[TenTec] Orion V2.060b Comments

[Kamal Sirageldin]

I have two 565 Orions operating SO2R.  I loaded one up with v2.060b and the
other with 1.373b5 firmware.  Listening side by side (subjectively, i.e. my
ears - using a single pair of headphones) results in a comparison favoring
the 1.373b5 firmware.
 
In my opinion the following are favorable to v1.373b5:
 
The receive audio (SSB) is much cleaner - I would describe it as 'fuller'
and has (essentially no) raspiness compared to v2.060b.
- (Yes - I played and played with the V2.060b equalization settings, AGC
parameters etc  to try and maximize the receive audio quality.)
The CW sidetone is much cleaner.
Receive audio output level without distortion is much greater.
 
Until I ran them side by side, I really didn't appreciate how different the
versions actually sound on receive.  V1.373b5 just sounds better to me - and
I really wanted v2.060b to be better so I could finally move to the
supported path of Orion firmware.
 
Although the V2.060b transmit speech processor is much improved compared to
earlier V2 versions, it still does not have quite the kick that the V1.373b5
speech processer has.  It's a pretty high bar - the V1.3xx/Orion speech
processor might be the best available in any radio.
 
The band stack register display is nice in the V2.060b, and menu setting
ergonomics have been improved (no more endless knob twirling to attain
certain settings), and some other problems (i.e. XMT transients when using
Rx antenna port) have been fixed;  however I still decided to revert back to
1.373b5 firmware in order to get maximum performance in the aspects of ham
radio for which I use the Orions the most - DXing and contesting.   
 
73,
Kam  N3KS