[TenTec] OT: Rob Sherwood's impression of the FLEX 6x00

[José Félix Ballester]

I’ll pay for one or the option for my 599 Eagle if it should become available.   I won’t pay $6,000.00+ though.
73 de Pepe WP3HW

On Apr 24, 2014, at 8:44 AM, John Henry <jhenry at tentec.com> wrote:

I feel that there is more to this problem than what has been discussed thus
far.

Yes, we can make an amp cleaner, and, depending upon how much the consumer
wants to pay, completely clean, at least enough to make Rick/Rob/Bob go
away, (just kidding).

Seriously, we can clean it up, but it ain't gonna be free, it will have to
come at a price. Parts-wise, on an OMNI-VII or an Eagle, we could end up
adding $200 or more to the end price of the rig.
Now, given the economy, how many of the typical set of hams that are out
there today will really want to pay that extra $200 maybe $300?
Maybe the 20 or so that complain about it.
But, in all honesty, yes, we need to clean up our transmitters 2nd and 3rd
order a bit. And we are looking into that for future rigs.

Here is the REAL quandary that will be a fact even if starting today, every
manufacturer started shipping rigs with better TX IMD numbers, less
pollution....
How many hams will immediately drop that bad TX rig they have and have had
for 20 years, and jump out and buy this new one immediately. Ain't gonna
happen. Hams will keep their favorite rig that they have had for 10-20
years because it is the best rig ever made, slicker'n snot runs rings
around the new rigs, etc. Probably 80% of the market has their tried and
true rig that will continue to spew out the aforementioned pollution and
then they stick it on the air with an amp that not only amplifies the
problems but has problems it introduces all on it's own. They will continue
to keep that rig for another 20 years until there is no such thing as
transistors, resistors, caps, etc. (kinda far fetched, but I hope you see
what I'm referring to)

Both of these last two items.... keeping the older or current stuff for the
next 20 years, and placing it on an amp,
both of these two items are a fact, a given, and will NOT change the
splatter crap you hear for at least another 20-30 years.

I have a solution to this though, TEN-TEC could stop servicing any rig that
doesn't meet our new self imposed TX IMD numbers, how about that? Don't
think that would go over too well, after all, ham A says his Corsair is the
best rig he has ever heard, let alone the thousands of Jupiter fans, etc.
etc.

ok, enough of my diatribe as to the realistic impact of an amateur company
improving the airwaves within two decades of providing rigs that will do
this much better than they are today.

TEN-TEC is committed to making what the ham community wants, and if it
wan'ts cleaner transmit, well, we are researching it and have a design that
will give you the numbers you want in future rigs. Now, do we make everyone
pay that extra $200-$300 in purchase price? Or do we make it an option.
Heck, only 1 in 50 would buy that option, if we are lucky.
But, it will be there, the solution.

Sorry if I may appear negative or combative on this one, but, well, it adds
cost that can't be made in earnest at TEN-TEC out of our kind hearts, the
consumer will have to pay for it, and I"m sure, 99% of everyone on here
will say they will gladly pay that extra 200-300, then decide they really
want something else instead. But we have a solution in hand that we can use
for the rigs based on the 599 and 588 architectures, and will do it for the
future rigs. (actually, already done to a point), and will see if we need
to include it in every version of that product, or not as an option. That
last part (optional) essentially means you will continue to have the same
problems even though the option is there, I'm guessing 90% will opt not to
include it.
Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth.

Speaking as a TEN-TEC employee though, yep, we can provide the feature, and
will have it available for future rigs (well, Eagle size and up rigs, not
506's, 507's, imagine adding $100 to the transmitter of a $200 rig, ain't
gonna happen)

Thanks, and 73,
John Henry, KI4JPL
TEN-TEC Engineering
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