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Reviews For: Ten-Tec 1300 series QRP kits

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : Ten-Tec 1300 series QRP kits
Reviews: 48MSRP: 119
Description:
Fine CW QRP transceiver; covers 60-70 KHz of band; with case
Product is in production
More Info: http://radio.tentec.com/kits/Transceiver
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00484.3
WB8YYY Rating: 2000-05-22
Well Performing QRP Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wanted a rig that could handle the busy "QRP spectrum" on 40 meters and this rig has not disappointed me one bit. In terms of assembly, I made the same polarity mistake as some of the other reviewers in checking out the keying circuitry. Fortunately, I was using a current limiting supply and nothing got damaged. In the process I learned that TenTec using rectangular PC boards for positive polarity versus the usual circle. As a result, I somehow made no other assembly mistakes and ended up with a working rig. The receiver sounds great. I did go to the effort of matching the best 4 of 6 crystals for the IF filter and the results are worth it. This unit is well designed, except for maybe the tuning proceedure on the VFO - you move the windings to get your frequency coverage - tacky but it works and this is home construction. I did have one component failure - the potentiometer on the main tuning control wore out after just 3 weeks (i guess i did use this rig a lot) - but a call to TenTec resulted in a replacement being sent.
N2GA Rating: 2000-04-23
Good first transceiver kit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Ten Tec 1340 is a nice first transceiver kit. If you have had some experience soldering and building accessories, you should have no trouble with this kit! Its strength is the instruction manual which walks you through assembly step-by-step. There are test points to check you work after each logical stage. The VFO covers about 70 Khz and can be set to the band segment desired (the lower 70 Khz or the Novice band; 7.100 - 7.150). No keyer is included but one can be added easily if desired and the manual shows you how. My only complaint was the use of a RCA jack as the DC power supply point (which I swapped out for a normal coaxial jack). All-in-all, the Ten Tec is a great kit, easy to assemble, great to look at when completed and it operates well on the air!
K1TJE Rating: 2000-04-22
1340: Great QRP rig Time Owned: unknown months.
This little QRP rig certainly exceeded my expectations of what you could buy for $95. The receiver is very adequate for a rig this size and I have had excellent on the air signal quality reports. During a construction progress check, I inadvertently switched the 12v polarity and Ten-Tec provided friendly tech help as well as free replacement parts. Measured current draw is only 30 mA on receive and 700 mA on transmit which make battery operation quite feasible.
W2RBA Rating: 1999-12-28
Ten-Tec 1330 is a nice little rig! Time Owned: unknown months.
I just officially finished the Ten-Tec T-Kit 1330 for 30 meters and am delighted with the results. True, these results were partially delayed due to my ham-fisted efforts and Ten-Tec's, um, "inexpenseive" design. You see, Ten-Tec has you populate a 3" x 5" (or thereabouts) board and then add two plates to it. Those plates hold the three pots (AF gain, tuning, RIT) on the one hand and the final RF amp on the other. The problem is, they are supported by the components' leads to the PCB. It works fine, if you don't bend the pins of the transistor and pots, but woe betide you if you do it too much -- the result is a broken part. However, Ten-Tec's service and parts folk are really nice and, what's more, *fast!* The receiver is extremely sensitive and has a fairly narrow bandwidth; the transmitter puts out 3 watts as advertised. It's a test-it-as-you-build-it design and it all pretty much aligns itself, all I had to do was turn a few slugs. I've been into QRP for many, many years but this is the first kit I've built -- it was a pleasant and fun experience. I heartily endorse T-Kits!
WA7EWG Rating: 1999-12-24
This radio is fun to build and use. Time Owned: unknown months.
I have the 20 meter version. It took about 2 evenings to build and I had no problems. It was just plain fun to build.
Although I have many rigs to use, I find myself choosing this one often because it just works so well. I took it to Hawaii this year and had a great time on the beach with it using a dipole in the trees.
This is a great rig!
KG4EDA Rating: 1999-11-29
Sophisticated, full featured radio with quality pa Time Owned: unknown months.
I built the 40 meter version. It’s quite a sophisticated radio with exceptional CW filtering, RIT, QSK break-in keying, and a very stable, wide ranging VFO (70 KHz). It took me about a week to put it together. It has a surprising amount of parts—they don’t skimp on quantity or quality. Amphenol connectors, Motorola IC’s, well made box, etc. An amazing value. My radio puts out about 5 watts on 13.8 vdc. The manual is good, and Ten-Tecs "builder support hotline" is excellent. The kit is built in stages so you can test each stage for proper operation before going on. I got the power supply polarity backwards and fried the keying circuits and Ten Tec sent me the replacement transistors at no charge. I called tech support several times with questions and they were very helpful (tech support has to build each kit before they can answer questions and they use focus groups of hams who build the kits and suggest changes to the instructions). The bottom line is that this is a terrific radio and one heck of a bargain at $95.00. The performance is simply amazing. The receiver is more sensitive and less noisy than my current Kenwood xcvr. I liked this kit so much that I have since built several other Ten Tec kits and have not been disappointed. If I had to grab one radio and run, this would be it. Ten Tec makes a great product.
N4ST Rating: 1999-10-29
Ten-Tec 1320 - Nice little rig for $95 Time Owned: unknown months.
If your not a hardcore homebrewer and like your kits to have all parts ready to go, just add solder, then these Ten-Tec kits are a nice way to go. Took me 4 evenings to assemble, and one phone call to Ten-tec to tame QSK clicks in the headphones and some xmtr instabilities (9 turns means 9 turns through the toroids and no more!). 3 watts out with a 13.8 VDC power supply. Worked a VK with a dipole the first week. I swear this receiver sounds better than my TS-450 (no phase noise). I am planning on buying the 40M version.
AB7CE Rating: 1999-09-23
Works ok Time Owned: unknown months.
Could be better in ways, but works as described by Ten Tec. You can get alot of radio in other single banders for what it costs, and have alot more features. Roy AB7CE