[TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig

Fri Oct 18 13:32:12 EDT 2013

Here's the other side, Jim.

When you get older, and your short term memory has run off with your
eyesight, AND you work something like 1000+ QSOs per contest like I do, how
do you avoid duplicates if you do not use a computer?

With my lousy short term memory, I can't even keep track of that for short
contests, let alone 48 hours.

Example:  In IARU contest in July, I was testing a new antenna up on the
hill, running my Eagle.  I did not have a computer up there with me.  It was
a 4-band wire antenna.  I started out on 10, then went to 15, then 20 and
then finished after a few hours on 40m.  Couple hundred contacts.

WHEN DID I KNOW IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE BANDS?

ANSWER:  When it got to the point I was working nearly as many Dupes as new
stations, I changed bands. :(
Had to change bands to save face!

You get your score up the ladder by watching the Band Map (where you see the
call signs and see by color code who is a new multiplier) and by clicking on
the multies and having your transceiver follow.  You don't get anywhere by
watching a band scope and clicking on unknown blips.

Having said all that, I must admit I enjoy contests the most running a
humble QRP station, simple wire antenna, and logging by paper.  Even once
took first place overall in Europe in Field Day when working that mode.
Couldn't do it today, with my lousy memory.

The MOST important thing in a contest is to have fun.  (IMHO)
We all have our own definition of that.
For some, that may even mean turning the radio OFF.
Different strokes for different folks.

Congrats on your Stew Perry.

73
Rick, DJ0IP

-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of James
Rodenkirch
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 7:05 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig

Annnnnnnnd, then.....there are those of us who avoid computer operations
like the plague!!
I will use a computer and simple logging program like General Logger for
"simple logging" IF I am in a contest where I expect to log > 150 to 200
QSOs; Sweepstakes, CQ WW WPX or CQ WW 160 events.  
For the Pre-Stew 160 meter event this weekend, as a QRP entry, where I tend
to log up to 100 QSOs, maybe, I use paper and pencil and employ a single
band rig (a 160 meter version designed by Steve Weber, KD1JV) with a NEscaf
audio filter to sorta remove the alligators.
I need large knobs as I have severe Neuropathy with resulting zero feeling
in my hands and fingers...
Bt the bye: I finished 2nd last year in the Pre-Stew QRP category and would
have finished fourth in the low power category.
Any how, my story and I'm sticking to it!!!
72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV 

> From: Rick at DJ0IP.de
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:52:25 +0200
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig
> 
> 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.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > --
> > ------
> >
> >
> >
> > 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
> > _______________________________________________
> > TenTec mailing list
> > TenTec at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
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