[TenTec] RigBlaster and Orion II

[David Fisher]

Hi Kim,
The following from the Westmountainradio.com web site may be helpful.
73, Dave KA2CYN
ATTENTION TenTec ORION OWNERS
In a Manual Addendum for the TenTec Orion, dated October 22, 2003, 
TenTec released new information regarding microphone wiring. In this 
addendum, they stated:

"Please refer to page 10 of the manual. Disregard the wiring diagram for 
microphones as shown in Figure 2-4. Use Figure 2-5 for proper microphone 
wiring diagram"

"Please note: The microphone cable shield must be tied to the 
transciever's microphone connector shell. That is normally done by 
clamping the shield runner under the strain-relief clamp of the 
connector. Refer to Figure 2-5. TenTec microphones and the Heil/TenTec 
Studio One R9625 cable sold by TenTec are already wired as such -- many 
cables (such as other Heil cables) are NOT."

When a TenTec Orion is used with a RIGblaster Plus, the optional "4 to 8 
Pin Conversion Kit" is required to accommodate the Orion's 4 pin 
microphone connector. However our 4 to 8 Pin Conversion Kit does not 
currently connect the shells of the 4 pin connectors thus user 
modification is necessary. Fortunately we have great customers and one 
of them, Tom WA1MDO, has sent us a "Mod" that will solve this issue and 
electrically connect the 4 pin connector shells of the conversion kit. 
Thanks Tom!!!

This mod is available in PDF format at 
www.westmountainradio.com/pdf/Orion_jumpers.pdf 
<http://www.westmountainradio.com/pdf/Orion_jumpers.pdf>.
Please note, Tom illustrates jumpering using the RIGblaster pro jumper 
block. When jumpering for the RIGblaster Plus, ignore the pins labeled 
"RX AUDIO" as they apply only to the RIGblaster pro.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATTENTION TenTec ORION II OWNERS GOOD NEWS!. The TenTec ORION II was 
released with an 8 pin microphone connector unlike previous TenTec 
radios that incorporated a 4 pin microphone connector. These radios 
started shipping December 13, 2005 and thus we are posting this item for 
those TenTec ORION II owners that want to use this radio with their 
RIGblaster.
Here are the jumpering diagrams for this radio.

RIGblaster pro 
<http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/proTenTecORIONII.jpg>            
RIGblaster Plus 
<http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/PlusTenTecORIONII.jpg> 
           RIGblaster M8 
<http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/M8TenTecORIONII.jpg>            
RIGblaster nomic 
<http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/nomicTenTecORIONII.jpg>

Please note, these jumpering diagrams are for the TenTec ORION II only.


Kim Elmore wrote:

>Hi Ken,
>
>No, I haven't tried one, but I'm not using any RCA connectors. I'm 
>still in the stage of getting the mic to work though the RiagBlaster 
>plus without hum.  Could be a ground loop, but it doesn't sound 
>typically ground-loopy -- the hum is too strong. I'm thoroughly confused...
>
>  
>