[TenTec] Ten Tec Please L@@k

[Wa4aos at aol.com]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the encouragement. I have either 67 or 68 Ten Tec rigs, haven't 
counted them lately. Over the years, I have repaired or modified many of them as 
well as ones from friends. The only mods I make are ones that require NO HOLE 
DRILLING or anything else that will take away from the collectability of the 
rig in the future. 
I have several notebooks full of cheat sheets that I have compiled as well as 
sources for various parts. I also have a number of short cuts that usually 
work perfectly. I have even played with paints and have figured out how to 
repaint a Corsair II or Omni 6 cabinet by using a Sherwin Williams product. This is 
not the sorry repaint jobs that you see at Hamfest that look like they were 
painted with a Q-tip and a bucket of mud. This is so good that I can't tell one 
of my repaint jobs from one that is factory done, neither can any of my 
friends.  
In fact it is the same paint and proceedure that Ten Tec used before they 
started using powder coating equipment during the Omni 6 + series. That's next...
I would enjoy sharing this info with others but this is going to be one of 
those labor of love deals and it will take some time to compile everything. 

As I mentioned in my last post, I would greatly appreciate hearing from other 
Ten Tec tinkerers and lets try to get all of this info together. I would like 
others to critique my work as well and make sure they don't see anything 
omitted or possibly off track. Hi... Hey, they still sell me pencils with erasers 
and I use them frequently...
I would certainty be willing to give credit to any author who has a unique 
method of effecting some repair. Additionally, and again with permission, maybe 
I could include schematics and other drawings that could be downloaded in a 
PDF format. Just a thought...

In these days of surface mount rigs that have multiple processors, it is to 
me, refreshing to get an old Argonaut or Triton playing well and have it be 
able to give a $10,000.00 dollar a run for the money. 
Yea, I know all about the specifications and I know those rigs can receive 
signals from other rigs that haven't even been turned on yet. :) Sure they have 
dual receivers but I have 6 Triton IV's how many recivers do you want...  For 
the hard core DXer and serious contester, those rigs do provide many 
advantages. I personally enjoy my Omni 6+ rigs for Field Day and 160 meter contesting, 
however, on all of those other evenings when it's just plain fun to work QRP 
or chase a little DX, those early Ten Tec rigs still have what it takes to 
deliver MANY hours of pure inexpensive FUN. Not to mention a Corsair or Corsair II 
when in top running condition can give any Omni 6 serious competition...
 To me, this is what the hobby is about. I'll keep my savings and enjoy those 
old Ten Tec rigs for now. I will probably buy an Orion eventually and as much 
as I like to do my part to keep a few dollars going into the Ten Tec company, 
I really am out of space and it's going to be 4 years before my oldest 
daughter goes off to college. Even then, I probably wont be allowed to sneak a few 
rigs into her room...

I have decided to post here first since this list seems to have fewer members 
and hopefully, I can keep up with any offers for assistance on this project.

Wonder what a $10,000.00 rig will be worth at a Hamfest in 10 years? Bet I 
can still get $400.00 dollars or more for a clean Corsair II then. Heck, the 
Corsair's are already getting to be somewhat collectable. 

Now, do I want to run the PM 3 or maybe the Argo 509 tonight, no wait, I 
think I'll fire up the Omni C. Yea.... Hi

73,

Glenn WA4AOS