[TenTec] Status

Fri Dec 4 05:36:07 EST 2015

Well said Rick.  What we need is an Eagle with an Omni VI+ front panel!!!

73, Barry N1EU

On Thu, Dec 3, 2015 at 2:41 PM, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:

> Louis,
>
> While I agree that there is a market for simpler radios, not overloaded
> with features, going back to an analog VFO and Xtal filters is not only
> costly, it is a big step backwards in performance.
>
> Our bands are way more crowded than they were back in the 70s, the days of
> the Triton IV.
> Far more hams have amplifiers than back then.
> Simple crystal filters won't cut it.  They lack the steep skirts of the
> DSP filters.
>
> Multiple crystal filters in two IF frequencies is a minimum requirement
> and this drives cost way up, and even then, the ultimate attenuation is not
> as good as with DSP filters.
> DSP filters are much cheaper to implement, and far superior to the
> dual-crystal filter solution.
> Going back to an analog VFO would rule out any kind of modern digital mode
> so that would turn away half the potential buyers.
>
> The Eagle was a good step in the kind of radio you are talking about
> except it had one major disconnect in the planning.  This kind of radio
> appeals to old guys like me... who can't see very good anymore.  We don't
> need a tiny radio with a tiny display and a micro-S-Meter, we need a normal
> sized radio with easy to read meter and scales, and we need big knobs for
> our arthritis-plagued hands.
>
> So yes, give us a simple, affordable radio, but let's not have it
> broadcast "yaba daba doo" each time we turn it on!
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Louis
> Ciotti
> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2015 7:49 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Status
>
> With some time to reflect on this announcement, It is clear that Ten-Tec
> has hopefully reached bottom.  While the only tentec equipment I currently
> own is my grandfathers old Trition IV set-up, I had in the pas also owned
> an Argonaut, and an Omni VI+ opt 3.  I have always loved the receive on
> ten-tec rigs, and my main rig being FT-950 now, I do miss it.  It is my
> hope that Ten-Tec can be resurrected and produce quality equipment.
>
> A couple of items that are somewhat concerning in this announcement:
>
> 1)  I had no idea production was stopped on any of the products.  With the
> statements that OMNI's and eagles will be back in production in 2016.  Did
> RKR liquidate all the component inventory that is going to cause this time
> get production rolling again?  Or did the new owner just buy the name and
> IP?
> 2)  Asking for monetary support from end users.  I do not see this
> working.  Talking about raising 200K-400K from end users if s BIG red flag
> for me.
> 3)  RKR still has TenTec on their list of products.  What of the people
> who are not on this reflector who attempt to order product from today on?
> Are they being turned away?  This can't be a good thing to happen.
> 4)  What is to happen with repairs.  There is no mention of this at all.
> RKR seemed to destroy TenTec reputation for providing repairs at a
> reasonable cost, for just about any of TenTecs products, even well out of
> production products.
> 5)  This coming out before the formal announcement is only going to create
> lots of speculation, and rumors of what "will" happen in the future.
>
> As for my $0.02 opinion on future Ten-Tec offerings.  call it my top 10
> list:
>
> 1)  Bring back a "vintage" styled radio.  Something for the new ham, or
> old timer who does not want to dig through 3 layers of menus to adjust the
> RF output power.  While all the new and fancy feature are nice (DSP, band
> displays, built in digital mode encoders, etc.) they are not must have for
> every ham out there.  Think a modern 544 with the same marketing plan, base
> rig, matching power supply, external VFO, matching antenna tuner, etc...
> Something that can grow with the user.
> 2)  Bring back the line of Ten-Tet manual tuners
> 3)  #2, but a CW qrp rig
> 4)  Kits kits and more kits!!
> 5)  Cases.  I know this was dropped a few years ago, but a small line a
> cases that experimenters and home-brewers can use would be great
> 6)  Include FULL documentation and open source all firmware source code
> with all new radios so end users can trouble shoot, and potentially fix
> their investment, and create modifications.
> 7)  Something geared toward mobile use.  Again keep it simple with mostly
> front panel controls that can be easily operated while mobile.
> 8)  6M Transverter
> 9)  Bring back the 6N2
> 10) More open source radios
>
> While flagship and cutting edge radios are nice, there is defiantly a
> marked for radios that adhere to the KISS principal.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 3, 2015 at 12:42 PM, Mike Bryce <prosolar at sssnet.com> wrote:
>
> > Well that’s a fine how-do-you-do this morning.
> >
> > I’ve been with the same company I’m various forms for 43 years.
> >
> > We were sold, went bankrupt, sold to a capital investment group, went
> > bankrupt, sold again, did ESOP, sold, bankrupt… This went on and on.
> >
> > whenever  someone want’s to “invest in your company” you’d better run.
> > RKR wasn’t a good mix for Ten Tec. My opinion.
> >
> > Mergers are never a good idea. When I hired in, the company had just
> > under a thousand employees. Today, we have 53. Where we once had 90%
> > of the market, we struggle with 15%. Sure, we have
> > newer/slimmer/import competitors, but somehow though the mergers, we
> > lost track of what we where, where we’ve been, and where we’re going.
> >
> > Right now, Ten Tec is like the company I work for. We’re barreling
> > down hill and nobody is driving the bus.
> >
> > It seems right now that Ten Tec is poking their heads down into the
> abyss.
> > And to me, the last owners used the company like a beer can—they
> > drained out the last drop and then crushed the empty shell.
> >
> > The light at the end of my tunnel is getting brighter, and I can see
> > myself retired by the time dayton 2016 arrives.  I won’t have the $$$
> > to throw into the pot to help Ten Tec design a new radio. Shades of
> > ATLAS Radio come to mind when the owner said the same thing. Help me
> > fund this new radio, and you’ll be first to own one. All the investors
> > lost all their money.
> >
> > One thing that I couldn’t understand was why Ten Tec dropped making
> > some of the accessories that would match with their gear?They did in
> > the past, like the antenna tuners for the corsair, the Triton’s.
> > Ameritron can sell a four tube 811 amp for a price that makes is very
> > easy to afford. Why can’t Ten Tec build such an amplifier? And not price
> it at $2999?
> >
> > MFJ has ten full page ads in QST selling accessories. There had to be
> > profit in those. But, that all being said, I never sat in one of the
> > board meets at Ten Tec. Perhaps they were a money looser.
> >
> > I certainly don’t want to sound like a monday morning quarterback and
> > say what I’d do, because that’s so easy to do. I don’t know have a
> > clue about the internal workings of any company, not even the one I work
> for.
> >
> > I will throw this into the hat.
> >
> > If Ten Tec does in fact show up at dayton 2016, I’ll be happy to
> > volunteer a few hours every day at their booth. Elecraft has
> > volunteers, why not Ten Tec?
> >
> > I wish the new owner the best of luck, and will continue to booster
> > the company and purchase its products.
> >
> > I’m mike, wb8vge
> >
> > Mike Bryce
> > prosolar at sssnet.com
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > TenTec at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> >
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