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Author Topic: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers  (Read 367467 times)

GM1FLQ

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1095 on: July 26, 2017, 10:51:43 PM »


He may be able to make enough sales in the commercial/gov't markets to keep going, but unless he raises some capital and hires the right people ASAP, Ten-Tec as a provider of ham gear is effectively over.  Even if he hires some great people today, it'll be 2 years before they have any shipping products, and the ham world will *really* have moved on by then.........


...........absolutely,  will be looking something like this - edging closer to it by the day..........

              

                      
« Last Edit: July 26, 2017, 10:57:00 PM by GM1FLQ »
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W3PH

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1096 on: July 27, 2017, 05:50:55 AM »

Again, following you logic, Elecraft could never have gotten off the ground. But HR "moved on" to innovation which brought popularity of a new brand and old brand names. Capitalism works!

That isn't what I'm saying.  Every company has to reinvent itself every few years now because technology and competitors are constantly changing.  Partly because of this constant change, anybody can start a new company from scratch if they have a plan to make something that people are going to want, and they're able to raise the capital to invest in development and manufacturing before the sales start rolling in. There's a large graveyard of ham providers who didn't change quickly enough and are now gone, but there are plenty of others who've been innovating and have guessed right about what people will buy and have managed to start from scratch in the past decade (Elecraft, Flex) and are well-managed and are doing well. 

The steam went out of TenTec starting about a decade ago, so what Mike bought was a product line that was already pretty long in the tooth.  There are plenty of TenTec fans who'd probably buy one of the old designs if it was offered today.  Mike wouldn't have to sell as many units as Icom's IC-7300, but he'll need something to sell. 

I just took a fresh look at the tentec.com web site - you can't buy anything, even parts, so it really looks as if TenTec is dormant.  Maybe Mike has a great team together working hard on an amazing new SDR radio that we won't be able to resist, or he'll start producing and selling an older TenTec analog rig that people might want because they like the way TenTec rigs of yore work.  In the meantime, at least viewed from the web, TenTec isn't open for business at this point if you're looking to buy radios or parts.
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AC7CW

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1097 on: July 27, 2017, 05:29:58 PM »

I think that Heathkit could bring out an SDR rig sooner than Ten-Tec. They could make a very simple design that worked.. worked to get on the air, just like the original Heathkit stuff. Nobody associates super-high performance with the Heathkit name, right? If Ten-Tec made a really modest rig it wouldn't fly: People expect some really good characteristics out of a Ten-Tec.
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W1BR

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1098 on: July 30, 2017, 10:29:50 AM »

I think that Heathkit could bring out an SDR rig sooner than Ten-Tec. They could make a very simple design that worked.. worked to get on the air, just like the original Heathkit stuff. Nobody associates super-high performance with the Heathkit name, right? If Ten-Tec made a really modest rig it wouldn't fly: People expect some really good characteristics out of a Ten-Tec.

Ten-Tec has a new factory full of state of the art PCB assembly equipment and is actively servicing their commercial contracts. Heathkit is struggling to produce over priced clocks and TRF kit radios.  Ten Tec has already announced what products would be put back into production at first. 
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K6AER

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1099 on: August 27, 2017, 10:39:56 AM »

Unless the new Ten-Tec units out performs the IC-7300 for less than $1250 it is a non starter.  ICOM is struggling to bring the IC-7610 to market and FLEX is offering their 6400M for $600 less with better performance.  Not even they (ICOM) are immune to a changing market place.

The business model in ham radio has changed dramatically.  Cost of production and performance drive product sales.  In little over a year the IC-7300 is the second most produced amateur HF radio. The Kenwood TS-2000 is still number one but has been in production for over 16 years.

The price point in used radios had dropped by as much as 50% on some models.

Don't forget with the boomers assuming room temperature more and more radios are hitting the used market.
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W3BJ

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1100 on: August 27, 2017, 03:09:55 PM »

Just how do you go about ordering a new Alpha amp from Alpha RF systems. Every time I log in I get redirected because it says the website is crooked.?
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W1BR

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1101 on: August 27, 2017, 03:26:25 PM »

I get into both websites, Alpha and Distronix.  Certificate is expired, but you can permit access.
« Last Edit: August 27, 2017, 03:32:03 PM by K1ZJH »
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KA4DPO

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1102 on: December 18, 2018, 08:58:51 AM »

I get into both websites, Alpha and Distronix.  Certificate is expired, but you can permit access.

Both websites are still up but there have been no significant changes in quite some time.  The Alpha 9500 is still listed as backordered when you put one in your cart.  Similarly, the 8410 says there is one in stock.  The store does list parts for sale and some tubes also.  

 I have not seen any advertising for either company in QST or on this, or any other amateur radio site.  I assume they are both still in the repair business.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2018, 09:01:40 AM by KA4DPO »
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NN4RH

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1103 on: December 18, 2018, 10:28:31 AM »

.  I assume they are both still in the repair business.

Just an FYI,  Dishtronix, on November 25, applied to renew the Ten Tec Trademark registration, which had expired back in May, and was due to be permanently deleted at the end of the grace period, November 26. Although the USPTO rejected the application on December 9, they requested some documentation proving that Dishtronix owns Ten Tec now. Presumably, once Dishtronix files the necessary paperwork, the Ten Tec trademark registration would be renewed.

The point being, I doubt that anyone would go through the expense and hassle dealing with the USPTO, unless they were, in fact, "still in ... business". 

Ref:  http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73158963&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch

Ref:  http://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn73158963&docId=OOA20181207134805#docIndex=0&page=1
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DL8OV

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1104 on: December 18, 2018, 12:09:10 PM »

So let me get this straight, when I tried to purchase a Ten-Tec transceiver in early November (and failed) they didn't even own the trademark of the name on the front panel.

Interesting way of doing business, I wonder who let that one slip?

Peter DL8OV

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KA4DPO

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1105 on: December 18, 2018, 12:14:49 PM »

.  I assume they are both still in the repair business.

Just an FYI,  Dishtronix, on November 25, applied to renew the Ten Tec Trademark registration, which had expired back in May, and was due to be permanently deleted at the end of the grace period, November 26. Although the USPTO rejected the application on December 9, they requested some documentation proving that Dishtronix owns Ten Tec now. Presumably, once Dishtronix files the necessary paperwork, the Ten Tec trademark registration would be renewed.

The point being, I doubt that anyone would go through the expense and hassle dealing with the USPTO, unless they were, in fact, "still in ... business".  

Ref:  http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=73158963&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch

Ref:  http://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn73158963&docId=OOA20181207134805#docIndex=0&page=1


Typical government goat rodeo.  I'm sure they, Dishtronix,  have both the appropriate documentation and the seventy five dollar filing fee, too bad Uncle Sam has such rules but it really isn't all that difficult.   If you already have the proper documentation it should not take more than about 30 minutes to complete the filing.  Looks like they have six months to get the paperwork straightened out, that seems like more than enough time.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2018, 12:28:27 PM by KA4DPO »
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WB8NUT

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1106 on: December 21, 2018, 04:38:18 AM »

Almost the end of the year and no production of the new and improved Eagle or the promised Omni 7+.

Wonder what happened to the much touted resurgence of radio production?
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N9FB

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1107 on: December 21, 2018, 07:06:09 AM »

Almost the end of the year and no production of the new and improved Eagle or the promised Omni 7+.

Wonder what happened to the much touted resurgence of radio production?

1st: RKR Designs does not own Ten-Tec so your post is misplaced.

2nd: your fixation on a company you consider dead is noted with amusement.  

checking their website, one thing that HAS changed is that they are selling RX-331 and RX-340 commercial receivers thru their online store:

https://www.tentec.com/?page_id=1557

why not just give this a rest until you have bought one of these receivers and want to leave a "company review"?
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WB8NUT

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1108 on: December 21, 2018, 08:00:34 AM »

The subject list all three companies so the post is not misplaced at all.

Second, there is no fixation, but many posted after Dayton/Xenia this year that TenTec would be producing the Eagle+ (or whatever it is supposed to be called) at the end of the year. The Omni 7+ was supposed to be offered over a year ago with the parts that remained and the new panels. Still nothing.

Commercial receivers are great, but they are not amateur radio transceivers and of little use to radio amateurs. They have been selling them for sometime.

My interest is not in commercial receivers, but in amateur radio SSB/CW/Digital all band, fully capable transceivers.

Also hoping TT will come out with an SDR transceiver offering soon, but hopes are fading.
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N5KO

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #1109 on: December 21, 2018, 08:33:18 AM »

This thread has run its course and has been locked.
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