[TenTec] Pimp My Eagle

Thu Jan 7 13:16:10 EST 2016

no
> On Jan 7, 2016, at 9:22 AM, Tony <va3dwi at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I hope you are joking about that!!  
> 73, Tony VE3DWI.
> 
> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Bell network.
>   Original Message  
> From: denton sprague
> Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2016 12:13
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Reply To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Pimp My Eagle
> 
> A built in antenna analyzer also, please...
> 
>> On Jan 7, 2016, at 8:52 AM, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at DJ0IP.de> wrote:
>> 
>> 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)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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