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collection TEN TEC
 
Pourquoi Ten Tec : un rêve de gosse, vers l'année 75 ( du siècle écoulé !) paraissent les pub de l'Argonaut 505 dans nos revues nationales, trop cher à l'époque, j'en cherche naturellement un après qq décennies de labeur, de famille, etc... et puis Ten Tec, c'est avant tout une marque qui fabrique pour les radioamateurs des 'jouets' performants mais quelques peu rustiques ( l'emballage par exemple ), ce qui les rend sympathiques.

Why Ten Tec: a childhood dream, about the year 75 (the last century!) appeared the Argonaut 505 in our national magazines, too expensive at the time, I naturally sought after decades of  work, family, etc. ... Ten Tec  is above all a brand that manufactures for amateurs of 'toys' powerful but somewhat rustic rigs (eg packaging), which make them sympathetic.

 

Youpi, je les ai presque tous ! merci à K8ZT pour le 505 que je recherchais depuis 2 ans !  Manque le 516, encore un peu cher pour un collectionneur.

Yippee, I've almost everyone! thanks to K8ZT for the 505 I was looking for 2 years! still missing the 516, a bit expensive for a collection.

Powermite PM3A, CW 20 & 40 m, 5 W with full break-in - yom 1970 - doc1  - photos ( bakelite print circuit ! ) ( this one comes from Switzerland)
   
 
L'Argonaut 505  , premier transceiver ssb à transistors de la marque, proposé dès 1971 ?, simple conversion 9 Mhz, 3 à 4 W ssb et cw, 5 bandes. Acheté à K8ZT un ex-collectionneur de la marque-  photos de l'intérieur ( ci en bakélite !)

First ssb transistorized transceiver of the brand, first produced near 1971?, single conversion 9 Mhz, 3-4 W cw and ssb, 5 bands.  Bought from K8ZT a former collector of the brand.

  
 

L'Argonaut 509 version améliorée du 505 proposée en 1973, simple conversion 9 Mhz, 5 W ssb et cw, 5 bandes, avec son micro electro-voice ( voir l'histoire en bas de page ) - (glané au Canada !)

- pas de photo de l'intérieur, je ne l'ai jamais ouvert !, il fonctionne à merveille.

- pub de l'époque (advertisement) - schémas (drawings)

- améliorations ( non réalisées par l'auteur - je n'en éprouve pas le besoin, et puis, ce trx reste un jouet..)

The Argonaut 509 is an improved version of the 505 proposed in 1973, single conversion 9 Mhz, 5 W SSB and CW, 5 bands, with its electro-voice microphone (see story below) - (gleaned in Canada!)
- no picture of the inside, I've never opened!, it works beautifully.

 

L'ampli 405 booste les qrp de 1w à 5w en entrée, et délivre 50w en sortie.

The 405 amplifier delivers 50w output, with a 1w to 5w input power.

 

 
L'Argonaut 515 proposé en 1978, simple conversion 9 Mhz, 5 W ssb et cw, 5 bandes, avec son micro electret electro-voice et le compresseur HF modèle 234.

Le must dans cette série limitée à 800 exemplaires.Quand on a la chance d'en trouver un, on ne le lache plus ! ( pour être sur d'en avoir un, j'en ai acheté 2 exemplaires le même jour sur e-bay UK) - Le logo KW est celui d'un ex-distributeur Ten-Tec anglo-saxon - 

Le PTO a besoin d'une graisse neuve ? voir la procedure chez K9ew  ,  pub de l'époque , la notice ( 2Mb), et quelques photos de la bête ouverte  (on est passé au ci epoxy depuis le 509 ) et du mécanisme d'affichage

The Argonaut 515 proposed in 1978, single conversion 9 Mhz, 5 W SSB and CW, 5 bands, with his electret electro-voice microphone  and the HF compressor 234 model.
The ultimate in this series limited to 800 exemplaires.
If you find  one, don't miss it! (to be sure to have one, I bought 2 units the same day on e-bay UK) - logo KW is a former UK distributor of Ten-Tec.
The PTO needs a new grease? see the links to the proceedings in K9ew, the
notice, and some pictures of the unit opened ( epoxy print circuits ) and display mechanism.

 

  

 

L'Argosy 525 D proposé vers 1982, simple conversion 9 Mhz, 5 W et 50 W ssb et cw, 5 bandes + 30 m, avec ses filtres 2.4 kHz ssb et 500 Hz cw, ses filtres actifs BF, notch, noise blanker - curiosité du poste: ni pré-réglable ni de gain HF. ( trouvé aux USA.)

- Un vrai plaisir à utiliser en HF.

- Des modifs (improvements) également proposées mais pas forcément nécessaires. La notice (7Mb)   

The Argosy 525 D proposed around 1982, single conversion 9 Mhz, 5 W and 50 W cw and ssb, 6 bands with the 30 m, with its 2.4 kHz filter and 500 Hz cw ssb, its LF active filters, notch, noise blanker - curiosity of this rig: no pre-or adjustable RF gain. (found in the USA.)
- A real pleasure to use on
all bands.

 

L'Argonaut II modèle 535, 1991, 5 W ssb et cw, et fm, am en réception, couverture générale émission et réception - le seul à disposer des bandes WARC - ( acheté en Allemagne )

- pas de photo de l'intérieur, mais lui, je l'ouvre souvent !

- améliorations relative à la CAG : faite mais celà en vaut-il la peine ? je n'en suis pas convaincu - ce qui est sur c'est que le réglage de la platine FI est un peu délicat à trouver. - un filtre à largeur de bande passante réglable de 700 à 2500 Hz, très efficace..

- un appareil performant et qui fait tout, pourtant décrié par la presse US, ce qui en a réduit anormalement la diffusion.

Le backlite n'éclaire plus....ici la bonne adresse pour en trouver un neuf pour 5 £. La réparation n'est pas compliquée, demandez des précisions à l'auteur si nécessaire.

La notice en pdf  part1part 2part3part4part5part6part7   pub de l'époque

 

The Argonaut II, Model 535, from year 1991, 5 W cw and ssb and fm modes, + am reception, sending and receiving 0.100 to 30 Mhz - with the WARC bands - (bought in Germany)
- no photo of the interior, but he, I open it often!
- improvements on the
CAG: done but is it better ? I'm not sure -  the setting of the IF circuit is a bit tricky to find. - a adjustable filter from 700 to 2500 Hz, very effective ..
- a powerful device that does everything and yet condemned by the U.S. press, which has reduced the spread abnormally.
The backlite is dead ? .... here the right place to find a new one for £ 5. The repair is not complicated, ask for clarification from the author if necessary.

 

 

Le TRITON II modèle 520, 1974, 100 watts 5 bandes, réception agréable, mais trop modifié pour un collectionneur, comme l'atteste la photo, 

TRITON II Model 520, 1974, 100 watts 5 bands, nice reception, but too much modified for a collector , as shown by the photo,so, out of my shack...Documentation : part1, part2, part3

Le Delta I modèle 580 ,1979, double conversion 11 Mhz puis 6 Mhz, 100 w ssb et cw toutes bandes, warc incluses.

- réception de première qualité, excellente sonorité, bonne résistance aux signaux forts ( IP3 inconnu, mais surement pas ridicule ), notch très efficace.

- appareil reçu des USA avec le pto bloqué : c'est à cette occasion que l'on apprécie Ten Tec - facile à démonter, l'oscillateur variable est parfaitement blindé et pourtant aisément accessible sans déssouder un fil ! - j'ai simplement enlevé la vieille graisse des axes de la self variable, et remis une graisse neuve. ( TT vend le pto neuf pour 20 $ + 30 $ de port).

- a quitté le shack avec regret - trop de boîtes sur la table... pub de l'époque

The Delta I model 580, from 1979, dual conversion 11 MHz and 6 MHz, 100 W SSB and CW on all bands, WARC included.
- receiving top quality, excellent sound, good resistance to strong signals (IP3 unknown, but certainly not ridiculous), notch very effective.
- unit received
from USA with a blocked pto: it was then that one appreciates Ten Tec design - easy to disassemble, the variable oscillator is fully shielded and yet easily accessible without desoldering only one wire! - I simply removed the old grease from the axes of the self variable, and given a new grease. (TT pto sells new for $ 20 + $ 30 shipping).
- has left the shack with regret - too many boxes on the table ... 

 

Un transverter 28 Mhz / 144 Mhz : 1210 - 8 Watts en sortie : fonctionne à merveille après réparation...ne figure plus au catalogue - dommage

A 28 Mhz /144 Mhz transverter: model 1210 - 8 Watts output: working well after change of all main parts and alignement ... no longer in the catalog 

 

 

Un transverter 14 Mhz / 50 Mhz : 1208 - 8 Watts en sortie : un kit simple et efficace, et comme tous les kits US, très bien documenté, l'amateur est guidé de A à Z, et la firme répond toujours au mél envoyé.- fonctionne sans problème.- visible au dessus du 535 sur cette page.

A 14 Mhz/50 Mhz transverter : model 1208 - 8 Watts output: a simple and effective kit, and like all U.S. kits, very well documented, the amateur is guided from A to Z, and the firm always responds to email - works smoothly, visible above the 535 on this page

  

 

LINKS   ten tec website - virtual museum - antics - in ARRL - technical links - old notices

NEWS   wiki Ten-Tec , with online support by Ten-Tec en ligne, & Ten-Tec mailing list,.... 

Je possède toutes les notices suivantes et puis les communiquer sur demande par mail ou poste selon la définition souhaitée. PM3A, argonaut 505, 509, 515, 525D, 535, Delta 580, Triton II, 1208. 1210,  ts120v & ampli 100 w tl120 de kenwood

I have all these notices below and can forward on request by email or post depending on the desired definition. PM3A, Argonaut 505, 509, 515, 525D, 535, Delta 580, Triton II, 1208. 1210, 100 w amp & ts120v Kenwood TL120

  

 

Argonaut VFO buttons

 

A Ten*Tec History Lesson...( from W8KC website )

Do you know how the name "Electro-Voice" came about? Since I am from SW Michigan where Electro-Voice currently resides, the story we heard was that Knute Rockne (legendary ND Football coach and professor of Chemistry) needed a device that he could use during practice so that the team members could clearly hear him. This company (then in South Bend, Indiana I believe) built him a PA system that Knute referred to as his "Electric Voice". At least that's the story as told around that part of the country. That was back in the 1930s so some embellishment of the story since then is quite possible. Some say that there were also some ties to the Heath Company but I could never substantiate that. Reid, K7YX

Scott Robbins, W4PA Ten*Tec Amateur Radio Product Manager, adds: That story is correct. The PA system referred to was set up by Al Kahn (K4FW). Mr. Kahn grew up in South Bend and started Electro-Voice there in the 1920's and the story of how he named his company has been accurately repeated to you. After selling E-V in 1968, Mr. Kahn bought a 15 acre piece of land and had a two story building built right across the street from the Electro-Voice plant in Sevierville, TN., and named his new company Ten-Tec. Mr. Kahn was also directly involved with Heathkit's beginning's in Benton Harbor, MI in the late 1940's (just down the road from Buchanan). Mr. Kahn "donated" a train car load of war surplus electronic parts to Heath, and that load of parts became the foundation of the O1 oscilloscope, Heathkit's first electronic project. As of January 2001, Mr. Kahn continues to be the chairman of the board of Ten-Tec, is still active daily on HF CW and at age 94 is enjoying his well-deserved retirement in southwest Michigan.

 About Agonaut names and numbers by W4PA

..//..

Others are telling me that the late-80's 535 Argonaut II was #4.
I have another email stating that the Argonaut I was the 505, 509, and 515 inclusive; Argonaut II was the 535
Actually both of these lines are correct, but not at the same time.

Does that makes any sense?

The Argonaut V is the 'fifth' Argonaut. The first three were the505, 509, and 515. The 535 was the fourth, and the 516 is the 5th.Which leads immediately to two more questions: Why was the4th Argonaut called Argonaut II, and what about the Argo 556?

There were two reasons we called the 535 Argonaut II - one wasthat the 505, 509 and 515 could be a 'series' of Argonauts, and the 535 was the 'second' series of Argonaut. Also, the Argonaut IIwas merely the QRP version of the Delta II - it was easy to retainthe "II" designation for both transceivers.

We never referred to the Argo 556 as an Argonaut, admittedly this could be hair-splitting. When it was decided to name the 516, we counted only the rigs that had been called "Argonaut" (505, 509, 515, and 535) to come up with the "V" designator.

We considered a whole bunch of other ideas for names beforehand but nothing really stuck - and that's generally how we name our transceivers. We kick around ideas until something that sounds like 'it' to a number of us presents itself. Often the name for the rig comes from Al Kahn, K4FW - who named both the Pegasus and Jupiter rigs as well as a number of the previous models.

Straying a bit here....but we came up with the name for Orion in much the same manner. After deciding not to call it the Omni VII or some other Omni designator we tried various ideas out, until the suggestion of Orion was put forth by Stan Brock from our sales department - and everyone immediately liked that one.

..///...

Scott Robbins, W4PA

 

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