[TenTec] Pimp My Eagle

[rick@dj0ip.de]

PLEASE KEEP THIS THREAD FOCUSED ON THE “EAGLE.”

(feel free to start a new thread on O7+ or O3)

 

I agree with Brian . . .  let’s talk about radios again.

 

It seems the current tentative plan is:

 

1)      OM7(+) gets a new front plate and face plate, but not a lot of
changes

2)      (super) Eagle gets new DSP and _ _ _ _ _ _

3)      Argonaut 6 will more or less resume production unchanged

4)      An O3 is in the making, details unknown

 

I want to make a suggestions about the future Eagle.

 

IMO TEN-TEC made a mistake with the Eagle.

They tried to address three market segments with one product.

1)      A simple easy to use computer for old folks (including me) who
usually prefer not to even turn the computer on, just because we want to get
on the radio – but do want high performance.

2)      The mobile hf market

3)      The entry level 100w hf transceiver market

 

Result:  Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

If you read the wish list in the Eagle group, since the beginning there were
clearly representatives of all three groups expressing wishes for
improvements.  What might benefit one group is often counter-productive for
the other.

 

If Ten-Tec is to succeed, they need to identify the market segment for each
product and optimize for it.

 

Of the three segments I have listed above, I believe Ten-Tec’s best chance
is in no. 1.

 

I don’t think any US based OEM can go big in the entry level segment because
it is primarily driven by price.

 

I also believe a mobile rig today MUST have a removable front panel.  Sure
some people don’t mind having the radio occupy the front passenger space,
but I prefer to keep it for my XYL.  (In fact I have no choice ;-)

 

My wish is for the Super Eagle to focus on number 1 above.

As such, I can propose some changes:

 

1)      And most important:  a bigger box.  In all my 15+ years
participating in Ten-Tec groups, I can’t recall a single instance of anyone
asking for a smaller box.   Yet ALL OEMs seem to think that’s what we want.
Lots of important things suffer when you reduce the size of the box.  You
have less knobs, more menu adjustable items, smaller loud speaker, smaller
S-Meter, coils are smaller (lower Q), heat sinks are smaller and fans are
smaller so you have more noise.  Less room for working on the radio, less
room for back panel jacks (so we must use plugs with 75 pins!).  DON’T NEED
ANY OF THIS.  I NEED THE FOLLOWING


2)      Larger knobs.  Concentric knobs are only ok if they are large
enough.

3)      Larger S-meter.  Prefer a true meter, but if not, then at least a
color-coded LED meter.

4)      ¼ inch connections for things like key and headphones; 

5)      Separate jacks for paddle and straight key

6)      PTT and AMP KEY should be RCA Phono (again)

7)      Dedicated RIT control (not the multi-knob)

8)      Simplified VFO mode (i.e. getting in and out of split)

9)      Buttons should have a max of dual function.  Push once to enable
main function, push twice (quickly) to enable secondary function.  I don’t
want to push multiple buttons that may be on opposite sides of the front
panel.

10)   Exception to menu handling is allowed but only for things that really
are “set once and forget”, such as defining filter slots and screen color.

11)   Mic gain and CW Speed should be a dedicated knob.  I’m OK with it just
being one knob, but others might prefer concentric.

12)   Band stacking register.  Don’t understand why it was left out.

13)   [finally] address the keying timing issues when using a non-Ten-Tec
linear amplifier.  The Pre-dit and Post-dit (hang) time must be adjustable.
Pre-dit can be inside the “set once and forget” menu, but Post-dit is a
value I change often.  Either make it easy to adjust, OR make it dynamically
linked to the keyer speed with user adjustable ratio.  There are keyers on
the market that have this feature.

14)   IF output to the real panel.  Can be an option, but just plug one
cable.

15)   Pre-selector output to the real panel.  Can be an option, but just 2
cables.

16)   AUX-RX ANT connection.  It’s to the point now that often the low bands
are only usable with some kind of special small receiving antenna, due to
all the noise from consumer products.

17)   NO BAND SCOPE.  (Use the IF connector on the rear panel).  Or use an
ANT OUT, an external SDR, and Carl’s NP4Y software.

18)   Power Out indicator (not just an ALC LED)

19)   What else?

20)   Bright Red-Orange Dot!  ;-)

 

I’m sure I have forgotten a few points, but mainly  KEEP IT SIMPLE  so that
old eyes and old fingers can use it.

 

I intentionally began this thread here rather than in the Eagle group
because maybe if we get these changes, some of the people here (and not
currently in the Eagle group) will join us.

 

PIMP MY EAGLE!

 

73 - Rick, DJ0IP

(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)