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Reviews For: The Radiosmith

Category: Amateur Radio Equipment Repair

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Review Summary For : The Radiosmith
Reviews: 81MSRP:
Description:
Expert repairs and restoration for all brands (Collins, Drake, Icom, Kenwood, Ten-Tec, Yaesu, and Others) of vintage and modern ham radio equipment including linear amplifiers, station accessories, OEM power supplies and Astron power supplies by a degreed Electrical Engineer who has been a licensed ham (20 WPM Extra Class) for over 38 years. For more information, contact The Radiosmith via email at: radiosmith@tampabay.rr.com
Product is in production
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# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
55815
W4PM Rating: 2020-05-23
OMNI VI like new again Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Told Steve of the problem and he diagnosed it from my description before even seeing the rig. I sent it to him and within 2 weeks it was back working like new again and for a very reasonable repair cost. Steve keeps you informed every step of the way. Reminds me of the OLD Ten Tec service like it used to be - but even better. I highly recommend Steve for repair of your amateur radio gear.
BELMONT Rating: 2020-04-05
Excellent job on R8 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I sent Steve my Drake R8, which hadn't been used for some years. He did an alignment for a very reasonable price. It is now working like new!
KB7AA Rating: 2020-03-03
Well done! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well, I have a KnwdTS50 used only mobile from day one...and it outlived 3 cars over 16 yrs! Running with just a 20m hamstick, I had lots of ppl calling over the yrs claiming I was not really mobile! Well, couple months ago I could tell the battery died, meaning it always started up on 14.000mhz...which got old, having to always turn it right away to a new freq.
I checked here on Eham to find a tech to just replace the battery. Steve,aka The Radiosmith, got back to me quickly, stressing how he suggested packing it. I sent it off ASAP from AZ to him in FL, and Steve replaced the battery and did a full check on xmit and rcv sections. I figured as long as it was there anyway, would be good time to get checked out, which showed all good. Steve boxed it up, shipped back quickly with tracking number...all in all...a good job. I would have no hesitation on using The Radiosmith again. If I did have a negative it would be that having a $2.50 batttery put in but my shipping alone was $94 bucks! I should move to FL before nexttime????????. This rig was the second one I owned over the decades, the first being a TS140, sold to a pilot for aeronautical mobile 20 yrsago. If I would buy a new mobile, it would be the knwd 480sat????
NQ5X Rating: 2020-03-02
Corsair II back on line! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sometimes when you get real five star service you just have to tell folks about the experience.
My Ten Tec Corsair II was a little sickly and needed some real TLC (a lot), well after reviewing the
comments on Eham it didn't take me long to realize that The Radiosmith was the guy. These
reviews were right on! What a great service experience, not to mention the Steve's insights on rig
comparisons. In my shack, the little Corsair II sits on a desk by itself surrounded by Icom, Yaesu,
and Kenwood. When I want to enjoy the Art of Radio, you'll find me in front of that Corsair II
every time. Thanks Steve! 5 Stars all the way.
73, Glenn - NQ5X
Ruidoso, NM
K9DRP Rating: 2020-02-15
My Argo V is resurrected! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I sent Steve my Argo V with the finals out (and come to find out a hack repair job via the previous owner). Although the parts are nearly unobtainable, Steve went out of his way to get my rig back to working order. A couple months later and the Argo is still performing flawlessly. And his communication throughout the process was great. He's my go-to repairman from now on.
WD4ASP Rating: 2020-01-02
OMNI-D working again Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Steve did a great job fixing my OMNI-D and external VFO. I hadn't used them for quite a while. When I fired them up I found that both the main tuning dial (PTO) and external VFO dial were not able to be turned due to the grease drying out. He cleaned off the old, dried up grease and applied new grease that should not have that problem again and realigned the oscillators. Now they are as good as new. It turns out that the OMNI-D works way better for the digital modes than my OMNI-VI so that is the one I use for them now. I'd recommend Steve for fixing any of your radio issues.
N1LQ Rating: 2019-08-04
Simply the Best! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In May 2018 I sent Steve my Ten Tec Corsair II for some long needed TLC. What arrived back was a transceiver running in near new condition and far beyond my expectations.

Now in July 2019 my mint 27 year old Omni V.9 was sent to Steve for a general alignment and going over. Again what came back to me was a radio that has never performed so well, even when new.

Steve is a Master Technician with expert skills with all amateur radio brands. But he shines with older Ten Tec gear. If you want superb workmanship, a fair price, excellent communication and a fast turnaround time, the Radiosmith in Clearwater FL, IMO is ... simply the BEST.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N1LQ on 2018-06-09

My beloved 29 year old Ten Tec Corsair II needed some issues addressed and a full alignment. So after researching possible service options I decided to ship the rig to Steve the Radiosmith in Clearwater FLA. His many reviews on both eHam and eBay are stellar.

After two weeks in his shop, the rig arrived back home. As I told Steve, the result of his work is far greater than my expectations of what would result. Every single operating facet of this radio is now spot on, as if it were new from the factory 29 years ago. His workmanship, his price and his communications during the process were all remarkable. As a result, two more Ten Tec rigs in my collection (Steve also services other makes also) will be headed his way very shortly.

We all want quality work, fair pricing and quick turn-around. With the Radiosmith I got all three. IMO Steve is the best. 73 de N1LQ - Dave
KB7PWJ Rating: 2019-07-23
Artisan-quality service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sent Steve my beloved Tentec Delta 580, which had developed a host of quirks since it was new in 1980. This rig gets about $300 in mint condition today, and I knew it would cost a lot more than that to completely recondition mine, but it was a sentimental thing.

Steve was great at working within the $400-odd (exclusive of shipping) that I authorized him to spend, and for that paltry sum he sent back a rig that works great. He managed to fix the stuff that was taking me off the air entirely, much of which was caused by a hamfisted "reconditioning" that was done before I bought the rig used from a dealer in 1992.

Steve's communication, his knowledge and love of old Tentecs, and his creativity as a technician make him ideal for this kind of work. I sent him my Delta half certain I was going to hear "end of the line for this one"; for a reasonable sum I got a few more years with her; maybe more.

Thanks, Steve!
AL6G Rating: 2018-09-30
FT-897D repair. Great Service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Why should somebody ship their radio over 3,000 miles to get repaired?
The answer, so that it's done right.
Steve keeps you informed and explains your options. Uses high quality components and is very knowledgable with outstanding workmanship.I'm very satisfied with
my decision to ship my radio to the Radiosmith.
K1FK Rating: 2018-09-23
Excellent Service - OMNI VI/Opt 3 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I sent my 25+ year OMNI VI Opt 3 to Steve with a very unusual problem that I had been coping with for several years - excessive power output (200+ watts with PWR control full CW) and no ALC Control on all bands, incorrect PWR/SWR/Ic metering and an additional problem of NO transmit on 10m (12m was OK). Steve extended considerable time and did a yeoman’s job in returning my rig to factory specifications and performed a complete alignment. His work is top-notch professional quality and his labor rate is unbeatable for repair of TenTec and other vintage equipment. I have referred Steve to others previously and he has never disappointed any of those whom I referred. Thank you Steve.