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write your own review of the Ten Tec Triton IV (540).
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OLLIEOXEN27
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Rating: 3/5
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Mar 17, 2009 13:48
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caveat emptor
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned three 540s over the years the best working one being the first. I would only buy one from someone you know well locally - avoid flea bay or even the User Groups. Currently these are being sold at markup due to the high Eham ratings and reputation.
If you get a bad one you'll have intermittent problems - power out, band switch, control panel. etc. You'll never get the truth out of the seller.
At their best the 540 has top notch audio, Qsk though my current one has a relay that clicks whenever I return to receive (don't ask).
My first 540 I could work anything I could hear with 5 watts. My current 540 is both deaf and mute.
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N3QE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 31, 2008 08:20
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Wonderful simple rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I got one of these used a few years back.
I did a little cleaning of switches and contacts, and it works excellently on the air. The bandswitch is still flaky on 10M, I'll deal with that in a few years when 10M comes back into fashion :-).
Not a lot of controls, but the stock SSB/CW/CW-narrow filters make operation effortless.
My rig is now 30-some years old and still has the same finals in it as from the factory. Maybe there has been some "fade" in output over the years - maybe not, I never saw the rig really suck 200W in - but still has no problem doing 80W true output power keydown on CW.
RIT when DX'ing is not as easy as with a modern digital rig where you can read off the offset to a Hz. But that's not a major hassle, and I'm growing used to it.
Had to modify the keying interface on my HD-1410 keyer to accomodate the low voltage drop on key-down required by this rig. Google for "HD-1410" and "Triton" and you'll see the mods that can accomodate it.
I have actually talked to the Ten Tec factory about getting me an Omni VII. Without a doubt, if I ever buy a new rig, it'll be a Ten Tec. But the old Triton keeps on working without a glitch, so haven't made the plunge yet!
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AA6ZE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 7, 2008 13:02
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One of the best
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I got a 540 a few months back with the cw filters and noise blanker installed and have been very pleased with it.
The single conversion receiver is hot and very quiet compared with my Corsair.With the cw filters kicked in weak signals seem to pop in out of the background. Wonderful QSK. And a noise blanker that really works! A very well designed rig that doesn't do a lot of things,but what it does do very well. If your looking for one ask about the pto and dial string as these are the only weak points in this radio. Ten Tec still works on them and has parts after 25+ years. Try to get that kind of service in a imported rig.Two thumbs up!
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NN8B
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 23, 2007 07:53
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My good fortunes with the 540
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I had always looked at the 540 and wished I had one since being licensed in 1979. To me it looked like a radio should look.
In 2007 at the Dayton Hamvention I found a 540 with all internal options that came with the 262M and the 262G power supplies for $125. The VFO was super smooth and the rig worked just fine. What great audio from this old rig. Then a few weeks later I saw the 244 digital display and the 240, 160 meter converter for sale, and I got them for $65 each. Then a week later I found the 242 external VFO and was able to get it for $65. It needed the dial restrung and the top had been painted but was otherwise in excellent condition. The 1977 price of this equipment would have been $1394.00. Adjusted for inflation, the cost in 2007 dollars would be $4631.00. This rig was the Orion II of it's day. And I got it for $320.
All in all it is still an excellent playing radio. The quiet analog receivers still cannot be beat. With the external VFO on these rigs, I can listen to 2 separate frequencies on the same band, at the same time. This is great for working split. Only rigs with 2 receivers can do that nowadays.
The 540 station has been a fine addition to my Ten Tec stable. It's a keeper.
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K8IDX
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 9, 2007 23:27
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Meeow!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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What a sweet little pussy cat of a radio. This was my first HF rig and I loved it. It is the only rig I wish I had never sold. The break in CW is the best I have ever heard to this day, and the super quiet and stable receiver was a pleasure to listen to. I always got good audio reports too. A box full of fun!
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KC8HXO
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 17, 2006 15:25
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I can't believe it!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is really a great rig!! I am listening on 75M SSB, and there is some QRM underneath my frequency. Switching between 2 newer rigs and this old relic, this old girl is actually easier to listen to, with great suppression of the QRM. Very sensitive, QUIET receiver. I like it a lot. She's a keeper.
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KG6TT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 4, 2006 13:50
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Mellow!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Ok, I have finally done a full turn. In 1976 I bought my very first 'new' transceiver. It was a Triton IV with the 262G power supply. I drove to the factory in Tennessee to pick it up. Shortly afterward I added the remote VFO, ammeter and digital display. Back then I was amazed at how quiet the receiver was and how listenable. I got great unsolicited signal reports too. Around 1980 I got that 'itch' and sold it and started buying a myriad of 'Jap' radios.... Icom then Kenwood then Yaesu. The fit and finish was better but I could never find that sound. In 1981 or 82 I bought my new Omni-C station and once again I was happy... although it didn't seem to sound as open as the Triton IV. I kept that Omni in my station till just over a year ago when I got that small 'itch' again and traded it for a Kenwood TS-940SAT. Ouch, dumped that Kenwood a few months later. Now only Ten-Tec in stationl
Today I have 10 Ten-Tec transceivers in my shack. I use them all. Love them all. They all have different personalities, but that is 10 other reviews.
About a month ago, completely by accident, I spied a new unbelievable BuyNow on eBay... and it was local. A Triton IV, 262G Power Supply and remote ammeter all for $225! I knew it would be sold in under an hour so I made my pluge.... And he was local too.... a half hour drive.
The seller told me that he bought the Triton IV new in 1976 and after a few years moved to a home with no antennas so on the shelve it went (I want to know were that shelve was... Fort Knox?). Recently he reactivated but his interest had changed to Collins (go figure). Anyway, his loss was my GAIN.
Talk about walking through a time machine. Just about as perfect as you can find inside and out. No PTO issue. No dial string issue. Perfect front panel, lettering, knobs, plastic side panels... not even once paint nick on the heat sinks! Audio filter and Blanker in place too. Manuals all there and like NEW too.
Only problem I experienced was initially the Triton IV sounded HORRIBLE with the 262G's internal speaker. I thought I had a serious problem but then I connected a Minimus-11 and well... let the mellow begin. To bad Ten-Tec no longer has replacement speakers.... well it has been 30 years.
After all this time this rig is still incredibly STABLE (far more than my Argosies or even my Corsair II) and very sensitive. And well the sound is so easy on the ear... voice or CW that I find I have barely turned on my other gear since the Triton IV re-entered the picture. By the way.... QSK... it's a Ten-Tec! And for what they go for in today's 'Jap' controlled market... they are a steal. I must add, that should your Triton IV (540) ever need service it is the type rig that many hams can fix themselves, especially with one of the best manuals Ten-Tec ever wrote.
Two weeks later I snagged a very nice remote VFO and the hunt continues for the Model 244 remote digital display (anyone got one they would part with?)
No hum, negligable drift for a PTO, one of the best AGC actions in any Ten-Tec gear I have owned (till Paragon and Omni-VI+ I suppose). Slight first pop of very strong signals (20 dB over 9).
Only negatives.... no WARC, but for me not an issue cause I have other rigs and frankly I spend about 99.5% of my time on 80, 40, and 20 meters. And of course for many not having a digital readout. But for them just opt for the Model 544 which has the digital display built in.
No passband tuning. So? This is not a contest rig... this is a crusin the waves radio. Ragchews and nets.... DX too if the pileup isn't to insane.
Positives..... for me many. Must work for others too cause these seem to trade quickly and they as I mentioned they aren't trading that high either.
I am listening to mine at this moment, wish you could too. Mellow!
Jerry, KG6TT
Fairfield, CA
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Just a quick follow up. I finally DID find the Model 244 Digital Readout accessory. These are not plentiful. I had to buy an entire second Triton IV/262G/244 setup to get one. This setup was definitely NOT particularly well taken care of and I am currently locating parts to give the Triton IV/262G a continued long life, but that is another story. However, I now have the Model 244 External Digital Readout. And although it is certainly not a cosmetic match to my Triton IV (due to its earlier abuse) I was able to make it presentable. What is important is that it works really well.
I suppose if I were to do this all again I would give more thought to buying a Model 544 transceiver that had the digital readout built in... more conventient overall. I had heard some reports years ago the the 544 had more 'birdies' due to the inclusion of the digital counter circuits. Someday I'll have to check that out.
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KB3MTV
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 7, 2006 15:14
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Great Rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I got this rig from a local ham friend, and even before I turned the radio on, I knew it would be an amazing rig! But, the radio came a minor problem. The VFO seized up. So a quick dab at it with some contact cleaner and lubrication opened it right up! Also, I got the external VFO unit and the external digital readout and they work great as well. If you ever come across one at a ham-fest buy it! You will NOT be sorry!
73!
DE KB3MTV
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WB2JNA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 11, 2005 13:06
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Really a classic!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my Triton for four years now, and I think it's a real surprise of a nice radio. They're quite inexpensive on the used market, yet deliver plenty of fun both on CW, where they really shine, and on SSB as well. I've even used it on PSK and RTTY. They're simple to use, fun to operate, and affordable. They're also pretty easy to work on, and Ten Tec has great customer service. Just call them up and a tech will come to the phone and help you troubleshoot your rig. I think it deserves a 5 because, for it's price class, as a used radio, it's great.
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K3ZXY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 15, 2005 05:09
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A classic and fun radio!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought a Triton 540 new in 1977 and loved it. Then, a few years later, life changes made me drop out of ham radio and sell everything. During vacation in 2004 I was smitten to return to ham radio. I practiced the code, passed my extra and found a 540 for sale on the Internet. The old classic looked like new but the band switch had not moved for years, the PTO lube had gummed up and the pulleys for the string dial had bound up. I got the dial working fine but decided to send the rig to Ten-Tec for a renewal. It came back just like new and works wonderfully. I have done two things to bring this classic into the new millennium. The incandescent lamps have that “old” yellow look so I replaced them all with white LED’s. It gives the radio a whole new look. Although the internal CW filter is quite good, this radio really benefits from the addition of the SCAF-1 filter from Idiom Press. This radio is definitely a 5 in performance and fun!
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