[TenTec] Alternative Eagle Form Factor was Re: Status

[rick@dj0ip.de]

I liked your ideas but on the two suggestions where you said you are
probably in a minority, I'm sure you are.
I don't expect those to happen.

One BIG hiccup in the operations of the Eagle is, the FUNC button is on the
left of the VFO knob, but most of the things I want to use with it are on
the right, so I'm moving my hand back and forth past the VFO knob and
sometimes hit it.  The FUNC button needs to be near the other buttons you
use with it.

Personally, I love to watch meters but I guess the days of meters are long
gone.
Seems we're only going to get bar graphs, but they could make it larger for
us (by a factor of 5).

I'm a bit worried about the encoders used on the front panel.
Seems to be a lot of trouble with these.
I wish they would use a higher quality component here, even if it raises the
cost a bit.

The buttons for controlling SPLIT need to be more intuitive.
The SPLIT indicator needs to be more noticeable.  Actually it needs to stand
out like a sore thumb.

The VFO knob could be a little larger.
Nothing should be located so close to the VFO knob that you can accidently
hit (jar) the VFO when hitting the button or turning the knob.  Exception:
dedicated LOCK button.


73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)



-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Darrell
Bellerive VE7IU
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2015 4:58 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Alternative Eagle Form Factor was Re: Status

I've been thinking about this idea of a bigger form factor for the Eagle,
the ensuing discussion, and thought I would post my wish list. 
Perhaps if others join in with their wish lists, John Henry and the new
owner might consider an alternative form factor for the Eagle. I am not
suggesting replacing the current Eagle form factor, as many find it suitable
to their needs, but an alternative, be it a new radio model or an alternate
Eagle offered concurrently with the existing form factor.

I very much like the performance of my Eagle. I have always like Ten-Tec
receivers, from my Argo 509, Jupiter, and now Eagle. However, I would prefer
a larger form factor with more controls.

I tend to use the RF Gain to control the receiver gain, and leave the AF
Gain at a higher level, so having an easy to use RF Gain control is
important to me. This was absent on the Jupiter, and the Omni also makes the
RF Gain a secondary function.

I prefer split to RIT, so I don't miss a RIT control, but I know for many
that would be very important.

The biggest issue for me though is that FNC button. Buttons should have a
single function or a second function as a push and hold, but no more than
two functions. Pushing multiple buttons simultaneously or in sequence is not
something I am fond of. I am constantly forgetting that the FNC button is
active (the blink rate is far too slow), and then getting VOX instead of NB
as an example. Pushing FNC, then a desired button, and then FNC to turn it
off is too much. Making FNC only active until the next button is pressed
would help, but the real solution is more buttons.

The multi control seems to idle most of the time, and I think using the main
tuning control as the multi control would be better served. Yes, I suspect I
might change the frequency inadvertently once in a while, but would rather
see the existing multi control do something else full time.

Given the choice between the Eagle, Omni VII and the Orion II, I still
prefer the Eagle controls, as the current Eagle gives me access to the AF
and RF Gain controls and the BW and PBT controls without having to push a
button or control. The lack of 6 metres on the Orion is also a huge factor
for me.

A new Omni VIII or Orion III would have to have at least the concentric
controls (AF/RF and BW/PBT) of the Eagle and 6 metres to capture my
attention. Those rotary controls incorporating a pushbutton don't appeal to
me at all.

So here is my wish list:

A much larger form factor, be it the size of the Omni V/VI/VII or Orion
would be fine. There is no such thing as too large for me. Given a choice
between the size of the current Eagle and the size of the old Collins Gold
Dust Twins, I would choose the size of the Gold Dust Twins, floor mount
cabinet and all. :-)

Single function controls. Separate AF and RF Gain controls, separate BW and
PBT controls. The concentric knobs of the Eagle are acceptable, but separate
controls would be nice. Pushing the control to switch between functions like
the OMNI VII is not acceptable. A manual notch would be the only other
control I would use. Perhaps a user programmable control that could be set
to RIT/Notch/Keyer Speed, etc would be nice.

More pushbuttons. A maximum of two functions per button, one function on a
quick press, and another for push and hold. The only exception would be
direct frequency entry, where an enter button is pressed, the frequency
entered, and the enter button pressed again.
Absolutely no step through buttons. By this I mean the existing BAN, MOD,
and FAST buttons. The combination band/frequency entry pad like the Omni
VII/Orion would be great. Separate buttons for each mode and VFO step would
also be great. A touch screen might be a good alternative to buttons for
this. But this needs to be a one step operation; One button press to select
a mode or VFO step size, not press STEP, and then select the size.

Years ago, Ten-Tec had it right with the Mic and Headphone jacks on the rear
panel and SSB Normal and Reverse rather than USB/LSB selection. I would love
to see that again, but I am quite sure I am in the minority on this one.

Leave out the keyer. I use Ultimatic mode and always use an external keyer.
I know I am also in the minority on this one, but at least do not waste a
control for a dedicated keyer speed function.

So there is my wish list for an alternative Eagle form factor, I encourage
others to chime in with their wish lists, and perhaps the new owner of
Ten-Tec may grant us our wishes!

My biggest wish however, is for Ten-Tec to thrive for many years to come.

73, Darrell VE7IU



On 15-12-04 02:36 AM, Barry N1EU wrote:
> Well said Rick.  What we need is an Eagle with an Omni VI+ front panel!!!
>
> 73, Barry N1EU
>


--
Darrell Bellerive
VE7IU

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