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| Reviews Summary for Ten-Tec Argosy & Argosy 2 |
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Reviews: 26
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Average rating: 4.8/5
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MSRP: $Currrent market estimated $ 300
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Description: 80-10 meter ssb and cw rig that features built in a swr
bridge, low power drain on receive and 5 /50 watt
output. Ideal QRP rig. Introduced about 1981 and
discontinued about 1987. The Argosy 1 had an analog
tuning dial and the Argosy 2 featured digital display and
tuning. Many optional filters available.
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Product is not in production.
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More info: http://www.tentec.com
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write your own review of the Ten-Tec Argosy & Argosy 2.
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K3PA
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 13, 2012 16:57
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Fun!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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It drifts a little. Receive is good but not great.
But CW QSK is terrific, and 50W is nice. Simple to use. This thing is a LOT of fun.
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KB1OF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 5, 2012 07:21
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2nd Ten Tec Argosy
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my 2nd Argosy. I have one that I use in the shack all the time in preferance to my OMNI C. I had a chance to get this at a premium price of $60 at a hamfest. The relay would just sputter. I sent it into Ten Tec a year ago when I got it. It had an outboard relay that was drawing 3 amps alone. Ten Tec tech replaced the relay with a Ten Tec relay, replaced the VFO with a rebuilt one and aligned it and checked it all over. Total cost with shipping a bit over $200, bringing the cost of the little 50 w out rig to about $260. This one, I keep for mobile and portable use, an to take to camp in the summer. Used mostly with QRPp use, it draws 559 reports with all DX. and a G5RV antenna. With the upcoming bands, I prefer the Argosy for allround use. It has a strong signal and quiet front end. I use it with a little DSP audio filter to break through when signals are close.(See my other review on Argosy #1.)
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K4TIN
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 12, 2011 16:38
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Wonderful PLUS!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought mine over the counter from a dealer back in 1981, maybe '82. I have no test equipment to give technical reviews as does QST. A few of the technical specs they analyze I can't define anyway.
But it is a tremendous little radio, a little 50 watt gem.
It has a super little receiver and just enough features. Handy little switch in the back cuts the power back to 10 watts making it one of the best QRP radios of the time. Many contacts with Europe and Asia greatly enhanced my interest in DXing.
The dial cord on mine has broken, and it looks like the band switch has oxidized somewhat. I brought it upstairs this morning, plugged it in, and worked a couple dozen OKs who were having a contest. The delightful, super crisp QSK enchanted and delighted me as it always has.
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KA9HJZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 20, 2011 20:55
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nice little rig
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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bought the analogue 525 with the power supply, for a lot less than 300. the dial cord is broke but it has the CW and SSB filters, i use my optoelectronic frequency counter for accurate frequency readings and my drake MN-4C to tune with, the radio works like a champ, havnt used SSB yet but no problem with CW,the radio is simple to use, i dont have to keep the manual out everytime i use it, i hve my jupiter for bells and whistles. someday i might repair the dial string but thinking about getting an MFJ intellituner for frequency readout and tuning. the rig is fun to operate.
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KE7WAV
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 24, 2011 20:05
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Great little rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased one used a few weeks ago. Mine is the analog. It is just a fine little radio. I have used everything from boat anchors, to modern 100W rigs, to kitted QRP's.
I think this radio is a great rig. The controls are very intuitive and the radio has a quality design. The receiver and transmitter have gotten good on air reports for me.
Mine came with no optional filters but it is still a great little CW rig and has gotten me good SSB reports too.
Ten Tec makes a great little radio.
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VE9AA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 8, 2011 05:42
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great little rig !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Can't add much to the fray here other than to say I've had two or three of these little guys. Seems every time I sell one, about a year or so later I find myself online trying to hunt another down. Mine have all been EX-White Caner rigs, thus they come with a frequency annunciator box. Press a button and the numbers after the decimal point are "spoken"...quite unique for this rig. I understand the CNIB commisioned this mod before the next gen of rigs for the visually impaired came out. (TS-450 I think)... love it ! Wish it had 160m and WARC bands.
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WB0FDJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 6, 2010 10:25
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Simplicity in a radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My earlier review of this radio has become lost somewhere in the electronic universe so I will leave this information for posterity.
I'm the original owner of this radio now going on 30 years. For those of us who were running Argonauts back then (I had the 509) this was the next big thing. The 525 has a better receiver and a "built in" 50 watt amp, such as many used with the Argo's. I don't think any of us thought of this rig as an engineering marvel or somesuch, we got it to use as a working SSB/CW rig that had the "new" 30 meter band. Over the decades this radio has been a true and faithful companion. The optional audio filter is amazingly effective. The QSK is still about as good as you'd want. Mine still works like new and a few times a year she comes off the shelf for a drive around the bands. Would make a nice "back up" rig for the CW op that just needs a dial to turn and a key.
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NY4D
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 4, 2010 06:32
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Sweet Analog Rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have another Argosy II in the shack for some minor work before it goes to the new owner. I've always liked these rigs and having it here reminds me why.
Keeping in mind that this is an early 1980s rig -
Pros:
* Nice sounding strong rx audio
* Simple to operate
* Big boards, discrete components, easy to work on
* Very stable for a PTO rig.
Cons:
* The AGC pop which was tamed but not all the way. Really that's only an issue with 40 over S9 signals
* No 17 or 12 meters but we knew that going in
* No vox - but this won't bother most people
Please note - there are published mods online for the Argosy for such things as IF hiss and AGC. These are correct for the original Argosy but not so for the II. For example, component numbering on the AF/IF board is different for the II, and some values of the actual corresponding compnents are different. So do your homework before breaking out the golden soldering iron.
This isn't going to take the place of your modern pro type rig, though in some areas it compares quite well. Great backup or take along rig though. Very fun to use. Not much to do with it but make contacts. Basic at the same level as the TS-120 and 130 Kenwoods, also fun rigs.
Apples to apples - I have a Ten-Tec Scout and overall I like this Argosy better. 'Nuff said.
Rating based on what it is, almost 30 years old, analog low end radio, and not based on comparing it to the new digital if dsp rig you bought yesterday.
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26JLH
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 20, 2009 16:31
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good old vintage ham radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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i got this off epay about a week ago and it looks to be in very good order, there is little wear on it must have been well looked after.
this is the first usa radio i have had looks to be hand made not thrown together to last 5 years, and in the bin it goes so i am pleased with it.
you will need to tune it as the ofsetts can go out by 150 hz or so. i am not botherd i just allow for it its part of vintage ham radio fun.
has all options bar narrow filter, there is a space on the board for a xtal filter i will get one later.all in all a well useable collectable radio...jeff... M6GLH united kingdom..
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NS5U
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 22, 2009 15:17
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Most Fun Ever
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned a couple of the 525D Argosy radios and they are just plain fun. It was my first hf rig and spent a lot of time in my over the road truck. It worked very well with a hustler antenna stuck up above the cab while sitting in freight docks waiting for cargo.
The QSK is legendary Ten Tec and I have never found anything much better. The audio filter alone made 40 meters a pleasure to use late into the evening. I had the 500hz CW filter and even the noise blanker but seldom needed the one and the noise blanker wasn't very effective.
50 watts was always enough for what I wanted to do and even got me into a 75 meter phone group one night in Florida while I was in Cleveland. Another driver was sitting in the cab to see what amateur radio was all about when the group asked what I was operating with to have such a good signal from "way up there in Cleveland". They were quite disgruntled to learn the Ten Tec was sounding at 50 watts into a mobile whip as good as the amplfiers and wire aerials they were running. They quit talking to me and one even said I had no business on that band with my rig.
That was enough to convince my driver friend to learn the code and become a ham. He is still going strong 20 years later.
The 525D is a little deaf on the upper bands 15meters and 10 but not so much they can't be the source of great entertainment.
It is an easily understood circuit and all through hole parts. The interior is very roomy and in all a pleasure to work on or modify. There really isn't much to improve except maybe to add the rf gain control.
First rigs always hold fond memeories but this radio stayed around a lot longer because it worked so well.
Since then I have had IC-730, Ft-100D, IC-746 Pro and nonPro, Ts-520, Ten Tec 580, Ft-847, Elecraft K2 and K3, Heathkit DX60 and a Hammarlund 215, Index Labs QRP++, SW-40+ and 30, Steve Weber ATS3B, even a couple of Ramsey kits for 40 meters. At present I have an IC-703+ and an ATS3B.1 and a big pile of parts and kits from Diz.
Each radio has its strengths and the best rig I have ever owned is the one I am working at the time you ask the question but the Argosy is outside the envelope as it was the most fun I have ever had playing radio.
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