The AM Forum

Evidently, some of this company activity has been going on for awhile if you do a Google search.
http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/ten-tec-announcement-january-4-2016.506554/

Hmmm...  I wonder how much Flex, Apache Labs and other SDRs  had to do with Ten Tec's sales decline.  Ten Tec survived the stiff Japanese radio competition in the past, but maybe this was too much.

I haven't looked at their product line in a while, but I'm guessing they never came out with an SDR.  For that matter, how about Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu?   Did they ever come out with a stand-alone SDR?

I see Kenwood's TS 2000 interfaces to a computer and looks SDR-slick:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asdR3B74Xx8

T

Interesting.. I have a Ten-Tec "Omni VII" 588 that I am currently using as an exciter for a larger project.  ;)

Here is the status on what was a current production model:

http://www.rkrdesignsllc.com/products/transceivers-receivers/ten-tec-model-588at-omni-vii-with-auto-tuner/

How many times have we all seen this as technologies and trends rule?

 Ten-Tec was a long time survivor, with commercial and military contracts in tow. "Software Defined" is the new trend, and as Tom suggests, knobs may become "virtual" at the same time as we long for the days of actually driving our "driverless cars"..

..and so it goes   ;D

Maybe their senior management just needs a shot of younger blood to start embracing some of the newer technology and devices in the marketplace.

Many of the newer transceivers (within the last 15 years (where have you been)) can interface with a computer and can get firmware upgrades and do other wizzy computer related things.

Icom's IC-7300's with its direct RF sampling system, http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/0173sdr.html
comes close to an actual SDR-type radio with knobs.

SDR's with "knob control" are hitting the market:

(http://i.imgur.com/cJI764O.jpg)

Tom, you need to get out more  :D

Yep, Pete,  there's no doubt that I've been stuck in the 80's... :-)

The problem is that unless something comes out that really tickles my fancy OR gives me a big edge over the present rig, I don't bother. 

However, the Apache Labs with "pure signal" does give me a tickle and could be my next rig.  There's something about using an SDR that can drive any old monster, dirty linear chain and be as clean as -55db 3rd ++.

Jeff, the only thang I see wrong with those radio knob SDR units is that they cram the display into a tiny front panel, something like using cell phone.    Maybe those rigs have an interface to allow a big 22" LCD screen when desired.

It is a PIA to have to boot up a computer with the normal SDRs, so having it all built in is nice. That probably IS the future until the brain implants come about...  I'm looking forward to thinking a question or thinking CQ and suddenly a super computer comes on line in my head.

T

Speaking of the changing face of ham radio... the other night I was listening to a guy working Europe on 75M.  I've always thought I could hear a pin drop in Eu with the high quad array and beverages. Maybe the best ears in the US on 75M into Eu.  But this guy was working Russians that were at my noise level. I figured he was using a European web receiver or something. (my ego was bruised) Turns out he was legit - on a remote controlled 60 acre site that was 300 yards from the Atlantic ocean in the most NE corner of Maine you can get. (Eastport Maine)  He had up a simple 4-square vertical array and was remote operating from New Jersey.  

Anyway, turns out he owns a company that leases remote sites around the country to hams. He has up over 50 towers and 300 antennas scattered around.  Just imagine if you want to work South America on 75M, you just dial up the FL remote super-station on your own remote. Or working JA from CA.  Or EU from Maine as mentioned.
 
Hearing how he had me beat by a few dB on receive was a harsh realization, like when a riceburner car with nitros cleans your GTO clock.. :-0   Things are a-changing and like it or not, a ham in his NYC apartment overlooking Central Park can now get on his web-computer and beat anyone's local antenna farm.  It's a whole new way of operating.  More power to them I say.

Of course remotes have been around for at least 20 years now, but we are seeing them get bigger, better, and much more competitive, like maxed out corntest stations - unlike the early days.

This is DXing and Corntesting mentality, I admit, and has nothing to do with AM, but I still have some competitive old school DXing in me and it was interesting to see how technology has finally caught up and passed me by, caw mawn.

Check out his site and links:

http://www.w2re.com/about-2/

T

If you really want to know more about "Remote Ham Radio", go here:
http://www.remotehamradio.com/the-stations/

Operating those remote could be fun and most certainly would be something different. For me, much of the fun is knowing that I built the antenna(s) and station and optimized the capability from my location.

Hearing a pin drop in EU from a seaside location in Maine is just about child's play. Try doing it from Virginia.  ;)

Finally, SDRs have been around since at least the 1980s, even ones with knobs. Ham radio is well behind the times, as usual.

Steve,  I agree,  The fun of Ham Radio for me has always been what can I do with my equipment from my QTH.

Fred

I read the info, Pete.   Amazing.  I wonder how they keep up the maintainence all round the USA...  Imagine a simple amplifier crap out and having to fly out to CA.    And how about burglaries, power outages, weather, etc.

Anyway, looks like there won't be too many 1/2 hour old buzzard AM transmissions at 59 cents per minute and a yearly fee that can approach a couple thousand bux.

Naw, for me, the thrill of using that system would be gone in a heart beat I'm sure, just like using Skype.  After being king of the band a few times it would wear off.   

Much of ham radio is tinkering and the thrill of owning your own stuff, no matter how humble.  For the hams without the facilities to pull off a real station, it may be the answer.

T

  I haven't got the money to get into an equipment race, for me the fun is getting some of this old (junque) stuff working, learning a few things, reliving what it was in the day and the satisfaction of using a piece of gear that is older than I to talk to some one hundreds of miles away.

 I also have a love and fascination with the history of radio that goes along all of this.

Personally, I think these remote sites are cheating. If you really want to talk with someone that bad, call them on Skype - always a 5-9 contact! Some things are just better the old way, like my wife of 31 years - her glow keeps me warm at night. She's one of the most dependable things I have, and provides me with hours of enjoyment. No desire to trade her in for the virtual knobless version! Oh ya, and she's even licensed - KB2CZD

Apologize for off-topic comment.  Another option for keeping in  touch with our ham radio friends is CQ100.  It's a ham radio only service where those who have been victimized by HOA's or are in a assisted living environment can still keep in touch

73's and apologies, Al

I would suspect one of the purposes of the "remote sites"  is to provide an average ham with limited equipment or antenna resources, the thrill of "big gun" contesting station action or working the exotic DX in those very rare places with ease. It wasn't designed to replace Skype or CQ100 for idle talk to your buddy in Somalia.

"remote sites are cheating"
I guess you would also call cheating: using FM repeaters, working stations through satellites, working EME, using digital modes to work weak signal DX. Heck, even using SDR's rigs could be construed as cheating to comply with your  "Some things are just better the old way".

Pete is making good sense to me.  My view is that the whole experience of remote sites, repeaters is truly the spirit of the experimenter - someone has to be behind the scenes making these remote sites viable just as repeaters have support technicians experimenters - whatever fits your idea of the dedicated people who make this whole remote / repeater concept available to the ham who just wants to communicate with others around the world.

Some have been for various reasons disconnected from the ham radio experience - why not use technology to give these folks a chance to communicate with others.  We need to put ourselves in the shoes of antenna restricted HOA victims or those who are in rest homes or assisted living homes.  Why should these folks disconnect themselves from their friends or potential new friends or the thrill of talking around the world to new folks when technology makes possible connecting with others.

Amateur radio is a tremendous mix of technical types and folks who just want to reach out.  The amateur radio community has done well to make technology work for us all.  This has probably been a little off topic but the content is certainly important.

Back on topic: I do hope things work well for TenTec.  Not everyone wants to spend the big bux for the Flex Radio's Signature series transceiver plus the Maestro Control Console.  There are many who do not want to get into the challenge of tweaking an Apache Lab's Anan into proper operational status.  TenTec as a US based amateur radio company has a good place for us.  I do hope this hasn't been a hostile takeover that results in the demise of an excellent choice for us in a US made transceiver.

Al

It's interesting that the ARRL, in the published review about remote sites, accepts these kinds of contacts for their awards. So there ya go... work DXCC, WAS, WAC, etc., all on your computer and get the wallpaper to prove it.

They look at the financial legalities the same as renting a vacation QTH in the Caribbean.

But the bottom line is you can't fool yourself. Ya get back what ya put in.  Three people attempted Mt. Everest.  One flew in a turbo-charged helicopter, one took a snowmobile and the other climbed the north face by hand.  You can finish the story...  

Surprise:  The helicopter crashed due to elevation, the snowmobile fell into a bottomless crevasse and the climber smugly worked DXCC on his I-pad from the top.  ;D


T

I look at it as the "computer" is the audible, visual, mechanical extension of the front panel of a typical transceiver. The fact that the computer and rig are connected through many miles of technology is immaterial.


No Wi-Fi available at the top of Mt. Everest  :D

So let's take the example of someone using a remote station to work all 50 states. I believe that the ARRL's stipulation is that all 50 states are worked from within so many miles (50-100 I think) of one location. If I can't hear that station in Alaska from my station, and I use a remote station, did I really work them? Although, I admit I use these sites to see how I'm being copied to get an idea of the propagation.

Another surprise: The climber "simulated" working DXCC QSOs in virtual reality using an internal program in the I-pad.  In fact he never really climbed Everest... it was all simulated safely at home.

Just click the mouse and hear:   "The view must be great up there, OM - and you're the strongest signal on the band and have perfect broadcash audio!"    ;)

T

I think if Ten-Tec (or any company) wants to remain successful they need to be less of a "follower" in technology and designs and become more of a "follow me" in their equipment products. Technology is constantly and rapidly changing all the time. Product lines need to evolve quickly to meet the curious and excited needs of the marketplace. Having design cycles 5 to 10 years in a product line will kill you very quickly in today's technology world.

As an example, I recently bought a TV. It came with two remotes. One had the traditional multitude of buttons. The other had 3 buttons, a swipe area, and microphone. With this one using voice commands, I can tell the TV to find specific TV program material, I can access the Internet to surf the web to find whatever I want to find, find any movie from anywhere, surf U-tube for any videos (ham radio or whatever), play any kind of music from anywhere, etc. etc. Technology has moved so fast in such a short time, it has become mind boggling. It makes the TV I bought in 2013 old and obsolete.

Amateur radio companies are no different. Companies have to move very quickly, seize the current technology moment, and get it to market or they quickly will fall behind and become tagged as "they use to have good equipment in the old days". Whether it's "made in the USA" or not is immaterial in today's world. Those lines are very blurred since many components and assemblies are sourced from beyond our US borders.

I guess a lot depends on what working 50 states means to you. You did it for an award; you did it for fun and giggles; you did it to see if you could do it, etc.

Ah, "virtual reality"- sort of like having total recall in an imaginary world - probably similar to the "75 M AM Window".  :D

Pete, you wrote,

"younger blood to start embracing some of the newer technology and devices in the marketplace. "

Good pun "Gerald" or was it your subconscious working? ;)

At my age, I'm happy my conscious is still working  :D  but good catch, and unintentional connection

Are you sure?

If I remember correctly, the highest Wi-Fi enabled point on Mt. Everest is at the last base camp at roughly 17,000 feet which I believe they brought online in 2010. Maybe, in five years, they moved it higher. In the past, they had to use satellite based transceivers to do audio and video at the top.

Sat phones would work,  as would email over hf,  as maritime mobiles do.

Iow,  it's feasible.
--Shane
KD6VXI

There is WiFi at the top of virtual Mt. Everest.

Sponsored by Verizon:

 http://www.fastcocreate.com/3034452/take-this-interactive-3-d-hike-up-mount-everest-if-you-must-but-please-be-careful

Can you hear me now?

Right on, Bro!  Now I can tell the babes I climbed Mt. Everest.    

The bad news is I only made it to the Khumbu Icefall before the computer crashed.  I got rescued by the Trump Helicopter and they flew me to the top.  Do I still get  an award?


T

Same here. Rebuilding a Viking I, II, Valiant, Apache, homebrew, or whatever and watching the tubes glow is my thang!  :D

Phil - AC0OB

Some time back I bought a Titan II used, knowing that it was a dead-end design, with the Russian 4CX1600B source gone. I bought it for a reasonable cost, for the box, the power supply, meters and controls, with plans to convert it to another tube that I have available. It had been at the factory, as the last 4CX1600B had killed the bias/screen regulator board multiple times. This tube apparently had developed a hot short or a breakdown path inside, that would come and go. Anyway, I got the unit shipped directly from the TT service department, after being repaired. The whole deal on this amplifier had been in limbo for about 1/2 year as it was stuck in repair at TT. They were likely happy to see it leave, as it was eating their time and there wasn't an easy fix except to keep replacing the silicon on the PC card. I don't think there was a good tube remaining anywhere.

When TT finally said it was fixed, and the owner and I settled on a sale, I called them to ask what they found wrong with it. It was worse than pulling teeth to get a solid answer. First I had to get the original owner to approve TT talking to me about the amp, even though I bought it from the original owner, and TT was shipping it to my name and address. Then, with this approval, the service manager would not give me anymore information except that I better never use that tube in the amplifier as it would not be repairable again. I agreed, and begged them to please send the dead tube to me, so I could have it. I still wanted to know what transistors had failed, in which mode, so that I could perhaps engineer a better protection circuit for my own use. I have been building tetrode amplifiers since 1981, at high power, first in broadcast and now in scientific systems. So I feel confident that I make something usable from this amplifier.

But the entrenched manager got angry with me, and refused to talk more. What I learned (mostly reading between the lines) was that this particular amplifier was not a favorite model for TT, and the service guy even said he would have designed a simpler amplifier himself. It became obvious to me that the original designer was not there, or was not affiliated with production and customer support and service. Still, I could not get any more specifics. When I have something serviced, I want to have a list of what was done, what was repaired.  Finally I gave up asking, as it was a dead end. Maybe he got a lot of calls from hams telling TT what was wrong with their products or just had a bad week, in any respect, I was not impressed with service there, at least for amplifiers.

I wish them well, with the new owner, and sorry to see the Alpha/TT merger failed. TT has a broader line and they will survive with their professional equipment, and likely continue in amateur. The service manager and others retired I believe.

The old ten tec is gone.   The people that maintained brand loyalty because of legendary service and the ability to pick up the phone and get a technician are over (unless you want to pay for quarter hour increments).

I wish Mike well.   His using John Henry as a mouthpiece screwed him.   His attitude on qrz isn't winning him many friends,  either.   The whole,  I don't care what agreement you had with the prior owner(s),  it's my way or the highway (for repairs already accepted but not yet fixed) is pretty shitty.

People are discovering:  Ten Tec today,  is just a name.   The customer service is dead.  At least the customer service that people PAID for.   You can pay some more now.

It's funny,  watching the attitudinal difference a ceo makes.    Mikes attitude is pretty much,  I saved ten tec from rkr selling it off.   You owe me.  As proof,  he's asking for psuedo crowd funding new radios?

Honestly I see either a rushed decision,  or one that was way more emotional than business sense.   And now ten tec is going to be dishtronix radio outlet.   With pricing and customer service to match.


And any engineer that thought using Russian tubes,  with a limited lifetime,  limited supply and having to use nearly half the rated current at ZSAC wasn't an engineer.   That's a bean counter.

By law they have to ensure either seven or ten years of spares,  do they not?   Would REALLY put a hurting to these companies scouring the eastern block for profit,  if they had to retrofit common tubes into the amps they blew out the door with nothing but profit in mind.

And Badger,  et al,  should have been sued for the 4cx800 lies.   All it took was a person who could read Russian to see that was a flat out lie.

What tube did you retrofit John?   I always thought a 4cx1k or 1500 (the big grid versions)  would be good in them.

--Shane
KD6VXI

Agree. The announcement posted on the Ten Tec site seemed reasonable and they should have stuck with that and left it alone until they had something new to say.

I have owned Ten Tec gear since 1979 and had gear serviced at the factory but that was a good number of years ago.

It's a Law to guarentee seven years worth of spares?
Sounds like a good fable title.  ;D

"Seven Days In May,"
            to:
"Seven Years In Purgatory."

Honestly,  I don't know.   Hence me proposing it as a question.

Regardless,  marketing an amplifier when you KNOW spares are unobtanium is sad.

When I worked for the 2nd largest HVAC Co (worldwide)  and a fortune 15 company,  that was the law touted.   It could have been an internal rule,  made as a "law"  to those in purchasing / engineering / whatever.   

I was a network engineer,  so it wasn't of consequence to me.

--Shane
KD6VXI

Back in the "good old days" when I was a product manager, the general unofficial rule of thumb was to have at least 5 years of spare parts to support warranty and out of warranty repairs. However, as we moved into the final 20 years of the 20th century, it became increasingly difficult to even do that because no one wanted to hold the inventory (spare parts inventory is a slow moving asset). I suspect things haven't changed that much now in the 21st century. There is no law that I know of and manufacturers can build, sell, stop, walk-away, and disappear. Of course, not holding any spare parts inventory, specially for in-warranty repairs, leads to very disgruntled customers.

In today's Internet world where a bad review is just several clicks away on a keyboard, manufacturers and designers have to thread very carefully to produce products with non-exotic components so that spare components would be available after the product has been discontinued. However, even with component manufacturers, they can discontinue a component without much notice to the users, leaving product manufacturers holding the bag.

In certain contacts done with the military, quite often there is a stipulation within the contract that the manufacturer must maintain "X" number of years of spare inventory for products they buy from the manufacturer so that repair support can be maintained.

Shane, those are both the tubes I am going to try. I have several of each to play with. 4CX1000A and 4CX1500B. I wouldn't even start to try to use a pair of 4CX800 and going to GG triodes would be a tragic loss of all that tetrode power circuitry.

Ten Tec went through a lot of Titans, the 416, 417 and 425 models. The two tetrode models were doomed quickly by overpriced or unavailable tubes. The 425 is quite popular with pair of 3CX800A in grounded grid. All of them are well built construction. Now all of these will be difficult if not impossible for them to support. Or a very costly proposition. 

The 425 is a fantastic amp.   A friend here in town has one.   

I used to replace the 4cx250 tubes with 3cx800s.  About the same gain (for the job enlisted),  a lot more stable and plentiful.

Now,  not so plentiful.   I informed my buddy to grab a couple pulse rated pulls when they come up.  The 425 is too nice an amp to hack different tubes into.

--Shane
KD6VXI

I think it is unreasonable to expect to be able to tie up repair technicians time with blow by blow description of the repair procedures, parts lists, etc.  And if the facility is willing to do so, charge you for their time.

You sent them a broken amp, you get a general description of the failure/repair and you get back a working amp.  *shrug*

I would re-phrase to say Ten-Tec needs to once again be a "follow me" company.

How quickly we forget how revolutionary the Orion was in 2002.  The Elecraft K3 virtually copied the architecture five years later.   And again later the Yaesu FTDX5000.  And later the TS590/990. 

No doubt that ANAN and Flex are showing the way but the door is wide open for someone to do it better (how about it Elecraft?).  The more I see of the IC-7300, the less convinced I am that Icom will be doing it better, let alone competitive.  Flex 6K with Maestro is far out ahead of anything else.  The release of Simon Brown's software for ANAN in a few months could be a game changer.

(fwiw ANAN-100D, Flex 6500, K3s and Orion2 are all on my table - they're ALL great radios)

73, Barry N1EU