----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Crocker" <w9oy@yahoo.com>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 17:56
Subject: [TenTec] Orion's Woes
> I just don't get it. The Orion II as far as I can
> tell just addresses a couple of hardware design flaws,
> and adds a color screen.
>
> None of the serious test measurements done on the
> Orion use the cascade filter board, one of the design
> flaws addressed in the Orion II. It is basically a
> feature that no one uses and no one is the worse for
> wear becuase they don't use it. Probably the new
> roofing filters could be added to the present Orion.
> You would not have as many filter choices, but you may
> be able to obtain nearly the same ultimate dynamic
> range, which in the end game is what its all about
> anyway. With a little add on engineering and a few
> changes in the firmware you could probably make the
> Orion have as many filter choices as the new radio.
>
> The second issue is the "Mixing architecture". I
> still don't know what this means, but my Orion seems
> to mix fine. It mixed me a dry Martini just last
> night, shaken not stirred with an onion, and a nice
> frothy half caf latte earlier this morning.
>
> Third is the issue of latency on the RS232 line, which
> is something I wish could be improved on my Orion.
> I'm not sure I'm willing to spend a kilobuck to have
> my N4PY software behave a little less sluggishly when
> I'm spinning the knob with gusto. It is very mildly
> annoying and certainly no show stopper.
>
> I ran a TS-530 at field day, and it remined me very
> well of just how far we have come regarding things
> like tuning rates and linearity and stability in
> tuning. I remember the old Swan radio.
I started with a Swan 260 as a novice in 1980. Then a TS820 with was easy
to 'improve, by a few component changes e.e. detector diodes. Then an OMNI
V, actually decent. SO the Orion is heaven and I welcome Rigel and
Betelgeuse every time I turn it on.
Hard to see what color would do for me. I had a caract removed in Feb, so I
can see screen pretty well - don't need eye candy.
Turn it on
> 3900 at noon and by 3pm you would be up around 7240
> from the drift. Bump the knob and instead of moving
> 5hz like on my Orion, you moved 100khz.
>
> The color screen in my estimation is purely cosmetic,
> and is probably responsible for the lion's share of
> the price increase. The other stuff like the high
> speed sweep accessory is still vapor ware, and nothing
> I'm going to base a purchase decision on anyway.
>
> My Orion works day after day without a hiccup.
> Firmware 2 will work on it as well presumably making
> improvements to its operation.
>
> So I just don't get it.
>
> 73 W9OY
>
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