[TenTec] Omni VI vs Orion

[Gary Tuck]

Couple of comments--

TT posted the Omni VI specs this morning and while they seem to be  
better than the competition, I don't believe the close in dynamic  
range is greater than the VI+ and certainly not after an InRad  
roofing filter install.  Still like to play with one though ;-)

I have 115 kv power lines nearby.  Last time they kicked up, it took  
the local utility five months to find and fix the offending pole.    
Sputtering and hissing started again yesterday.  The NB in the Omni VI 
+ did a creditable job knocking down the noise but I had to bypass  
the InRad roofing filter.  Strong signals overloaded the receiver  
badly.   The Orion firmware NB may have helped a bit but the hardware  
NB took out the noise completely.  Strong signals nearby also  
affected the receiver but not quite as badly as the VI+ it seemed.

73, Gary W7TEA

On Jan 17, 2007, at 2:23 PM, Dennis OConnor wrote:

> General comment on all the comments...
>
>   Yes, with the Orion I can hear in closer to a bellowing mastadon  
> than the DX I am trying to work - at times... But distance helps me  
> there... The mastadon is usually not overpowering on the DX station  
> end, so the DX can hear me in close also...
>   I had exactly the same experience as related by another poster -  
> on 80 meters - where I found a juicy Pacific multiplier down in the  
> mud between two sumos who were too occupied with bashing each other  
> to listen for the little guys...  There he was, chirpiing away as  
> the band was rapidly going shorter...  Slipped in there, worked him  
> on one call, and 90 seconds later he was gone...  Now it is likely  
> that the sumos with their endless CQ machine already had worked him  
> at some time earlier, but I still enjoyed it...
>
>   On the Omni 564 versus Orion 565/566... I have long been an  
> admirer of the Omni series... My 564 has the Inrad Roofing filter   
> for CW...  I also have a heavily modified MK-V with the Inrad  
> filter...  They are lined up down the benches so comparisons are  
> easily done...
>   The Orion receiver is the best I have ever used, whether begged,  
> borrowed, or stolen - period...
>  ......
>   deeny / k8do