[TenTec] Reflector Buy-Back program

[k8mp at aol.com]

So you started this seemingly endless discussion on a radio that might never exist?

Later, Joe, K8MP


-----Original Message-----
From: rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 17, 2016 2:29 am
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Reflector Buy-Back program

Gary, Direct Sampling technology is not just for receivers. The transmitters I have seen so far have all been significantly cleaner, at least as far as broadband noise goes, than most of our recent transceivers out of Japan. I don't know about their keying spectrum. Good dynamic range with direct sampling radios is not a future, it is here today. However we need to understand that. When we say "good dynamic range", it is because Rob Sherwood has moved our focus to the 3rd order dynamic range of our receivers, which was the single most important indicator of a radio's ability to copy a weak signal in the presence of one or more near-by strong signals. At least it was in the old heterodyning radios. But that has changed now. With direct sampling, DR3 is not an indication of the ultimate performance of the radio. There are other factors, like efficiency of implementing firmware code. The 7300 is in position 12 (I believe) on Rob's list. This means it is 12th best in DR3. As far as being able to copy weak signals in the presence of strong, it would be much further down the list. So DR3 is no longer an indicator of a radio's performance. I know of at least two cases where Multi-Multi stations have compared direct sampling radios to K3 and found them significantly better in not crunching from the local RF in the air from their other 5 transmitters. One case was the K3, not the S. I don't recall which version the other compared to. I jokingly say, Direct Sampling has made yesterday's tomorrow today. It's not fair to accuse Flex of bringing out new radios every 6 months. They do not do that. Flex has had two families of SDR radios. The first ones (1500/3000/5000) were not direct sampling and required computers to do a lot of the labor (number crunching). The second family (6300/6500/6700) are direct sampling and the computer is primarily only used for display and control, not for number crunching. The expectation level was that the first generation would make old heterodyning technology obsolete. That did not happen and never will. The current direct sampling radios have made old heterodyning technology obsolete. Unless some OEM has a brand new heterodyning radio just about to announce, I doubt if we see any more. The market is in the middle of a full transition to direct sampling radios. Prices will come down soon. Those of you complaining about this thread not pertaining to Ten-Tec are hopelessly lost. It has EVERYTHING to do with Ten-Tec's potential to survive. We are discussing exactly the technology which Ten-Tec should be working on. IMO, if they bring out old heterodyning radios again at this late stage in the game, rather than direct sampling radios, they won't last another year in the ham radio business. Well perhaps their service department will, servicing old radios. 73 - Rick, DJ0IP (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany) -----Original Message----- From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gary J FollettDukes HiFi Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 7:34 AM To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment Subject: Re: [TenTec] Reflector Buy-Back program Dwelling on a mediocre product like the 7300 is probably not the objective of this forum. However, learning as much as possible about direct digital receivers is relevant because that is the way things are going to go, for KenSuCom and for Ten Tec (as well as Elecraft). I look back at the old mechanical switch television tuners, many of which I have repaired or replaced, and laugh because the television companies charged EXTRA for the Varactor diode tuned sets when they began to replace the mechanical tuners. In reality, the manufacturing costs for Varactor tuned tuners were a fraction of the costs for the switch type tuners. For a while, the television makers had the best of both worlds, lower manufacturing costs cost and higher prices. It doesn’t get any better than that from a business perspective. This will happen with digital direct conversion radios as well, once the improvements in real dynamic range are made and the selling prices fall into line with manufacturing costs. Imagine the driving force for manufacturers: 1) No expensive crystal filters 2) No bandswitches 3) Virtual knobs that can do any function you desire (for those who, like myself, insist on a radio with real knobs) 4) Ability to improve function with a simple downloadable firmware upgrade - something Ten Tec pioneered 5) Every feature you can imagine, including a band scope that puts Orion (and most other radios) to shame 6) A natural course for obsolescence, driving new sales. Obsolete one crucial part in the radio and panic drives people to liquidate the old and buy new The Flex business model of introducing a new model every time the seasons change drives prices of previous models low enough that we bargain hunters can buy pretty awesome performance for pennies on the dollar. As a result, the only thing that depreciates in value faster than an SDR is an open can of Coors Lite. That’s great for us bargain hunters… Gary W0DVN > On Aug 16, 2016, at 10:50 PM, Joe Papworth via TenTec <tentec at contesting.com> wrote: > > Can we buy this forum back from the 7300? > I'll chip in $5.00 for starters... > > Later, > Joe, K8MP > > Sent from AOL Mobile Mail > _______________________________________________ > TenTec mailing list > TenTec at contesting.com > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec _______________________________________________ TenTec mailing list TenTec at contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec _______________________________________________ TenTec mailing list TenTec at contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec