[TenTec] My First Ten-Tec

[Al Gulseth]

My first Ten-Tec rig was a used '509 back around 1980. I previously had a 
Heath SB-102 but could never find a way to set it up on CW that didn't sound 
like a freight train with the sequence of relays clacking away every time I 
hit the key. I traded it in on the '509 and used that for a couple of years 
before I sprang for a new Argosy. Somehow in the process I swapped the '509 
to a good friend/coworker for a 2M rig (still kinda kicking myself over that 
one). He proceeded to put the '509 into mobile service and promptly worked a 
G3 with it while driving up the Kansas Turnpike one Saturday morning.

Personal to Ray: concerning your KR-40 you said "I know it's sacrilege to say 
this, but its smooth magnetic action gives the Begali paddle I use with my 
Orion II a good run for its money." Sorry to disagree, but I don't find it 
a "sacrilege" to favorably compare "sleeper" Ten-Tec products to well-known 
high end stuff like the Begali. Case in point (I may have related this story 
before, so I'll try to stick with the "executive summary"): some years back I 
was listening around on 40 CW for stations/QSOs that would stretch my copying 
ability. I found a QSO that was running along at a good clip and 
started "reading the mail", then quickly realized that one of the stations 
was a good friend of mine about 15 miles or so away. They mentioned QSB, and 
then later started commenting on an adjacent station that was splattering. 
After another exchange or two they decided they were no longer able to copy 
each other well enough to continue the contact. I was surprised as I was 
still experiencing comfortable Q4-5 copy on both of them, and I never did 
hear any "splatter". My friend was at the time using a fairly current 
high-end "rice box", while I had a "lowly" 20 or so year old Corsair. The 
bottom line is that I stand by a previous statement of mine: when it comes to 
receiver performance, I'll put Ten-Tec's Corsairs etc. up against the vast 
majority of what's out there, old or new, and regardless of price.

BTW I have a KR-1 (same thing as your KR-40 but without the electronics) and I 
find it to have an extremely nice action with two considerations: 1) that you 
take the time to understand how to adjust it properly; and 2) that it is best 
suited for a light, precise touch and may not work as well for a "slapper" 
(if you understand my style description.) If you would, do us a favor and go 
on eHam and post what you just said about the KR-40 to balance the single 
review by a fellow who shall we say "wasn't impressed" for whatever reason.

73, Al

On Wed July 4 2012 10:51:20 am Rsoifer at aol.com wrote:
> My first Ten-Tec product was a KR-40 keyer that I bought in 1971.  Before
> that I used a bug but decided to take pity on those listening to my CW.  I
> still have the keyer.  It's now part of my satellite station.  I know it's
> sacrilege to say this, but its smooth magnetic action gives the Begali
> paddle I use with my Orion II a good run for its money..
>
> 73 Ray W2RS
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