[TenTec] Orion VFO Knobs

Wed Aug 8 12:17:16 EDT 2018

EXCELLENT points Rick, agreed!

73, Barry N1EU

On Wed, Aug 8, 2018 at 12:12 PM, <Rick at dj0ip.de> wrote:

> Bob, your email is a great lead into what Rob Sherwood has been preaching
> for about 6 or 7 years now:
> "Consider Cost-of-Ownership (COO) when buying a new radio."
>
> Potentially, every radio, regardless of cost, can become immediately
> obsolete if for some reason one of its critical components suddenly goes
> End-of-Life.
>
> That is why I personally have opted to never spend more than $2K for a new
> radio, regardless of how good it is.
> Before retirement, it was not such a big deal, but for most of us,
> retirement means tighten the belt.
>
> It seems now the destiny for most radios is, keep it as long as possible,
> then sell it broken for parts.
>
> With that in mind, about the only two radios that I would even look at
> twice are the IC-7300 and TS-590S.
>
> I fear if Ten-Tec ever does bring out a radio, it will be above my $2K
> limit.
>
> 73,
> Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec <tentec-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Bob McGraw K4TAX
> Sent: 08 August 2018 17:59
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion VFO Knobs
>
> In many cases, the original supplier of the parts has discontinued
> specific items.  The new ownership has little to nothing to do with this
> fact.  Some parts were custom made for Tentec while some were made in their
> own tool and die shop or injection molding facility.  Those of course no
> longer exist. Unless someone builds after market items, many parts for
> older radios {those 10 + years} simply won't be available.
>
> This also is the same for many other brands as well.  I've encountered
> this fact with my attempted repair of Kenwood, ICOM and Yaesu products and
> is one of the reasons I've stopped repairing radios.  No parts available in
> many cases.   In other instances, the supplier has a minimum of 100 piece
> order.  If I have to order 100 pieces just to get one or two, this makes
> the repair very expensive.  Certainly is not profitable for me.
>
> Folks, we must realize that anything older than the Omni VII {now 10+
> years old}, Eagle {now 8+ years old}  and Argonaut VI {now 6+ years old}
> are, in many instances, in trouble with regard to parts.    With my former
> company, having been in charge of repair parts for products that are no
> longer in production, we did forecast and purchase inventory to support
> products for 7 years. In most cases the supplier or vendor informed us that
> this was the last production run on these items.   This is inventory that
> takes space on the shelves, and must be paid for in advance.  Hence we have
> to spend dollars for parts that may set on the shelf for 7+ years.   The
> accountants do not like this and the facility manager may say "why do we
> need to use this space for obsolete parts"?
> And in many instances our "forecast" was not sufficiently accurate and we
> simply ran out of parts before expected.  In some cases we were forced to
> limit purchase quantities to prevent hoarding.
>
> With Tentec and other brands, just be thankful you can get any service
> work done and parts being available.   Yea yea yea I know you're saying
> your 30 year old radio still works and I can get it repaired.   In general
> that is correct.........until one of those unique parts fail.     The Orion
> series has several unique parts and many to most of the PC board assemblies
> are no long available.    If either fails, look for a "parts only radio"
> and hope the part is good that you need.
>
> This is no different than looking for a brake controller for anti-lock
> brakes from a junker at the auto junk yard.  Oh, the Dealer has them for
> $650.   That's 1/2 the value of the vehicle.    Radios are much the same
> way.
>
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
> On 8/8/2018 10:18 AM, David J. Ross wrote:
> > Sorry to hear that. I bought the parts for my Paragon just last Nov.  I
> had heard that service parts were drying up under the new ownership.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TenTec <tentec-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of km4bsham via
> > TenTec
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 8, 2018 11:10 AM
> > To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
> > Cc: km4bsham <km4bsham at aol.com>
> > Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion VFO Knobs
> >
> > Naturally "out of stock,  try back at a later date ". Thanks
> >
> >
> > Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> > -------- Original message --------From: "David J. Ross" <
> rossdj at verizon.net> Date: 8/7/18  6:32 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: 'Discussion of
> Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec at contesting.com> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion
> VFO Knobs I purchased one directly from TenTec but there was a $25 minimum
> order. I needed the plastic panel end ears so the ring was a price padder.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: TenTec <tentec-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Dave Beghtel
> > via TenTec
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 7, 2018 6:04 PM
> > To: TenTec at contesting.com
> > Cc: km4bsham at aol.com
> > Subject: [TenTec] Orion VFO Knobs
> >
> >
> > Is there any source for the newer vfo knobs with the solid rubber ring?
> > Thanks, Dave KM4BS _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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