[TenTec] repairs

Fri Oct 31 12:24:44 EDT 2014

As one that has performed many repairs on the older, less than current, 
Tentec radios and others, the parts inventory required is astounding.  I 
have some 250 manuals, most all on CD ROM that I access.  I have purchased 
DOA radios just for the parts and PC boards.  Unfortunately I find the DOA's 
have faults that are most common to those needing repair, thus the DOA does 
not provide any value in support.  Just investment on my part and taking up 
space in the shop.

The issue I've found is the repair costs, shipping, labor and such and the 
requirement to search down parts, frequently approach or exceed the value of 
the radio.  Typical, the dollar value, not the intrinsic value, of a good 
working radio may be $400 to $600.  Most hams do not want to invest $200 to 
$300 to get a radio repaired.  Now if one wishes to do the repair 
themselves, not counting labor, investment in test equipment and parts, then 
it is worth it.  But, just how many hams have that ability, knowledge and 
skill and access to parts?   Very few.  The point being, take a radio 
purchased for $600 add about $200 in total repair costs and one still has a 
$600 radio.

In cleaning out the shop a few weeks ago, I tossed 27 radios of various 
brands and models into the truck and hauled them to the crusher.  These had 
been scavenged for parts and were totally non functional, non repairable 
radios.  Before doing so, I took them to a local hamfest with a $1 each 
price tag.  No takers.  I had one fellow asked if I removed the knobs he 
wanted them for $1 but he wouldn't take the carcass with knobs for $1. 
Proves that hams are "cheap"  in that my labor to remove the knobs was worth 
less than his.  In some cases I had paid $200 to $300 each just for the 
parts radio, as is.  I doubt that I recovered anywhere near 100% of my 
investment much less any return for my labor on many of these.

If it is a 20 year old radio and working to your satisfaction then great. If 
It fails well you now have a pretty looking desk ornament with little true 
value.  While I have several radios that are cosmetically very good, 
technically very good and working as originally designed and some are 
nearing 50 years old or older.  I have repaired and restored these units. 
The estimated labor invested is about 100 hrs for one of the Collins 
receivers.  At $25/hr the labor value is $2500 plus parts research time and 
procurement time.  Yet the radio on the market today sells for about $1200. 
Sorry but my college ECON class does not justify the efforts.  Just the love 
of the radio which has no value to anyone but me.

The only economical solution is best if one finds the parts and repair it 
yourself.

73
Bob, K4TAX

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Al Gulseth" <wb5jnc at centurytel.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Cc: "Bwana Bob" <wb2vuf at verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2014 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] repairs

> It would be interesting if someone had the time to inventory the 
> schematics
> and parts lists of the older TT rigs to see what is actually there. My 
> guess
> is that when it comes to the less common devices, careful shopping at 
> surplus
> electronics suppliers/hamfests, using adapter boards with functional
> equivalent parts which have a different pinout, and having a "salvage yard
> mentality" willingness to scavenge parts from non working or obsolete
> equipment could yield most of what might be needed at a reasonable cost. 
> (The
> point is that TT generally wasn't the only manufacturer to use these
> devices.) There are also retrofit digital displays available. The only 
> real
> sourcing issue might be PA transistors (e.g. Argosy MRF477s.)
>
> Then again, these rigs are inexpensive enough that keeping a spare/parts 
> rig
> around as suggested probably wouldn't be that big of a deal if you have 
> the
> storage space available.
>
> 73, Al
>
> On Thu October 30 2014 8:56:53 pm Bwana Bob wrote:
>> Well, one can't stock every part, except in the case of a vacuum tube
>> radio, like a Heath transceiver where you can have a set of spare tubes
>> and a box of resistors and caps. Even with older Ten-Tecs, like the
>> Triton, Omni, or Corsair, there are plenty of DIP IC's that might not be
>> commmon.  If you are in the boonies and absolutely must have a working
>> radio at all times (and who wouldn't), the best bet is to have a spare
>> radio that you can switch to until you are able to repair the primary
>> radio.
>>
>>              73,
>>
>>              Bob WB2VUF
>>
>> On 10/27/2014 4:18 AM, Wade Staggs wrote:
>> > *The 585 Paragon is New enough to be Dead Bang on Frequency and is very
>> > easy to repair. Same thing with the Omni 6 Rigs. Although the Older
>> > production runs are best, where surface mount components are concerned.
>> > You could always purchase an old Omni D and add one of the DDS kits to
>> > it. After adding the DDS Kit, they are very stable rigs.*
>> >
>> > *                                                                73 
>> > from
>> > Wade/KJ4WS*
>> >
>> > On Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 6:17 PM, Spencer <k5gak at powerc.net> wrote:
>> >> Are there any radios that are user serviceable other than the 
>> >> antiques?
>> >> If I am in the middle of nowhere and my radio quits
>> >> then what?
>> >>
>> >> Spencer W1GAK
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> TenTec mailing list
>> >> TenTec at contesting.com
>> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > TenTec mailing list
>> > TenTec at contesting.com
>> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TenTec mailing list
>> TenTec at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
> 