Maybe I can find a deal on an Argonaut at Dayton this year. Will give me something to look for. Yuma Hamfest is next weekend
Maybe I can find a deal on an Argonaut at Dayton this year. Will give me something to look for. Yuma Hamfest is next weekend
Last edited by wa6mhz; 02-08-2013 at 03:11 PM.
I'm catching a ride with another ham on Saturday morning. I'll keep an eye out for you, Pat.Originally Posted by wa6mhz
All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.
Be aware that there's a known issue with the audio power out transistors (2N4105 & 2N4106) on the Argonaut 505 (that's the original one). A lot of 505's have started collecting dust because the original germanium transistors are no longer manufactured, and Ten Tec service no longer has them (It IS a circa 40 year old radio!)
The good news is that there are NTE direct-equivalent replacements available. With shipping, it came to something like $15 for the lot.
The repair itself is relatively easy... replace them... although getting the heat sink out of the way is a minor pain.
You can also find a lot of info about the older Argonauts (505, 509 & 515) on VE3AB's web site (*). Earl had a lot of nice articles about restoring them as well, and he was looking into new circuit boards that would replace some of the older ones that have been... for lack of a better term, let's say hacked up by previous owners/repairers. Earl also was working on a new final PA board that would be a direct drop-in replacement for the 515, and would bring the 505 & 509 up to the 515's power out (7 to 8 W out as oppsed to 2 to 3 W out)
It's a nice little rig.
What I should do is make a decision on the Argonaut V that I got from W3WH. It's only putting out about 5 W, not 20. (Ten Tec said it had lightning damage and is unrepairable). On the one hand, I ought to troubleshoot it, and down the road at some point I will. On the other hand, if I leave it 'as is' then I can use it to drive my 1208 6 meter transverter, plus run it on HF for PSK 31. We'll see.
(*) http://www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com/505argo.html
Last edited by W3WN; 02-08-2013 at 03:37 PM.
“Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. 90% of the people don’t care, the other 10% are glad it happened.” — Clint Hurdle, 2019
BAN THE DH!
Fudd's First Law of Opposition: If you push something hard enough, it WILL fall down.
Teslacle's Deviant to Fudd's Law: It goes in, it must go out.
"The 2020 election wasn't stolen, and speaking the truth is only a crime in countries ruled by tyrants" - Liz Cheney
“Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfed.” — Bernie Sanders
I'll try to get it out to you today. I have the day off.
All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.
Those old Argonauts work very well, and surprise folks that are used to new radios.
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world to attach the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?" ~ Professor "Dick" Soloman
20m for me. When I was first licensed 6m was a blast when it was open.
The year after I got my Advanced license I got hold of an HA-460...dipole at 20 feet...and managed to work the Caribbean during an opening. Still have all that in the log.
"Everyone wants to be an AM Gangsta until it's time to start doing AM Gangsta shit."
40 and 30 because I have a distinct advantage there. 20 not so much because it's almost closed when I get home.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote