Harry, methinks it is you who is missing the big picture. Weather we like it
or not, the industry is going the way of TT and either firmware upgradable
rigs, or the pure software control like the SDR-1000.
We can not think in terms of the old plug and play version 1 or 2.
The other three manufactures are all working on their versions. Icom has
allready released one in the 7800 which has upgradable firmware.(They had to
recall the whole lot for a harware mistake).
The times they are a changing, get the rig now and enjoy.
Bill kc4atu
QRP,doing more with less
From: Harry Reed <doon@infoscientific.com>
Reply-To: doon@infoscientific.com,Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
<tentec@contesting.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] re should i buy an orion now
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:27:38 -0700
Methinks that people are forgetting the big picture.
Most, if not all, here want dependability, reliability, and repeatability
in their rigs -
especially ones that costs ~$4000. Is that *really* too much to ask? TTs
competition doesn't
seem to think so. If I wanted an experimental rig I'd go out and buy a
SDR-1000.
While the Orion's hardware seems to be up to the task (albeit getting a
little
long in the tooth) TT firmware seems to have lingering problems. I gather
TT software
engineering has been more than a little taxed trying to implement a bug
free SDR HF XCVR.
Real-time software is a bear unless done exactly right - the last 2+ years
of upgrades
has shown that they haven't. Indeed, going from a 1.x release to a 2.x
release indicates
that they probably programmed themselves into a corner, so to speak. "When
all else
fails do a rewrite!" Let's see if they can get it right with the v2
firmware. If not, maybe
they should open up the firmware development to the FS/OS software
community (ala GNURadio)
and get it done right HIHI :)
Please, don't misunderstand me, I'm not bashing TT or the Orion. TT seems
to be a fine
company and the Orion has the potential of being a fine rig worth its
asking price. I
just don't think people are happy in spending ~$4000 on a SDR whose
firmware is still
very much beta quality and a work in progress. I'm curious what's happening
to TTs reputation
in all of this? Surely it can't be good. Indeed, one has to wonder how many
people bear with
TT and their Orion in the hopes that TT will fix the problems and that the
Orion will get
better because they don't want to admit that they spent their hard earned
$$$ on a subpar,
even flaky radio?
For these reasons I'm holding off my Orion purchase until v2 of the
firmware comes out and
the Orion owners/users/abusers have their say. I don't demand a *perfect*
radio.
Just one that doesn't hang or require a HW reset because I twiddled a knob
the wrong way -
one that works reliably and predictably when I want it and when I need it.
Harry Reed, AB7YF
><<<I just can't see any viable reason to not try/own an Orion. Especially
>any technical reasons.>>>
>
>I'd go through the reflector archive for the past 2-3 years and look
at what earlier >purchasers went through.
>
>If you have a lot of free time to tinker, maybe it's okay. For example
if you are >retired and have a lot of patience maybe it's okay.
>
>I'm pretty low on time and patience. I want dependability. I want to
be able to unbox >the rig, power it up, hook an antenna to it, ground,
mic, key, cans...whatever i >need, adjust collector PA current and mic
gain, adjust AF/RF gain, tune around, hit >the PTT button and start
making contacts.
>
>If it's much more involved than that, or its behavior mysteriously
changes from one >day to the next on a regular basis, then I start
loosing interest.
>
>So the likes and dislikes probably have as much to do with operator
personality as >anything else.
>
>rob/k5uj
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
_________________________________________________________________
Don?t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search!
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
|