[TenTec] Troubleshooting Argonaut 505 with low output

[Steve Mercure]

Hey Neil, when you say that you, "went to try your first CW contact.." does that mean you have made SSB contacts with the Argonaut?  In other words is the power output the same rather low number in both CW and SSB modes?  If SSB power is good, but low on CW I'd suggest exercising then cleaning the mode switch.  I can not tell you how many radios I've "repaired" just by working the mode and band switches, then some Deoxit carefully applied.  
 
The Argonaut is a fun radio, wish I had one again!   Wait there is a hamfest near me soon.......
 
73 de W5EN Steve
 
> Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 08:25:19 -0600
> From: nmb at wartburg.edu
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: [TenTec] Troubleshooting Argonaut 505 with low output
> 
> I went to try my first CW contact last night on the Argonaut 505 that I
> bought recently and when I measured the power output, I was surprised at
> just how low it was.  I measured 2.5 V across the diode detector built into
> my dummy load for a power output of between 60 and 130 mW depending on what
> I use for the forward voltage drop of the diode.  This seems even lower
> than it ought to be on this radio and I'd like to troubleshoot and
> hopefully repair it.