[TenTec] Think about trading for another HF rig? ; the grass isn't

[Bill Tippett]

Arthur Trampler wrote:

 > I should have been more clear...that diversity 
rx with idential receivers is
not available.

 > Maybe in the real world it doesn't make a 
difference (whether it's the Orion
primary/sub RX or two identical K3 receivers).

 > I'll have to go listen...

         Speaking as a former Orion owner for 4 
years, it does make a difference.  Try listening 
in a large pileup or in a crowded 
contest.  Orion's Main RX is on a par with the 
K3's, but its Sub is extremely poor...to the 
point of being unusable with any strong signals 
around.  On Sherwood's table, the Orion Sub-RX's 
IMD performance (measured by ARRL at 59 dB for 5 
kHz spacing) would rank near the bottom of his list.

         If Orion had delivered "true diversity", 
meaning two phase-locked receivers with good RF 
performance, I would probably still have mine 
today.  Unfortunately, due to the way the 
synthesizer frequencies were derived, there is a 
constant 2-6 Hz offset (audible warble) between 
the receivers.  And of course you also have the 
strong signal performance issues mentioned above.

         In reading reviews by anyone, you should 
always "consider the source".  G4ILO is not at 
the top of the list of people whose opinions I 
respect.  His liking of the TS-2000 speaks 
volumes to me.  Personally I would rate reviews 
by W8JI, ON4UN, 5B4AGN and a few others as being 
much more meaningful for my style of operating 
(low band DX-ing, contesting, etc).

         Orion still has one of the finest Main 
receivers available today.  In fact in several 
respects I actually prefer it to the K3.  With a 
few changes, it could be a viable competitor 
offering true diversity that would compete very 
favorably with the K3 or Flex 5000 (today's only 
rigs offering true diversity).  I hope some day 
Ten-Tec will revisit Orion and address some of 
the issues mentioned above.  I would like not to 
believe 5B4AGN's summary comment: "Enormous potential – squandered".

                                         73,  Bill  W4ZV