[TenTec] Opinions wanted about qrp rig

[w8au at sssnet.com]

At 09:47 AM 2/12/2007, ron , wb1hga wrote:
>Can someone tell me good and bad point of a
> > Tentec  Scout 555.
>
>The good points are simple to use, easy to read display in
>daylight, tune switch (10 watts) and SWR meter, solid VFO - does not
>move during mobile or portable, will play all afternoon on battery
>power. Adjustable filter from 250 HZ and up.
>
>There is not too many "bad" points; TT explained the drift during CW
>mode in manual but I never had a issue with it.
>
>it's a fun radio to own. You can usually find modules. I
>do not find price for radio increased, in fact gone down. (maybe
>they watch "echo bravo" bidding) TT sells them reasonably and for
>less than they originally sold for and with modules.
>The modules are well made and I never had any issues with them for
>the years I have owned the Scout.


I can agree with all of this.  I have had two, my remaining one being used
in the Mobile for the past 13 years!  Not sure that having ALL the plug-in
band modules is necessary.  Get only the ones you would use.  There are some
I never use....   The only time I have any freq movement is during winter
days when the rig goes from below freezing temps to over 120 degrees in the
heater blast.  That is when I work with it by turning the rig off and then
back on, to re-center the freq "lock."  (and then resetting the freq)  I run
mainly CW mobile, so I am even more critical of freq movements.

I used an Argosy (mobile) for over 13 years, until the mechanical maintenance
began to be a problem.  By then the smaller Scout became available and it
has been holding up fine. (about every two years I open it up and re-seat the
PIC microprocessor in its socket for good contact.  Lotsa dust being mobile,
ya know!)  The Scout will stay, until such time TT tempts me with a new
mobile offering in the 50-100W category.

Perry  w8au