[TenTec] Post to the Amps Reflector from Dishtronix

[Jim Brown]

Members of this reflector will almost certainly appreciate this post to the Amps reflector from Dishtronix, the company that bought RKR. The third paragraph is particularly interesting. The complaint is about service on an Alpha 9500.

73, Jim K9YC

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Hello Jim,

In reading this it appears rather negative to me, which I don't quite understand.  Regardless of the 95 days, you do realize that was RKR who you had the problem with?  I have more people working there than RKR had!

The long and the short of it was this -  you called me with your problem and in less than a calander week you got your amp back.  I didn't sell you the amp, and I am not liable for any of RF Concepts or RKR warranty work by the terms of the sale, yet I gave you two free hours of work -  AFTER you were so mean on the telephone to Carol that you made her cry!

You are right -  the new Alpha is not the Alpha you knew.  The Alpha you knew was bought by a corporate raider who didn't pay his suppliers and alienated the entire supply chain for Alpha and Ten Tec, who built every possible unit he could build and sold for a cut rate price, reducing prices constantly until everything was gone, liquidated every piece of equipment he could, and then moved on to do something else leaving everyone holding the bag.

The new management is putting capitol into the business, paying suppliers, paying employees and attempting to regenerate the brand.  We bought the business with the express intention of finishing the tuner. When the tuner is finished it will be even better that it would have been because I personally am supervising the engineering and I'm not known for compromising or ever saying "That is good enough", because good is not good enough when you intend to be great.

I'm not responsible for what others did. I'm responsible for what I do.

Thanks,

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Arthur Movius [mailto:ajmovius at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2016 11:24 AM
To:amps at contesting.com; Dave Movius<dave.movius at gmail.com>; Alpha Service<alphaamps1 at gmail.com>; Steven M. Dishop<Steven.Dishop at Dishtronix.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] FW: alpha 9500

Hello Steve,

For what it may be worth, here's a brief summary of my recent experience.  Your inquiry is timely.

Yesterday, Sept. 16, 2016 I received an email from Alpha RF Systems, LLC that my 9500 delivered to Longmont, CO on June 10 for warranty repair (RA 11050) of a failed band pot, plus any upgrades, was completed.  I called owner Mike Dishop of Dishtronix Tuesday Sept. 13, explained that my amp had been at Alpha for 95 days, and had a nice 20 minute conversation with him.  He said that he has been involved with Alpha a short time and that he would follow up.

The bill shows 2 hours warranty time and 3 hours non-warranty time at
$120.00 / hour for a total bill of $512.50 including $105.00 shipping cost via Fed Ex Home Delivery back to MT.  The bill also shows a $35.00 charge for a Hall Effect sensor to replace the failed band pot--the reason for the warranty repair.

Other work:   re-calibration of band positions, installation of a fuse
in the cathode 40v circuit, update of all firmware (5 microprocessors), tested amp on all bands, checked tuning and output.  The amp and tube condition were reported as good.

Conclusion:  at the present time Alpha is "under resourced" regarding repairs.  I had asked whether billed work gets priority over warranty work and was told by Carol who answers calls that repairs are done in the order received.  Glenn Pladsen their one full time tech says he has only part time help.

There are others who repair Alpha reputed to be competent, so you have other options to investigate besides the manufacturer.

Bottom line, which I will think about--no hasty decision--is that I will pack up the transformer and sell this amp when it returns without opening the factory carton.  Good service after the sale is important and strongly affects purchase decisions, and here, no criticism of Alpha employees intended, Alpha disappoints--this is not the Alpha I knew when the amp was purchased in 2013.  Also, my order for the Dream Tuner placed Feb. 2013 might soon be cancelled.  There is reason to doubt whether this good idea will ever make it to market.  As mentioned to Mike Dishop, the Alpha brand will suffer damage if he does not take corrective  action soon.  Reviews of the Prometheus solid state HF amp give Dishtronix high praise for a good product and good service after the sale.

GL Steve es 73,