[TenTec] Orion Repaired and Back to V1.373b5

[Dave Heil]

fraz1 wrote:
> Al, FWIW, I agree that TT has work to do for their original Orion and Orion 
> II customers.  If they do not plan any additional revisions or upgrades, 
> they should clearly state so.
> 
> I have lost some confidence in their advertising claims and commitment to 
> customers.  I view the firmware issues as part of their whole customer 
> service/repair package.

Maybe I just don't get it.  I'm able to work very weak DX stations on 
160m while they are snuggled up right next to a loud W station CQing.  I 
can pick signals out of whopping QRN on the lower bands.  I can hear 
whispers of signals on 10m.  I've adjusted my AGC settings so that I 
have no distorted, harsh audio.

I've been using V2 software with no glitches.  I've made the sweep mod.
The only problem I had recently is that my display was slow to come up 
and took a while to reach full brightness and contrast.  I was dreading 
the loss of the display.  A quick telephone call to Ten-Tec service 
resulted in a tech walking me through a couple of possibilities.
Following the free advice I received, I was able to pinpoint the problem 
to caps in the power distribution board.  My Orion is now functioning 
normally and no shipment to the factory was needed.

Ten-Tec long ago addressed issues which I found important to me.  I've 
received quite a number of free firmware upgrades.  I imagine that 
there'll be more in the future.  If there are never any further updates, 
I won't be unhappy.

I've looked at the specs on the Sherwood site and they confirm what I've 
long felt about the receive capabilities of my rig.  I don't plan to 
replace my Orion for a long time.

If I'd been the purchaser of an IC-7800 or an FTDX-9000 and it didn't 
beat the specs of a much lower priced U.S. rig, I might be inclined to 
feel that I'd been had.  I don't fee that way about my Orion.

Is it just possible that some of us expect too much from a manufacturer?

Dave Heil K8MN