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| Reviews Summary for Ten-Tec Jupiter |
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Reviews: 132
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Average rating: 4.4/5
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MSRP: $1,189
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Description: Formerly known as the "PegasusFP" now renamed Jupiter
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More info: http://www.tentec.com/TT538.htm
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You can
write your own review of the Ten-Tec Jupiter.
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K9TWO
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 12, 2008 16:25
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Great Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Been a ham for 49 years and this has been my favorite rig. own a FT-920 which I also love and a FT-897D and many others including collins.
The Ft-920 is my next favorite, but the Jupiter
would be the keeper if I had to get rid of everything else. I really enjoy some of the reviews of those who have no idea how to operate a radio. probably came from the CB bands since the ham exam has been dumbed down so much. The Jupiter is simple, you read the manual once and never need it again. 73 K9TWO since 1959
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N8FR
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2008 16:40
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New Features Announced at Dayton
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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At Dayton I noticed that the unit on display had a blue screen. Several of us questioned the Rep. He said it was an aniversary issue. He also said that new features would be downloadable individually via new software, or as a onetime chip installation. The chip would be $50. New features would include send/decode cw, rtty and psk by keyboard entry and onscreen decode. Also the optional colored screens and a couple others. Wow! Fred - N8FR
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WO8L
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 13, 2008 12:47
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My Favorite Rig
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The Jupiter is a joy to operate. The DSP on CW is exceptional and better than I imagined. The receiver is very quiet. It's so quiet, in fact, that you sometimes think the band is totally dead until you find a signal.
The CW break-in is tops and the built-in keyer is super. The finals are forgiving and there's even a tune button for a 20 watt tuneup cycle, as opposed to some radios which require an aftermarket add-on.
I have an OMNI VI Plus and a Yaesu FT-897. I use the Jupiter almost all the time because it is so user friendly.
Also, with the external tuning knob, I get a 50kHz tuning rate which is ideal for me. (See the post below.
Are there improvements that might be made? Of course. However, the bottom line is that I'd like an OMNI VII but for the difference in price for everyday use, I can't justify getting one at this point in time.
I sold a Kenwood TS570 to get the Jupiter. I had a love/hate relationship with the Kenwood due to the receiver noise. Ugh!
I should have bought the Jupiter to begin with. It’s lots of fun.
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N0NV
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 25, 2008 23:58
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Good Performance, but Lacks Refinement
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned a Ten-Tec Jupiter since January 2004. I have the cooling fan for the rear heat sink, the optional chrome knob set, plus an aftermarket LDG internal tuner. I control it from the front panel only, no computer.
Positive aspects:
+ Several IF-DSP bandwidths -- very versatile
+ Unsolicited good audio reports using Heil mic
+ Pleasant receive audio, quiet circuitry (even the QRN sounds good!)
+ Smooth QSK T/R switching, no relay noise
+ Rugged final P.A. handles SWR with no power fold-back
+ Updateable via software download (http://rfsquared.com/Updates/538/538). Many features have been added since the Jupiter's inception such as 60 meters, noise blanker, speech processor, iambic A & B keying, various bug fixes, etc.
+ Ten-Tec's good service reputation
+ User-friendly menu system in plain language
+ Variable transmit filter bandwidth from 900Hz to 3900Hz
+ Large LCD screen with band scope
+ 20-watt tune feature
Negative aspects:
Note: I do not expect the Jupiter to be an Orion, so the shortcomings listed here are only problems not found in other transceivers of equal or lesser price. Some of these issues are a greater problem for the operator who does a lot of browsing or hunting, as opposed to the operator who simply stays put on a favorite mode & frequency.
- The encode rate of the front panel tuning knob should be different or selectable. The 100Hz step size is too coarse, and the 10Hz step size is too slow, so I find myself repeatedly switching between the two. This problem was reported in both the QST and CQ magazine reviews back in 2001 (http://www.arrl.org/members-only/prodrev/pdf/pr0106.pdf) but the issue has never been addressed by Ten-Tec. Their less costly Argonaut V has a more useful ratio for the tuning knob.
- The external speaker output is not grounded. This is a problem because my external speaker is switched between another rig whose speaker output IS grounded. I also want to use an external audio filter (i.e. TimeWave unit which is grounded) in line with the speaker. The only work-around is to put a 1:1 transformer in line with the external speaker cable. Ten-Tec's lower-priced Argonaut V doesn't have this problem.
- The noise blanker is not effective against 'frying pan' noises from power poles in the neighborhood. Ten-Tec's less costly Argonaut V actually has a more aggressive noise blanker.
- Bandwidth settings are saved according to band instead of mode. Ten-Tec's low-end Argonaut V (again) proves better by saving bandwidth settings according to mode.
- AGC always defaults at 'medium' on each power-up and cannot be tied to mode.
- The Jupiter is more sensitive to RFI than the average transceiver. I once tried transmitting without connecting the station ground and the rig went wild -- QSY'd across the band. Of course, no full-powered rig should ever be keyed without a decent ground.
- Shortly after purchasing, my Jupiter's RF attenuator locked on. It was successfully repaired by the factory under warranty (blown diode) with approximately one month turn-around time.
- The CW keying circuit is not well-suited for my bug keys. A capacitor across the key terminals is necessary to avoid 'choppy dots'.
- The DSP I.F. bandwidths, while versatile, don't seem to have a shape factor as steep as crystal filters typically have.
- A PDF format manual isn't available on Ten-Tec's web site.
- The DSP noise reduction is not variable.
- There is no CW reverse feature.
Regarding the $300 factory internal tuner:
+ It will match up to a 10:1 mismatch. But...
- It costs more than most external auto-tuners.
- It cannot automatically retrieve memory settings during receive frequency changes without transmitting.
While I still feel the Jupiter is worth owning, I've been keeping my old Kenwood gear as a backup for the Jupiter's shortcomings.
73,
Jack - N0NV
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XE3LW
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 3, 2008 22:10
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Excelente equipo
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Adqurí el mio en una subasta en Ebay, de acuerdo al número de serie, este equipo fué fabricado en 2002, sin embargo, grácias a las actulizaciones de software, disponibles sin costo para descarga desde el sitio de Ten Tec, es como si tuviese el último equipo salido de producción.
Esto es que el equipo se mejora con el tiempo en vez de hacerse obsoleto.
La calidad del receptor es de lo mejor comparable con los viejos equipos analogos a transistores y bulbos ya que es silencioso pero con mayor selectividad y sensibilidad.
En pocas palabras, escuchando la banda de 80mts, con un nivel de ruido de 6 a 7 unidades, puedo escuchar comodamente y de forma clara a estaciones a nivel de ruido.
En transmision, en banda lateral y usando el microfono de mano original he obtendio muy buenos reportes de audio, grácias a las opciones disponibles en el menú para este propósito.
Un punto no favorable para el Jupiter, es su sensibilidad a la RF de retorno, pero esto lo he podido solucionar con baluns en las antenas y un chocke de RF de la Palomar ingenierings, en la linea de transmisión, no mas problemas incluso utilizando toda la potencia del equipo.
Pero si tuviese un amplificador linial, esto podría ponerse muy interesante.
De cualquier forma, es una excelente inversión. lo recomiendo ampliamente.
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NK8A
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 21, 2008 08:03
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Pleasure to operate
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had my jupiter for a little over four weeks. It took me a while to get the feel of using the passband tuning, along with the bandwith and RF controls.I have been A/B testing the jupiter with my TS 570dg.I have found the jupiter to be easier to listen to because of less noise on CW signals.The 570's reciever is close in my opinion,to the sensitivity of the jupiter.But,I found I would much rather listen to and operate cw on the jupiter.I have no complaints about CW operation of this radio and I dont operate ssb so I cant make a comment on that mode.I am definitely happy I bought a Jupiter
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N3JBH
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 9, 2007 12:32
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A truley awsome radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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If you want a truley awsome radio. with some the best DSP filtering... Awsome audio Etc. This is one heck of a deal....
Remember folks this is not your avarage JA radio. this bad boy is awsome and is upgraded via software updates sent to you free from TenTec. The worlds leader in customer satisfaction...
So dont let this one sneak pass you at this price. Dont make that horrible mistake i made and let one slip past you all. And for Gods sake folks Dont listen to some idiot that never even used one tell you about it !!!
Take the advice of the many that have used them and love them you can not beat the Jupiter for the price there just no way ever so get it now !!!!
Or set back and wish you did.. the choice is yours Jeff
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K0PD
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 11, 2007 11:35
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Still a Great Radio..
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I owned one of the very first Jupiter's and loved it out side of the RF problem they had at that time. I called TT talked to Paul and at that time they said it was my Grounding.Well i tried every thing and finally gave up and sold it. Since then i heard TT had fixed the problem with the RF. So recently i aquired a newer model and so far so good. I had a Orion and it is most certainly the best but i missed the more simplistic operation of the jupiter. And so that has been taken care of and i have no regret's as to giving up my Orion for the Jupiter.Is the Orion a better radio? Yes it had better be for the price difference.If i was into contesting and all that the Orion would still be here,but being as i'm just a casual rag chewer the Jupiter is just perfect. It is quiet , has excellent recieve and gen'l coverage and that's all i need as the TT quality is still with me...
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W2DWL
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 13, 2007 14:52
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A great litttle radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've had the radio now for 3 months and found it to be a great little radio. The first thing I noticed is how quite the receive is. With the DSP this radio does what other radios could dream of doing with extra purchase of filters. Granted it does incorporate a menu, but once set your only a button or knob away from adjusting what you need to on the front panel. The tuner is surprisingly quitier than I thought it would be. All in all you can't beat it for the money.
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N0WJP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 15, 2007 20:18
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Excellent Radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had great luck with this radio. I swapped for one a couple of years ago and after a few months traded it off for an FT-920. After a month with the 920 I started looking for another Jupiter. The Jupiter is a little "different" to operate, but once you start using it's features you will find that it is a real performer.
I like the quiet receiver and variable bandwidth. Almost any setting is only one or two button pushes away. The important settings that you use every day can be accessed easily without wading through multiple levels of configuration menus.
Some reviewers have commented on the Jupiter's succeptibility to stray RF. This is true, but if your antenna system is designed and installed correctly, this is not an issue at all. I use my Jupiter to drive either an AL-572 or an Alpha 374A with no problems. If you ground everything properly and make sure you're feeding the antenna the way you should, then the Jupiter will perform extraordinarily well. As with any radio, a sloppy installation will cause you problems.
I've tried dozens of HF radios and the Jupiter is definitely a keeper. Easy to operate and it performs like radios costing thousands of dollars more.
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