[TenTec] Looking for "cheap" rig or honest and patient ham

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

The TS-120 and TS130 were solid rigs, but didn't have the strong signal 
handling receiver of the later Tentecs. The 820/830 is a bit more 
complex and I've seen it confuse new hams. It also needs to be tuned 
which complicates operation.

The only thing I know bad about the 120/130 is that the RF board 
mounting screws will work loose and then it oscillates on transmit when 
on the higher bands. Tightening the board mounting screws fixed it every 
time. I had two 120 and a 130. The 130 is nice that filter selection is 
independent of mode if desired.

At least on ICOM I used of that era didn't have working AGC on the 
receiver which was very annoying. Sometime after that FD the owner 
bought a TS-440 and was so enamoured by it that he ran it nearly 
continuously the 23 hours after opening the box.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 9/2/2010 12:03 PM, Art Trampler wrote:
> Hey Gang,
>
> I've befriended a new ham who knows CW, and is working to get on HF.  He's sadly only on VHF.  He's looking for his first rig and I think he and his XYL are just making ends meet.
>
> I told him that I saw $300 as about the floor on anything worth buying.  What do you think?  He only has about 1/3 of that put toward a rig and is selling some surplus items to raise more.
>
> So is there anyone out there with an Omni C or similar that would be priced in the range I suggested, who would be willing to consider holding the rig while he paid for it?  Would the Omni C be a good rig, or discourage him?
>
> I'm looking at IC-725s, TS-530S, 520S, 820/830, but thought I'd check here.
>
> When my XYL and I were selling my stepson's old saxophone we asked $300, I think, which was fair.  The girl who bought it had $75 to put down.  We were so taken by her enthusiasm toward playing that after she handed my XYL the $$, my XYL said, "Here, you better take the sax home tonight, and by the way, it's paid in full."
>
> Maybe one of you will have such a moment in this case.  I just don't have any extra rig!
>
> 73,
> Art
>