[TenTec] Amplifiers

Thu Nov 17 12:01:25 EST 2016

 Thanks Rick.

I've already had a bunch of replies, many more than I expected at this point, some direct and some on the reflector.  Fortunately, there's some time to digest everything.

I do respect some of the opinions that have been made (again, direct and on the reflector); I just don't want to get into a "model x is better than model y" discussion here, as (I'm sure you know) they can sometime descend into name calling and other snide bits of nastiness.

With that in mind, to answer your questions...

1.  Price range.  That's a tough one to answer, because I can't spend ALL of the post-tax shekels on this, much as I'd like to.  (Oh, I would probably get away with it, but I really do want to spend a little on the XYL).  And I'm not sure how big a bite the IRS will take out of this, considering what they take out of my check already (and SSN and all the rest too).  
I think it's safe to say that anything north of the $700 mark will be too high (and is reaching the point where I could buy something new like an AL-811H, quality control not withstanding).  But until I actually have the net amount in hand, it's hard to pin down.

2.  Outside of contests, most of my operating these days is CW, so yes, full QSK is a concern.  And where I really will need an amp these days is on 160 more than any other band.

3.  Tubes don't bother me.  (I do miss my SB-200... and for that matter, my HT-41.).  But I am very well aware of how many tubes are seemingly made these days out of Unobtanium.  (That HT-41?  Previous owner had modified it for 572B's for that very reason).  And even those that are available are getting expensive -- and the quality ain't what it used to be.

By the same token, though, some power transistors are also in the same boat.  Isn't that one of the issues with the original Hercules 444, that the power transistors are no longer available?  

These are all very good questions, by the way.  And it's why I decided to start asking about, now, so that when the time comes, everything (hopefully) will be ready to go.  (And I'm very glad that the furnace decided to die 2 years ago and the new one is still under warranty! )

Oh, and I am not wedded to only a Ten Tec amp.  One would certainly look good in the shack, but there are a lot of amps that would look good.  (Now if only someone had a KPA500 that they wanted to sell for $100 or so... and with my luck, by the time I'd hear about it, it would be long gone with a long waiting list!)

Thanks for the input

73, ron w3wn

On 11/17/16, rick at dj0ip.de wrote:

Well done Ron. Congratulations to you. I'm happy for you.

Ten-Tec amps have always worked seamlessly with their own transceivers and
that was their biggest strength, but they were never especially good.
Nothing really made them better than the other makes. Please don't
misunderstand that. I do not imply here that they were inferior...but if
you didn't own a Ten-Tec transceiver, there was no particular advantage in
buying a Ten-Tec amp.

Before I ever answer anyone asking for advice on what to buy, I shoot back
with a bunch of questions.
Otherwise I'm just wasting my breath and his/her time.

QUESTIONS:

1) What price range are you looking in?

2) Do you work CW? If so, do you want full BK?

3) Are you looking for a tube amp or transistorized amp?

Be careful; although you get a lot more bang for the buck with tube amps,
good tubes are becoming VERY difficult to source. There are several
relatively "cheap in price" used amplifiers on the market that "look like a
bargain" but if you have to replace the tubes, it may cost you more money
than you paid for the amp. In some cases the tubes aren't even available
and your only course is a complicated modification to enable using different
tubes.

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)

-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ron
Notarius W3WN
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2016 4:28 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] Amplifiers

 My apologies in advance for a potentially somewhat off-topic posting...

Got called into the CFO's office yesterday (don't worry, it was good news).
We (the company's the IT department) were all informed that we're all
receiving a fairly decent bonus along with our regular pay at the end of the
month. So I guess we did something right!

So once the money is in hand, or at least in the bank... I'm going to be in
the market for an HF amp. For a variety of reasons, something in the 400 -
600 W output range, 160 - 10. (Much as I'd love a 2 KW class amp, the bonus
won't be THAT much, especially after taxes, and I DO have to spend a little
bit of it on the XYL -- dinner, movie, something nice)

Obviously, or maybe not so obviously, the amp would have to play nice with
both an Omni VI+ and an Omni VII, (Of COURSE I'd love a Ten Tec amp to go
with them, but my luck never seems to work out that well!)

If anyone on the list is either in the process of selling an amp in this
category, or knows of someone who is, please email me directly OFF LIST at
w3wn at arrl dot org. 

Again, there's no immediate rush, as I won't have the shekels for about 2
weeks from today. But that gives a little time to make any appropriate
arrangements and such.

Thanks for your time reading this, and my apologies again for going slightly
OT

73, ron w3wn
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