[TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig

[Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP]

Contesting has changed.

I don't contest at all like I used to 10 or 15 years ago.
The radios have gotten so good, I typically just crank it down to very narrow bandwidth (on CW) and just touch the VFO knob.  Rarely need anything else.  The rest of the operation is done on the keyboard.  Occasionally I hit the RF gain.  

Point and click at the band map.  Push a function button and the station is worked and logged - as I'm sipping my coffee.

THEREFORE, WHERE'S THE NEED FOR LARGE KNOBS IN A CONTEST?

For day to day operating, I also enjoy large knobs and a large S-Meter.  

For contesting, well even the Eagle's VFO knob is large enough for that little bit of searching I do with the VFO.  Would have been too small back in the days when one revelation of the knob was 10kHz, if not more.  Now days it is just one kHz or whatever you like.

2nd RX?  I guess I am old.  Don't want or need it.  I still manage around 1M points in major contests without it.
I still hold the all time record for CQWW CW in one European country (class HP Assisted).
That was set with an Omni VI+ without a 2nd RX.
So for my contesting needs, the Eagle is adequate.

73
Rick, DJ0IP

-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Barry N1EU
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 6:33 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig

Interesting comments that generally jibe with my style of operating (big radios, dual rx, lotsa knobs).

Just a comment about Flex/SDR.  It's easy to interface a set of knobs to PowerSDR that are assignable and work extremely well.  There are specifically designed knobs from Flex and Woodbox Radio as well as Hercules DJ console with more knobs (including two big tuning knobs) than you can ever use.  Also, the PowerSDR implementation of dual watch on a single receiver rig IS stereo and you can control how much audio from each vfo goes in each ear.

73,
Barry N1EU




On Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 4:23 PM, <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:

> I kind of Hijacked an earlier thread thinking it would be a great 
> point for discussion and maybe result in helpful feedback to all involved.
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> JIm said:
>
>
>
> We can thank the three major US manufacturers, Ten Tec, Elecraft, and 
> Flex Radio for top quality radios at affordable prices, many of them 
> "best in class."
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------
>
>
>
> And I agree completely but would carry things a bit further.  I think 
> at some point in every DXers life you reach a point where there are 
> some personal minimum requirements for a so called Top Tier DXers radio.
>
>
>
> I know I certainly have reached that point with the following that I 
> refuse to do without:
>
>
>
> Dual receivers.  Not just dual-watch type of multiplex receive...which 
> gets the job done but doesn’t provide split headphone outputs so one 
> can monitor the DX in one ear and the pileup in the other. It’s nice 
> that the two receivers have the same specs but not completely necessary for me.
>
>
>
> Split RX audio. Actually an extension of Dual Receivers.  I DX under 
> headphones 90% of the time and the split receive is a must on split 
> frequency operations.  I think it makes full use of the processing 
> power our brains have to offer as a DSP filter of sorts...
>
>
>
> Dual VFO knobs.  I can do the toggle thing but why. The Orion system 
> is ideal and even better is having the remote VFO/Keypad set to the 
> sub receiver and next to the CW key.  The remote VFO/Keypad is really 
> a nice touch and seems to be catching on as Icom has just introduced 
> one.  Again Ten-Tec leading the industry. Not one of my minimums but again a nice touch.
>
>
>
> Up to this point I have managed to eliminate Icom and probably Kenwood.
>  The IC7800 and the TS-990 are the only current rigs that meets the 
> above spec and Icom is way out of my price range...the Kenwood is on the high
> side for me as far as pricing.   (more on that later)
>
>
>
> Knobs.  I just can’t get excited about my radio being a mouse and a 
> keyboard and a computer screen.  Now I don’t have issue with computer 
> control of my conventional rig but that is a bit different in that I 
> use it to tune the rig to spots and to collect data from the rig for 
> population of fields in my logging program. I still drive with the knobs.
>
>
>
> Sorry Flex...
>
>
>
> BIG Knobs.  As we age it gets harder to see and sometimes dexterity 
> suffers making it difficult to manage tiny knobs placed so close together.
>  Ten-Tec has done a great job on this with the Orion.
>
>
>
> BIG Radio’s.  Front panel real estate is a must to keep from ending up 
> with tiny knobs, concentric knobs and multi layer menus resulting in 
> many multi function buttons and knobs.  It’s too difficult to wade 
> through all that in the middle of a pileup or running in a contest.  
> Besides this is a base station rig that never leaves the shack. There 
> is no good reason it shouldn’t be sizable.
>
>
>
> Elecraft is a bit small for me but...
>
>
>
> Support. Well what can I say here...the best support is coming from 
> the US manufacturers.  I’ve experienced the Japanese level of support 
> and it wasn’t fun so I don't really want to go there again.  I can get 
> decent support on Icom because i’m friends with the local Icom dealer 
> and he National sales manager but again I can’t justify $13K for a 
> 7800.  That pretty much leaves Elecraft and Ten-Tec and the Elecraft 
> is a bit on the small side for a base radio to my likings but it does 
> perform and is supported well.
>
>
>
> All this and affordable:  Well what about price....  Needs to be under 
> 5 to 6K for a top tier rig for me to begin to justify it with the 
> features mentioned.  The sad part is that pretty much eliminates all 
> the current top tier radio’s but probably the Yaesu FT-5000 and 
> Elecraft that meet my personal minimums but I’ve not been happy with 
> Yaesu support and their current product line and direction so I won’t 
> buy their products.  Were back to Elecraft and Ten-Tec.  I already own 
> an Orion II...the decision based on the above clearly but the Orion 
> has been discontinued.  So if I didn't own the Orion and was having to 
> make a purchase decision....  Things would be pretty much the same...I 
> would search out a nice used example of the Orion II.  There is really 
> no other choice for the way I operate and the features I’ve deemed a personal minimum.
>
>
>
> The question is what does the future hold for guys like us?
>
>
>
> Who knows but I am glad I have the Orion II...it should serve for many 
> years along with the Centurion it’s paired with...till we get a 
> glimpse of what’s to come.
>
>
>
> Of course this is subjective and YMMV so don’t beat me up too bad....
>
>
>
>
>
> Cecil Acuff
> Gulfport MS
> K5DL
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