[TenTec] Orion 2 situation

[Darrell Bellerive]

I think that Ten-Tec could carve out a new niche in the market by open 
sourcing their firmware. There is a thread going already on this, so I 
will not duplicate that discussion, but rather poke at this idea another 
way.

I had an Elecraft K2 for years, and it was a great radio, but there were 
a few features that had been requested that would have made it better, 
but as Mike noted, firmware development stopped when the K3 was introduced.

Elecraft maintains the firmware contains algorithms that are trade 
secrets, and does not want to divulge them. I have a hard time believing 
that letting everyone know their antenna tuner code would put them out 
of business. But, that is their decision, and that is fine.

Ten-Tec could differentiate themselves by going to an open source 
firmware paradigm. Continue to build the great hardware we have become 
accustomed to and include only basic firmware. And leave out the 
advanced routines they need to keep secret for the military stuff they 
build.

Having a basic factory firmware also solves the support issues. If it 
works with the factory firmware, the hardware is good. No need to have 
warranty claims due to open source community firmware.

Community developed open source firmware offers fixes and continued 
development even long after the hardware is discontinued, not to mention 
features not available in the factory firmware. How many people opted 
for Carl Moreschi's (N4PY) alternate firmware chip (V.9) for the Omni V? 
Or Jack Giehl's chip for the Paragon?

With an open firmware paradigm, I would bet that soon there would be a 
number of different development paths of firmware. Wouldn't it be great 
to pick and choose which routines you have in your radio. One developers 
noise reduction routines, another's ALC algorithms, etc.

Ten-Tec has ventured into these waters with the Rebel. I can't help but 
wonder if this is a test. How many people will write code? How many 
people will use this code? How will this community developed firmware 
affect warranty claims and the service department?

I suspect if community code for the Rebel is a success, we will see this 
paradigm in other Ten-Tec models. So those of us who would like to see 
open source firmware, let's get on the Rebel bandwagon. Not only that we 
all need yet another cute QRP rig, but to show Ten-Tec that open source 
is an important issue for us.

Let those who can write code do so, and the rest can be beta testers, or 
just use the community developed code.

One of the things I find fascinating is the number of people on the 
Rebel Yahoo! group showing interest in learning to write code. Even new 
coders will be able to quickly change what a button does, or what an LED 
indicates. There is no telling what creative talents will produce!

Ten-Tec could take a big step against obsolesce by going the open source 
firmware route. Even when the hardware is discontinued, the firmware 
development can continue on without expense to Ten-Tec. The Orion was 
introduced ten years ago. I can't help but wonder what the Orion 
firmware would look like if it had been open sourced from the start. And 
what it would look like ten years from now. Don't get me wrong, I think 
John Henry is doing an outstanding job. But he is only one person, and a 
person with a lot of work in front of him.

Open source firmware doesn't solve the unobtainuim parts problems, and 
those will be with us going forward, but it does solve the lack of 
firmware fixes and new feature development. A win-win for Ten-Tec and 
their customers as I see it.

73, Darrell VA7TO


Darrell Bellerive

On 06/30/2013 04:49 PM, Mike Stricker wrote:
> Jim Brown reminded us why the Orion 2 is no longer going to be
> produced....due to components issues.  In my mind, that presents an
> even larger problem...long term ownership.  If Ten Tec can't get
> parts to produce radios, what would make us believe that they will be
> able to repair these radios in the future?  These newer radios are
> very UNLIKE the tube rigs and hybrid radios of yesteryear.  Those
> radios had no proprietary components in them and whatever seemed
> complex at the time, could/can be rebuilt or replaced with modern
> "systems" like a DDS controlled VFO.  If a particular uC or DSP chip
> becomes unobtanium, then you wind up with a rather large doorstop
> unless you buy up other doorstops to make one radio. Sadly, I
> suspected this was going to happen because the little issues that
> remained with the Orion 2 were not being addressed.  I feel fortunate
> to have owned one for a while but more fortunate to have sold it and
> gotten out of it unscathed.  The other 2 American manufacturers
> aren't much different or better.  Flex-Radio recently announced that
> they would not be producing/supporting the 5000 and when the Elecraft
> K3 was announced, no further firmware updates to the K2 were made
> (and there were a couple that should have been to make the radio meet
> its specifications). I'm afraid that the reality is that we are all
> beta testers while we own the radio.  Just when we think they are
> solid, the manufacturer terminates production/support.  We often rely
> on their promises and are let down.  Thankfully, I can rely on other
> aspects of the hobby, like modifying less expensive equipment to suit
> my own needs. Mike, WA1SEO
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