[TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig

[Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP]

As you have seen, there are all kinds of ways to enjoy contesting.
Just get in there and work however you want to.

I don't contest much anymore, except for the big ones.
Still contemplating whether I'll run CQWW SSB this year or not.
Don't really like SSB contests but the club kind of pressures us to at least
turn in a few points.

During contests, I run my contest call sign "DM5P".
Hope to work you in CQWW CW.

BTW, I'm looking for volunteers to come over here and help me pull my 160m
Inv.-L out of the stinger weeds and hang it back in the trees.  Contest
season is rapidly approaching!

73
Rick, DJ0IP / DM5P


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Steve
Mercure
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 7:48 PM
To: Ten Tec List
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig

Casual contester and DXer here and I must say this thread is one of the most
interesting reads on any of my subscribed threads in a long time.  I've read
each post and learned a bunch about contest and DX operating!  Thank you
everyone for posting! 
 
73 de W5EN Steve
 
> From: chacuff at cableone.net
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:23:16 +0000
> Subject: [TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig
> 
> 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
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