I see the TT Orion II is no longer in production.

[KB3LAZ]

Seeings as the Orion II is no longer in production, does anyone care to speculate what we might see to replace it? Maybe just an upgraded model of the same? This I doubt because one would think it would be ready for release shortly after the cut off date of the previous unit. Also, one would think that there will be information about such a thing.

Thoughts? Top of the line contest model to compete with the competition. Something having dual RX, USB, IF out, etc. Maybe something more along the lines of an Eagle but upped a few notches. What about size? Desktop or Micro.

It seems the Omni VII is getting a bit long in the tooth as well. I wonder if it will be discontinued after(if) a replacement for the O-II appears.

Google gives me nothing.

[N8YX]

How about Ten-Tec comes out with an all-mode DSP-based IF system and offers modules for HF and all of the VHF/UHF bands through 1.2GHz for it?

I'll take two right off the bat.

[KB3LAZ]

How about Ten-Tec comes out with an all-mode DSP-based IF system and offers modules for HF and all of the VHF/UHF bands through 1.2GHz for it?

I'll take two right off the bat.

Sadly I don't think that is likely, lol. I am rather curious to see what replaces that Orion II though. I'm heavily weighted toward the K3 atm but I have a good chunk of time yet before I return home so nothing is final. Whatever it is, if anything, I hope it at least has 6m in it. Slowly but surely TT has been adding the band to each new rig. It would be a shame if they come out with an Orion replacement that was lacking said band.

[W2NAP]

How about Ten-Tec comes out with an all-mode DSP-based IF system and offers modules for HF and all of the VHF/UHF bands through 1.2GHz for it?

I'll take two right off the bat.

Honestly. I would love to see them come out with a good DSP based rig. maybe add in the ability to control width,ect like the ft-950,2000,5000 has. have one HF+6M and another modular set for 144,220,430/440,900,1200 all mode. Also make the fucking thing look like a damn radio NO MENU everything controlled by a knob or button. (menu on the vhf-uhf would be to set offset,pl,dpl but thats it) main point for me is make it look like a damn radio and not some shitty looking tv/computer type thing like yaecomwood has done.

My thoughts have Always been I got radio because I like radio, if i wanted a damn pc (pc looking device) to play radio well. I would just load up yahoo chat with voice.

[N8YX]

I'm going to do something different with the shack in the coming months/years. Elecraft is probably going to factor into that reconstruction in a big way.

Both of my FT-980s decided to contract a case of the stupids during the last couple weeks. The leftmost SO2R radio's VFO/Ref Board has always been flaky; the original 30.0000MHz reference oscillator crystal drifted so badly that I couldn't net it and had to sub another on-hand rock just to get the thing running. Unfortunately, the replacement crystal takes a while to settle on frequency and has itself drifted to the point that it almost stops oscillating and thus results in an impure reference signal. (Recovered audio doesn't sound so good.)

Next up with that particular radio is that an IC on is CPU Board is thermally erratic and the VFO Up/Down function only works after a warmup period of around a half hour.

Lastly is the front panel. It has seen better days.

I scored a new CPU Board and front panel off eBay and was planning to swap them into/onto that rig when the rightmost '980 decided to acquire a case of Teh Stoopids. Its CPU now thinks 80M is a "General Coverage" band (and won't transmit on the allocation). Sooo...appears I'm going to replace its CPU Board with the new one and repair the other rig's board.

Next up: The receivers I use for split/dual RX. All R71As. Three just decided to DNF; two have the (in)famous VCO Warble Issue (bad trimmer caps on the VCO Board) while the third appears deaf and its memory channel selector doesn't work. The latter is CPU-related.

These repairs and the time I'm spending on them are cutting into my business model.

Where does Elecraft factor in? I just may fix everything here and sell most of it, keeping the Ten-Tecs, a couple Drake/Cubic pieces and most of the Icom equipment for use on the "vintage" desk - then get ahold of two K3/xverter/bandscope/amp lineups for meat-and-potatoes contest work.

[K7SGJ]

snip< thus results in an impure reference signal.>snip

Sounds like a job for our resident Pope.

[W3WN]

I'm going to do something different with the shack in the coming months/years. Elecraft is probably going to factor into that reconstruction in a big way.
< snip >
Where does Elecraft factor in? I just may fix everything here and sell most of it, keeping the Ten-Tecs, a couple Drake/Cubic pieces and most of the Icom equipment for use on the "vintage" desk - then get ahold of two K3/xverter/bandscope/amp lineups for meat-and-potatoes contest work.

Have a word with Bill W3WH.

He is less than happy with his K3.

I do like the KPA500 amp though, it worked great with his Omni VII.

[WØTKX]

The technology used in the Orion II, while good, is getting a bit old.

[W3WN]

First things first...

This is the official word from Ten Tec, courtesy of their last newsletter:

On a rather sad note, about the time you read this message, we will have sold out of the last 566 Orion II transceiver. Unfortunately, due to the availability of some very critical parts plus skyrocketing prices for difficult components, the staff at TEN-TEC decided to discontinue this product. This does not mean we will not trade or sell used and demo Orion's and Orion II models. We will continue service and support this product as we have done in the past with all TEN-TEC products. Is a new Orion III on the horizon? There are plans for several new TEN-TEC products lined up for the future but at this time no concise decision has been made for another Orion transceiver.

Offhand, I don't know what part(s) are no longer available, but I'd put my money on the Dragonball CPU. The chief reason for the end of the Orion & the introduction of the Orion II was that the original processor was discontinued by Motorola... and word is that the company that used to be Motorola Semiconductors is dropping older items from their catalog.

So... with this in mind, while I think the timing may have caught Ten-Tec by surprise, consider that the Orion II is 8 years old, and it's based on the Orion (1), so it's technology dates back another 6 or 7 years, going back to the original design specs put together by Scott W4PA.

It should tell you something about a basic design that goes back that far has lasted so long as a top of the line radio in the marketplace. Especially when compared to the other top-of-the-line radios offered by other manufacturers, that have come & gone in the same period of time.

It's also clear that the Omni VII won't be around much longer. The Orion II, Omni VII, Jupiter (recently discontinued), Argonaut V & 5N2 represented a certain point in time, technology wise. Technology has progressed significantly. Their time has come, and these rigs have been or are being replaced.

(I still want one though!!)

The future of Ten-Tec lies in the Eagle, Argonaut VI, and the upcoming Rebel.

Give it a little time. I'm sure that we'll have a new top-end radio to take over the Orion II's slot. And I'd give you even odds that it will give the K3 a run for it's money... which is good for all of us.

[KB3LAZ]

First things first...

This is the official word from Ten Tec, courtesy of their last newsletter:Offhand, I don't know what part(s) are no longer available, but I'd put my money on the Dragonball CPU. The chief reason for the end of the Orion & the introduction of the Orion II was that the original processor was discontinued by Motorola... and word is that the company that used to be Motorola Semiconductors is dropping older items from their catalog.

So... with this in mind, while I think the timing may have caught Ten-Tec by surprise, consider that the Orion II is 8 years old, and it's based on the Orion (1), so it's technology dates back another 6 or 7 years, going back to the original design specs put together by Scott W4PA.

It should tell you something about a basic design that goes back that far has lasted so long as a top of the line radio in the marketplace. Especially when compared to the other top-of-the-line radios offered by other manufacturers, that have come & gone in the same period of time.

It's also clear that the Omni VII won't be around much longer. The Orion II, Omni VII, Jupiter (recently discontinued), Argonaut V & 5N2 represented a certain point in time, technology wise. Technology has progressed significantly. Their time has come, and these rigs have been or are being replaced.

(I still want one though!!)

The future of Ten-Tec lies in the Eagle, Argonaut VI, and the upcoming Rebel.

Give it a little time. I'm sure that we'll have a new top-end radio to take over the Orion II's slot. And I'd give you even odds that it will give the K3 a run for it's money... which is good for all of us.

And this is what I am waiting for. It doesnt matter if it is an Orion III, just something to replace it. I just hope it wont be a little knobless black box.

A 4x size Eagle with dual RX, IF out, USB, and 8 band EQ would sway my vote from the K3 if it weighs in at about 5k$ or less.

That being said , all we can do is wait and see. I have more or less a year yet.