[TenTec] Orion 565 AT Ver2.059

[Jerry Volpe]

I am sorry, I simply don't get it. Once I fixed "my" problem with the audio chain I have had absolutely no operating issues with version 2.059d. In fact, it is the best performing Orion yet.

If you are having issues I suggest you take a new approach and look to what might be external to the transceiver and make sure that is all ok. Remember, version 2.059d completely reconfigures sideband generation in the Orion simplifying the up front filtering etc and by doing so obtaining more processor and DSP availability for other functionality improvements. Now the down side of this is that the input audio must really be pretty void of stray 'rf'. Unbalancing the audio input (not good) and/or inadvertently combining the PTT return line with the mic - return (really bad) is all you have to do to make the reconfigured Orion's input and SSB generation circuitry cranky. On the other hand, doing this right (not just buying stuff and connecting it but actually  'verifying' that everything is as it should be) solves so many version 2 issues. Now I obtain glowing, unsolicited, audio reports. I use my speech processor... I use the Monitor function... everything runs as designed.

The sad part to all this is that I was one of those complaining types. I was convinced that version 2.059d was broken. I complained... I turned in bug reports... I was just about to toss the towel and go back to an Omni-VI+. Then Paul told be for the I don't know how many times to make sure my audio input was configured exactly as stated in the manual. I assumed it was after all I had a new Heil Studio One microphone and a new Heil audio cable. Well, I finally decided to take a more assertive approach and I took all that apart and found a missing ground in the Studio One (not good) but more importantly I found that the cable jack to the microphone and the microphone plug were cross wired! Essentially the mic- from the microphone was being connected to the shield of the cable and the shield of the microphone was being connected to the mic- of the cable! Could be done worse and still make noise. I fixed the ground and reversed those connections within the mic cable inline jack and all was happy.

If you think you have issues with distorted audio, uncontrollable Speech processing, distorted Monitor, irregular VOX functionality, etc... running version 2.059d firmware look toward what you are connecting to that front panel microphone connector. The problem may honestly be yours.

73,
Jerry, KG6TT
Fairfield, CA


-- 
Ralph Jerald "Jerry" Volpe
Amateur Radio Operator KG6TT
ARRL Member & VE
FISTS 12304

788 Chestnut Drive
Fairfield, CA 94533

kg6tt at arrl.net

510 325-7724
707 399-8838 FAX