[TenTec] KB7OEX: TenTec Blinders

[Walter S Delesandri]

On Mon, 11 Mar 2002 14:28:56 -0700 (MST) CYR999@extremezone.com wrote:
> Hi folks - 
> 
> For whatever it's worth, I'd like to suggest that its easy to put on "blinders" 
> in the name of devotion to TenTec products.

The blind devotion to Ten Tec products, usually by those who work nearly 100% 
cw, and prefer American made products, is legendary.  From the Triton I forward, 
Ten Tec has alway had "quality of finish/construction" issues...sometimes, 
as in the early and/or smaller units, to a laughable degree!...The Triton(s),
Argosy/Delta, and Scout were perceived to be a joke by non-tentec devotees. 
ANY Japanese rig, on first inspection, beat the HELL out of T/T on features, 
cosmetics, (perceived) quality of construction, etc...
The actual results, however, were different...the Triton is still viable, 
25 years later...try to get repairs/parts by talking to Kenwood about your 
520S!!!... 
>
> Excellent user interface and cosmetics should be a GIVEN in this price range.
The very term "user interface" is NOT what T/T is, and has been, about!...My 
1975 Triton II is a junky, awkward, rig....only by using it on CW (with a 
top-of-the-line Yaesu to compare to, at a friend's QTH) do you begin to 
understand what tentec had going...I dabble in used gear, and have owned dozens...
My favorite is the early US/solid state stuff...lotsa junk there to dabble with...
AND the TenTec Triton/Delta/Argosy/Corsair had the BEST receivers of all the gear 
I've used... 
> 
> What we should be discussing is a receiver that is so quiet, so efficient, etc 
> etc etc, you wouldn't think of going to the competition.
Well, I've not used the latest (Jupiter/Orion), but at least until the OmniV/VII, 
your own words describe T/T...the RX is the quietest/most efficient/most pleasant 
to listen to of any I've observed...Period...I hope/expect that this trend will 
continue at T/T with their new gear.  If anything, I'm WORRIED that T/T is trying to 
cater to the feature conscious, SSB/Contest crowd....I HOPE they don't lose their 
way....
If only they'd make the equivalent of the K2, CW only,up to  50W, etc....at a sub $500 
price point...maybe soon... 
>
If you don't primarily work CW, and if you judge gear by look/features, you'll 
probably NEVER be satisfied with Ten Tec...but God, what RX performance!!!--
but then, I liked Drake junk, too, so what do I know?....HI>>>

Walt