[TenTec] Orion sub receiver getting no signals

Fri Oct 23 12:09:18 EDT 2015

You can get any symptom at all with those cables.  The key is 
"Intermittent".  They can mess up the microprocessor's decision making 
thus making almost anything possible.

Carl Moreschi N4PY
58 Hogwood Rd
Louisburg, NC 27549
www.n4py.com

On 10/23/2015 10:45 AM, Barry N1EU wrote:
> Carl, he reported an intermittent antenna connection to subrx.  I would
> think all those connections are done via coax TMP cables and any switching
> via relays.  That wouldn't be as susceptible to the usual Orion bad
> connection gremlins would it?
>
> 73, Barry N1EU
>
> On Fri, Oct 23, 2015 at 10:28 AM, Carl Moreschi<n4py3 at earthlink.net>  wrote:
>
>> I would still bet the problem is NOT a component failure but just a bad
>> connection on the cables.  The rigs are computers now and cable connections
>> when not gold plated are unreliable with age.
>>
>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
>> 58 Hogwood Rd
>> Louisburg, NC 27549
>> www.n4py.com
>>
>> On 10/23/2015 9:44 AM, Gary J FollettDukes HiFi wrote:
>>
>>> I agree with anyone who says that Orion circuitry is sort of convoluted.
>>> It is.
>>>
>>> The boards were meant to either last forever (in electronic terms) or to
>>> be replaced, which is why it is generally so easy to remove them.
>>>
>>> There is no joy in trying to replace a 200 pins SMD square pack unless
>>> you have $50,000 in specialized pick and place SMD soldering equipment. I
>>> know it can be done without but think of the consequences if just ONE
>>> slolderpad pulls away during the process!
>>>
>>> Gary
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Oct 23, 2015, at 7:22 AM, Barry N1EU<barry.n1eu at gmail.com>   wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Ha, "simple" isn't the first word that comes to my mind when looking at
>>>> the
>>>> Orion audio circuit schematics.  "Convoluted" would be my choice.  There
>>>> are four audio inputs (main rx, sub rx, mic, aux in) in digital form that
>>>> get routed to four audio outputs (tx audio, auxoutL, auxoutR, auxoutMain)
>>>> in analog form by two stereo CODEC chips. I just don't see a simple
>>>> "audio
>>>> switch".  I'm not even convinced the schematics (81917_6, 81917_7) match
>>>> reality - the routing on the schematics looks nutso.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Barry N1EU
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Oct 22, 2015 at 3:40 PM, mcelmer1<mcelmer1 at netecin.net>   wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Years ago, I recall seeing a detailed block diagram of the Orion 1 - I am
>>>>> not referring to the one in the manual.
>>>>>
>>>>> There is a simple circuit called the "audio switch" which I suspect is
>>>>> the
>>>>> culprit.
>>>>>
>>>>> However, I can not find the diagram nor can I recall on which board this
>>>>> circuit was located.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gary, I will keep your mail/address just in case.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike
>>>>> W8TRN
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary J FollettDukes HiFi"<
>>>>> dukeshifi at comcast.net>
>>>>> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment"<tentec at contesting.com>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 18:33
>>>>>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion sub receiver getting no signals
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a sub receiver available.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gary
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Oct 21, 2015, at 2:55 PM, mcelmer1<mcelmer1 at netecin.net>   wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I chimed in on this one a few weeks ago.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Same problem since day one. I bought my used Orion 1 from Ten Tec but
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> Sub receiver never worked. A couple of trips to the factory, returned
>>>>>> to me
>>>>>> &   it worked for a couple of hours then died.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Resets did not fix the problem.  I may tear down the front panel clean
>>>>>> some pins and connectors on the board but doubt if that will fix the
>>>>>> problem.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mike
>>>>>> W8TRN
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "denton sprague"<
>>>>>> denton at oregontrail.net>
>>>>>> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment"<tentec at contesting.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 12:01
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion sub receiver getting no signals
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> well…shoot..
>>>>>> that lasted all of 1/2 hour!
>>>>>> The past week or so, I has been inoperative on boot up…
>>>>>> and it boots up with swishing noise that repeats itself or it seems to
>>>>>> work but can’t her anything but background (processor) noise, or
>>>>>> receive
>>>>>> sigs are way down in the background.
>>>>>> So for the time being it will be designated back up rig in the
>>>>>> closet…and
>>>>>> will run my omni 7 for the duration.
>>>>>> I also have a chance ti purchase an unknown condition orion sub
>>>>>> receiver
>>>>>> board but not too sure want to mess with that.
>>>>>> I seems to be something that is not letting the sub receiver board
>>>>>> connect to the rest of the system correctly..
>>>>>> I have not yet done much in the way of diagnostics…but will take some
>>>>>> time this fall to pull the sub receive board and see if anything
>>>>>> amiss…cold
>>>>>> solder joints, etc, clean contacts and trace down cabling.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Oct 12, 2015, at 9:07 AM, denton sprague<denton at oregontrail.net>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> a little followup..
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> sub rx was inoperable this am…booted up with sub rx on ant 1 and vfo b
>>>>>>> enabled yesterday.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> after letting the rig on for about 3 hours, I rebooted the rig with
>>>>>>> sub
>>>>>>> rx off on the ant and vfo buttons.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> after reboot, enabled sub rx on vfo b and ant 1 buttons. Sub rx now
>>>>>>> works normally….
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Oct 11, 2015, at 11:27 AM, denton sprague<denton at oregontrail.net>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> thanks…apparently that was it om!!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Oct 11, 2015, at 11:13 AM, Tim Wininger<ky5rtim at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Need both SUB RX VFO and Ant1 SUB RX depressed.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> That's how I use this sub rcvr hr. Hope it's just that.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> GD Tim, AB4B
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 11, 2015 at 12:01 PM, denton sprague<
>>>>>>>>> denton at oregontrail.net>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi all…my trusty Orion that came back from TT for processor board
>>>>>>>>>> replacement a few months ago seems to have no  receive signals…this
>>>>>>>>>> happened this am when booting up the rig.
>>>>>>>>>> I use ant 1 as main rx/tx as well as sub rx.
>>>>>>>>>> I can hear the sub noise come up when pressing the sub rx button,
>>>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>>>> evidently getting no signals from the antenna.
>>>>>>>>>> I have only one hf antenna.
>>>>>>>>>> Did a master reset to no avail.
>>>>>>>>>> loose cable maybe??
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