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write your own review of the Ten-Tec Corsair II.
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KG8LB
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 10, 2011 05:00
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A real fine radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had one of these 10 years ago , never forgot just how fine a rig it is. A good friend and fellow ham passed away 5 years ago leaving his Ten Ten gear behind. Just a few days ago his wife called and asked if I could help her fined his radios a new home . Went through all the gear and sure enough all the Ten Tec gear was working as new . When I got to the Corsair II it all came back . After all those years and quite a few Icoms and Yaesu radios the Corsair II was totally refreshing . The fabulous receiver with the extremely low noise and fine sensitivity are quite welcome indeed. The stability thing is a non-issue . This one is quite stable. It doesn't matter if a station stays in the same spot if you can't hear it anyhow! So nice to have a radio again with real controls, not multiple presses of a certain key followed by menu scrolling. I bought the Corsair II for myself and this one is a keeper.
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KV9L
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 26, 2011 10:50
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Fantastic rig until I sent it to TT
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The rig was fantastic had about one of the nice quality receivers I have ever had. I just loved this rig. I thought I would do it a favor and send it back to TT to have them go over it and realign everything. Needless to say a month later it came back in bad shape. I sent it back yet another time and it still wasn't even close to begin what it was before I sent it in.
Needless to say the whole experience put a bad taste in my mouth as my prized Corsair II was now tainted. If I ever find one in the right condition and price I may consider getting another one but will never send it back to the factory.
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AA6ZE
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 28, 2011 11:20
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Not good gear
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought mine as a second owner in 1990. Worked fine for a few years then developed a number of issues. Bad transistors in the logic board that would cause the display to unlock on 17 meters. Cold solder joints in the display itself. Warble in the side tone. I have fixed most, but I hardly use it because the pto now drifts more than my 20 year older tube rigs. Am not going to waste more time and money on it. Good rig with excellent qsk when purchased but didn't age gracefully.Component and build quality not as good as imported rigs of the same era, such as the hybrids.Be careful when buying on the second hand market
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WA4HKY
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 17, 2010 19:02
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A True Performer
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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About 15 years ago- A friend handed me some cash and said, "Go to the Asheville, NC hamfest and find me a rig." Knowing he loved CW, I came back with a mint Corsair II. He used it exclusively on 80m and 40m CW until it started acting up. Unwilling to send it to Ten-Tec for a much needed alignment- He covered it up and set it on a shelf for the last 10 years.
Recently- I bought it for an embarrassingly low price :-)
A few days later- Another ham and myself popped off the covers, re-tightened all boards, installed an S-meter bulb, grabbed some De-Oxit and started spraying away. Viola! The display came back. No more scratchy pots and a receiver that is so good it is unfair. Quiet is an understatement. Signals on 20m seem to effortlessly appear with clarity.
And stability? No issues here.
I have postponed rebuilding the PTO because all seems fine for now.
Full output is slightly less than 100w. Good enough.
On the air? Everyone loves the audio with a D-104M6. Blows away my Yaesu FT-901DM from the same era.
I am very satisfied with the Corsair II. Definitely a benchmark rig for Ten-Tec and any proud owner.
Two thumbs up.
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G4FFD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 26, 2009 00:57
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Telegraphists delight!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought this new in 1986 for CW operating. It has never disappointed. Well-designed by proper radio engineers for amateur use and one of a long line of innovative transceivers. The only common problem is the hardening of the grease in the PTO (VFO). I have just rebuilt mine without new parts, using modern high-end bike grease. Make sure you polish the bearings and look for pitting. Sharp-cut hand built filters, effective pass-band tuning and quiet unfussy receiver
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KC8QMF
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 21, 2009 18:42
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Still a great CW rig!!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My corsair 2 is from late 1986 and is still my favorite CW rig. I have tried alot of the other radios, but with all the filters and the PBT it just pulls out the weak ones better. My Ten Tec Omni 6 plus is still not as quiet as the C2.
The radio does have some faults,like when I transmit voice the comments say I'm off freq. somtimes. Can't say why it does this.
It went back to the factory for tune-up and came back ok to me. But the notch filter when put in with 250hz filter,and PBT to my ears just can't be topped. In the used market still a great buy and Ten Tec will still service them gladly for you.
I don't plan on giving mine up for awhile.
Mkie/KC8QMF
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K1UQB
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 6, 2009 09:46
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Better than Jupiter RX
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Thinking of upgrading, I called Ten-Tec to get the RX specs. of the new Jupiter. I told then I was coming from a Corsair II and this was their reply: "The Jupiter is not the radio for you as it does not meet the receiver performance that you currently have."
Sherwood Engineering still lists the Corsair in the top 15, stock radios for RX. The Omni VII is only 6 positions above the Corsair; not good enough to justify spending $2,600 to $3,000 for the new Omni VII.
The Orion I and II occupy the 4th and 3rd spot, respectfully, but If one was inclined to spend that kind of money, it would be better spent, in my opinion, on the number two spot, Flex 5000A.
The Corsair II performs better than 90 percent of the newer hot-shot rigs costing thousands more than the current Corsair II resale value. I guess bells & whistles (eye-candy) sell better to the K-MART Blue-light Special crowd than does operational reliability, usefulness, and effectiveness.
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KF8HW
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 11, 2009 14:28
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I'm taking mine to the grave!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I got this fine rig from a second owner. Both him and the first owner each had it for many years and agonized over selling it. They went for newer rigs. This rig is the quietest I have ever had the pleasure of running, and is very sensitive. This, according to the evaluation numbers, is the best analog transceiver ever produced regarding sensitivity and noise ratio. I have no reason to dispute that. Simple to operate, a real workhorse, a rig I will not part with. Got all the filters and it is a blast to operate. And you know, I can still get PARTS AND SERVICE for this rig that has been produced back in the mid-80's, how about that? Ten Tec does a great job and they won me over - I have an Orion II now. Compare that to my previous rig - Yaesu FT-100 MP Mark 5 - that I couldn't get critical parts for, (like so many other owners) a rig that was their flagship rig just a couple years ago. Wow... no more of that for me. Hang onto it if you have a Corsair II, get one if you don't!
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LA2MOA
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 1, 2009 15:57
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Excellent rig for the CW "feinschmecker"
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Being a ham for almost 19 years, I have'd the pleasure of playing with most highend radios available. I've been the owner of numbers of Icom's, Kenwood's and Yaesu's, the whole Elecraft product line (except the K3) and beleive me - there is not many rigs that hold up against the Corsair II, when it comes to user simplicity and CW-performance. This includes classic performers like the TS-850S, TS-930S, the Omni VI (opt 1) and the K2 from Elecraft. The Corsair II is so quiet, CW stations just pops out of "nothing". It's truly an amazing radio. Of course, the Corsair II got it's issues, just like most other rigs - but most problems can be solved by the owner. I've got the 16 pole 500Hz filter and the 250Hz Inrad installed in my C2. I also got the external VFO. Radios come and go - but the Corsair II will definetely remain in my shack, for MANY years to come (i. e. it's not for sale, at ANY price). If you find one of these gems for sale, and it appears to be in good condition - buy it before somebody else does. You will not regret it! Besides, who regrets falling in love? ;)
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N0CGF
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 23, 2008 08:22
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Outstanding Perfomance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought used from N4MZ in February of 2002.
Receiver: One of the BEST I have ever used.
Transmitter: No internal antenna tuner needed at band edges.
It was obvious that the Corsair performance was one that the Engineering Design Team at Ten Tec was PROUD of.
Ten Tec Support enables many MANY years of Service
This Corsair Rig will NEVER be sold...
73's Dennis N0CGF
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