| KA4DQJ |
Rating:  |
2024-03-28 | |
| The Rig does what it was designed to do. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
If anyone needs a used 5-band, non-WARC, non-digital, no-tune, 100w SSB/CW transceiver that uses a traditional string dial, then the Triton IV/Model 540 has you in business. The rig was the last model produced in Ten-Tec's Triton lineup. The Triton is purpose-built for the basics; no one really brags or complains about the rig. There's no "wow" reaction when you first lay eyes on the radio, and so few controls that you might need to read the labels to know it's a transceiver. There are no buttons at all, or any controls for pre-amps, AGC, compressors, attenuators, split-frequency, etc., etc. USB and LSB are simply labeled "Normal" and "Reverse." But, you can still find the Tritons on the air and offered for sale... I've somehow collected Ten-Tec's entire Triton model lineup over the years. They are all pretty much the same thing except that the original Triton only had a 50w RF output.
The Triton IV and Model 540 appear to be identical radios save one minor but important difference - the power socket pinouts on the rear panel are different. Yep, same socket, but different positive/negative pins. Why Ten-Tec would reason that a model name change on the front panel would warrant changing the power socket pinout ain't a question I can even guess at, but neither could I get my mind around the story of Ten-Tec having to change model names because of a copyright issue. The company's use of the word "Triton" was old news by the time the Triton IV came around, and how do generic words such as "shovel" or "hammer" get copyrighted anyway?
Oddly, when I checked into a Ten-Tec SSB net some years back I found that the net control didn't know what a Triton was! It's a true story... I think he suspected I was pranking him, especially when another checked-in station confirmed that he'd never heard of a "Triton" either. The Triton just doesn't generate a lot of discussion.
The Triton IV/Model 540 also comes in a digital LED frequency readout version that I have no experience with. There was also an optional, external, digital-readout frequency box that I haven't laid hands on either but wouldn't mind having one. As with many other rigs a CW filter was an optional and rather costly accessory.
The rig is somewhat strange with its permeability-tuned oscillator that relies on inductance changes to move around. The only operational annoyance I have with any of my Tritons is that the receiver's pre-selector knob must be re-adjusted after each band change, or even after a frequency change on the low bands. You not only must peak the receiver by ear, but pick the correct peak too, or be transmitting and receiving on different bands. The setting scale under the knob doesn't help much since the scale doesn't coincide with the correct setting when tuned near the band edges. But, you'll get good with experience.
Tuneup is a simple as turning the drive drive control while speaking or keying down until a light just illuminates. That's maximum RF out. If you want less power, just don't advance the drive as far. Turning the drive too far has the same adverse effects as with any other transmitter.
I like the built in Power and SWR meter functions, and love the simple quarter-inch RCA phono plug used for the mic connection... two wires for the PTT and one for the audio. Anyone who has had to wire an small 8-pin mic plug will appreciate the roomy, three-wire connector. The op manual calls for a hi-z microphone, but I've found that all the Tritons are happy with microphones of any impedance.
The earlier Triton model had a tendency to shut off anytime the rigs even suspected an antenna mismatch was present. Sometimes the antenna wasn't terribly mismatched but the rig would still shutdown to protect those final amplifier transistors. That nag appears to be fixed with the Triton IV/Model 540... I don't abuse the final amp, but the transmitter hasn't clicked off even once in the time I've owned the rig.
The summary is the same as the introduction - the rig is as basic as they come but does the job it was built to do, and can still be heard on the air and available at online auctions and hamfests for reasonable prices.
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| KB1GMX |
Rating: |
2024-03-21 | |
| very good |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
04/20/2024
Still have it and still use it. I find the RX particular good for 10M SSB which in the this part of the cycle is really active. I also use it on occasion for 75m.
For those that have the preselector not match the markings, the adjustments have been played with. Correctly aligned it matches.
Best I can say is, doesn't rust, bust, or collect dust. For a radio pushing 50 years old is solid.
older:
I rarely give a 5, nothing is perfect. So in my book a 4.5 would be fair, shame I can't give that.
Radio with CW filter added, NB and 252 power supply.
Mine came to me as an estate purchase of the first owner SK. So its condition was about as good as a
35 year old radio can be. It works correctly, is very quiet.
Excellent receiver. Only exceeded by my Eagle.
Its power needs are small and much less than most
new radios. That makes it nice for battery ops as
I run the station off solar power. The noise
blanker is effective and the offset tune is good
enough for split ops. While its old dial and
string the calibration is very good and the
built in calibrator is there to verify with.
Transmitter performs as new and sounds very good
on the air. On the lower bands I've seen 105W and
85W on 10M is normal into the Bird. The
transmitter seems to lack overshoot like some
newer radios when set for lower power output.
I've peaked and poked around inside and this one
is clean and unmolested. A fun and useful radio
and for the non WARC era everything an op could
want. If I had to fix it there is nothing in
there that is hard to find or fix. Id expect at its age the finals might be rare but newer parts likely would work if ever needed.
I'm keeping it as its light and hard to abuse
while providing a great receiver and 100W power.
Allison |
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| KK4TZ |
Rating: |
2021-05-01 | |
| Nice Basic Transceiver |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I purchased my Triton 540 last year from an on-line posting. It was a knee jerk impulse buy and I paid $250 for it with the matching 262G power supply and both cw filters. I may have paid too much for it because I have seen them sold in the last year for $50 - $150 less. However this one was received as a clean 8 on a 1-10 scale for cosmetics and in good operating condition. The previous owner had replaced the pto drive and included the old parts. I really enjoy operating it. The QSK break-in on cw is wonderful and I receive great audio reports on ssb. It has an excellent receiver and output is right at 100 watts on all bands. This is a basic transceiver without a lot of bells and whistles and I am very happy with it. |
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| AC2Q |
Rating: |
2018-12-01 | |
| Great Simple Radio! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have 3 of these I purchased “broken” and repaired.
I like the fact they are at a level of technology I can service.
A feat sounding rig, transmit and receive.
The circuitry is top notch for the era, as others have said Ten-Tec went full Kmart on the enclosure. |
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| K3XR |
Rating: |
2016-01-23 | |
| DIAL CORD TIP |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| The Triton IV is still a great rig to operate after all these years took mine off the shelf this week and noticed the travel on the dial cord not as it should be after playing around with it for a time decided to look for some elastic dial cord not an easy task did some searching around and found 1/32 inch bungee cord on Ebay finished the install in about 10 minutes and it works just great calibration right on. Note...only replaced the elastic part of the cord the "string" portion is fine. Thought this tip might be helpful to those of you who need to replace the cord. |
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| KB1TMA |
Rating: |
2010-11-18 | |
| Great Starter Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Recently purchased a Triton IV with the Model 262G Power Supply, Ten Tec 228 Antenna Tuner/SWR and a D104 for $180 after getting General License. This radio has worked exceptionally well for something that's 30 + years old.
The operation is simple and all reports I've received regarding the signal strentgh and audio have been very good. So far I've managed to work 17 countries on 5 continents the farthest being a VK7 station from Rhode Island on a homebrew dipole.
It may not be the newest or most powerfull rig on the air, but I still manage to get thru pileups and make the DX QSO's. If anyone is looking for a strong, no frills HF radio I'd have to say this one radio you may want to consider if you can find it. |
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| 26JLH |
Rating: |
2010-01-12 | |
| i still like it |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
i have had this a while now and its still good. i got a scrap one for parts.this one has all the boards plus a spare set of all boards and parts.not bad, very low noise floor i have restored this and i will never sell it on ebay. it may be old but my pals say it sounds better than there new stuff there just baffled that a 30 old year radio sounds so good, beat that yaesu,there ft2000,that always seems to be in the repair shop ive heared one being blown up by snow i thought only trains could do it,,i know,, wrong kind of snow i,e the static kind...m6glh
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Earlier 5-star review posted by 26JLH on 2009-11-21
this radio was in a loft for 10 years,needed new bulbs pto re grease new dial string.oh and a complete clean up it was a fithy animal, and i did not keep the change hi hi.
reciever has about the lowest noise floor of anything bar nothing, sensitive too, good filters.
microphone socket on the back thats the only thing i hate you lose most of the mike cable round the radio that realy sux, but the radio is ok. knobs a pain to get off with those odd allan keys but i got some comming from the US.
i like this radio so much i bought another one
and i want to add a ext vfo yanks dont like to sell to us via ebay over here in england but come on we are your pals and we always will be even if Bush was a war munger..jeff.. uk england.
M6-GLH new radio HAM. |
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| OLLIEOXEN27 |
Rating: |
2009-03-17 | |
| caveat emptor |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've owned three 540s over the years the best working one being the first. I would only buy one from someone you know well locally - avoid flea bay or even the User Groups. Currently these are being sold at markup due to the high Eham ratings and reputation.
If you get a bad one you'll have intermittent problems - power out, band switch, control panel. etc. You'll never get the truth out of the seller.
At their best the 540 has top notch audio, Qsk though my current one has a relay that clicks whenever I return to receive (don't ask).
My first 540 I could work anything I could hear with 5 watts. My current 540 is both deaf and mute.
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| N3QE |
Rating: |
2008-01-31 | |
| Wonderful simple rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I got one of these used a few years back.
I did a little cleaning of switches and contacts, and it works excellently on the air. The bandswitch is still flaky on 10M, I'll deal with that in a few years when 10M comes back into fashion :-).
Not a lot of controls, but the stock SSB/CW/CW-narrow filters make operation effortless.
My rig is now 30-some years old and still has the same finals in it as from the factory. Maybe there has been some "fade" in output over the years - maybe not, I never saw the rig really suck 200W in - but still has no problem doing 80W true output power keydown on CW.
RIT when DX'ing is not as easy as with a modern digital rig where you can read off the offset to a Hz. But that's not a major hassle, and I'm growing used to it.
Had to modify the keying interface on my HD-1410 keyer to accomodate the low voltage drop on key-down required by this rig. Google for "HD-1410" and "Triton" and you'll see the mods that can accomodate it.
I have actually talked to the Ten Tec factory about getting me an Omni VII. Without a doubt, if I ever buy a new rig, it'll be a Ten Tec. But the old Triton keeps on working without a glitch, so haven't made the plunge yet! |
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| AA6ZE |
Rating: |
2008-01-07 | |
| One of the best |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I got a 540 a few months back with the cw filters and noise blanker installed and have been very pleased with it.
The single conversion receiver is hot and very quiet compared with my Corsair.With the cw filters kicked in weak signals seem to pop in out of the background. Wonderful QSK. And a noise blanker that really works! A very well designed rig that doesn't do a lot of things,but what it does do very well. If your looking for one ask about the pto and dial string as these are the only weak points in this radio. Ten Tec still works on them and has parts after 25+ years. Try to get that kind of service in a imported rig.Two thumbs up!
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