[TenTec] TEN-TEC Announcement January 4, 2016

Mon Jan 4 23:31:58 EST 2016

Repairing a complex radio is far more difficult than swapping out a transmission.

You actually need to understand what you are doing to repair a computer operated radio.

Anyone who can operate a wrench and follow directions can change a transmission.

Gary
> On Jan 4, 2016, at 9:44 PM, Rodney <w3krq at dejazzd.com> wrote:
> 
> QUI T COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES    CARS AND RADIOS
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Jim Vohland
> Sent: Monday, January 04, 2016 9:46 PM
> To: wb5jnc at centurytel.net ; Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Cc: Gary J FollettDukes HiFi
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] TEN-TEC Announcement January 4, 2016
> 
> Sounds like reasonable repair policy except for one thing.  Don't most repair facilities charge a "repair estimate" fee but only if you don't have unit repaired. 265 minimum plus shipping just seems a bit high.  But guess I could be out of touch.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 4, 2016, at 9:16 PM, Al Gulseth <wb5jnc at centurytel.net> wrote:
>> 
>> A couple of things: one, encourage folks to particpate in this reflector.
>> There's a wealth of "brainstorming" knowledge here to help users solve
>> issues, even those not directly caused by the rig itself. Also, there are
>> several "third party" servicers who post here if someone wants to avail
>> themselves of a lower repair cost for their legacy TT rig.
>> 
>> OT: $4900 for a replacement touch screen for an automobile? At least in this
>> area, one can find not just a part, but an entire older used vehicle (even
>> pickups, which command a premium due to being in a "country" setting) in very
>> nice condition for that amount or less with some careful shopping.
>> 
>> 73, Al
>> 
>>> On Mon January 4 2016 7:18:40 pm Gary J FollettDukes HiFi wrote:
>>> I, for one, applaud this policy statement.
>>> 
>>> It is amazing to me how many folks think companies like Ten Tec should
>>> somehow pay a highly skilled technical resource to jabber for an hour about
>>> a problem that is well outside warranty responsibility.
>>> 
>>> Yeasu won’t do it, Icom won’t do it, neither will Elecraft of Kenwood. They
>>> may give you 5 minutes of their time but, after that, you need to send your
>>> radio in for repair.
>>> 
>>> To be fair to them, they WILL offer direction in solving a problem and I
>>> hope Ten Tec can do so. But we all need to be conscious of the value of the
>>> technician or engineer’s time, and not rag chew on the line. but instead,
>>> get directly to the issue.
>>> 
>>> If something can’t be repaired over the telephone in 15 minutes or less,
>>> likely 6 hours won’t do it either.
>>> 
>>> Now with this new “sustainable” service model, I hope TenTec can get back
>>> to the business of serving their patient service customers ASAP and also
>>> produce some products that evoke coveting like the Orion did when it first
>>> appeared…
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The Eagle is a cute portable radio with decent performance for that type of
>>> set. But I want an Omni 6+ without the birdies, a knob or a button for
>>> everything, no stupid processors that will go obsolete in 3 years.
>>> 
>>> I want a Notch Filter INSIDE the AGC loop.
>>> 
>>> DSP should be a plug in upgradable daughter board so, when its parts become
>>> unobtanium, we can get an update board. Apple offers this in their high end
>>> Mac Pro… Ditto on any CPU board that would be the radio’s controller.
>>> 
>>> And why not use a display that is commonly used in a consumer product or in
>>> a commercial application such as a very common credit card scanner? These
>>> have GOT to be a lot cheaper than the custom displays and, when they fail
>>> in our fairly uncommon Ham radios, we will be able to buy junker
>>> electronics that use the same displays and do a replacement. There is NO
>>> logic to custom specifying a simple XY pixel type display. They all display
>>> the same thing and in the same way.
>>> 
>>> (I wish Toyota would do that too! $4,900 for a replacement touch screen!
>>> INDEED!)
>>> 
>>> Gary
>>> 
>>> W0DVN
>>> 
>>>> On Jan 4, 2016, at 2:13 PM, John Henry <jshenry1963 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> The following is from the new owner of TEN-TEC
>>>> 
>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> 
>>>> As some of you may be aware, Dishtronix has purchased the assets (but not
>>>> the liabilities) of Ten Tec from RKR Designs. .  I had desired to keep
>>>> this under wraps  until Ten Tec is reorganized, but there is too much
>>>> speculation concerning the service department to continue without an
>>>> announcement of some sort.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> There is a myriad of things that must be accomplished before everything
>>>> is formalized. Unfortunately these things must be done before we can
>>>> continue with jobs that were sent in for repair to RKR. At this time I
>>>> would ask people to be patient and please do not call or email me about
>>>> your repair. When we get the phone numbers transferred successfully or
>>>> new phone numbers we will post them. As we progress with the change,
>>>> someone will contact you about your repair. When service resumes we will
>>>> be contacting the repair customers.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> As some of you may be aware I have been looking at all aspects of
>>>> operation of the company and restructuring operations has been necessary.
>>>> In reviewing the service department accounts, it is apparent that some
>>>> customers use the service department to diagnose the radio and elect to
>>>> not proceed with the repair. Unfortunately this open door policy costs
>>>> the company one hour of billable time to receive, unpack, open, diagnose,
>>>> provide an estimate and repack a radio for return to the customer.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Effective immediately, all radios including those sent in to RKR, will
>>>> incur  a 140.00 minimum charge to look at a radio, even if it is not
>>>> repaired.  Service time is 125 per hour with the average repair requiring
>>>> from one to two hours. This means you can expect to pay at least 265.00
>>>> plus parts and return shipping for any repair.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> For customers who sent radios in to RKR which were not repaired, who
>>>> object to these terms, we will return your unit to you at your expense.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> A second problem in the service department is with the time technicians
>>>> spend on the telephone that quite often ends up having nothing to do with
>>>> the Ten Tec product but is some other station deficiency.  The problem
>>>> here is Ten Tec is not compensated for that time, yet Ten Tec pays wages
>>>> to the technician. When the service department resumes operation, Ten Tec
>>>> will charge the customer for any telephone call or email that consumes
>>>> more than five minutes of technician time.  That time will be billed in
>>>> quarter hour increments at the prevailing service rate.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I am fully committed to bring Ten Tec back to a sustainable state. This
>>>> will take some time. Please give us time to finalize these plans since
>>>> there are so many business related issues to get through. We will
>>>> definitely need to rely on you as customers to help continue the Ten
>>>> Tec tradition of
>>>> innovative product and cutting edge technology.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Given the content of the new owners announcement above, I (John Henry)
>>>> also request that if you can wait a while for your product to get
>>>> serviced in the Ten Tec service department, please let them alone until
>>>> they get back with you as he described above. If you absolutely have to
>>>> have your unit back now, then the service at tentec.com email address is
>>>> still working, and will continue to work. The phones are in transition,
>>>> so I doubt you will be able to call and get an answer for a while. once
>>>> phones are set up, the numbers will be announced. Once the website is
>>>> ready, everything will be on it. Remember, if going to tentec.com takes
>>>> you to rkrdesignsllc.com, then the website transition has not completed
>>>> yet.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Given the nature of this announcement, and it will almost positively
>>>> bring out more questions, again, please be patient. The new owner is
>>>> working through a lot of business issues, and I myself work a full time
>>>> day job and consult into the evening, so, answers may be few and far
>>>> between. Though this announcement is going out to a lot of venues, I will
>>>> attempt to monitor
>>>> 
>>>> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ten_tec_radio_net/conversations/messa
>>>> ges
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 73, KI4JPL
>>>> 
>>>> John Henry
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 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 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec