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Author Topic: TE Systems  (Read 4528 times)

K2MJ

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TE Systems
« on: February 12, 2002, 04:28:51 PM »

Is anyone familiar with TE Systems, an amplifier manufacturer in Los Angeles?  

Our local 220 repeater amplifier failed and I was advised by TE Systems to return it for repair rather then repair it myself as it would probably need modification.  

They have had the amplifier for over 5 months and I can still get no scheduled repair date from them.  Five months seems a bit excessive for repair turn-around time.  Is the company still shipping new products to the amateur market? Has anyone had any recent experience with them?
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WB2WIK

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TE Systems
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2002, 07:05:33 PM »

Sorry to hear about this.  But what would one expect, buying from a company whose sole address is a Post Office Box?  (Seriously.)  They have only one distributor anywhere, no street address, no website.  Hmph.  I live in Los Angeles, and don't even know where they are located, nor does anyone I know.

WB2WIK/6
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AA5CH

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TE Systems
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2002, 01:50:49 AM »

Approximately six weeks ago I ordered two TE Systems RF amps from AES. Two weeks ago I received the 2 meter amp. It appears to be well made but the input SWR was slightly out of spec below 145 Mhz. I am still waiting on the six meter amp.

The consensus among those who have expressed opinions on the forums I frequent is that TE Systems Amps may be the best VHF/UHF "brick" amps currently available. The further consensus is that the amateur radio market is of secondary interest to the owner of the company. Apparently it is a very small operation and the emphasis is on commercial amplifiers. One gentleman reported that he had been waiting four months for his amp and another reported a similar 5 month turn around time for a repair.

73,

Brad
AA5CH    
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AA5CH

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TE Systems
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2002, 02:44:55 PM »

I am no longer waiting on the six meter amp...not because I have received it, but because I called today and canceled the order. It has been almost three months with no estimate of a delivery date. This is ridiculous.

73,

Brad
AA5CH
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KA4P

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TE Systems
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2002, 01:06:44 PM »

Several years ago, I ordered a couple of receive pre-amps by TE Systems through HRO. After about 4 or 5 months I eventually cancelled the order. I talked to the people at TE Systems in person and was on more than one occasion told that my order would "be shipped this coming Friday". That Friday evidently never came.

It is one thing to be slow about filling orders. It is another thing to tell an out and out lie to a customer.

Needless to say, my opinion of TE Systems is pretty low.

KA4P
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N0PWZ

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TE Systems
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2003, 01:54:24 AM »

I like the amps. It just took five or six months to get the darn thing repaired once they received it. I'm not sure why it took so long. After SEVERAL discussions with the owner, I got the feeling he didn't do his own repairs. It may have had something to do with it, but there is no doubt that I'm not the only one that encountered this very slow repair service.  
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KA9VZD

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TE Systems
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2003, 11:45:30 AM »

 Well......I have one to beat all these. I bought a TE Systems VHF and UHF amp for both of my repeaters. Yes TE systems seemed to have the best bang for the buck. But what is it worth if you can't get service? My UHF amp went south during the warranty period. I sent it in to be fixed it came back a few weeks later worked fine. It broke again about a year later of course out of warranty. I sent it back in.....now are you ready for this? It's been there for SEVEN years now!!!! (I had pretty much given up on ever seeing it again) My boss bumped into Dave from TE at Dayton last spring. He told him about it and Dave said he would look into it. I called Dave the next week and sure enough they found my amp sitting in a corner (probably in his garage). Here is where the story turns into a carbon copy of the other posts. Repeated calls give promises but no action. Maybe all us hams could get together find a lawyer and start a class action suit against TE systems. I understand AES no longer buys from them. Kudos to AES!!! I also understand from Dave at TE they have large government contracts.(That is why they claim to be so busy) Maybe we could let the government know about TE systems lack of performance in repairing defective amps. Maybe those hams going to Dayton next spring can tell Dave what the ham community thinks about his company. I WOULD CAUTION EVERY HAM, DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM TE SYSTEMS!!! I know the company I work for will not. I bought a replacement amp for my UHF repeater from Henry Radio. Yes it's expensive but it's been working 24/7 for 3 years now and still meets specs! And I know if I need service on it I can get it in a timely fashion. None of what I have posted is fiction, it's all fact and has not been exaggerated. Like the earlier post, buyer beware. I will never buy from a post office box ever again no matter how good the product looks. My VHF amp? Oh yes it still works but when it breaks it goes in the dumpster. (Maybe scrap the heat sink)Don’t these people realize with the Internet, e-mail, etc. how fast word travels. I guess you’d have to care first.

73's
KA9VZD
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N3JBH

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TE Systems
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2006, 05:29:42 AM »

i must admit i ordered a TE Systems amp. i sent my check  to them and 11 days later had my amp. TE is in Los angles Ca. i am near Pittsburgh Pa. so figure how long it took to get them my money. and how long ups took to ship. i say that TE is pretty darnded fast.

so not sure why everyone else is screaming? i had zero trouble. jeff n3jbh.

oh yes about the PO BOX thing. did you ever think he might be to busy to have a store front? he probally didnt need a bunch hams hanging around drinking free coffie and rag chewing.  and the CB crowd begging for a amp. so he simply just wanted to stay mail order and avoid the hassel's
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N5JYZ

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TE Systems
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2006, 05:48:33 PM »

Perhaps TE Systems is now the only RF amplifier that is hand made. I own 6m, 2m, 200 amd 432 MHz TE Systems amps and I admit I bought them at hamfests so I understand the contempt one holds when ordering an amp and having to wait what obviously is way too long.

But if you have ever owned a Mirage amp before MFJ bought them you can appreciate quality. I know MFJ "tries harder" as the old car rental commercial boasts you realize that Mirage no longer is the quality it was before the MFJ aquisiton.

My TE Sysyems amp have operated flawlessly for 10 years and running. There is no better amp made today than TE Systems from 6m to 432.
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N3JBH

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TE Systems
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2006, 01:07:33 PM »

oppppps folks i may have posted my first post to soon. one of my te systems amp's had a problem. so i sent it back. it was still under warranty. it has been 5 weeks now. i call dave up (te systems) he says he get it ready call back tomorow. so i do just that. and his tech is to busy call tomorow. so i do that agian. same freaking story.

hey dave sorry pal but between the cost of all them calls. and return shipping cost and needless to say lost time on the warranty because of shipping time and your slow service. dont you think maybe you either send me another one or at least fix the one you have and restart the warranty on it.

i dont mean to sound so nasty but for god sakes man. honor your patrons please. jeff n3jbh
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N3JBH

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TE Systems
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2006, 04:18:03 PM »

ok dave sent me back my amp. thanks dave. and he covered all the cost. so ok there some what slow but hey it is fixed and i am happy
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N2SLO

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TE Systems
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2006, 06:37:43 PM »

Let's add another story. I have the 1452G, only one night and 10 minutes of use and the T/R relay sticks and I have a dead receive problem. I call Dave, send it back, my shipping cost. OK, after $549 and 10 minutes of use, I will ship it back at my cost (its a cost of doing business). I shipped it UPS on 7/25, received in CA at T/E on 7/31. Today is August 18, so I call Dave and inquire on the repair. He says he will try and get back to me today, he is swamped and busy.

Dave, I have been more than patient considering only 10 minutes of use. I am even a "New Yorker", and New Yorkers have short fuses. I wait and did not get a call back today. I understand he may be busy and swamped, but 10 minutes with an amp, you don't even return the call with the status of the repair??? Even a "I didn't get to it yet" is better then no status. I don't get this one. Stay tuned.  
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N2SLO

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TE Systems
« Reply #12 on: September 27, 2006, 06:22:31 PM »

The story ends on a happy note. I had to wait 3-4 weeks and have Burkhardt follow-up with Dave at TE put I received the amp back and it works great. 8 watts input with my Icom 746 gives about 375 watts. Thats good enough for me, I don't want to drive it hard or the amp may end up back at TE systems.

Would I buy another TE Amp? probably, but it better work right out of the box!
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KA5ROW

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TE Systems
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2006, 07:44:08 PM »

I have a TE-Systems 1452G amplifier that was sent for repair. "My Fought" in early February. It is now November I have herd nothing from them. Not even word that they have received it. I had to called them 6 weeks later just to confirm they had it. I also called in April, July, & September. Each time I was told they would get to it next week.  I expected about a 90 day turnaround but I believe that 10 months is a little excessive. Now that a year is fast approaching,  my worry is I will call, Maybe in January and they will say what amplifier.
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KA5ROW

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TE Systems
« Reply #14 on: December 24, 2006, 02:36:34 PM »

I finally got my amplifier back from TE-Systems and it works fine. They had it 10 months. Feb to Dec. After several phone calls and the promise to have it next week I sent them a certified letter asking about the status of my amp. That got there attention as they stated when they called me and said they had found my amp, they apologized for the delay. "Apology accepted from me." I honestly believe it was over looked and sat somewhere.
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