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Author Topic: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.  (Read 251 times)

WK4DS

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I wrote a little piece about the Argonaut 5, here is the link if you are interested.

Basically a synopsis of the blog post is this, if you don't want to go over to read it, I don't take it as often as I should because of the size compared to other radios, and the fan was crazy loud...which I fixed. It also draws more current so battery ops would be shorter than compared to other radios and it lacks an internal keyer. On the other hand, it is a joy to use and has a really good receiver plus it is easy to access the controls I normally use in an activation.

https://www.davidsaylors.com/wk4ds-amatuer-radio-blog/ten-tec-argonaut-5-goes-to-the-park

72
WK4DS
« Last Edit: December 28, 2022, 05:50:54 AM by WK4DS »
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WB8DD

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2022, 07:09:21 AM »

Nice blog post David. I agree with you about the Argonaut 5 being a fine rig. Sometimes after using these micro QRP radios, it is refreshing to operate a larger QRP rig. I'm going to try that Silent 5 fan as mine is really too loud even with a resistor in series. Did you use the 40x40x10 or the 50x50x15?

Thanks for sharing. I worked you back in October when you activated K-0716. Hope to hear you again.

73,
Dennis
WB8DD
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AE0Q

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2022, 08:31:24 AM »

it lacks an internal keyer.

Not so, page 6 of the manual explains the keyer paddle wiring and page 9 explains the keyer adjustments. 

When I got mine 12 yrs ago I just plugged in some paddles, turned it on and worked JA1NUT on 40m CW with an indoor 40m dipole thrown around the living room for the first contact from this QTH in Colorado :-)

Glenn AE0Q
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NSGA Edzell 1974-77  CTM2  GM5BKC : NSGA Rota 1972-74   ZB2WZ, SV0WY
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WB6BYU

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2022, 08:50:17 AM »

I did a lot of portable work with my old
Argonaut 505.  Took up a lot more room in my
backpack that modern rigs.  I wrapped it in
a towel to protect it.  No keyer or other
modern contrivances, but no noisy fan,
either.

Hauled it around VK, ZL, KH6, KL7, as well
as stateside.  Had to replace the tuning coil
in a logging camp in Alaska, which included
field-stripping it with a Swiss Army knife,
filing down a nail to make an Allen wrench
to get the knobs off, and resoldering the VFO
circuit with a propane torch.  (After that I
kept an Allen wrench taped to the inside
of the top cover.)

One of the best memories was breaking
pileups into KG4 and KZ5 (as they were then)
from Alaska on Field Day with 2 watts from
a dying battery.

WB0FDJ

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2022, 11:00:08 AM »

David

Great blog post. Completely agree with all you say about the Argo V. I also replaced my noisy fans with some computer fans and the difference was clear. This has become my favorite rig. I use it as my main WSPR machine and listening to SSB nets while checking email. Listening to MIDCARS right now.

I also have a TT Jupiter, a pretty good rig in it's own right. It went down with a bad IF filter (common problem) and I swapped it out with the Argo V. Now two years later I finally fixed the Jupe but have grown to enjoy the V so much that it's still sitting in first chair.

If I need "QRO" I go to the "big rig": my HW-16.  ;D

WB0FDJ Doc 73

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KX4OM

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2022, 08:16:07 PM »

Back in the early '80s, I ran my Argonaut 509 portable a bit and also mobile occasionally. I worked a guy in England from my back screened porch in New Jersey on a 20m dipole about 15 feet high. I actually met the guy in 2008 at Dayton, my only trip there.

One memorable mobile QSO was when I was south of Chattanooga one Sunday afternoon on I-75 headed for Knoxville on a long-term field assignment. Tuning around on 15 meters on the 509, I heard a good friend of mine calling CQ on 15 meters, in northern Pennsylvania headed from New Jersey to southern Michigan on his field assignment. He was using an SB-100 that I used to own and sold to him when I bought my 509 back in '79. I was shocked, as it was totally by chance. I pulled over at an exit on the interstate, and we had a great 20 minute chat.

Ted, KX4OM
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WK4DS

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2023, 06:45:51 PM »

it lacks an internal keyer.

Not so, page 6 of the manual explains the keyer paddle wiring and page 9 explains the keyer adjustments. 

When I got mine 12 yrs ago I just plugged in some paddles, turned it on and worked JA1NUT on 40m CW with an indoor 40m dipole thrown around the living room for the first contact from this QTH in Colorado :-)

Glenn AE0Q

I stand corrected, I meant Memories, I will also go edit the blog to reflect that, you are absolutely correct in that mine does have a keyer, I just wanted a couple of memories for calling CQ and such.

Thanks!
WK4DS
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WK4DS

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Re: The Ten Tec Argonaut 5 is a great POTA radio, once I changed the fan.
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2023, 06:47:03 PM »

Nice blog post David. I agree with you about the Argonaut 5 being a fine rig. Sometimes after using these micro QRP radios, it is refreshing to operate a larger QRP rig. I'm going to try that Silent 5 fan as mine is really too loud even with a resistor in series. Did you use the 40x40x10 or the 50x50x15?

Thanks for sharing. I worked you back in October when you activated K-0716. Hope to hear you again.

73,
Dennis
WB8DD

It is the 50mm unit. It works perfectly.

WK4DS
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