[TenTec] Orion2 Firmware Update

[kc9cdt at aol.com]

Jim,
The firmware for the jupiter, Omni VII, Orion and OII are completely 
different. One will not run at all on the other. Just like the computer 
systems in a Ford will not work in a Chevy.
It is a clear issue of just poor programming, testing (following a very 
detailed test plan)) and in general poor management of the development 
process. I am in the business...and that's why this happens.

There are, I'm sure, plenty of SUPERB mico-code/firmware programmers 
that  have experience with RF systems available out there looking for 
work.

If they handled things like that with the Military projects...theywould 
no longer be a supplier.

I hope John Henry sorts it  out.

73,
Lee. KC9CDT





-----Original Message-----
From: jmiller1706 at cfl.rr.com
To: tentec at contesting.com
Cc: tentec-request at contesting.com
Sent: Thu, Apr 15, 2010 10:33 am
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion2 Firmware Update


I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt now.  Could be a number of 
things
other than inadequate testing before release.

I am wondering if the firmware is finding some uninitialized residual 
parameter
data in our O2's that isn't in the test radio they have that's causing 
our loads
to go crazy?  I assume a power reset should clear memory completely but 
maybe
not?  Some data values got relocated in flash memory and when you load 
it into
our radios there is some uncleared data that's hosing things?

Are they trying to make the software work for both the O2 and the other 
radio
(Jupiter?).  Maybe it works fine for the other one but not the O2?

If it is indeed poor quality control and testing, then that needs to be 
cleaned
up.  If TT does work for the government/defense, they should know that 
rigorous,
meticulous testing is normally required by the DoD, sometimes taking 
weeks and
months to complete.  Some of that discipline should carry over to their
commercial products.

And someone commented that it takes a good hot-shot programmer.  Yes 
that's
partly true, but with software-defined radio technology, it almost 
takes PhD
level theoretical/math understanding of digital signal processing 
concepts.
Then be able to translate that to firmware.  But in reality it takes 
many:  A
math/DSP guru, a hot shot coder but one who has discipline to craft 
good code,
and then a good independent test team to wring out the bugs.

I notice that the download appears to be reposted on the TT page...back 
to the
previous version?

73 Good luck - Jim N4BE
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