Sometimes I think Ten-Tecs are like Edsuls.
(Way ahead of their time and different enough that many people are reluctant
to own one)
I would never trade down (from Orion to Omni VI+) but for my mode and method
of operations, the Orion is a bit overkill. I just find pleasure in owning
a radio with the best receiver that one can currently own (for anywhere near
the price).
I owned and used extensively 3 of the Omni Vx series of radios - over a
period of 13 years. It frustrated me to no end that I could not convince my
fellow [BCC] club members to switch from rice boxes to quality - but I never
managed.
Interesting, now that same group of guys is taking a closer look at the
Orion. I think there are several reasons for this.
- Clearly the first one is that it "looks" like most other radios. It's
black and has a big screen. Ten-Tecs ALWAYS looked different up til now. I
preferred the color combination of the Omni Vx but I don't buy radios for
their looks. I get the impression that many people do.
- Next, the boys in my club aren't poor students anymore and can now afford
a higher class of radio. That doesn't mean they will throw their hard-earned
money away on the new 7800/9000. The dicision this decade might boil down
to price/performance (like it did 10 years ago when they chose TS-850) and
here the Orion triumps over all new rigs. Buying one of the last FT-1000's
(new) is the biggest challenge to my club switching to Orion.
- Unique to Europe: Ten-Tec is back and with a passion! Clearly that was a
major cause for lack of Ten-Tec radios in Europe for the past 6 or 7 years.
What does all of this have to do with the Omni VI+ becoming a classic?
Simple, as more people finally wake up to the fact that Ten-Tec now builds
excellent radios, they will begin to take a bigger interest in Ten-Tec and
learn that Ten-Tec has always built superb radios. I think we'll see the
demand for the older rigs go up (and the prices increase with the demand).
Yes, the Omni Vx (series) will become a classic.
73
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Ben K8DIT
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 11:06 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Omni VI+ destined as a classic?
For all the grousing and griping hams did when the Omni VI+ was current
model, I have a feeling that the classic status will be amongst hams who
recognize it and value it as such.
Ive heard a gaggle of hams over the years who bought these rigs and for
whatever reason, didn't like them at all. Even on CW I remember hearing
complaints of birdies,
off frequency problems, audio, keyer and you'd think that almost every other
higher end rig was better in most ways.
Then there was another gaggle of hams who never owned one but spoke highly
of the Omni VI having used one briefly at someone else's shack or field day,
but for other reasons never took a personal interest in having one.
While its always nice to hear another Omni VI on the air whose owner loves
it, I've never quite understood why they didn't outsell everything made by
the import radio companies. Why even the guy I bought mine from went and
bought a high end Yaesu, as did the ham he bought it from.
While I believe my radio has seen its last owner, Im not sure I wouldn't
trade it in toward an Orion or its successor some day.
I just worked K9OT/FP on 30m CW who recognized me as a fellow TT
reflectoree, its nice to belong to a group of ops who share a common
interest.
It is a jewel amongst the background of pedestrian performing rigs. Ten Tec
rigs have always emphasized performance over lesser meaningful features and
the reason I like it.
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