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write your own review of the Ten-Tec Delta 580.
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K5AF
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 6, 2008 20:30
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Oh My! A Wonder of Simplicity!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After using a pair of Omni VIs and now a pair of K-3s, I thought would never find myself looking back at simple technology with such warm reminiscence.
In an effort to downsize my shack, I finally decided to sell my old Ten-Tec Delta 580 transceiver. While I knew the rig functioned well before I stored it away, I felt obligated to fire it up one more time to ensure the new owner would have no issues.
Here is a radio with no computer interface, no digital tuning, no fancy bells and whistles, and, hell, not even an RF Gain control. Yet when I turned it on, I felt like the antenna was connected directly to my ears. Signals popped out of the noise with seemingly nothing between the headphones and the antenna. Even with very rudimentary filtering, signals were easily separated.
I changed bands with a rotary bandswitch, wow! No buttons to locate and push, or crazy up/down commands. Damn, this is fun!
After making a few highly enjoyable contacts, I thought to myself that maybe I should not sell this great radio, and just find another one and do a low-tech SO2R setup for under $500!
Then I thought about band mapping, computer control and all the good things the digital age has brought us and realized that I couldn't go back.
These old Ten-Tec radios are a wonder of simplicity. I can think of no better way to enjoy the hobby than with one of these. Corsair II is my favorite of the lot, and some day after I've had my fill of contesting, I'll tie one of these radios to a ladder-line dipole and enjoy the purest form of human communication that is possible via ham radio.
This review is my parting tribute to this old rig that has been a faithful backup and a source of great pleasure to me. Thanks, my friend!
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AB3EN
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 29, 2008 07:16
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Great radio / excellent receiver / Great TenTec service
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I picked this 580 up used from a friend several years ago and used it daily for a few months until I got an Icom 7000. I sold this unit on Ebay and the fellow who bought it complained that it had internal birdies, so I refunded him the money and took back the 580. After I sold it I realized I should have held on to it, so I was happy to get it back. I sent it off to Ten Tec to see what could be done with the birdie (only on the CW portion of the bands). It turns out that the birdie is from the display oscillator and Ten Tec could reduce it but not eliminate it. They rebuilt the PTO and aligned the the unit as well as replacing most of the caps. I am happy it is back with me.
I found that the 580 is more sensitive than the IC-7000 and use it to work QSO's and the Icom to work contests with the HRD software.
The 580 is a simple but effective rig and Ten Tec service gets an A++++
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KD5HLB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 30, 2008 13:55
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Fun transceiver to operate.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently traded for a Delta 580 that just came back from Ten-Tec for minor work and tuning. It puts out about 95 watts on all the bands and the audio and signal reports have been really good. The microphone is a hand mic but I'm looking for the 214 desk mic. I think I'll keep this one to play around on.
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N6MUK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 7, 2008 19:23
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Great Old School Tranceiver
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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When I moved my Ten Tec Scout 555 from my shack to my Jeep, I knew I needed another Ten Tec for the shack. Like many, once I became used to Ten Tecs, no other rigs will do. I came very close to dropping the heavy cash for a new Argonaut V but, based on the reviews here, I bought an older Delta 580 on ebay. I paid $170 + $25 shipping which I consider to be a good value. Here are my thoughts after 9 months with this rig:
1) The noise blanker is superb! I mean to say it is really brilliant!! The Scout has a really good one but the Delta 580 blows it (and all others I have experienced) away. The NB is as good as modern DSP I have used. If you shop for a Delta 580 and it doesn't have the NB option, beware; it might be hard to locate one now-a-days, even from Ten Tec.
2) Frequency readout inaccuracy. I read a lot about it here in these reviews. I have never noticed a problem. I have never doubted a band edge or found that I was off frequency. For what its worth, I can zero beat WWV on 10 mHz and the readout is within a dozen Hertz.
3) The receiver is very quiet and seems very sensitive. I really like the quiet, clear sound of the audio from this rig. Speaker is pretty good too! There is no rf gain control (except a useless rear mounted attenuator switch) but I have not missed it. I think in heavy contest situations, it would be sorely missed.
4) The filtering is very good. There are 4 filters that keep adding on as you advance the switch. The first 2 are for SSB, the second 2 are for cw. One of each is a crystal filter (in my case a 500 Hz if band width filter). The combo of all 4 is very effective indeed. Also, there is a tunable notch filter that really works. The null is sharp, deep and can be accurately and easily placed on the offending station at anytime. The crystal filter is an option so check before you buy!
5) The receiver is NOT GENERAL COVERAGE so if that is important to you, shop on past this radio.
6) The WARC bands were an option and its nice to have them all usable in a rig from the early 1980s.
All in all, a great Ten Tec transceiver that should be available to you at a very reasonable price.
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N7INO
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 4, 2007 18:22
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GREAT
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I got a 544 for back up on base and it replaced the 706. Well I had a chance to get a 580 at a good price. I use it with a auto tuner and Ham sticks. It works better than the Icom 730 which I sold. Good reports on my signal and Great receive. Easy to use on the road in the Motor Home.Simple is best for a mobile and all I added was a EX. speaker to bring up the audio level. The LDG turner works well. Two Ham Sticks on the luggage rack two coax lines to the turner for 20 and 40 meters. A GREAT SET-UP. I get good reports, a good set up for mobile.73 Jim
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KI4KNS
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 26, 2007 11:05
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Solid and simple
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I got this radio from my dad as my first HF. It lacks a lot of the flash of the high end modern radios, but otherwise holds up well compared to them. It is very simple to operate and the receiver is amazing. I have used the TS 2k, Icom 718, Yaesu 920, 847, and 857, and Ten Tec's Omni 6. All of them have features that the 580 lacks, but its ease of operation and solid receiving make it a radio that I continue to enjoy operating.
The only complaint that I could have with the rig is the tuning is not as precise as some of the more modern gear. The nudge and fiddle required to get the radio to sit still on the exact frequency desired can be a pain.
If you are looking for a starter HF rig or simpler rig for just casual operating, I can definately say that this radio would fit the bill.
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K5AF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 17, 2006 12:03
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Erring on the Side of Simplicity
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Time owned: months
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Like its little brother, the Argosy, the Delta was Ten-Tec's attempt to build a full-featured transceiver in a slightly smaller package than its mainstream rigs. The result was a very attractive radio that erred on the side of simplicity.
Simplicity means just a volume control, no RF gain control (there is a selectable attenuater on the back panel!) Also, there is no separate switch for RIT, just a detent position in the center of the range.
This simplicity doesn't mean this radio is a slouch! It is the same conversion scheme that was used on the Corsair series, and ultimately on the Omni V and VI. The receiver is very hot, and the combination of audio filtering and audio notch provides for very enjoyable reception. In fact, I like the receive audio on this radio much better than on the Omni VI.
QSK is typical Ten-Tec-silky smooth. I have always wondered, though, why Ten-Tec would make a radio with crisp, lightning-fast QSK and then use slow "hang" AGC with it. The AGC is time constant is easily changed with a simple mod, I will do that when I get the chance.
Despite owning a pair of Omni VIs, I almost always have an old Ten-Tec analog radio around for general use. I always enjoy the QSOs, maybe it takes me back to a simpler time. Maybe these radios were pretty good after all!
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KU2US
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 16, 2006 05:27
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A RARE ONE
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Love this Ten-Tec 580..This rig is quite rare..I gave it a 4 because of not being able to work split freq.. Cannot find the matching external VFO. BUT-having said that, I love the filtering on the front panel. A nice notch filter, +/-offset and SSB/CW selectivity control. A rig of this age having WARC Bands? NICE. The BEST feature is the ability to knock this rig down from 100 watts to about 900 milliwatts with a twist of a knob. Great for QRP/QRPp..Not to mention convenient front panel phone and mic jacks and VOX. I find the reciever quite sensitive. Over-all, an easy transciever to use, a no problem tuning rig, and loaded with easy to use features for a rig of this age.
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VE3EGA
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Rating: 4/5
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May 7, 2006 07:25
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4.5
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My first Ten-Tec radio. Third owner, no surprises here, works as expected for an older radio - purchased as a b/u rig. Used mostly on 20/40 CW and SSB - Uses 'Permiability' tuning on VFO (no ganged capacitor!) no issues with this but I may 'lube' it one of these days as suggeseted in previous review :)
My radio does not have WARC band crystals fitted - but I have no WARC antennas anyway, so no great loss!
Receiver nice to use, no preamp, diode mixer (almost identical to the Atlas 180/210 series) much less fatigue during longer cw sessions! Lots of selectivity on RX - however, probably not a first choice for contesting today!
TX 100W - like all broadband transistor PA's although fairly rugged, always match antenna at about 5W before blasting full power - unless you like to smell really hot PA Transistors!
Overall: The 580 is more suited to base than mobile operation as (it is rumoured!) doesnt like the flunctuation of a car's battery voltage...
what else can I say -it's Ten-Tec and as such will always look good in my shack!!
73
Terry
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