| THE VE3AB ARGONAUT PAGES 3 pages of analysis and fun |
| I place alot of sentimental value on the "original argonaut series"; that being the models 505 (my first qrp rig in 1974), the very popular 509 and the limited production 515 (only about 800 were manufactured). The page opposite is a picture of my 515. This is my main rig. I do run qro frequently with my 405 amplifier (mainly on ssb). This series of transceivers all share similar layout and circuitry (components). In order to keep the rigs going and to help other amateurs keep their argonauts working, I have built up a collection of spare parts. If you have spares you no longer want/need; please feel free to contact me and maybe we can swap or barter for them. |
| TEN TEC MODEL 405 LINEAR AMPLIFIER 2.5 WATTS in and 50 Watts out. Was built to match with the Argonaut 509. |
| My Ten Tec 405 Amplifier I have this nice little commercial amplifier; the Ten Tec 405 amp. Unfortunately..I had a problem and the final transistors failed. Ten Tec was very helpful and gave me the information to order suitable replacement transistors (MRF 450As). They are available from RF PARTS in California. These transistors are a matched pair. |
| This ad to "join the Argonaut Club" appeared in Feb 1977 QST. Not sure if the Argonaut Club is still around or how long it lasted ect. I bought my Argonaut 505 in 1974 from Uncle Ray in the Toronto area..VE3UR. My 505 had a problem with the reed relay sticking..but VE3UR fixed me up with a new relay board in quick order. |
| Working on the ARGONAUT(s) (repairs and modifications). First of all.. Be careful if you go work on any piece of equipment. Some equipment ..ie the model 515 classic Argonaut ..is my baby..and I wont modify it..unless it is a non destructive mod..and easily reversible. Some other Argonauts that have faced many a battle and have a few battle scars.. (I have one of these in my collection) can be modified and hopefully improved. The biggest modification series was published on the QRParci web site. They were done by Larry East in W1 land and consisted of well documented and illustrated mods to improve the ssb transmit capabilities. I have this series of mods and the QRP plus mods all printed out and in my files. (I have a rather extensive file system of lots of ham articles and electronics articles). Other mods I have seen published were: putting the Argonaut on 30 meters. Putting the Argonaut on 160 meters..(I think that was in the G QRP publication-- Ive never seen it but I would like to). And there were some mods that included cleaning up key clicks among other improvements. One easy mod that I did with my old 509 was to replace the PA transistors with TO220 style CB NPN finals. I had to dress the leads to fit into the holes in the circuit board and add small heatsinks to the transistors..but the mod worked well. |
| My three Argonauts. The 505 top left, the 509 next to it and the Microphone on the left. On the lower shelf..the 515 (black is beautiful!!); the 405 Amplifier is to its left and on the right is the audio filter for the 515. Not shown in this picture are the Ten Tec Power Supplies. |
| Click here to go to page 2 of my Argonaut PAGES. PAGE 2 is mainly technical talk about the ARGONAUT. |
this web site is a work on going.
stay tuned for future developments; especially when it comes to the ARGONAUT
PAGES! THE ARGONAUT RADIO has become my focus lately..73 Earl VE3AB
stay tuned for future developments; especially when it comes to the ARGONAUT
PAGES! THE ARGONAUT RADIO has become my focus lately..73 Earl VE3AB
These little movie clips..like the one below; are very
large files in comparison to the ordinary run of the mill
jpg files. You may want to skip viewing them; unless
you have a good computer with decent amount of
memory.
large files in comparison to the ordinary run of the mill
jpg files. You may want to skip viewing them; unless
you have a good computer with decent amount of
memory.
Below April 6 2008, I am beginning
to work on the Argonaut 505. My
Argonaut 505 has a defective
audio board..as per below picture.
I highly suspect the audio output
transistors. They are germanium
NPN PNP complementary pair. They
are on the heat sink top of the
board.
Another fellow qrper I know had
the same problem with his
argonaut 505.
He replaced his transistors with
Silicon transistors. It worked but I
suspect a bit of cross over
distortion may occur. I am going to
stick with Germanium transistors.
I have some in my junk collection.
to work on the Argonaut 505. My
Argonaut 505 has a defective
audio board..as per below picture.
I highly suspect the audio output
transistors. They are germanium
NPN PNP complementary pair. They
are on the heat sink top of the
board.
Another fellow qrper I know had
the same problem with his
argonaut 505.
He replaced his transistors with
Silicon transistors. It worked but I
suspect a bit of cross over
distortion may occur. I am going to
stick with Germanium transistors.
I have some in my junk collection.
The 509 and 515s used an audio IC instead of these
transistors.
transistors.
You will notice that the 505 here has yellow tubular
capacitors mounted in the vertical position on many
of the circuit boards. I suspect the previous owner of
this 505 had "re capped this argonaut". I will compare
it with photos in the manual.
The 505 argonaut worked fine for me back in 1975
when I bought mine from ve3ur (Uncle Ray) in Toronto.
I can remember working 10 meter ssb with my
argonaut when I first got my 10 meter endorsement.
I had a rotatable dipole on 10.
capacitors mounted in the vertical position on many
of the circuit boards. I suspect the previous owner of
this 505 had "re capped this argonaut". I will compare
it with photos in the manual.
The 505 argonaut worked fine for me back in 1975
when I bought mine from ve3ur (Uncle Ray) in Toronto.
I can remember working 10 meter ssb with my
argonaut when I first got my 10 meter endorsement.
I had a rotatable dipole on 10.
ON "YOU TUBE"; there is a neat movie clip of how a fellow took a 509 and
added a nifty digital display to it.
The "art of homebrewing" and innovation is not dead in amateur radio.
I FEEL..with the internet..it is actually going to get stronger as fellow
amateurs feed off each others ideas and ideals and enthusiasm.
I think the internet is an inspiration for this kind of thing.
added a nifty digital display to it.
The "art of homebrewing" and innovation is not dead in amateur radio.
I FEEL..with the internet..it is actually going to get stronger as fellow
amateurs feed off each others ideas and ideals and enthusiasm.
I think the internet is an inspiration for this kind of thing.
I'm taking all my movies to special MOVIE PAGES.
This is in order to improve the speed of my pages.
LINK TO BE DEVELOPED SOON!
Sept 2 -08 Maintenance Procedure
This is in order to improve the speed of my pages.
LINK TO BE DEVELOPED SOON!
Sept 2 -08 Maintenance Procedure