[TenTec] Wrong Product - Eagle - *NOT*

[Kevin Anderson]

On Feb. 20, Lee wrote:

> I have many TT radios including 9 Argonaut VI's (those are for a family radio project, 
> 7, maybe soon to be 8 hams in the family :-), an Eagle, Orion classic, Corsair II and others.

So this is where all the Argonaut VI's have gone.

I would think for Mike D. to make money quickly, he needs to work from existing fabrication, tool and die forms, firmware, etc.  That means initially either the Eagle or Argonaut 6.  As an ardent QRPer, my vote, like Lee's, would be for the Argonaut VI, although I realize that QRP is even more of a niche market and the Eagle would potentially have a broader audience as everyone seems to be convinced (by marketing and users alike) that 100 watts minimum is necessary. Only later, when there might be more time available, and money for new fabrication and design, can we imagine new stuff.

I would agree with much of what Rick has promoted, including repeating Jack Burchfield's ideas - a simple radio with a bullet-proof front end.  I've used TT Scouts now for 16 years, and they are my current radio.  Much of it has been because of the simplistic design. Now that I am ready to replace my Scouts with something similar, I've settled on finding an Argonaut VI.

I'm sure I am in a minority, but I've always been caught up with the idea of modular radios - in this case by two different models, QRP and regular, of the same radio.  The Argonaut II/Delta II (which I've never owned), the 555/556 Scout, and in competitors radios the Elecraft K2/10 and K2/100, and now more recently the K3(S)/10 and /100.  Utilize the same basic radio, but offer two power levels, two price points, but essentially the same interface.  But make it crunchproof, both for RF conditions (such as in Europe and increasingly with higher noise levels in any urban area) and for the fumbles of operators.  

For me that sells, as that is exactly what I am looking for.  But start with the QRP model, so that it is very battery/power efficient, with a top-notch receiver.  It is always easier to add higher power output later, than trying to start with a QRO, power-hungry design and then trim.

Cheers/73,
Kevin, K9UIA

P.S.  I am still looking to buy, for immediate purchase, an Argonaut VI (Model 539), 702 microphone, and 700-Hz filter.

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Kevin Anderson, Dubuque IA USA, K9IUA 
k9iua (at) yahoo (dot) com 
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