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Reviews For: Ten-Tec Jupiter

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Ten-Tec Jupiter
Reviews: 161MSRP: 1,189
Description:
Formerly known as the "PegasusFP" now renamed Jupiter
Product is not in production
More Info: https://www.tentec.com/ten-tec-538-jupiter/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001614.5
WA2PVK Rating: 2002-04-27
Great rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I absolutely love my Jupiter and have never regretted purchasing it. It is like having several radios in one box. I can use it as a stand-alone rig OR I can use it under computer control. It is as good for SWL as well as for hunting DX contacts. I did have a problem with RF on certain bands and traced this to the remote tuning pod. Ferrite beads and a couple of .001 MF caps solved that problem. I like the DSP features and being able to update the rig and even install new features by downloading files from Ten-Tec. I hated buying a rig only to see a newer version of the same model released a week later. No such problem with the Jupiter.
N1OPO Rating: 2002-04-27
Excellent middle level HF radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is an excellent middle level HF radio. The ability to upgrade the firmware means that it will be awhile before it is obsolete. With PC (Pegasus, etc.) software you can add many more options. There are a few things I’d like to see added like being able to run in Jupiter mode and have the standard TT PC interface to run my logging program. Currently you must run the Pegasus software to do this, unfortunately this shuts down the Jupiter’s controls . I expect to see that addressed in future firmware upgrades. I always get good audio reports and have never experienced the RF in the shack problems noted by some. I did have a problem with the radio and had to send it back to Ten Tec. They repaired it and sent it back no hassle – that’s Ten Tec.
N5KJ Rating: 2002-04-26
Great median priced radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Having owned a Jupiter since April of 2001, I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the radio. I think I have upgraded the firmware about a half dozen times and each time has been an improvement in the radio at no cost to me.

Some complaints seem to come from the "multi" knob, but after using it about 3 days, all of the controls are simple and easy to remember. Try that on some of the imbedded menu radios. I really think if I were in the market today for another HF rig that I would have to buy the Jupiter again even compared to radios costing $500 to $800 more.

I like it.
N4USG Rating: 2002-04-26
Great Radio for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my Jupiter for over a year now , with no problems , worked lots of DX and CW rag chewing with excellent reports . My antennas are a A3 yagi
a G5RV and a R5 vertical . My only RF problem came when I was using the remote tuning pod , I removed it and the RF problem went away , but my station is not connected to an Earth ground , I think if I grounded my Jupiter I could use the remote pod . I have an AM radio tower about 500 feet from my QTH , it runs 5000 watts during the daytime , I can only hear it in a couple of spots with very low signal strength when I'm using the G5RV , same as on my TS-690s . The computer control software works great , I use it sometimes , but I like the look of a real radio front panel . The DSP is great and the Frimware can be updated as new versions are written , although I have not updated mine . I'm still using the version that was in it when I brought it in Febuary of 2001 , I'm very happy with it. All in all the Jupiter is a very good buy for the money and lots of fun.
AC5E Rating: 2002-04-26
EXCELLENT PRICE/PERFORMANCE RATIO Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had a Jupiter, to go with my 11 other rigs, for about 4 months. On a direct 1:1 comparison it runs rings around it's direct price competition. I took it down to a friends shack to compare against his new 746PRO, and he's sick. Not that the Jupiter actually outperformed the PRO in all categories, but as a tranciever, it does just as well in every category, better in some, and for a lot less money.

The latest software download cures many of the complaints posted here, such as one way band changing. Ten Tec listens, and most problems are easily cured with a cheap (FREE!) software download. If you have 'net access you can have the latest features on your Jupiter.

Inevitably, rigs do break. Fortunately, breakdowns on TenTecs are usually field repaiable - with little lost time or effort involved. For the rare case where you can't fix it yourself, UPS usually has a repair job longer than Ten Tec has.

So for everything that counts to me, performance, price, durability, and service, Ten Tec wins hands down. The yen is rising against the dollar and import rigs prices will soon increase. That will make Ten Tec even more competitive. But for my nickel, you can forget the rest and buy the best. Ten Tec, made in America by Americans

KE4WY Rating: 2002-04-26
Nice Fun Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I always have more than one HF radio at my location and someone once said I have owned every radio known to man. That's not totally true but I have owned many radios from very expensive to lower priced. None have totally satisfied me 100% but I can say I really enjoy this radio and find myself operating the Jupiter more often than some more expensive radios here in my shack. It's a fun radio to operate whether in the Jupiter or Pegasus mode.

My first experiance was with the Jupiter a little over a year ago and I saw some things that were missing or that I would like added by TenTec.

(1) Noise blanker.
(2) Speech Processor.
(3) Ability to set the HP filtering on transmit
lower that the fixed 200hz.
(4) Ability to change directions of the one direction band button.
(5) The offering of an internal antenna tuner for those who desire one.

Every single one of the above 5 listed items have been added by TenTec, the first four by flash updates and item number 5 has been and is now offered for those who want an internal tuner.

I find the noise blanker to be very good, both transmit and receive audio are excellent, and frequency stability is first rate.I have A-B'ed it against some very popular highend Japanese radios from 10 meters through the 160 meter band and have been able to hear the very weak ones just as well on the Jupiter.

Thank you TenTec and I look forward to the Orion.
K3ICH Rating: 2002-04-26
Love/Hate....... Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had a Jupiter for about four months. There are some things about it that I think are terrific, and others that are a disaster! Here's a rambling of the ones I remember. The multiple use audio/rf gain/mike gain/power knob drove me NUTS! At LEAST give me a separate volume control knob! The single, unidirectional band change button is, in a word, inexcuseable. Luckily, I had the remote pad which allows direct digital frequency entry, so it alleviated the problem a bit. The misc. beeps/squeels/digital noise etc. that you hear when the radio is connected to a 50 Ohm dummy load borders on unbelivable. Sure, it's not a problem on a noisy band like 40 meters, but when you're snooping around on ten when condx are not so hot, it's disconcerting at best. I did like the overall sound of the receive audio, on SSB as well as AM. The DSP is clean and not intrusive. The band scope ranks right in there with the original IC-756, that is, just about useless.

N1JAO Rating: 2002-04-25
interplanetary mess Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i don't own one, however a new ham friend of mine bought one and brought it over to my place to hook it up to my beam to see how it played. construction seemed very cheesy at best, however i did like the display color, and the information it displayed. ok, after firing it up, i was shocked at the ambient noise floor coming through on all bands. (10-20) when i came upon a strong signal, a lid started calling cq dx 2 1/2 kc down, and whammo! the jupiter had overload from mars! wiped out, desensitization to the stars! my advice to my friend was to take full advantage of the money back offer from ten tec! he did so, and picked up a used 746. (which i have owned) results? night and day! no comparison as far as noise floor, image rejection, and transmit audio quality. thank you tentec for helping my friend out and giving him his money back for this interplanetary mess.
KI5II Rating: 2002-04-24
Great Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have read some of the complaints and I can't see how they are talking about the same radio that I have. Mine works great and is better than all my previous rigs from Yaesu and Drake. It's very quiet and I hear stations and work them that are very weak that other stations aren't hearing. My antenna system is a modest Mosely Classic 33 at 33 ft. I've worked 147 countries, all modes, less than 100 watts, in the 11 months since I've had it. It's not perfect for sure, but what radio is in this price range. I have had excellent audio reports from what little SSB I've worked and its fantastic on the digital modes. This radio is fun to operate and I'll keep mine thank you.

Jim N0OR
W5VPU Rating: 2002-04-19
The Jury Returned a Good Verdict Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a follow-up to my April 3 review, which stated my "yes/but/I'm not sure" thoughts about difficulties I was having with the Jupiter.

I talked at length with Stan on April 4. At his suggestion I reboxed the Jupiter and mike and sent back via UPS on Friday, April 5. Ten Tec received them on April 9 (remember, there were two days of UPS downtime over weekend) and returned a receipt card.

On April 16 Paul called to discuss his findings at length. He could not make it do some of the difficulties I as having. He said the mike had a bad element which was being replaced. He then talked in depth with me about the entire installation here for possible installation problems. He suggested other things to do here to test out his experience there. He suggested changes I might consider to enhance operation here in Oklahoma City. He was extremely helpful. He said he would have it out in a couple of days. In the meantime I began to address the changes we had noted.(As it turned out, I received the Jupiter and the mike yesterday, only two days after our conversation. Talk about fast turnaround! I have heard war stories of other returns with other companies which far exceeded that.)

This morning under extremely poor band conditions I was able to contact on SSB Abilene, TX, on 75, and St. Louis on 40. Not strong signal reports, but that is not Jupiter's fault. I was getting out. The hams in Abilene suggested some changes I might make in my antenna system on this very small city lot in Oklahoma City to enhance my signals. A station is not just a transceiver; a station is the entire installation!

I am glad I decided to buy Ten Tec and to "take a chance" on the new technology in the Jupiter. It was a good choice for me. Brings me into the 21st century and I learned some needed things about myself and the way I approach ham radio. I have a bunch of the older gear; I need to know the new. The new technology may not be for everyone, but it surely helped me stretch my self. "Thanks, Ten Tec. I needed that!"