[TenTec] Orion logic issue

Sun Jul 31 15:35:52 EDT 2016

I just tried both putty and tera term.  Both work with my Orion.  
Dave WN5V

-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jeff
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2016 2:31 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion logic issue

Tera term is also excellent.

On Jul 31, 2016 2:45 PM, "David W LeJeune, Sr" <lejeuned at centurytel.net>
wrote:

> I use putty.  It has a serial mode that works as a terminal.  It's 
> also free.
>
> Dave WN5V
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gary 
> J FollettDukes HiFi
> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2016 1:05 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion logic issue
>
> Since windows 7 no longer includes Hyperterm, do you have a suggestion 
> for a good, safe terminal program?
>
> Gary
>
>
> > On Jul 31, 2016, at 11:52 AM, David W LeJeune, Sr <
> lejeuned at centurytel.net> wrote:
> >
> > If you have terminal software available, start it up, set it to 
> > 57600
> baud, no parity, one stopbit and RTS/CTS flow control on whatever 
> serial port you have connected to the ORION.  Then send it this command:
> > XX<cr>  (<cr> is the enter button on the keyboard).  This is the 
> > restart
> command.  It should respond with the following:
> > " ORION STARTED"  (without the ")
> > If this awakens the radio, then you have a firmware problem - 
> > probably a
> bad eprom where the firmware is stored.
> >
> > I suspect XX<cr> is the first thing the N4PY software does.
> >
> > Dave WN5V
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> > Gary J FollettDukes HiFi
> > Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2016 11:17 AM
> > To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion logic issue
> >
> > I appreciate your remark regarding “waking up”. I  only used that 
> > phrase
> to describe what APPEARS to be taking place.
> >
> > The thing that is confusing is that, once the N4PY software is 
> > operated
> once, just to connect and interact with the radio, the radio works 
> fine even after I disconnect the N4PY software.
> >
> > All of the buttons work, the encoders work, even if I disconnect the 
> > PC
> from the radio.
> >
> > It’s kind of like spraying ether down the throat of a carburetor to 
> > get
> an old motor to start. Once started, gasoline sustains its operation 
> just fine.
> >
> > The only thing that causes the failure to reappear is turning the 
> > radio
> off, then back on.
> >
> > That is what I meant by “waking” the radio CPU-to-encoder/button
> communications via the N4PY software.
> >
> > Ten Tec has already had their hand at this radio. I do not know how
> extensively they looked at it for its previous owner, but they said it 
> needed a $600 board, which they no longer had available. They were not 
> specific about which board, but I suspect it was the CPU board.
> >
> > I believe the CPU chip itself is good as it functions to make the 
> > radio
> operational once the N4PY software has somehow triggered it. Since I 
> have a spare CPU board with a bad CPU, I have SOME hope of locating a 
> bad part aside from the CPU on the board with the “good” CPU that I 
> could exchange from the known bad board if I could determine the path 
> for this data. That is to say, f I could determine what path is being 
> formed by the N4PY software to enable button/encoder operation.
> >
> > I have at my disposal several SMD technicians who are fully capable 
> > of
> swapping even the big SMD’s without damage.
> >
> > I am fairly adept at troubleshooting these things when I can get an 
> > idea
> of what the designer had in mind when he or she designed hardware and 
> wrote software.
> >
> > Since I don’t have to pay myself $145/hour to work on this, and 
> > since I
> learn something new every time I am successful in fixing something, I 
> look upon this effort as a more of a learning experience rather than a 
> profit making venture.
> >
> > Thus, I am more willing spend the time to find the root cause than, 
> > say,
> a tech at Ten Tec, who knows full well that the time to find the root 
> cause would exceed the dollar value of the radio fairly quickly at $145/hour.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Gary
> >
> > W0DVN
> >
> > PS: This one is far too nice to end up as a parts mule…
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Jul 31, 2016, at 10:14 AM, Wes Attaway (N5WA) <
> wesattaway at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> I don't think the N4PY software is "waking up" anything.  What it 
> >> is doing is bypassing a lot of the functions supplied by the manual 
> >> encoder and button functions.
> >>
> >> You have some kind of problem with signals going through the 
> >> encoders and buttons that appear to not be working.
> >>
> >> Unless someone can come up with something that you can T-shoot then 
> >> it may be simpler to send the radio in for repairs.
> >>
> >>  -------------------
> >> Wes Attaway (N5WA)
> >> (318) 393-3289 - Shreveport, LA
> >> Computer/Cellphone Forensics
> >> AttawayForensics.com
> >>  -------------------
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> >> Gary J FollettDukes HiFi
> >> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2016 10:10 AM
> >> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> >> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion logic issue
> >>
> >> I did reinstall the firmware. I even backloaded to an older version 
> >> of the firmware, just to determine if this made a difference.
> >>
> >> No joy.
> >>
> >> It amazes me just how repeatable the failure is, especially the 
> >> part about the lack of encoder function that is immediately 
> >> restored when I operate the radio for just a few actions using N4PY 
> >> software. I think all I need to do is connect, because that action 
> >> causes the Orion to go to the frequency stored on the C screen. 
> >> From that point
> on, everything works.
> >>
> >> It's like the N4PY "wakes up" the CPU so it can respond to the 
> >> encoders and pushbuttons.
> >>
> >> The schematic is not terribly helpful in revealing how the 
> >> keystroke and encoder signals get into the CPU, nor is it clear how 
> >> the serial data from the PC gets there either.
> >>
> >> Just conjecture at this point, but it seems like some sort of 
> >> startup timer is missing its position in the roll call during the 
> >> boot sequence and the serial data from the PC substitutes for that 
> >> by
> setting some flag.
> >>
> >> It would be sort of like my having incorrectly entered bootstrap 
> >> loader startup information in my old Heath H8 computer, data that 
> >> tells the 8080 chip that a keyboard was connected.
> >>
> >> Of course, the H8 had no error trapping and would have just crashed 
> >> whereas this more sophisticated CPU seems to be able to go on 
> >> functioning with some startup data missing.
> >>
> >> Has anyone made a printed listing of the startup sequence of the 
> >> Orion? Is there any "open source" listing of the operating firmware?
> >>
> >> Gary
> >>
> >> W0DVN
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Jul 31, 2016, at 6:50 AM, Jeff <w4dd09 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Always start by reburning the firmware.  I have solved some  
> >>> really odd issues by doing this.
> >>>
> >>> Jeff, W4DD
> >>>
> >>> On Jul 31, 2016 7:20 AM, "D. Byron Allen" <n4axdxer at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> It does boot up the latest software version, my problem started 
> >>> with out
> >> if
> >>> band receive on 40 meters only when I powered the rig up in 40 
> >>> meters , no other band was  this problem seen , i used the rig 
> >>> everyday , then didnt use the rig for a week , and then this last 
> >>> symptoms of no operation on
> >> any
> >>> band.
> >>> Byron / N4AX
> >>>
> >>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>
> >>>> On Jul 30, 2016, at 10:36 PM, Gary J FollettDukes HiFi <
> >>> dukeshifi at comcast.net> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Sounds like yours is failing to boot up altogether. That's 
> >>>> probably the
> >>> CPU.
> >>>>
> >>>> Mine does not up and does receiver, I get S meter light and can 
> >>>> even hear
> >>> signals. I just can't adjust volume or operate any encoders or 
> >>> buttons except the VFO'.
> >>>>
> >>>> Gary
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Jul 30, 2016, at 10:20 PM, D. Byron Allen 
> >>>>> <n4axdxer at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> My Orion I just started this last week , no receive on any band 
> >>>>> , no
> >>> pushbutton control , cant change bands , no s meter signal or s 
> >>> meter lights.will not key or transmit. Sent to Ten Tec Friday , 
> >>> see what they tell me next week!
> >>>>> Byron / N4AX
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On Jul 30, 2016, at 9:29 PM, Gary J FollettDukes HiFi <
> >>> dukeshifi at comcast.net> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I have an Orion 1 with an odd problem. I thought I'd ask if 
> >>>>>> anyone had
> >>> seen it before prior to an in-depth investigation.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> The radio powers up OK, boots up as it should, sometimes it 
> >>>>>> will even
> >>> receive. The tuning encoders work fine at this point regardless.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> However, none of the small encoders or pushbuttons work.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> However, if I connect the radio to the computer, start N4PY 
> >>>>>> software,
> >>> the radio connects and I can generally make all functions work on 
> >>> the
> >> Orion.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> From that point on, all buttons and encoders work fine until I 
> >>>>>> turn the
> >>> radio off. I replaced the battery so that's not an issue.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Anyone seen this before?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Gary
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>>> 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
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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