[TenTec] ORION II the right rig for SSB ?

[d.e.warnick at comcast.net]

Yes, the average power may be pushed higher, but is the intelligibility of the signal any better. Lately when I go up on SSB, I hear a lot of signals compressed beyond the ability to understand. Maybe it's just my old ears

Dave
WA3MKB

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Mike Schatzberg <wow_chf at hotmail.com> 

> 
> Hello O2 Fans: 
> 
> To quantify the issue a little better, my measurements show that the O2 produces 
> an average power output that is about 3 db lower than the typical imported 
> radio. Even with the compressor set at 7, the O2 will produce about 20 to 25 
> watts average output at 70 watts PEP, while a Yaesu Mark V, with the RF Clipper 
> on and set at 4 to 5 db, will produce at least 40 watts or more when the PEP 
> output is 70 watts. 
> 
> The ALC system in the O2 is entirely different from any off shore manufacturer. 
> It is so very fast to provide current limiting and protection for the finals, 
> not specifically to avoid overdriving an amplifier. This system provides 
> excellent final protection, but seems to limit the development of the transmit 
> envelope. 
> 
> Of course, there are significant differences between an RF Clipper and a 
> Compressor. There alone, the differences are enough to easily see a difference 
> in average power, especially when driving an amplifier. Ten Tec seems to prefer 
> the lower distortion of a compressor, as opposed to slightly higher distortion 
> and more average power output with a Clipper. 
> 
> I have experimented with changing the time constants in the hardware ALC for the 
> O2. By the time I got the average power output increased, the signal already 
> had begun to distort. If indeed this is the issue, the timing changes will have 
> to come from the software side. There are probably also reasons for the ALC to 
> be this fast in regards to the DSP system in use. 
> 
> The audio in the O2, even with the compressor set at 7 is very good, and very 
> strong. It works well in pile ups, and is very distinctive sounding. The 
> system works as Ten Tec wanted it to. My amplifier clearly doesn't need to work 
> as hard when being driven by the O2, and maybe that isn't such a bad thing after 
> all. 
> 
> BTW, I see the new K3 will indeed use a RF Clipper. 
> 
> 73 and Happy DXing, 
> 
> Mike 
> W2AJI 
> 
> > From: ronc at sonic.net> To: tentec at contesting.com> Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 
> 13:48:12 -0800> Subject: Re: [TenTec] ORION II the right rig for SSB ?> > I 
> agree with Merle that the sound of the processing is among the best out > there, 
> but most operators notice that Orion's don't seem to drive a linear > as hard as 
> most other rigs. I looked at the waveform for quite some time on > a spectrum 
> analyzer and I believe that the problem is due to instantaneous > and absolute 
> ALC action (and possible over reaction) on even the most > fleeting peaks. This 
> results in a lower observed average output although > the peak output appears to 
> be correct. The lower average output probably > has little effect on the overall 
> intelligibility of the signal or its > ability to bust through a pile-up, but 
> this is an area that could use some > more study.> > Ron N6IE> www.N6IE.com> > > 
> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Merle Bone" > To: 
> > Sent: Tuesday, F 
> ebruary 05, 2008 10:20 AM> Subject: Re: [TenTec] ORION II the right rig for SSB 
> ?> > > > Ben (ON5GQ) said:> > "In the archives of this reflector and reviews on 
> Eham I found also > > negative> > comments regarding the average SSB power 
> output of the Orion II."> > 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> --------------------------> >> > Ben, like many other recent DSP based rigs, the 
> Orion/Orion II V2 code has > > been> > "work in progress" for some time. There 
> was a point in the firmware > > releases where,> > in my opinion, the V2 speech 
> processing was not great. However, that has > > been fixed> > and I now believe 
> that the current V2 speech processing is among the best > > I have> > ever 
> seen.> > See post > > 
> http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/TenTec/2007-05/msg00478.html> >> > 
> The Orion/Orion II V2 speech processing algorithm delivers 15-20dB of > > 
> compression with> > solid high quality speech. I think it represents a real a 
> dvantage for SSB > > contesters> > or DX'ers.> > 73, Merle - W0EWM> > 
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