[TenTec] pimp my eagle.

[John Farler]

Rick,
As you can see, I set out some ideas for just a mobile rig.
Perhaps as a combination of ideas, there could be two
face plates, or perhaps a simpler one that was just a
remote control with a few knobs that plugged into
a port, without a removeable faceplate (N4PY, are
you listening?)
KISS, please....

John, K4AVX

> 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)      ? 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)