[TenTec] [Orion] Resolving the low AUX audio output issue with firmware ...

[Ron Castro]

Jerry:  You got a good deal on the Radio Design Labs module...they usually 
sell for around $100.  I know the owner of that company, Joel Bump very 
well.  He's not a ham, but an excellent design engineer.  The RDL product 
line is made for commercial use which is why the price looks high, but all 
of the dozens of stick-on modules they make are top quality and last 
forever.

They make a microphone preamp that sells for about $100...a lot for ham use, 
but cheap by broadcast standards.  The BBC bought one to study in there lab 
against several others, including a $3,300 Rupert Neve preamp in a 
gold-plated chassis.  The BBC determined that the RDL and the Neve were 
identical in specs, so they bought a huge quantity of the RDLs!

I run the output of my O2 through a cheap Behringer mixer, so I can adjust 
for any level, but I isolate the inputs and outputs of my laptop sound card 
through an RDL STA-1 line amp in one direction and a pair of RDL ST-DA3 
distribution amps in the other.  That completely got rid of all vestiges of 
hum, noise, etc.

Ron N6AHA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Volpe" <kg6tt at arrl.net>
To: <orion at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 5:23 PM
Subject: [Orion] Resolving the low AUX audio output issue with 
firmware5.059d


> It is somewhat interesting how certain aspects of the Orion's behavior
> can change with different firmware versions. Well I 'm not getting into
> the pros and cons of each variation, instead I am going to make a
> suggestion in passing of what I did to minimize certain variables in the
> future.
>
> Problem Encountered:
>
> I upgraded my shack computers to better M-Audio 2496 sound cards. These
> are very close cousins to the highly sought after Delta-44 series.
> Anyway, the new sound cards came and then I hit a wall. The fixed audio
> out of my Orion under version 2.059d was significantly less than what
> these higher quality sound cards required. Ouch.
>
> Answer:
>
> I obtained a small 'stick-on- headphone amplifier module from Radio
> Design Labs. The model I bought was the ST-SH1 (a new old stock item,
> currently replaced by the ST-SH2). This little black module, about the
> size of a business card and maybe 3/4" thick, has miniature screw
> terminals for balanced or unbalanced stereo audio in, 24 vdc, and left
> and right unbalanced audio out (high or low impedance). It also has
> independent level controls for each channel. Depending on how you
> interconnect (the one page instruction sheet is more than sufficient)
> you can even configure so that it provides ground isolation as well.
> This means you wouldn't need an additional transformer between it and
> your soundcard.  I ran the fixed AUX audio from the back of my Orion to
> both inputs on the ST-SH1, and then one output to my M-Audio sound card
> and the second output to my station's Mackie mixer panel. The separate
> audio level adjusts allowed me to get the exact fixed level I wanted for
> each application.
>
> I don't know what these modules go for new but I obtained mine for less
> than $30 shipped. It was new old stock.
>
> Now, I really don't care what the next firmware version does to the AUX
> output.... I'm ready!
>
> 73,
> Jerry, KG6TT
>
> -- 
> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> 

Ron Castro
Chief Technical Officer
Results Radio, LLC