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write your own review of the Ten Tec Argonaut.
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SV8YM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 22, 2009 11:59
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A fun rig from the 70s
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After Jim, W0NKL sent me my Argonaut 505, I enjoyed bringing it back to life. And back to life it came indeed! Of course I can't compare the little rig with any of the modern ones, but I think it was a big hit at its time (and still is...)! Simple and enjoyable to operate, well behaved considering its simplicity, I have made a lot of contacts with it on the HF bands - if you're into tinkering with older rigs, by all means get one if you can!
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F6EHP
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 25, 2008 12:20
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wonderfull 515
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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As a ten-tec collector, i have first bought an argonaut II (535) then a 509, a 525, and the same day, on ebay, 2 units 515 that I was looking for a long time ! And the 515 is now my main transceiver on 20 m, and the 525 (argosy II) is mainly used on 40 m - nice audio, easy to use - gret radios even in 2008 !
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KB5JO
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 29, 2007 15:30
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Very Amazing!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Wanting to try the "vintage" side of the hobby, I recently bought an Argonaut 509 with the 208 CW filter, 206 calibrator, and 1 amp power supply from another ham. Since the rig is 30 years old, I expected the performance to be only "so-so". What a surprise! Everything worked, and worked well. I had forgotten that when new the 505 and 509 were prized by QRP enthusiasts. This little radio has a quiet, selective, and sensitive receiver that rivals the new Argonaut V on my desk. While the transmitter output maxes out at 3 watts, it still makes QSOs very well. Best of all it has (gasp)no menus or pushbuttons, just old-fashioned knobs! Of course, no WARC bands but after all, it was new before those existed. If you can find a well-maintained 509 ( or 505 I suppose ), there's a lot of fun to be had. Next, will buy an old microphone to try out "SB-N" or "SB-R".
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PA1SK
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 8, 2006 03:10
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surprising rig!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Some time ago an Argonaut 515 with cw/notch filter and power supply was offered.I did not know anything of this rig, so I went to the reviews of eHam.net and bought it.It is really an amazing rig:No bells and whistles, only those things you really need and use.The receiver has good sensivity and using the filter gives comfortable listing.In SSB I use an electred mike(Sadelta).I always receive good reports of the audio quality,als of hams who are crititcal on this domain.
I is surprising what you can work with 2.5 watts output and a 2x 13 meters well tuned dipole.
A great way of servicing clients with classic rigs Tentec showed me by sending me a spare dial string kit. Thanks Paul.
The argonaut gives me "classic" radio fun and brought me to pick up again cw.To make the line complet I do hope to find the 405 amplifier.
If you see an argonaut offered, don't hesitate, buy it!
73 de Hans PA1SK.
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NF2C
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 22, 2005 19:46
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The 515 ia a JOY!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought this new back in 83 I believe and it will not be leaving my home. Always get good audio reports, QSK is super and it has given me no problems at all. I have not been on it recently due to a relatively new QTH and never getting in order, but I can't believe the things I have done with a few watts! If you can find a clean one, grab it! This rig will not disappoint!
73, Chris NF2C
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KD5RJZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 29, 2005 14:08
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I <3 my Ten Tec Argonaut 505
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This is a great radio to start you QRP obsession with. Great quality, a well written manual, and circuits so simple anyone can work on them.
I swear by my Argonaut, and I'll never part with it!
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AE4TO
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Rating: 5/5
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May 29, 2005 05:25
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The Argonauts rock!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Have a 509 and a 515 and I love these old classics.
Maybe is there pure simplicity, there low amp consumption, there excellent receivers, there excellent qsk, there analog dial.The receiver has a wide filter so you need the optional filter. The 515 is prettier but the 509 and beautiful too.
I taken them out for a sail throught the airwaves and they tack agains the wind!
Get one and feel the experience!
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K3GM
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2005 08:56
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Fun rig!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I occasionally place my old 515 on the table and spend an evening in front of it. The best way to describe using this rig is that it's akin to taking the old MG out for a spin on a sunny weekend with the top down while the Lexus stays garaged. My 515 is just a fun, classic rig to use once in a while. Today while were all wrapped up with DSP's, roofing filters, and third order intercept figures, sometimes it just feels right to put on the Jeff cap, and take the little Argonaut out for a spin.
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WA2JJH
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 7, 2005 00:22
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vintage ssb/cw QRP rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I still have the same one I purchased for something like $300. Back in 1978, no other qrp rig even came
close to Rx,Tx, and performance.
It looks like a full power rig. 4W cw 2w SSB.
The SSB should have been beefed up. They should have added one stage more after the balanced modulator.
IMHO, The 509 is the only SSB RIG that you should use a Turner super sidekick mic. The side kick had an audio transformer and magnetic mic element for a very
nice freq response. The side kick also had a negative feedback pot as well as gain. It was the only mic I could get a decent signal out on SSB.
One would really do the SSB SERVICE, IF THEY PUT IN
AN RF SPEECH PROC. ONE SHOULD DO THE FINAL MOD AS WELL.
Only then would you have a good 5W SSB RIG.
HOWEVER ON CW, The 509 was simply the best QRP rig back then. Even by todays standards, with a CW FILTER IT ROCKS.
Simply the best QRP Rx back then. The operation has the big rig feel to it.
They had an excellent stock Rx filter in it.
Nice big Pc boards. Room inside that begs for any thing you want to put in.
The bad and ugly. The VFO. They used springs and a rope
on the vfo. The dial string would break with little effort. The RIT knob should be replaced with a larger
metallic knob. I found this reduced the infamous drift
when you adjusted the RIT.
Rca jacks for ant. pwr. key. everything. First must do mod is to change the ant connector to BNC. I also put in my own power cord and added a 1/4'' jack for external audio.
The receiver was best for QRP. A great receiver period. One could easily add extra xtal or op amp filters for even better rx. No Warc bands.
The 509 was LIKE THE K2 of QRP rigs back in 1978.
If you ever see one for under $200, you will be very happy with the purchase. Add a clean amp and you have
will have a 10-80m real rig.
They simply designed it to look like a 100W rig.
However it is very light. TEN-TEc used to make a solid state amp for the 509. It was either 50 or 100W.
The power was variable from 50mw-4W. You could operate on penlight cells. Ten Tec even put in a switch to turn off the meter and VFO LIGHTS for ultra low power consumption.
This rig was way a head of it's time. Except for the whimpy SSB audio, a top notch QRP rig, even by todays standards. No it as not nearly as good as a K2 or even a ft-817. However in the $200 price range, there is no rig like it.
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KY6R
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 22, 2004 00:15
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Pure Fun
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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When I want to just have pure CW fun I either go to this rig or the Argonaut V. I may have met my DXCC goals with more sophisticated rigs, but the Argonauts are the most fun, and I think sound better than rigs that cost much more.
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