[TenTec] Ten Tec Argo V repair

[Bob McGraw]

There is the physical value of a radio and then there is the sentimental 
value of a radio.   Clearly in most cases the sentimental value is much 
much greater than the physical value. Of course when one needs to get a 
radio repaired or when one wants to sell a radio, the sentimental value 
goes to $0.00 for the buyer.   Likewise for the fellow doing the repairs.

I repaired radios for years for $25/hr, then $35/hr, then $50/hr and 
finally $75/hr.   The time/labor was a small part of the the price.  It 
was the test equipment required being the main reason for the price 
increases.   One can no longer repair a radio with a Black Beauty 
soldering iron or a Weller soldering gun and a Simpson 260 VOM.

Yes, we are into a throw-away world.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 1/26/2021 9:22 PM, Byron Cordes via TenTec wrote:
>   I would have to agree fixing some of the old radios is  cost prohibitive , at $150 an hour it doesn’t take long to eat $500 !  Then there’s shipping ! I’m in the midwest and it’s about $50 each way. Is that radio or others worth $600 it could be but if it broke again in a year and that time is only was a $300 repair bill .  Thats a $1000  !That investment in the old radio is like the old car that nickels and dimes you till you junk it.
>    I hate to say it but it’s a throwaway world.
>   73s Byron AC9PA
>
> On Jan 26, 2021, at 9:05 PM, Bob, WB2VUF via TenTec <tentec at contesting.com> wrote:
>
> I suspect that most of the Sevierville employees are gone; retired, laid off or quit.  Dishtronix appears to be focused on their own products and Ten Tec government and commercial products.  Also,  Ten Tec was shut down by Covid restrictions.
>
> I've been able to repair Paragons (mine and a friend's).  A rig like that can eat up many troubleshooting hours, so to pay someone to fix it  would be cost prohibitive.  The other big  limitation is parts obsolescence.   If a processor or memory chip goes, the rig is finished, unless one can find a parts rig.
>
> That's why it's important to have at least one truly vintage rig in the shack, like my Heath HW-100.  I can still get tubes, generic transistors, resistors and capacitors.
>
> 73,
>
> Bob WB2VUF
>
> On 1/26/2021 3:08 PM, Bernie Skoch via TenTec wrote:
>> I recently had an Orion II in to Ten-Tec for repair on a problem that was just beyond me to fix.
>> Service  was good, reasonably priced, but slow.  The tech called me to get payment information and to my surprise told me it was only him there; he was the only one doing repairs.
>> I have no reason to doubt him, and that might at least partially explain some of their limitations.
>> There are plenty of independent amateur radio repair firms. Maybe one of these can help:
>> eHam.net
>> 73 and good luck.
>> Bernie
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ed Lawson <elawson at grizzy.com>
>> To: tentec at contesting.com
>> Sent: Tue, Jan 26, 2021 1:46 pm
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Ten Tec Argo V repair
>>
>>
>> I guess it is important to keep in mind that the only value our radio
>> toys have is the enjoyment of using them so better to use them up than
>> let them sit.  So no big deal once you get your fair value of use from
>> them if they cannot be repaired.
>>
>> That said, seems one thing going for TenTec traditionally was their
>> service.  If loyal user is willing to pay to have them determine if a
>> rig is repairable and, if so, at what cost; then so long as they are
>> making money it would seem bad business to turn everyone out in
>> the cold.  I assume it is not a viable business practice or they really
>> do not want to support the ham gear anymore beyond whatever they now
>> produce and given what they produce and that does not seem a viable
>> business model either at this point.
>>
>
>

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