[TenTec] QST Delta II/Argonaut II reviews

[George Maier]

They seem to treat Elecraft with a great deal of respect and fairness.  
73,
George - K1GXT


-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Bwana Bob
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 12:33 PM
To: Caitlyn M. Martin
Cc: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] QST Delta II/Argonaut II reviews

Yes, now that I think about it, I recall that the QST review was unduly 
harsh. I think QST has been biased in favor of the big-3 import brands, 
just like Consumer Reports favors Japanese cars and doesn't like 
truck-based SUV's. QST seems more interested in the bells and whistles 
these days rather than solid performance, and CR says, "Why would you 
want a 4X4 when you can buy a minivan? QST reviews many years ago 
focused more on how the radio works and its design, even including block 
diagrams and partial schematics.

However, I thought that the prices of the Delta/Argonaut II were high, 
relative to the competition. On the other hand, competitive rigs were 
not all that great in their performance. I used a TS-680 and thought it 
was awful.

But, as you say, time marches on, and the Argo V is a newer, better 
design for less money. Although I already have a Scout, there may be an 
Argonaut V in my future.


					73,

					Bob WB2VUF

Caitlyn M. Martin wrote:

> Hi, Bob, and everyone else,
> 
> 
>>The Ten Tec Delta II and Argonaut II were not
>>panned, but they did not get stellar reviews.
>>
> 
> I personally thought they were harshly panned.   I
> talked to Scott from Ten Tec at Dayton and he blamed
> the poor sales and ultimate demise of that radio on
> the review.
> 
> What galled me most was what the reviewer was most
> upset about.  He noted (correctly) that between the
> PBT and the Jones filter you could completely shutdown
> the receiver.  That irked him to no end.  Yet you
> could do the same with the dual PBT on an IC-781 and
> that did get a stellar review.  Basically the reviewer
> didn't understand the functionality of the radio and
> panned it as a result.
> 
> At the time it was new I loved the Delta II/Argonaut
> II for just what the reviewer hated: the ability to
> tightly control and adjust the receiver passband with
> the PBT and Jones filter.  I could pull out weak SSB
> stations from under the shadow of broadcasters on 40m
> and leave pretty much just the signal I wanted.  Even
> a  Kenwood TS-850 (also new at the time) couldn't do
> that.  I was impressed.
> 
> Of course today I use the IF DSP bandpass filter in my
> Argonaut V combined with the PBT and get similar
> results with a better, quieter receiver.  Time and
> technology march on.
> 
> 73,
> Caity
> K7VO/8
> 
> Caitlyn M. Martin - K7VO
> http://www.mizuhoradio.com/personal/k7vo
> Blog: http://k7vo.blogspot.com
> ARRL QRP-ARCI #11018 ARS #445 G-QRP #11577 AK QRP #637
> 
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