[TenTec] New Radios in the Future

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

Ron et al;

Yep, just the typical performance attained when one correctly uses Tentec 
radios.  Even the older ones.

73
Bob, K4TAX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ronf404 via TenTec" <tentec at contesting.com>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2014 6:53 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] New Radios in the Future


>I inherited an underused Delta II from a friend. It was checked by the 
>factory and shipped to me.
>
> I don't have a modem rig for comparison,  but I am very pleased with its 
> performance.  I'm only using SSB now as I don't have a keyer. My antenna 
> is a 120' wire up 65'. I've worked 80 countries since July.  I also get 
> consistent reports of good quality audio.
>
> Ron Fish, KX1W
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Oct 31, 2014, at 21:59, Steve Berg <wa9jml at frontier.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I don't have any particular interest in a computer operated radio. But, I 
>> am not a top notch DXer or contester, either.
>>
>> To my mind, the best compact radio format was that of the Argonaut 
>> II/Delta II.  It had most of the same capabilities as the Omni V, but not 
>> the same level of performance.  I managed to get a really good Argonaut 
>> II, and it has served me well for several decades, but it is getting 
>> tired.  I bought a Ten Tec 6&2 meter rig, but found that it was not as 
>> versatile as the Argonaut II was with transverters.  The one shortfall 
>> for the Argo II showed up when we had a wild 6 meter opening to Spain and 
>> Portugal, and the selectivity of the Jones filter was simply insufficient 
>> to sort out the closely packed CW signals.  The keypad frequency entering 
>> is a really nice feature.  And, the noise blanker on the old clunker is 
>> the best I have ever found.  It also had a pot to set the delay for 
>> keying the transverter and my ancient Mirage brick amplifier.  The new 
>> rig could not do that it was set for fast QSK, and that was it. My brick 
>> could not keep up with the keying.  So, I sold the radio.
>>
>> In terms of performance, I have very few problems with my older Corsair 
>> II.  It has served me very well, but it is of the same vintage as the 
>> Argo II.   So, I bought an Argonaut VI, to see how well a modern radio 
>> can work.  It is very good, and I had a lot of fun working the W1AW 
>> portable stations with 10 watts.  It did a lot better than I expected, 
>> even on SSB, helped a lot with the RF speech processor accessory.  I will 
>> be using the Argo VI on 2 meters with a transverter and brick.
>>
>> Once I decided that the sale was a fine incentive, I purchased an Omni 
>> VII with the optional 300 HZ filter, remembering that it helps to have a 
>> really narrow receiver, even on 6 meters.  I will be keeping the older 
>> Argonaut and Corsair II in reserve.  I expect that it will become 
>> increasingly difficult to find parts for the older rigs, but I am not so 
>> sure that we will continue to see increased designed obsolescence in our 
>> ham rigs.  As ham radio is a hobby, and also that most people's incomes 
>> are not rising much these days, it will behoove manufacturers to follow 
>> Ten Tec's lead and provide much better service for their older radios. 
>> Many of us will not be able to afford frequent radio replacement.
>>
>> Your mileage may vary.
>>
>> Steve WA9JML
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