[TenTec] Orion2 Firmware Update

[Wes Attaway (N5WA)]

Martin:

I agree that "the number" is undoubtedly zero.  At least it is zero as far
as any of us on this list are aware of.  

Going back to Sam's comments, and to yours, I have to wonder why the
firmware and associated documentation notes would be proprietary.  The
Orions plowed some new ground as far as amateur radio is concerned but I
can't see that there was any brand new technology involved.

As Sam indicated, there are probably many people on the list that would love
to have a shot at improving the code.  And my guess would be that quite a
few people would be real good at the coding.

Still, we have no idea what is going on at TenTec.  Everything we say and
think is speculation.  I'm sure one problem (maybe the main problem) would
be with tech support for radios that were damaged by some goofy code.

If that hurdle was eliminated then what would be wrong with putting
everything on the web site and letting the code become open source?

I'll make one bet and it is that John Henry is thinking about what to do.
That alone is a good thing.   
  

------------------ Wes Attaway (N5WA) ------------------
1138 Waters Edge Circle - Shreveport, LA 71106
    318-797-4972 (office) - 318-393-3289 (cell)
        Computer Consulting and Forensics
-------------- EnCase Certified Examiner ---------------
 
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Martin Ewing
Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 5:59 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion2 Firmware Update

On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 11:14 AM, <Rsoifer at aol.com> wrote:

> ...  Rather than trying to fix the existing firmware, might it  make more
> sense just to treat the O II as an  empty hardware platform, and  write an
> altogether new system?
>

Any of us users could take the schematics and write their own Orion firmware
from scratch.  We might even be able to reverse engineer parts of TT's
distribution.  (They don't ask you to sign away your rights like most
software makers do.)

So how many people have done this in the ~7 years the Orion has been
around?  That number will tell you something!

73 Martin AA6E
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec