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[TenTec] Re: TenTec Digest, Vol 14, Issue 27 Brand X preamps.

To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Re: TenTec Digest, Vol 14, Issue 27 Brand X preamps.
From: Allan Henry Kaplan <w1ael@mindspring.com>
Reply-to: tentec@contesting.com
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 13:47:44 -0500
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Quoting Kd4GT:
"....from the spec sheet: "Two types of receive preamplifiers:
>>   Preamp 1; Boost low level signal improving intermodulation
>>characteristics
>>   Preamp 2; Boost low level signal improving receiver gain"

Both preamp descriptions read like marketing Bull.... to me.
Preamp 1 is simply not plausible. Preamp 2 description is so vague as to be meaningless! Neither statement is worth including as part of a receiver specification, in my opinion. My quick read at the Brand X website did not find a spec sheet. Is there one?


"the roofing filters of the
> IC-7800 are at 64 MHz.
> It won't be easy for Icom to get them as effective as Ten-Tec's 9
> MHz filters!"

The 6 kHz bandwidth absolutely rules out their being as effective as Ten-Tec's 9 MHz filters! Further, there is no technology within the price range of non-professional receiver to reduce that bandwidth by much. I have not seen any reference to the tone spacing for "+40 dBm Intercept Point". Without the spacing specification, the touted intercept point is merely more Brand X BS.

That said I sincerely apologize for discussing vaporware on this reflector, and will cease right now. Please use only my direct e-mail address, if you must flame me.
73 all, W1AEL, Allan.



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Today's Topics:


1. Re: Doug Smith to Collins Rockwell (Jim Reid)
2. Re: Delta II and Scout (Edward Crawford)
3. Re: RE: More Orion redefines the meaning of ... AGC OFF
4. AGC Hang in ORION. (Allan Henry Kaplan)
5. RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff up? (Allan Henry Kaplan)
6. IC-7800 (Rick Westerman)
7. RE: RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff
up? (Rick Westerman)
8. Re: RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff
up? (Tommy)
9. Orion vs Brand X (Cliff)
10. Re: RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuffup?
(Jim Munson)
11. Re: RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this
stuff up? (Steve Weber)
12. Omni6+ mods: 125hz cw filter and 2 khz roofing filter
(Scott Johns)



----------------------------------------------------------------------


Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 16:08:46 -1000
From: "Jim Reid" <jimr.reid@verizon.net>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Doug Smith to Collins Rockwell
Message-ID: <002401c3f044$028949e0$c93b4104@NewOne>
References: <COEHICILCFODCAILDEBKCEBDDMAA.farson@shaw.ca>
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Message: 1



Hmmmm....A KWM3??


I doubt if such would ever come from the Gov.
Systems Div of Rockwell-Collins,  and the
Electronic Warfare/Signals Intelligence group
at that, hi.

I actually believe that Doug was also a "contract"
employee at Ten Tec; that is, under contract to do exactly what he did: that is all the Orion front
end and DSP architecture/algorithm design work.
And all of that part of the Orion is operating very
fine business!


So far as I can tell from what Doug has posted at
his own web site about the Orion, he had no
responsibility for/about the Dragon Ball processor,
nor its programming to operate all the internal and front panel control/display interface in which all
the firmware updates have been for the last several months. Some of these were, of course, real
problem fixes; many have been changes requested
by us users.


So, for Doug's talents and abilities, there was no longer need at Ten Tec until the next major new front end/DSP project might begin and Ten Tec management
had no idea when that might be....maybe not for several more years! So the reason for Doug's contract with
Ten Tec was actually over for a time.


Now Doug has found a great spot in the Rockwell-Collins
Government/MIL-spec Division, in which there is always opportunity to propose to and bid upon all sorts of Government contracts and lots of exotic stuff to offer
to the "spooky" side of affairs of State, hi. Win such a contract every year or so, and Doug will be kept happy and busy with his talents/skills for as long as he chooses to stay in that sort of activity.


Of course, he still is also employed (again, under contract?)
by ARRL as editor of QEX and to perform other technical consultations to them, I believe.


73, Jim KH7M




------------------------------


Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 21:09:48 -0500
From: "Edward Crawford" <w4wvw@msn.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Delta II and Scout
Message-ID: <BAY4-DAV80JxRVVfdY6000012b4@hotmail.com>
References: <82.4ee40d0.2d5ac93f@aol.com>
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Message: 2

The Delta II is a 100 watt, dual vfo, general coverage, speech =
processor, memories, full featured rig with a clock even.
I don't know about the circuitry, but I imagine the Jones filter is the =
only thing they have in common.=20
73. Ed/w4wvw
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: ARDUJENSKI@aol.com<mailto:ARDUJENSKI@aol.com>=20
  To: tentec@contesting.com<mailto:tentec@contesting.com>=20
  Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 6:54 PM
  Subject: [TenTec] Delta II and Scout


I was curious if the only real difference between the two subject = radios is=20 the power level (100 vs 50 watts max) and the plug in modules and with = the=20 Jones filter it appears they may perform similarly. I found specs for = the Delta I=20 and II a bit difficult to come by on the internet. Thank you

  Alan KB7MBI in Woodinville, WA
  FISTS 5702 / ARS / Proud member of ARRL
  ___ ___ . . . . . . ___ ___ DIT DIT
  _______________________________________________
  TenTec mailing list
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http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec<http://lists.contesti=
ng.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec>
------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 02:36:02 +0000
From: ac5e@comcast.net
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RE: More Orion redefines the meaning of ... AGC OFF
Message-ID: <021120040236.27963.5b0c@comcast.net>
Precedence: list
Reply-To: tentec@contesting.com
Message: 3

Well, since Al has resurrected that topic, I have asked a couple of JA's and gotten the same response I would have to give. Not heard on air. So at least for now it's still vaporware.

This for a rig that was supposed to be out in November or December. From a company famous for delivering all these highly complex projects on time; and whose equipment works first time every time and keeps on working forever. Which ain't what I hear on the grapevine.

As far as price is concerned I hear the JA rumor mill has the IC-7800 pegged at 1.1 million Yen. Divide by today's exchange rate of 105.5 Yen to the buck, add a bit for transport and warranty and US dealers profit - and your guess is probably as good as mine. But if price follows true to form it will likely be above $11,000 at your friendly ham store.

And finally, as far as performance is concerned - the published specs give me cause for concern. Nuff said.

73  Pete Allen  AC5E
------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:03:05 -0500
From: Allan Henry Kaplan <w1ael@mindspring.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] AGC Hang in ORION. Message-ID: <4029B789.7070903@mindspring.com>
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Message: 4


Barry, N1EU, wrote: "I assume the hang is a delay before
the onset of AGC decay".

Absolutely correct! I was present at the creation, but have since retired from Ten-Tec. Do not however ask me for any advice on programmable AGC, because I did not get a chance to work with it. What is this SSB stuff that you guys talk about - HI! Allan, W1AEL.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 01:16:12 -0500
From: Allan Henry Kaplan <w1ael@mindspring.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff up? Message-ID: <4029C8AC.9030302@mindspring.com>
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Message: 5


Rick wrote, "Doug wasn't doing the software and that's where the work is now".

**** Do some of you guys make this stuff up? ****

In the period before I retired from Ten-Tec engineering last July, Doug Smith made substantial contributions to both hardware and software in ORION. Doug also introduced several new products and many new ideas during his tenure. The ORION development was truly a team effort, with the entire engineering department working on its design and development, and with support from other parts of the company where applicable. With Gary on the job, Ten-Tec does not lack software development talent for continuing inovation. ORION was a heroic effort for the company. OK, the sustaining engineering development is almost all software now - you get partial credit.

Allan H. Kaplan, W1AEL
A proud member of the TT Worshipers Cult.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 07:21:02 +0100
From: "Rick Westerman" <Rick@dj0ip.de>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] IC-7800
Message-ID: <000f01c3f067$39bea900$0331a8c0@Gateway>
In-Reply-To: <03449D1344E4414EB9AAB797FEEADE816E5B2C@wcosmb01.cos.agilent.com>
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Message: 6

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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One thing Al forgot to mention is that the roofing filters of the
IC-7800 are at 64 MHz.
It won't be easy for Icom to get them as effective as Ten-Tec's 9
MHz filters!

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of
al_lorona@agilent.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 2:39 AM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] RE: More Orion redefines the meaning of ... AGC
OFF




... but one can put up with some deficiencies in $800 radio vs. "ultimate" $3.6k radio.
Can we discuss topics rationally or is this really TT Worshipers Cult forum?


Yuri


Yuri,

Careful! When $9000.00 Brand X radio comes out, folks might hold
you to
the same standard you have so nicely stated in your message
above. In
other words, replace "$800" with "$3.6k" and replace "$3.6k" with
"$9000.00".

I hope saying this does not put me in "TT Worshipers Cult".

Seriously, Orion is no longer "ultimate". That title now claimed
by
Brand X radio. See
http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/amateur/7800/index.htm .

By the way, there are a couple of things that we can scrutinize
about
this radio, when it becomes available. One is that the narrowest
roofing
filter is 6 kHz. Other is that there is built-in switching power
supply,
which has potential to mean trouble. Lots of press is being
devoted to
the 'clean' transmitter, so we will be looking very closely at
that (for
the money, how much 'cleaner' than the Yaesu Class A
transmitter?), as
well as to the logistical problems of running a radio with 28V
finals on
12V that requires 800 VA on transmit.


Also, one thing already bothers me. It is the way that Icom is
touting
the 4 DSP chips inside, as if they're all used for the same
purpose.
Actually, there is only one DSP for the main RX, one for the sub
RX, one
for the spectrum display, and one for the transmit DSP.


Also, the ominous message "some frequency bands not guaranteed".
Have no
idea what that means.

Also, this from the spec sheet: "Two types of receive
preamplifiers:
    Preamp 1; Boost low level signal improving intermodulation
characteristics
    Preamp 2; Boost low level signal improving receiver gain"

Wow, a preamp that improves the intermod characteristics?! Didn't
someone just pooh-pooh that a couple of days ago?!



Al W6LX

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------------------------------


Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 07:30:06 +0100
From: "Rick Westerman" <Rick@dj0ip.de>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff
up? Message-ID: <001701c3f068$7dbfe960$0331a8c0@Gateway>
In-Reply-To: <4029C8AC.9030302@mindspring.com>
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Reply-To: Rick@dj0ip.de, tentec@contesting.com
Message: 7


Sorry Al for misleading, but I thought Doug's main contribution
was the "design of the integration of the software to the
hardware" and not the actual dits-n-bits of the software (ie.,
DSP programming, which I thought was Gary and his team).  With
the radio on the street now, the hardware/software integration is
done and [DSP] software programming lives on.

BTW, SSB means "Some Silly Business".

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Allan Henry
Kaplan
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 7:16 AM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this
stuff
up?


Rick wrote, "Doug wasn't doing the software and that's where the work is now".

**** Do some of you guys make this stuff up? ****

In the period before I retired from Ten-Tec engineering last
July, Doug
Smith made substantial contributions to both hardware and
software in
ORION.  Doug also introduced several new products and many new
ideas
during his tenure.  The ORION development was truly a team
effort, with
the entire engineering department working on its design and
development,
and with support from other parts of the company where
applicable.  With
Gary on the job, Ten-Tec does not lack software development
talent for
continuing inovation. ORION was a heroic effort for the company.
OK,
the sustaining engineering development is almost all software
now - you
get partial credit.

Allan H. Kaplan, W1AEL
A proud member of the TT Worshipers Cult.

_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec


------------------------------


Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 07:07:29 -0500
From: "Tommy" <aldermant@alltel.net>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff
up? Message-ID: <003001c3f097$a102f780$038366a6@w4bqf2>
References: <4029C8AC.9030302@mindspring.com>
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Message: 8


Thanks Allan. It sure is nice to hear from someone who literally knows what
they are talking about. (And no offense to my friend Rick) It just seemed
like suddenly a heck of a lot of 'expert contesters' and other expert
Monday-morning-quarterbacks began to tell us what an awful design job was
done on Orion and it's all just getting a little bit old. Informed technical
discussions are great, but personal opinion about technical issues just
don't get it.

Speaking of which, I would like to suggest that Ten Tec modify that cap they
sell with the Ten Tec logo on it. I think they would sell more of those caps
if the inscription said "MEMBER, Ten Tec Worshipers Cult".

Tom/W4BQF


----- Original Message ----- From: "Allan Henry Kaplan" <w1ael@mindspring.com> To: <tentec@contesting.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 1:16 AM Subject: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff up?



Rick wrote, "Doug wasn't doing the software and that's where the work is
now".

**** Do some of you guys make this stuff up? ****

In the period before I retired from Ten-Tec engineering last July, Doug
Smith made substantial contributions to both hardware and software in
ORION.  Doug also introduced several new products and many new ideas
during his tenure.  The ORION development was truly a team effort, with
the entire engineering department working on its design and development,
and with support from other parts of the company where applicable.  With
Gary on the job, Ten-Tec does not lack software development talent for
continuing inovation. ORION was a heroic effort for the company.  OK,
the sustaining engineering development is almost all software now - you
get partial credit.

Allan H. Kaplan, W1AEL
A proud member of the TT Worshipers Cult.

_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec



------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 07:56:13 -0500
From: Cliff <csegar@mindspring.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Orion vs Brand X
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.20040211075613.01c30738@mail.mindspring.com>
In-Reply-To: <03449D1344E4414EB9AAB797FEEADE816E5B2C@wcosmb01.cos.agilen
 t.com>
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Reply-To: tentec@contesting.com
Message: 9

At 06:38 PM 2/10/2004 -0700, you wrote:

Also, this from the spec sheet: "Two types of receive preamplifiers:
  Preamp 1; Boost low level signal improving intermodulation
characteristics
  Preamp 2; Boost low level signal improving receiver gain"


Really interesting concept and a worth while item if it works. But, I have
a few basic thoughts about how one would go about such a pair of pre-amps
but am probably way off base so I'll pose the question here:
What would be the difference in design between these two pre-amps?

73 de KD4GT

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 08:13:07 -0500
From: "Jim Munson" <w4xl@bellsouth.net>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuffup?
        
Message-ID: <004f01c3f0a0$caa943b0$6401a8c0@Jim>
References: <4029C8AC.9030302@mindspring.com>
        <003001c3f097$a102f780$038366a6@w4bqf2>
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Message: 10


----- Original Message ----- From: "Tommy" <aldermant@alltel.net>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 7:07 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this
stuffup?



>


Speaking of which, I would like to suggest that Ten Tec modify that cap

they


sell with the Ten Tec logo on it. I think they would sell more of those

caps


if the inscription said "MEMBER, Ten Tec Worshipers Cult".

Tom/W4BQF



"Member, Ten Tec Worshipers Cult". Love it. I am going to have that message printed on my next batch of QSL cards.

73 & happy TenTec'ing,
Jim/W4XL



----- Original Message -----
From: "Allan Henry Kaplan" <w1ael@mindspring.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 1:16 AM
Subject: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this stuff

up?



------------------------------


Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 07:55:09 -0600
From: Steve Weber <kd9bo@mac.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RE: Doug's work - Do some of you guys make this
 stuff  up?
Message-ID: <a06020400bc4fe3e671b6@[10.0.1.12]>
In-Reply-To: <003001c3f097$a102f780$038366a6@w4bqf2>
References: <4029C8AC.9030302@mindspring.com>
 <003001c3f097$a102f780$038366a6@w4bqf2>
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Message: 11

Great idea. Where can I place my order???

Are you LISTENING Scott ?

Steve KD9BO


Speaking of which, I would like to suggest that Ten Tec modify that cap they
sell with the Ten Tec logo on it. I think they would sell more of those caps
if the inscription said "MEMBER, Ten Tec Worshipers Cult".

Tom/W4BQF





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