[TenTec] Re Service Queue

[John Henry]

TEN-TEC does have an opening for a service tech, and the main rig that
service tech worked on is the Orion models. So, if anyone nearby wants to
apply, get with Paul Clinton in service and see what happens.

Depending upon the nature of the problem it might affect service turn
around, but, we are having production techs handle servicing at the moment
and also one of the Orion engineers is handling the more difficult repairs.
On average though, they get out rigs per week as fast as when we had a
dedicated service repair person.

I think what really impacted service times on the Orion is the changes in
the latest firmware revision. The latest software releases provide features
that improved the performance to a point that people are hauling out their
Orion's out of the closet and placing them back on the bench as the main
transceiver again. We are running into a lot of rigs that were "mothballed"
and for whatever reason now have some issues. So we are getting bombarded
with a LOT of rigs whose problems would have been resolved over years, now
all at once. I guess that is a problem with continuing on with software
updates providing new features taking them to new performance levels,
1 - we don't sell new rigs (why buy a new rig when the performance level of
the Orions are now jumping ahead of competition? SAF for example, best
feature added (per several customers inputs) to any rig in years)
2 - we have to service more rigs. (rigs that were put in storage, off the
shelf, and due to whatever reason now exhibit issues that need repair).

I'll quit rambling and get back to work. Enjoy

Thanks, and 73,
John Henry, KI4JPL
TEN-TEC Engineering