[TenTec] Varied Wishes and ramblings

Wed Apr 9 12:54:10 EDT 2014

FYI, the Orion does have separate knobs for PBT and BW

73, Barry N1EU

On Wed, Apr 9, 2014 at 4:38 PM, art N4UC <n4uc at hotmail.com> wrote:

> On thing I DO prefer on the Eagle vs the OMNI/Orion is the separate knobs
> for PBT and BW as well as a dedicated knob for RF Gain. I just don't like
> two-function push-knobs. Better yet, why not just a panel full of knobs
> each of which could be user-programmed to suit individual tastes.
>
> As they say, the only thing worse than having no choices is having too
> many!
>
> 73, Art/N4UC
>
>
>
> > From: Rick at DJ0IP.de
> > To: tentec at contesting.com
> > Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 18:14:02 +0200
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Varied Wishes and ramblings
> >
> > Bill,
> >
> > I agree with you and had the same thought.
> > I didn't even think about that when I bought the Eagle.
> >
> > I found a work-around.
> > I raise the radio on its bezel, and also place about a 1/4 inch piece of
> > wood under the bezel.
> > Then I pull then entire radio right up against the keyboard on the left
> > side.
> >
> > It didn't take long to get used to tuning with the left hand.
> > The right hand is free for key and mouse if needed.
> >
> > I've run about 8 contests that way now and don't miss the POD a bit.
> > Also, on the Eagle I find I have to work the RF gain a bit more than I
> did
> > on the OM6 or Orion, so having it right there is an advantage.
> >
> > 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> > (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of art
> N4UC
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 5:55 PM
> > To: TenTec reflector
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Varied Wishes and ramblings
> >
> > Whatever you guys decide, make sure to bring back the remote pod tuning
> and
> > control capability provided by the 302R tuning pod. That simple feature
> > alone has unexpectedly become a "must-have" for me.
> > I'm glad that somebody at TT had the foresight to include such a simple,
> but
> > tremendously  useful feature in the OMNI VII and Orions. However, since
> it
> > apparently was not included in the Eagle design I will probably not ever
> > consider an Eagle to replace my Orion.
> >
> > I like to have the radio sitting a couple of inches above the surface of
> the
> > desk so I can comfortably get my fat hands and fingers around the bottom
> row
> > of knobs. But I don't get too far into a contest without aches and pains
> in
> > the shoulder and arm from holding my hand up to tune the radio. It is so
> > nice to be able to keep my hand resting on the desk and tune the radio
> with
> > the tuning knob of the 302R.
> >
> > When I have mentioned this feature to the other manufacturers at
> hamfests,
> > I've gotten everything from the usual head nod to an assurance that their
> > designers know what features "normal" hams want in a radio and that's not
> > one of them! I know there are several third-party solutions out there to
> add
> > this capability to a station, but as far as I've seen, they all require
> > connection to a computer. Do it the TT way and keep it simple!
> >
> > 73, N4UC
> >
> > > From: xtraham58 at hotmail.com
> > > To: tentec at contesting.com
> > > Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 06:31:25 -0400
> > > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Varied Wishes and ramblings
> > >
> > > Great thoughts John, tnx
> > >
> > > >
> > > > I hope everyone can see just from these last two threads, that there
> > > > is a huge variation in what hams expect of their rigs. If I look at
> > > > this from the outside, looking at TEN-TEC, and what TEN-TEC has made
> > > > through the years, I believe that TEN-TEC has done a great job in
> > > > giving the consumers what they want, mostly.
> > > > Look at the Orion series of rigs. Fantastic performance for
> > > > contesting, great features on the front panel, a sweep that works
> > > > fairly good, but of course limited by size and other constraints,
> > > > and so many things to so many different hams that wanted x and
> > > > another didn't want x but wanted y instead, well, mostly, it was
> > > > there on the Orion. The antenna matrix, fantastic, the band data
> > > > outputs, serial control of a lot of the functions for the PC hounds
> > > > and the interfaces for the same PC hounds with their SDR's doing
> > > > "fantastical" PC sweeps/waterfalls/skimming/coffee making. It's
> > > > there. For the audio enthusiast, binaural, spatial, agc tailoring,
> > > > ground breaking stuff years ago, that still most don't really
> > > > comprehend and well, why does everyone have to? they don't, just use
> it
> > stock, and it outperforms just about anything on the market in just about
> > any condition.
> > > > The OMNI-VII, only things it's really missing is a second receiver
> > > > and a functional sweep (plus a few tricks we have up our sleeves in
> > store for it).
> > > > Of course, some would not consider an OMNI-VII because of something
> > > > it lacks that the Orion has, or vice versa. Or the competitor rig y
> > > > has the feature required.  Maybe it is missing band data outputs,
> > > > antenna matrix, two main VFOs, etc., but, it is a stellar performer,
> > > > demo's with the Ethernet are going fantastic from new hams trying
> > > > out the rig in the TEN-TEC sales shack getting audio reports of
> > > > great audio. Yes, I'm still beta testing one baby step at a time on
> > > > a new Ethernet set of code, will be out...xxxx Yes, some issues,
> > > > with all the rigs, but, well, all in all, the rigs have done great,
> > > > and will continue to do great.
> > > >
> > > > Just look at the differences "REQUIRED" of the one feature, the
> > > > sweep. Some could care less and want us to quit working on it for
> > > > the 588 and will never fire it up for the 566. Yet some REALLY NEED
> it
> > to work on the 588.
> > > > So, as someone mentioned earlier, that means we need to design
> > > > interfaces in the hardware for optional add-ons. Not an issue,
> > > > because if I start with a bare OMNI-VII, almost all of those
> > > > interfaces already exist (talking about interfaces to additional
> > > > hardware options, not GUI's). Same for the Eagle, same for the
> Orion(s).
> > > >
> > > > As I read some people's inputs, the Eagle has EVERYTHING they will
> > > > ever need. Why? Because it is an absolute top notch performer in
> > > > receiver quality and sound. For some, it has an absolutely easy to
> > > > use easy to access feature set that covers every requirement they
> > > > need. Some use it connected to a PC for getting the things they want
> out
> > of it.
> > > > As I read some peoples inputs, the Eagle needs so much more to make
> > > > it the ultimate rig, well, those are good thoughts, good wishes.
> > > >
> > > > Same for the OMNI-VII.
> > > >
> > > > With all of the above, the variances in customer wishes, required
> > > > features, etc., we try to design something that can do all for the
> > > > ultimate configuration users like the super serious PC driving
> > > > contesters/dxers/etc.ers, at the same time of hitting the
> > > > requirements of the front panel only user who wants to dominate the
> > > > same contests, at the same time of hitting the requirements of a rag
> > > > chewer who gets on from time to time and wants to drive it from the
> > > > PC or the front panel or a combination of both.
> > > >
> > > > When these threads started, my inbox must have had an increase of
> > > > about
> > > > 50-100 more emails a day, just on the wishes for an Orion III and
> > > > it's "required" features. That also lead to requests for the sweep
> > > > for the OMNI-VII, Vox for the Argonaut VI, etc., etc.
> > > > It just takes time to get those things out.
> > > > Doing what we can.
> > > > No, I'm not complaining, don't take this post this way, I do really
> > > > appreciate the inputs, it helps confirm the direction we are going,
> > > > and also brings to light things we had forgotten that others thought
> > > > were really important, that in our way of operating or thinking,
> > > > well, they weren't thought of as needed, so we can rethink them
> again,
> > and why.
> > > > heck, even inside TEN-TEC there is a great disparity on some
> > > > features, what is included, why, who would ever use this, etc.
> > > > Somewhere, in the end, we hope to find the happy middle ground,
> medium.
> > > >
> > > > Now, sometimes, we will make things that people have no idea why,
> > > > e.g. the
> > > > 506 is one of them. I have had MANY emails and calls about that was
> > > > the worst way and thing TEN-TEC could ever have made, not an Orion
> > > > or Eagle or even a traditional Corsair or Tritan... well, true, but,
> > > > it helps others get into the hobby, brings joy back to hams that had
> > > > gotten out of the hobby because they were disheartened, and the 506
> > > > brought them back, and they are having fun again.
> > > >
> > > > Of course, when threads like this occur, I do get emails from hams
> > > > saying they will wait on their purchase now for the hope of the
> > > > ultimate x transceiver. Well, my input to that is... Why wait, I
> > > > mean, you have the opportunity now, the rig you are looking at
> > > > really does fit your requirements today, and besides, you may get
> > > > hit by a bus in a month and would not have enjoyed the rig. TEN-TEC
> > > > could get hit by a bus itself, and the future ultimate x transceiver
> > > > won't see the light of day and you would have missed out on the rig
> > > > we have now. Go ahead and get that OMNI-VII, or get that Eagle, or
> > > > Argonaut VI, or 506, you can always trade it in next year or the
> > > > year after for the ultimate x transceiver, if/when it comes out.
> > > > Heck, if everyone waits for the next big TEN-TEC rig, there won't be
> > > > a "next big TEN-TEC rig" because everyone waiting will tank the
> company
> > due to lack of sales.
> > > > I know a lot that have waited on buying their next transceiver,
> > > > waiting for the new ultimate xxx that is now on the market, well, it
> > > > ain't filling their bill, ain't performing near what their other two
> > > > rigs were that they traded in to be able to afford it. ain't living
> up
> > to expectations, etc.
> > > > etc. No, this isn't a knock on a specific one, but sometimes the
> > > > kool-aid makes one think it is best to get the one thing, when what
> > > > they had in the TEN-TEC rigs did actually fulfill all they needed.
> > > > So, go get your OMNI-VII now, ....
> > > >
> > > > 'nuff said, time for me to get some shut eye
> > > >
> > > > Thanks, and 73,
> > > > John Henry, KI4JPL
> > > > TEN-TEC Engineering
> > > > _______________________________________________
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