[TenTec] New or Used Decision; Omni VII

Thu Jan 24 13:25:31 EST 2013

Look at current Sherwood test results.  When Japan cuts corners they get FTDX 3000 results.........................82db.  The FTDX3000 is a down conversion radio.

George, W6GF............Proud owner of ORION ll..........Eagle.........OMNI Vll

________________________________
 From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec at contesting.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] New or Used Decision; Omni VII

James may very well prove to be right with his hunch about Ten-Tec's future.
It is probably not possible for Ten-Tec to compete with the imports on the
very low end.

There's a saying in business:
<> Go BIG,
<> Go Niche,
<> or Go Away

To go big, you have to cater to the masses, who typically purchase cheap.
I don't think any company manufacturing in the US can win in this market.

So what can Ten-Tec do?  What are its strengths?

I want to post something here which I posted earlier today on the Omni VII
forum.
It is an excerpt from the Sherwood Engineering list of Receiver Performance.
I have chosen only a few, which I think best represent what Ten-Tec does
best:

.Pos...........RADIO..........DR3 2kHz..Conversion..Cost
----....-------------------...--------..----------..----
..1.....Hilberling PT-8000A....105 dB......Down.....$17K
..3.....Yaesu FT-5000..........101 dB......Down......$5K
..4.....Elecraft K3............101 dB......Down......$3K
..7.....Ten-Tec Orion 2.........95 dB......Down......$4K
..9.....Ten-Tec Eagle...........90 dB......Down......$2K

.20.....Ten-Tec Omni VII........80 dB.......UP.......$3K
.21.....Icom IC-7800........... 80 dB.......UP......$12K
.28.....Icom IC-7700........... 78 dB.......UP.......$7K
.38.....Icom IC-756 Pro III.....75 dB.......UP.......$3K
.57.....FT-1000 MKV / INRAD.....71 dB.......UP........ ?
.67.....FT-1000 MKV.............69 dB.......UP.........?
.91.....FT-2000.................63 dB.......UP.......$3K

The performance chart leaders all have downward conversion.
However there was and probably still is a huge market for radios with upward
conversion.

In evaluating this, I see that Ten-Tec tops the chart in DR3 performance for
all rigs with downward conversion, at just a fraction of the cost of its
closest competitors.  Those that match it in price, FAIL to meet the minimum
requirements spelled out by Rob Sherwood for a competition grade CW radio.
Hats off, Ten-Tec.   Well done.

And in the upward conversion class, Ten-Tec has given us by far the lowest
cost contender, whose performance far exceeds that which Rob Sherwood
defined as needed for a competition grade radio.  REMEMBER, you don't have
to have the radio with the highest specs to win, you just have to have a
good enough radio (and of course a good antenna).  ALL of the radios in the
top 10 are more than good enough.

And the Orion 2?
Well if you find the Eagle and K3 too small for a home station, AND you want
a radio with knobs, the Orion is an outstanding choice, without having to
take out a second (or third) mortgage on the house.

In summary, Ten-Tec's niche is great performance value for the buck.
Of course we can throw in service, but everybody already knows that.

73
Rick, DJ0IP

-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Richards
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 8:50 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] New or Used Decision; Omni VII

Speaking of Mr. Van Winkle... I know Mr. Julian Van Winkle, III.   He 
produces a nice 10% wheated bourbon which goes down smoothly whilst working
DX or those late night nets in the shack.  The 107 proof ten year old is the
bargain of the lot.

But seriously, folks, I am betting with Rick on this one.   In fact I go 
further and bet TT produces a replacement or substantial update to the Orion
II before junking the Omni VII,  AND before replacing the Jupiter.

The Omni VII works well, and has required darn few firmware updates.  It has
a several secondary features, such as a receive-only antenna jack, and more
robust I/O options, front panel buttons, etc., and STILL 
competes well on nearly every specification.   While it is not the 
highest rated rig on Sherwood's 3d-Order-Dynamic-Range-Narrow-Spaced
List,  if you dare to read the REST of the STORY and compare the OTHER
specifications listed on the Sherwood list,  I think it still compares well
against the competition.  I don't figure we lost any contests 
because we had a pair of Omni VIIs in the shack.    While that ONE 
specification MIGHT make a difference occasionally, on a VERY FEW contacts,
I doubt it cost us any awards.

In fact, I am betting TT won't replace the Jupiter at all.  The Eagle is a
simpler, straightforward rig with basic functionality, and SUPER
PERFORMANCE, with a mid-market price tag.  I could see TT conceding the
inexpensive, entry level market altogether.  It would be difficult for TT to
produce a better entry level rig for less than the big boys can, considering
overseas labor, current market share, economies of scale, and all that jazz.

TT HAS managed to produce a short line of high performance radios, at a
fairly competitive prices.  Niche radios for a niche market.  Their radios
might cost a bit more, but you get a US made rig, with US based 
and very ACCESSIBLE service after the sale.   I think I paid extra for 
that, and am pleased with my purchase.  I would not be surprised if TT
simply entered the market at the the mid- to high- performance/cost level,
being content to just hold its own until the economy improves. 
After all, who has money to spend these days?  Who will have money to 
spend next year?   What can it make that guys can afford?

Thus, I would not be surprised if TT simply considers the Eagle and the Omni
VII as ITS entry level radios,  each appealing to a slightly different ham,
and focusing their attention on a replacement for the Orion II, which could
keep them in the running for top dog.

    Confidentially, I would not be surprised if TT came out
    with an SDR . . .

That is just MY take.

__________________ K8JHR_____________

On 1/21/2013 12:04 PM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:

> My gut feeling is, we'll see a Jupiter replacement long before we see 
> an OM7 replacement, but I have no insider knowledge at all and no 
> vender will ever tell people when something new is in the works.  That 
> would kill sales of the existing products.
>
> Have a nice sleep, Mr. Van Winkle.  ;-)
_________________________________________

../
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