[TenTec] ORION 565 still using V1.73b5, next to 566 using V3

[M. WIJK]

Hello Tony,

There's a few reasons for that. Most of them are within personal taste; both the 565 and 566 vs V.17x and V3x software are great and deliver you great RX performance.

First of all you will notice that I have not updated any of both ORION's to the latest sw currently. I surely will investigate the latest V3 version for my OII this fall.

- I strongly believe that if something works OK, sounds well to your liking etc.. there's little reason to change/upgrade (unless you can make more QSO's)
- The 1.73b5 has a much softer control of RF Gain setting; I like varying it between 55-85 matching band condx
- I never use a spectrum scope on a rig. A Perseus SDR is lightyears ahead of any rig(inc TS990) in that respect.
- AM BCB/SWL reception is preferred on 1.73b5 based on tuning the station and BW control 
- Tried the V3sw upgrade on the ORION and it turned into a whole different rig (not worse, just different)
- V3 sw deflects the S-meter already from RF Gain setting 93 and down, (too)quickly killing the RF input
- Like the optional slope setting in the menu of V3
- Already own a (2nd hand) ORION II (ex-HB9CVQ), making the most of V3 sw using its faster internal cpu. 
- I operate 160m for 90% of time. 

I have listened extensively on 160m to the ORION from 2004 onwards and like this rig soo much. 
There's some minor differences on the audio output between V1.73b5 vs V3 sw as well; look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/29333935@N07
The OII curves on Flickr actually present V3 sw. The ORION shows V1.73b5 performance, but when upgraded to V3, does show almost exact similar graphs like the OII
Look for the minor differences.
BTW; I believe the secret why the TT ORION rigs receive soo well is due to the "analog round shaped" filter curves. The only current rig, although I have only measured/listened to few of them, is the TS590, which in turn also has a more "round shaped" DSP filtercurve. I believe brickwall filtering s**k bigtime. But manufacturers hardly seem to listen and only measure steady carriers on their bench. Things change BIGTIME at nearly zero s/n as soon as you start modulating your testsignal, even more when there's live bandnoise available. I have been looking for the "holy grail", since both my analog K2 setups for VHF 2m and 6m proved to be some 8dB better (as in s/n, hearing QSO vs zilt) in reception than 3 tested IC756PRoIII's.

See more explanation on that topic at: http://pa5mw.blogspot.nl/2009/12/upgrade-current-vhf-station-iv-mds.html


After having tried V3 on the ORION for a few weeks I decided there's no need to have *two similar* V3 rigs next to each other, and I kind of missed the old 1.73b5
I currently have the luxury to enjoy two generations ORION, one using 1.73b5 and the newer OII using V3. 

Things would be different when I would only own an ORION. Proabably would use the V3 sw as TENTEC has put some very valuable options in it. The 'APF' function for instance, sometimes offers about 6dB enhancement on s/n and offers a clear QSO vs gone in the bandnoise situation. But it would certainly take me another few more weeks during winter time on 160m, trying to dig out the weak ones, doing a contest etc.. before I would decide which version sw eventually is more to my liking. 

Which other brand offers you soo much versions sw to choose from?
I had to save money for two years and sell both my FT1000MP and MKV-Field to buy my first ORION (august 2004). 
Never ever have regret that !!!!

They do a fantastic job at TEC-TEC !!



73 Mark, PA5MW




Op 08/11/13, Toby Pennington  <w4cakk at centurylink.net> schreef:
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> Mark, why are you still using firmware 1.73b5?
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>  What feature is better on that firmware than the newest one from Ten Tec?
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>  I have been back and forth between the versions, and the only thing I like better on the old firmware is the s meter does not deflect to the right when the RF gain is turned down, and the Threshold and RF gain seem to be joined together on the b5 version. But he Scope works better on the newest version. 
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>  Toby W4CAK
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