faulty results.  Let's put any blame for mis-plugged 
plugs directly where it belongs: On the Operator!

Wouldn't it be nice, a kinda kindergarten thing, to have every port color 
coded, and different shaped so we can be protected from oursleves, huh? 
But, guys, were big boys and girls now, and we should be aware enough to 
make SURE the plug is in the right hole before proceeding.  A quick check, 
even if it's with a mirror if you can't get to the back of the rig, should 
be SOP when interconnecting devices.  Let's not blame the tools, eh?

This is a serious radio for serious applications and operators.  It's not a 
toy with non-functional or multipurpose plugs. WE get to decide what we want 
the radio to do, and we have to be able to figure that out AND take 
responsibility for our own errors in judgement or execution.

No offense, guys, but we got what we paid for.  I love the phase, Bob, 
"performance outweighs warts" if you want to call them that.

RANT OFF:

Larry, N0XB

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