[TenTec] Reasons to buy an OM7 instead of an Eagle

Thu Jul 10 00:11:31 EDT 2014

The Omni VII also has a somewhat lower noise floor than the Eagle.

A close and very technically knowledgeable friend of mine used  my Eagle for 
about 3 weeks.  Although he didn't care for certain features, he clearly 
stated that it has the quietest and best sounding receiver of any on his 
desk. And to that I add, he has some very current and much more expensive 
radios on his desk.

73
Bob, K4TAX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Moreschi" <n4py3 at earthlink.net>
To: "R. Eric Sluder" <resluder at yahoo.com>; "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" 
<tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 9:59 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Reasons to buy an OM7 instead of an Eagle

> That sounds like the RF gain was just set too high in the Omni VII.  I 
> have both radios here and I like the Omni VII much better.  The Omni VII 
> is more convenient to use the controls.  It's also more sensitive for 
> hearing weak signals on 6 meters.
>
> Carl Moreschi N4PY
> 58 Hogwood Rd
> Louisburg, NC 27549
> www.n4py.com
>
> On 7/9/2014 10:49 PM, R. Eric Sluder via TenTec wrote:
>> Nice response Rick.
>>
>> Having both radios I'll say the OM7 receiver isn't capable of dealing 
>> with interference like the Eagle can do.  Broadcast band interference on 
>> 160 meters is a good example.  Atmospheric noise (including lightning 
>> pulses) are stronger in my OM7 verses the Eagle.  It maybe because the 
>> Eagle is a down converted receiver with a less broad front end whereas 
>> the OM7 has a broader front end (20 Khz I believe) and is up converted, 
>> plus the DSP isn't of the same vintage of the Eagle (just guessing).
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Eric
>> W9WLW
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jul 9, 2014, at 5:10 PM, "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP"<Rick at DJ0IP.de> 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I was just asked off list for reasons to warrant spending the extra 
>>> bread on
>>> an OM7 instead of an Eagle.
>>> Ha!  I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying "none, there aren't 
>>> any!"
>>> (hi)
>>>
>>> There are of course 2 or 3 minor reasons and I've created my list below.
>>> Perhaps someone else more familiar with the OM7 than I am can think of 
>>> other
>>> reasons that I have forgotten.
>>> Grateful to any additional tips.
>>>
>>> (and to the OM who asked me this question, if you do not subscribe to 
>>> the
>>> tentec group at contesting.com, send me another email and I will forward 
>>> you
>>> any replies we get).
>>> ==========================================================
>>>
>>> Hi OM, (name withheld)
>>>
>>> You do realize of course that you have posed that question to a man in 
>>> love
>>> with his Eagle!  (hi)
>>> OK, but I will try and be objective on this.
>>>
>>> The Eagle's better receiver is really only noticeable in BIG contests 
>>> where
>>> a good operator is willing to dive into the middle of the heaviest 
>>> pile-up
>>> on the band to work whatever DX multiplier is under all the rumble. 
>>> Apart
>>> from that, there is not a lot of difference in the two receivers. 
>>> However
>>> when the going gets tough, the Eagle will outshine the Omni 7.
>>>
>>> I'll start with the only other negative of the OM7 over the Eagle: it 
>>> has
>>> only one knob for AF and RF gain.  Not the end of the world but separate
>>> knobs would have been better.
>>>
>>> And of course if you go backpacking, I'd rather carry an Eagle!  (hi)
>>> Same applies for mobile operations.
>>>
>>> Now here is my short list of features the OM7 has which the Eagle does 
>>> not:
>>>
>>> . A larger read out, including an S-Meter that you can actually see and 
>>> read
>>>
>>> . Better interfacing to old amplifiers (or new Ameritron amplifiers) in 
>>> CW
>>> mode.  The OM7 has adjustable hang delay on the tail end of the signal. 
>>> The
>>> Eagle does not have this feature and if you have one of these amps, you
>>> absolutely need it.  With the Eagle, you must purchase the Model 318 Amp
>>> Keyer for a hundred bucks.
>>>
>>> . Interfacing to Ten-Tec full QSK amplifiers (dual-cable keying).  The 
>>> Eagle
>>> does not have this.  If you don't have a full QSK linear with this 
>>> keying
>>> loop circuitry, it doesn't matter.
>>>
>>> . A band scope (though it's not the greatest)
>>>
>>> . Larger heat sink on the back side for cooling the final transistors. 
>>> You
>>> really do not need a fan unless you are running RTTY.  The Eagle doesn't
>>> have this so it must rely on a fan. It is not terribly loud but it is
>>> audible.
>>>
>>> . Direct frequency entry keypad
>>>
>>> . Curtis mode A and B keying.  It's fixed on the Eagle, but I have no 
>>> idea
>>> which one.  Somehow I never paid any attention to that stuff.  I just 
>>> key
>>> whatever they throw at me and it somehow seems to always work.
>>>
>>> . Two spare RCA phono plugs AND an internal provision to connect two 
>>> coax
>>> cables to these to be used as connection for a pre-selector or noise
>>> cancelor.
>>>
>>> . A serial port.
>>>
>>> . Connection for the POD (the remote VFO knob).  I sometimes miss this 
>>> on my
>>> Eagle.
>>>
>>> . 2 antenna jacks
>>>
>>> . Ethernet connection
>>>
>>> . AUX RX (antenna) - an input for a receive-only antenna (uses one of 
>>> the
>>> two ANT connections)
>>>
>>> . Adjustable bandwidth on SSB
>>>
>>> . Adjustable RX and TX equalizers
>>>
>>> . CTCSS for FM
>>>
>>> . Adjustable CW (keying) weighting
>>>
>>> . SPOT (for spotting in CW) - which I personally feel is worthless
>>>
>>> . Adjustable rise/fall time on CW.  A fancy option but I don't feel it 
>>> is
>>> necessary.  The Eagle's CW signal is just fine.
>>>
>>> . FSK X Data (if you are into RTTY)
>>>
>>> . VFO Speed Shift which basically speeds up the tuning rate by a factor 
>>> of 4
>>> when you turn the VFO knob real fast.  Many people like this feature a 
>>> lot.
>>>
>>> . A very comfortable software menu (probably the very best in the 
>>> industry)
>>>
>>> . OmniRig support (very important for many 3rd party software programs)
>>>
>>> . A dedicated RIT/XIT knob (using the RIT on the Eagle is very clumsy)
>>>
>>> . And of course REMOTE CONTROL (over the Internet)
>>>
>>> That's all that comes to mind right now, but keep in mind that I do not 
>>> own
>>> an OM7 and the last time I even saw or used one was in 2007.  That was 7
>>> years ago. and my old grey cells "ain't what they used to be".
>>>
>>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>> TenTec mailing list
>>> TenTec at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
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