[TenTec] ARRL Reviews

Thu Sep 8 11:49:18 PDT 2011

Ray,Very true, but keep in mind that the feature sets are different between the first two groups. All the radios in the first group either have, or offer, a second receiver. This was a major differentiator for me.If you don't want or need the second receiver you can indeed get top notch performance from a radio in the second group.73, Joel Hallas, W1ZR----- Original Message -----From: Rsoifer at aol.comDate: Thursday, September 8, 2011 11:16 amSubject: Re: [TenTec] ARRL ReviewsTo: tentec at contesting.com> Hi all,> > Since we're into subjective impressions, I'll put on my flak > jacket and  > share mine.> > Looking at Rob Sherwood's table, the top six receivers (FT-5000, > K3,  > Perseus, Flex 5000, Orion I and II) look pretty much > indistinguishable.   One > spec is a little better, another a little worse.  Then there is > a small  step > down to the next level (Eagle, Flex 3000, etc.)  Those are > almost as  good, > and generally less expensive.  They perform about as well as the > top  group > in all but the most demanding situations, and represent > excellent value  for > money.> > Older radios generally rank lower in the table, but as has been > said by  > others, are just as good as when we bought them.  I have fun > with my  KWM-2 as > well as my Orion II.> > 73 Ray W2RS> > > > > > > In a message dated 9/8/2011 1:39:10 P.M. GMT Standard Time,  > cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net writes:> > Perfect!  Absolutely perfect. Kudos to you, good  Sir!> > Kim N5OP> > At 05:59 AM 9/8/2011, you wrote:> >I offer  three personal observations on the new radio - > receiver list  > debate:> >> >         1)   As new  radios come to market, they may (should) be> >       expected to perform better than older models.    This> >         sort of quality attrition  happens in most all fields of> >          endeavor.  New models outpace older ones.    But...> >> >         2)  No matter how  much better a new radio is compared to> >       your old rig, ... your old radio does not suddenly  start> >         performing worse.  It is  still the radio it always was.> >> >       3)  These receiver rankings are sorted only by  close-in> >         third order intercept  specifications.   Some of the lower> >       rated radios appear to have superior or equivalent  ratings> >         on other  specs.> >> >> >Therefore,  I don't feel bad that my Omni  VII was once rated > one of the> >best receivers when it was released in  '07, but has fallen a > couple of> >places on these receiver rating  lists.   It performs the same > today as> >it did back  then.   I have not lost any ground, nor have I > been set> >back,  just because the Eagle, or the TX-590s  have better > close-in  third> >order intercept specifications.   I expect my new  TX-590s to > have better> >numbers... as does the new TT Eagle.    My Omni VII has not > lost any> >ground - the others just pushed the  envelope out a little > farther, but> >the Omni VII is just as good as it  always was.   Same for the > Orion II> >and other rigs.   No one took a step backward.> >> >I suspect this take could  explain why so many Collins owners > continue to> >exhibit tremendous pride  and experience such enjoyment with those> >vintage rigs.   They  are the same great radios they always > were, despite> >the fact newer,  improved radios have come along.> >> >Besides, these receiver test  charts are of limited utility as > they are> >sorted for one, albeit  important, factor.  But, this > overlooks, and> >overshadows, the fact  some of the "lesser" radios have > superior figures> >and better  specifications in other categories.   They may also > have> >other features you might prefer.   Therefore, one needs  to > look at ALL> >the specifications before making a purchase decision, or  > before one> >decides his rig has been rendered  obsolete.> >> >Therefore, I am not losing any sleep over the rating  my rig > currently>has.  I plan on shamelessly enjoying my Omni VII  for > a very long time -> >without worry the new Eagle has a superior  close-> >in-third-order-intercept score.   The Omni VII works  as well > as it did> >when I purchased it a couple years  back.> >> >Besides, I figure I have a limited budget, and good  enough is just> >that... good enough.> >> >This is just MY  take, anyway... your mileage may differ for various> >multiple  reasons.> >> >------------------> >Happy  Trails.> >> >=======================  Richards / K8JHR   =========================> >> >On 9/2/2011 23:49, Ron Castro  wrote:> > > How true!  There is no scientific correlation between  > numbers > published on> > > the page of a magazine and what is actually  coming out of > your speaker > or> > > headphones.  If they correct  the numbers it won't improve > the > > performance of> > > your  radio at  all.> >_______________________________________________> >TenTec  mailing  list> >TenTec at contesting.com> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec> > _______________________________________________> TenTec  mailing  list> TenTec at contesting.com> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec> > _______________________________________________> TenTec mailing list> TenTec at contesting.com> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec> 