| KB1GMX |
Rating:  |
2024-03-21 | |
| Argonaut 505 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Fun radio.
For a 5 band better than basic qrp radio that run 5W DC input it very good. Mine actually does 2.8W (normal for 5W DC input) and receiver that is both sensitive and selective. Controls and operation is very close to the 100W cousin (Triton M540) and the general look is very similar so they look great next to each other.
People tell me that it is way to little power to work DX on 20M but
into the tri-bander people questioned the power out as real.
In the last year I'e added one mod (bias improvement for the finals) and the power output is increased to 4W and a real
fun rig on 10m SSB.. Biggest feature is very low power consumption when listening. After a few years its another keeper.
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| WB2JNA |
Rating: |
2019-05-24 | |
| Really fun |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I'm cheating a bit on this one because I got a 505 Argonaut which had been modified quite a bit. After a few emails with the modifying ham I got the rig working on 80-10, putting out about 5 watts per band. So it's not an original, but what a fun rig it turned out to be. Great, clear and sensitive receive and the transmitter sounds good. Really fun to operate and reminds me of a simpler time on the bands, which can be good. Also works on digital as well. If you get one, make sure to read the manual and adjust the components it recommends. With luck, you'll have a fine rig. |
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| F8WBD |
Rating: |
2015-03-25 | |
| Great desk-size rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| My review is based on previous ownership (back in the very early 1980's when bought brand new), and today after a recent purchase of a pre-owned mint 509. Annoyed by recent years use of very small QRP rigs, I longed for a desk-top size QRP radio again. My HW-8 is fine when 1.3 watts will do and the band not crowded. It is still on the desk, but the 509 gets the most use. Stable, no drift, no clicks, good TT QSK. And no menus! RIT nice to have, (the HW8 doesn't). No electronic keyer but I am a straight key user anyway. Very good audio and the rig permits me to use my 2000 ohm Western Electric circa 1925 headphones. A hoot. Only on 20 meters here so limited by my short and low wire antenna. Worked Puerto Rico the other evening under marginal propagation. Most important, for me, is my poor vision is no problem when tuning around the band with the 509. Not the case with the display on my FT-817 which is now much too small for my elderly eyes to read comfortably. Oh, it came with a TT 208 CW filter, very handy. I don't intend to attempt cracking rare DX pileups with the 509. Not a rig for that, but it will give me great satisfaction to cross the Atlantic and QSO the Americas with it. |
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| WB0FDJ |
Rating: |
2013-04-18 | |
| A classic QRP rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I started with a new 509 back in '79. For two years it was my only rig. Using a 66' end fed wire I filled a lot of log book pages and had a blast. Traded it for an Argosy (which I still own and is a great rig in it's own right). I just acquired another on Epay and sent into the factory for a complete tune up. It's now up to factory specs.
This is the '57 Chevy of QRP rigs. 5 bands. A good receiver. CW and SSB. Simple. Rcvr offet. QSK. Yeah it's got warts. You need to know where you are in the band, i.e. have a reliable method for knowing your transmit freq. Tuning requires a light touch but is easily mastered. Filtering? Well unless you find the somewhat rare original CW filter you'll need a little something. I'm using a SCAF filter to effectively cut down on white noise and hash but it really helps the old girl. You don't buy one of these to run major contests. But for fun, casual operating it can't be beat. It's the HW-8 on steroids. Mine sits next to the Flex 1500. Before and after.....
I took my original to a friends house to show it off. He was polite, nodded his head a lot and smiled. We hooked it up to his 5 element Yagi and made one contact. New Zealand. The look on my buddies face was priceless.
If you want to own a classic QRP rig, one that will remind you of what it was like to venture out into the ether with simpler stuff, get one.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by WB0FDJ on 2000-03-15
In 1979, after finishing schooling, I only had enough money to purchase a new Argonaut 509. I can recall those first few QSO's like they were yesterday. For two years this was my only rig, running 5 watts, to a 66 Ft end fed wire!!! I had a blast with this radio. It is *NOT* a compromise rig: simple yes. A very sensitive receiver. Excellent QSK. My audio got very favorable comments, usually after hearing "you can't be running only 5 watts!"
I traded this rig in 1981 on a new Ten Tec Argosy. I dearly miss that little rig...but the Argosy is a step up the radio food chain and it's now my full time QRP rig. You can't beat an Argo! |
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| KA8YRV |
Rating: |
2012-08-08 | |
| A magnificent radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Have had mine for over 20 years and find it to be another TEN TEC QRP masterpiece. I get great signal reports, it hears with "mouse ears"....in other words, almost everything. So simple and elegant. A real radio for those who appreciate CW and QRP. |
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| AA7BI |
Rating: |
2012-06-14 | |
| Regret selling it... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought my Argonaut 509 used for $200 in 1983 while living at a remote, off-grid mountainside QTH with a 6' Wincharger and some worn-out, surplus telephone company batteries for power. I erected full-sized inverted-V dipoles for all 10-80m bands. I scrounged an illegal 100 watt CB amp at a yard-sale for $3 and got it to work on 10-40m for QRO. Those were the days!
75m SSB would come up considerably after dark; 40m was always iffy; but 10 & 15m QSOs were worldwide. When the ionosphere is on your side, there's no stopping the 509.
I tried an end-feed antenna for a while but was unaware of the incredibly high voltages they produce. A wind/snow/sleet-storm fried the output capacitor and I had to send it to Sevierville for service. They repaired it and sent it back to me for $12!
I made an op-amp audio filter for it which improved CW, but I never could find (afford) filters for it. Yes, the new Ten-Tecs blow this one away, but what wonderful memories. I have stayed with QRP thanks to this radio's inspiration. Unfortunately I wasn't as faithful and sold it for a TS140s....sniff, sniff...
I now have a Scout 555, which in its elegant simplicity reminds me that Ten-Tec has earned an honorable place in ham radio history.
If I ever see another 509 or 515 at a swap meet, it's coming home with me!
73 de Bob, AA7BI/VE5 |
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| KA2QWC |
Rating: |
2011-01-17 | |
| Great Vintage Rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is a great piece of Americana. A radio before its time and to top it off Ten tec still services the rig.
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| SV8YM |
Rating: |
2009-09-22 | |
| A fun rig from the 70s |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| After Jim, W0NKL sent me my Argonaut 505, I enjoyed bringing it back to life. And back to life it came indeed! Of course I can't compare the little rig with any of the modern ones, but I think it was a big hit at its time (and still is...)! Simple and enjoyable to operate, well behaved considering its simplicity, I have made a lot of contacts with it on the HF bands - if you're into tinkering with older rigs, by all means get one if you can! |
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| F6EHP |
Rating: |
2008-12-25 | |
| wonderfull 515 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| As a ten-tec collector, i have first bought an argonaut II (535) then a 509, a 525, and the same day, on ebay, 2 units 515 that I was looking for a long time ! And the 515 is now my main transceiver on 20 m, and the 525 (argosy II) is mainly used on 40 m - nice audio, easy to use - gret radios even in 2008 ! |
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| KB5JO |
Rating: |
2007-01-29 | |
| Very Amazing! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Wanting to try the "vintage" side of the hobby, I recently bought an Argonaut 509 with the 208 CW filter, 206 calibrator, and 1 amp power supply from another ham. Since the rig is 30 years old, I expected the performance to be only "so-so". What a surprise! Everything worked, and worked well. I had forgotten that when new the 505 and 509 were prized by QRP enthusiasts. This little radio has a quiet, selective, and sensitive receiver that rivals the new Argonaut V on my desk. While the transmitter output maxes out at 3 watts, it still makes QSOs very well. Best of all it has (gasp)no menus or pushbuttons, just old-fashioned knobs! Of course, no WARC bands but after all, it was new before those existed. If you can find a well-maintained 509 ( or 505 I suppose ), there's a lot of fun to be had. Next, will buy an old microphone to try out "SB-N" or "SB-R". |
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