John and the group -
Three points to add and then back to quietly reading the list-
First - Thank you for the information. You are highly respected in the Ten Tec
community and we appreciate all that you have done and are now doing.
Second - I agree so much with Tony, W4FOA's comment that Ten Tec is perhaps
known best for its high quality, "reasonably priced, easy to operate and
serviceable" radios such as those that Tony lists. I too hope that Ten Tec
will produce models like that in the future as well as "flagship" models such
as the Orion series.
Third point - I think those of us with a business background understand the
challenges ahead for companies of Ten Tec's size in a difficult market segment
and I certainly wish you and Ten Tec all of the best as you take those
challenges on.
73 and happy holidays,
Carl, N1CUU
"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can
live as if everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein
________________________________________
From: TenTec <tentec-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of w4foa@comcast.net
<w4foa@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 3, 2015 7:56 AM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Status
John,
Thank you for this " good news" update. I honestly hope that the new owner,
with your capable assistance, can bring back the "old" Ten Tec we all know and
respect. I've been a TT user almost since the beginning of TT, I still have
quite a few of their jewels.
As you have time, we all appreciate your keeping us up to date. On behalf of
the large number of Ten Tec users, we wish you our very best.
One final thought....yes I do know that this is the "new age" of radio, but I
hope the new owner will not lose sight of the fact that TT really made it's
name on such radios as the Omni C, Omni 6+, Corsair II, Triton IV (544),
etc.....reasonably priced, easy to operate and serviceable.
73 and Merry Christmas to all!
Tony, W4FOA
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Henry" <jshenry1963@gmail.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Sent: Thursday, December 3, 2015 6:12:00 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Status
I wanted to bring people up to date on what is happening right now.
I had a discussion with the new owner last night, and I wanted to relay
some information.
He is now officially the new owner of TEN-TEC.
He is planning the rigs and amplifiers and other accessory products to
engineer and to manufacture for the coming year to cover the purchase and
expenses for the year, working on the details of the various plans for
service, sales, and marketing, etc.
Don't underestimate the amount of time and planning and effort that this
business strategy planning maintaining overhead etc stuff takes.
Learning lessons from the past to help the future of the company be more
viable.
What will you see? and when?
Planning on having the OMNI-VII back in production in 1st quarter 2016,
hoping to ship in 2nd quarter 2016.
Dayton, He will be there, going to try to get the same TEN-TEC booth/booths
as possible. Showcasing the existing products, and possibly something new
based on the existing products, time will tell.
He did say that he will either bring back the Orion II or have an Orion
III. Time frame is tbd. could be as early as end of 2016 or Dayton 2017????
There might be improvements/changes to certain rigs, e.g. maybe there will
be an OMNI-VII+ maybe an OMNI-VIII in a year???
The Eagle will go back into production some time after the 1st OMNI-VII run.
Prices will return to the original pre liquidation sale prices when the new
website is up so that each will be at a point that will make enough profit
to make the company viable. Other features will get added where possible.
TEN-TEC was actually shipping a $200 bill with every one of a specific
model that it sold this last year.
There were so many ways that TEN-TEC has been hemorrhaging over the last
couple of years, and even back a bit further, that changes will have to be
made. Some the public won't like, but then the alternative is that TEN-TEC
would close forever.
Also remember, it was made public that the two owners of RKR were looking
for a new owner, and how many stood up to say "I'll buy it/fund it/save
it". This gentleman did and will do what he has to do to keep the brands
alive.
There are plans to bring back some VERY good products, items that have been
big sellers for TEN-TEC just a few years ago, and were profitable and have
been requested for quite some time.
Also, there are still commercial orders coming in that will be there for
maybe another year or two using the same RX331/RX340 platforms that will
help him maintain a cash flow that will help realize amateur market
production runs. There might be a need in the future to try to raise some
more capital if certain plans come to fruition with commercial and fema
customers, if those work out, may need to raise some cash to buy the parts,
so there might be a gofundme funding campaign set up, where amateur
customers can help donate to purchase the parts, and then part of or all of
or x times the amount of the donation is taken off of their next order of a
TEN-TEC product > a certain dollar amount. No, don't look for exchanging
your $100 donation to cover 1/2 of a Rebel, that won't happen, Talking a
major product, e.g. an OMNI-VII, or a high powered amp..... To do this
first class, we need a 200K capital infusion for a new factory building and
some new equipment to replace what was liquidated if anyone cares to step
up and accelerate our success. 400K would give us the facility, equipment
and capitol to put everything back in production to a stocking basis and
allow us to complete the Orion III. If 400 people will give us 1K each, we
will commit to the Orion III of your dreams in 18-24 months and give you 2K
off the target price of 5K as well as engrave your name and call on a
plaque on the new building that says you helped build it and save TEN TEC.
Where do I fit in?
No, I'm not the owner, but I am going to do whatever I can in the evenings
to ensure that TEN-TEC is a success. I want to see it be a success, and
maintain what can be maintained of the people, and improve it's
image/products/etc back to where they were years ago. The owner is quite
insistent that I remain intimately involved with TEN-TEC even if it is on a
part time basis. It is my choice of how much or little I spend on TEN-TEC
and the door is assuredly left open for me to come and go as I please. He
wants me to be the VP of Engineering, but, well, time will tell how all of
this plays out.
I am also working on digital modes for HRD, so, my evenings are quite
interesting.
In the future, who knows?
Where do you fit in?
Be patient, this is a total reboot of a company, ripping away the excess
that bleeds it dry (e.g. high rent, using an MRP system that costs $$$$
monthly when something is already in place to take care of it, changing to
a cost effective internet/phone system, so many "luxuries" will be removed
and put in their place the necessities to get business going profitably),
and building the business and products with the key employees to make it
strong again. You build the employees, the employees build the company. But
it will take time.
The products are there, the technology is also there for the future (some
things that were in the works that no one in the public knows about) that
the new owner has a plan to finish soon.
Actually, TEN-TEC does need to take the time it will take to make it a
success. Otherwise if he runs headlong into this as was done in the past,
he will fail. If people buy rigs and amps and tuners and other accessories
elsewhere in the meantime, well, that is their decision. The market
continually has new and continued customers. existing customers
periodically look for something new, enough of a continual market that
should sustain itself for years.
The new products coming out that are planned include continuances of good
known technology, and of course some are a step ahead of what is in the
market today, and you will see those in 1-2-3 years.
I will not divulge nor answer speculation on anything further than what I
have stated above as to what products, when, etc. I can also tell you is
that the owner has emphatically stated to me that this the last time Ten
Tech will change hands for the next 15-20 years or so as he is my age and
plans for us both to operate it until we are in our 70s or physically
unable to continue, so Ten Tech could not be in the hands of anyone more
SERIOUSLY long term goal oriented. He has wanted Ten Tech for a long time
for the excellent DSP AGC technology built in to our transceivers so I
think it is safe to say that there will be future generations of the Omni,
and Orion style units as finances permit. But again in order for this to
happen it is critical that YOU support TEN TEC by purchasing existing TEN
TEC products. Look for the Omni 7+ next year.
So, whereas he still wants to remain anonymous until his formal
announcement in the first quarter, I myself am convinced that this will
work, enough so to help him wherever I can, and so are the key core
employees at TEN-TEC. If anything, our message at this time is please be
patient with the negativity. There are other things happening behind the
scenes which can not yet be publically discussed before they are finished.
If this sounds like cheerleading, well, then so be it, I care about
TEN-TEC, the people, the legacy, and will do what I can to make it a
success, and, if this fails, well, we will give it a valiant effort.
Please understand that I have other commitments from now until Monday next
week that I may not be able to respond/answer questions until then. But do
realize, that I have disclosed about as much as I can for now.
This statement came from a draft I created, and the new owner gave me
inputs on, which items he felt like disclosing now, etc. So, there may be
some he/I/our's mixed up, but I hope the message from him is clear. TEN-TEC
is something he is passionate about, and is committed to making it a
success. Yes, there are trials and tribulations, but, he is convinced he
can do it, and I will do whatever I can to assist, and so will various core
TEN-TEC individuals.
73, KI4JPL
John Henry
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