[TenTec] Ten-Tec does get it right, within our constraints.

[Allan Henry Kaplan]

Argonaut is a darn good radio, if the majority comments on two
reflectors are any indication.  The limitations of the radio stem
primarily from its use of much 6N2 tooling without modification.  New
tooling would have been a very substantial expense.  Anybody with
business experience will understand that constraint, but many hams do
not have that point of view, which is understandable.

  Argonaut V's limitations, then, are not due to lack of forethought nor
indifference but to the simple concept that we ran out of room on the
panel!  It was quite a challenge to adapt the design to the many
features desirable on an HF radio, and the designers had to make some
compromises.  We believe the result is more than merely acceptable and a
host of customers agree.  

On to fans and heat sinks -- another constraint is the available space
for a heat sink.  Argo does not need a fan at the five watt QRP level. 
We feel that 6 dB more power is a real asset for those who will use it. 
At 10 to 20 watts in a continuous duty mode the design needs more
cooling than convection alone can supply.  The size (again!) dictated
small fans.  Small fans are noisy -- another compromise.  Building
affordable rigs with decent performance is replete with such
challenges!  

The innards of Argonaut V, like most of our transceivers, do not need
fan-cooling; only the final amp heat sink, and only under fairly intense
key-down operating.  While others may have different opinions, this
engineer feels that internal dust and dirt are not an issue at all.  If
there is a compromise here, it is that our rigs need some air
circulation.  That does not happen within the confines of some
consoles.  Our radios simply cannot be all things to all hams, we have
to aim down the middle and satisfy most of them!

The knob on the 6N2/Argonaut design is huge, but most hams believe it
feels great!  In HF operation, most of us have a hand on the knob very
frequently.  Again, we designed a fairly popular 6N2 rig and then
realized that we could squeeze a nifty low-power (but not
QRP-minimalist) HF radio into that chassis.  A few compromises in human
factors result, but most feel we made good choices.  YMMV!
73 all,
Allan, W1AEL,
One of the hams at Ten-Tec,
(writing strictly per my personal opinion, and not necessarily on behalf
of Ten-Tec)