[1000mp] MP,Orion,reflector rage

[Thomas Tow]

This is exactly what went on for years on the Ten Tec reflector. I had one
of the very first Orion's. Not perfect but I was VERY enthusiastic about the
possibilities. Unfortunately the anger, reflector rage and "experts" attacks
on everyone was unrelenting. To enjoy the radio and learn, you had to endure
personal attacks, idiot "reviews" of the rig, especially from those who
never even owned one. If you liked your Orion..you were a cultist and
stupid..and so on...every day...Totally ridiculous. I found out that some of
the most vicious critics of Ten Tec and Orion were a few well known dx and
contesting guys who had asked Ten Tec to be on their Orion design team and
help with it..and were turned down... so they started a reflector war
against Ten Tec and Orion and Orion owners. How childish is that! A review
of the Ten Tec archives during the first two years of Orion will be very
enlightening. Check out the top ten radio list with Orion at the bottom.
Stupidity and agenda exposed. Then one of the most hateful attackers, self
proclaimed "worlds greatest contester" said he could design a better
radio...he bragged and bragged on the web..it got as far as his basement
closet I think. Hi 
 
The Ten Tec reflector was nice before the Orion wars..it seems that it has
tamed in the last year so maybe the childish reflector rage guys have folded
their tents somewhat. 

I go back a LONG way with Yaesu, the old 101's, the FR and FL twins, etc. I
had two MP's one of them being the actual 1st review radio in QST..so I go
back a LONG way with them also. I sold one, got on the order list and bought
the Orion. Then I sold the other MP and bought a MK5. I loaded the MK 5 with
the Inrad roofing filter, all Inrad filters and mods..The Orion was also
loaded up with Inrads. NOW, sitting side by side, SO2R setup, I could tell
very little difference between the fully modified MP and the Orion. (I do
know how to properly set up the Orion before someone asks) There have been
several independent tests to show these differences. Sherwood for one.
Granted some differences but not a heck of a lot. Sometimes I could pull one
out with the Orion after a LOT of tweeking and most of the time I could find
it easier on the MK5 with less tweeking. There were times when one was
slightly better than the other but there was NEVER a time when either one
was consistently better than the other. I have a very good antenna system,
three stack of C31XR's, 3 El 40 etc. so good input to the rigs. I have no
lab and used no test equipment so these are personal observations only, ie;
what I can hear from each rig and how well under the same conditions using
side by side A/B switching, and how easily and quickly I can locate and
tweek what I am looking for. 

So my opinion, from experience, it that the MK5, loaded, will run side by
side with the Orion and I suspect almost any other rig out there..the caveat
is numerical lab test differences...but the daily use on the desk really
tells me the rig is terrific and costs a LOT less with far less issues than
these new software defined rigs...and to me personally it is a LOT easier to
use than the Orion. I want a radio, not a lifetime of learning curves. I
also found out MOST IMPORTANTLY..that the MK5, in a contest environment can
eliminate the adjacent S9++++ signals and separate them as well as the
Orion.  
I sold the Orion :) 
If I go ever go back to SO2R as before, it will be with another MK 5. My
airtime has been slim the past year or so due to business..but when I get
back to it, I know the Mk5 will work extremely well.
I am NOT unhappy with Ten Tec in any way, they are a first class company
with great service. I think the reflector rage fanatics soured it for me.
It was not fun trying to learn about the rig with other Orion owners on the
reflector. It was disgusting and brutal for a long time. 

This is an excellent reflector... polite, helpful and very informative... so
my suggestion is to keep it that way and stop the juvenile Ten Tec style
Orion war bickering before it is ruined.  And keep your Mk5's :)
Tommy  WD4K 


-----Original Message-----
From: 1000mp-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:1000mp-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Rick Stealey
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 6:25 AM
To: 1000mp at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [1000mp] I was barred from the ft9000-ft2000 yahoo group


Would you two guys carry on your personal attacks by email and spare the 
rest of us please.

Rick


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