[WriteLog] TXRX of the Future is here Now!

[Eric Hilding]

For those interested in, or working on, a remote station venue like myself, major Congrats to TenTec for their Visionary action step into the future.

The new TenTec OMNI VII has just raised the bar for all TXRX manufacturers.

(From the website - http://radio.tentec.com/Amateur/Transceivers/TT588 ) 

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OMNI-VII is the first truly Net-Ready ham transceiver. No PC required at the rig to operate remote! Locate your OMNI-VII anywhere you have wideband Internet access. Simply connect its built-in Ethernet port to your router with our exclusive One Plug connection. Delivers live receive AND transmit operation from anywhere else in the world from another wideband Internet access! A simple GUI (Graphical User Interface) written for the OMNI-VII will be available for download at no charge from our firmware update website. That's not all:  the latest GUI source code (written in Visual Basic) and complete programming instructions can be downloaded to build your own GUI. 
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The added turn-on here is they will be making the source code available for operator customization.  Most remote control software vendors are not Contesters, and just "don't get it" with respect to some of the operating nuance needs (especially when operating 35WPM CW contests).  At least now TenTec has changed this.  Being able to re-tweak the software yourself (or via hired gun) is beyond cool.

A quick test from California hooked up to the rig in Tennessee worked well, and the built-in audio was fine.  No need for 3rd party clogs in the wheel like Skype, etc., which is fantastic.  For those bypassing traditional Net services and going with low latency point-to-point gear (less than 5ms), all ya gotta do is plug in a couple of Ethernet cables.  This *is* the future, here and now.

A remaining task, however, is to get the Contest logging software authors to "get with the program" and either release partial source code, or build in clever interface(s) to eliminate the need to manually swap window focus back and forth between a logger and the rig control software when operating an intense high-speed CW Contest format,  'cuz that just plain sucks ;-(

Bravo to TenTec for advancing part of what's been missing in the remote venue a big step into the future.

FYI & 73...

Rick, K6VVA