[TenTec] Orion antenna relay stuck?

[John K Gotwals]

My Orion-I was new in the summer of 2005. Starting in the last week or so, 
when I turn my Orion on in the morning it acts as if the antenna is not 
attached to the Orion. The receiver acts as if it is working, but with no 
antenna. When I press the tune button, SWR of High is displayed, and the 
wattmeter in the antenna tuner reads zero forward power. After an 
indeterminate number of repeated presses of the Tune button interspersed 
with presses of the User 1 key, the Orion mysteriously starts to work 
flawlessly for the duration of that day's operation.

It so happens that at about the same time this trouble has appeared, I did 
connect the Navigator interface to my computer and Orion. During power-on in 
the morning, I turn the computer on, which powers the Navigator, and then I 
apply power to the Orion. At power-off in the night, I perform the reverse 
sequence. During the day the Orion works fine even if its power is cycled 
off and on.

This problem could be explained by a malfunction in the relay(s) which 
switches the Orion between the two antenna connectors. Or, it could be 
something else.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

John, N9JG