[1000mp] [TenTec] Topband: BDR redux

[Blake Meinecke]

Just a request:

If the esoteric Orion discussion must be simulcast live on the MP reflector,
would it be possible to please include "orion" in the subject line so I can
make sure the messages make their way to my outlook bit-bucket?

Thanks,
Blake N4GI





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Tippett" <btippett@alum.mit.edu>
To: <tentec@contesting.com>; <orion@contesting.com>;
<1000mp@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 5:27 PM
Subject: [1000mp] [TenTec] Topband: BDR redux


> YT1NT wrote:
>
>  >Unfortunately, Orions RF GAIN control is just that,
> a gain control unrelated to AGC loop. Therefore, Orion
> users are actually *** handicapped ***, having to activate
> menus and then select and change the clumsy "AGC Threshold"
> setting, instead of simply turning a knob counter-clockwise
> as on less modern receivers.
>
>          I don't agree with you Sinisa.  Having used an MP for 6+
> years in ~20 contests on 10 meters, I found Orion much less tiring
> to use.  With the MP I was continually riding both the AF and RF
> Gain controls depending on conditions, QRM, signal levels, etc.
> With Orion I basically set Threshold once, and hardly touched
> either AF or RF Gain for 99% of the contest.  The only times I
> readjusted Threshold was when the band was very quiet, either at
> the very beginning or the very end.  It does take a little learning
> to use, but I would not want to go back to the MP's AGC now.
>
>          The combination of the AGC and very quiet passband (which I
> attribute to fewer IMD products) made it easier to get most callers
> on their first call.  I did install Inrad's AGC mod for the MP, but
> subjectively, it just seemed like I could copy far more weak callers
> on their first call using Orion.  It could have simply been conditions
> but the two most memorable aspects of Orion in both CQ WW's this
> fall were the quietness of the passband and the excellent AGC.  I
> don't believe the quietness was my not hearing weak stations either,
> since my QSO totals were comparable to the top 3 multi-multi's (+4%
> for SSB and -4% for CW).
>
>                                                  73,  Bill  W4ZV
>
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