| 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 -- transistor failure. 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. Actually I bought a pair of spare finals off the QRP-L list. This QRP-L list and (probably) most QRP lists are friendly and you get quite a few useful tips if you filter out some of the other more mundane posts. |
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.
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.
lots of notes being taken.
It will help me a great deal if I go to work on
other Argonauts.
I can share the notes with other argonaut
enthusiasts who are trying to solve problems
and do restorations.
Just drop me an email at my call
ve3ab at rac.ca
It will help me a great deal if I go to work on
other Argonauts.
I can share the notes with other argonaut
enthusiasts who are trying to solve problems
and do restorations.
Just drop me an email at my call
ve3ab at rac.ca
| Want to fix your argonaut or need tips on basic repairs.. here is a site that Ten Tec sponsors http://www.tentecwiki.org/doku.php |
I'm going to make a proper
connection to the speaker on the
top cabinet.
My idea is to have a little phono
plug on a bracket right at the
speaker so it can be unplugged or
plugged into an external speaker.
connection to the speaker on the
top cabinet.
My idea is to have a little phono
plug on a bracket right at the
speaker so it can be unplugged or
plugged into an external speaker.
Another thing I am doing is to
use a rubber mat custom cut
under the circuit boards so that
the wiring and lugs under the
circuit boards does not short
out the traces on the boards.
I used some rubber that can be
bought at home depot for a
garden pool lining. It can be
bought by the foot but it is a
little heavy..but it works.
use a rubber mat custom cut
under the circuit boards so that
the wiring and lugs under the
circuit boards does not short
out the traces on the boards.
I used some rubber that can be
bought at home depot for a
garden pool lining. It can be
bought by the foot but it is a
little heavy..but it works.
NOTICE THE LITTLE CIRCUIT BOARD AT THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE RIG. I took this out. This argonaut was completely deaf on
receive. The receive line (R) on the schematics is about 9 volts when the argonaut is in receive mode. This 9 volts powers various parts of
the receive circuitry. This argonaut now receives quite fine. Another problem with this argonaut was the RF gain control was not operational.
I replaced the potentiometer with one from another parts rig.
I am currently trying to buy some parts to make this argonaut look and perform better. I have written TEN TEC. I find Ten Tec service and
support (even for these old products) has been great.
I used to get hand written letters from the general manager of Ten TEc at one time! That was before desktop computers and the internet!
I am trying to order a PTO rebuild kit and some PTO grease as well. One of my Argonauts has a seizing PTO problem.
http://www.tentecwiki.org/doku.php web site has info on dial restringing and PTO rebuilding among other topics.
HEY..when the lakes open up ... (about mid April)..I'll be out fishing..so I may set this project on the shelf till late fall. It is a hobby for me..
but I do sell the odd part and do the odd repair for other people when I get a chance.
receive. The receive line (R) on the schematics is about 9 volts when the argonaut is in receive mode. This 9 volts powers various parts of
the receive circuitry. This argonaut now receives quite fine. Another problem with this argonaut was the RF gain control was not operational.
I replaced the potentiometer with one from another parts rig.
I am currently trying to buy some parts to make this argonaut look and perform better. I have written TEN TEC. I find Ten Tec service and
support (even for these old products) has been great.
I used to get hand written letters from the general manager of Ten TEc at one time! That was before desktop computers and the internet!
I am trying to order a PTO rebuild kit and some PTO grease as well. One of my Argonauts has a seizing PTO problem.
http://www.tentecwiki.org/doku.php web site has info on dial restringing and PTO rebuilding among other topics.
HEY..when the lakes open up ... (about mid April)..I'll be out fishing..so I may set this project on the shelf till late fall. It is a hobby for me..
but I do sell the odd part and do the odd repair for other people when I get a chance.
Here is another Argonaut in
my collection.
Note the reed relay to the
right of the rig (red color).
When I bought my first
Argonaut 505 in 1974, the reed
relay was sticking and the TR
function was anything but the
nice full break in CW that Ten
TEC was (and still is) famous
for.
The Ten TEC rep..VE3UR
(uncle Ray) sent me a new
board and I was back in
business again.
I have interchanged the solid
state diode switching board
and the reed relay board and
they are both pin for pin
compatible.
I have been thinking of
building some ten tec
argonaut boards from scratch
using modern components
just for fun.
my collection.
Note the reed relay to the
right of the rig (red color).
When I bought my first
Argonaut 505 in 1974, the reed
relay was sticking and the TR
function was anything but the
nice full break in CW that Ten
TEC was (and still is) famous
for.
The Ten TEC rep..VE3UR
(uncle Ray) sent me a new
board and I was back in
business again.
I have interchanged the solid
state diode switching board
and the reed relay board and
they are both pin for pin
compatible.
I have been thinking of
building some ten tec
argonaut boards from scratch
using modern components
just for fun.
I put a 100 pf silver mica in parallel
with the trimmer. Since the trimmer
can be adjusted..should be fine.
The modification article called for a
91 pf capacitor.
You can almost see the short
circuit jumper in the photo which
is also part of the mod. I put a J
right above it.
If you look closely (above the
green C) you will see the 91 pf
capacitor I soldered in place
across the already existing 10 pf
capacitor.
with the trimmer. Since the trimmer
can be adjusted..should be fine.
The modification article called for a
91 pf capacitor.
You can almost see the short
circuit jumper in the photo which
is also part of the mod. I put a J
right above it.
If you look closely (above the
green C) you will see the 91 pf
capacitor I soldered in place
across the already existing 10 pf
capacitor.
link to my next page of ARGONAUT INFORMATION
CLICK HERE TO GO....>>>>(((( These pages are being worked on LINK
WILL BE DEVELOPED IN A WEEK OR TWO.((its summer up here in
northern ontario!! HOT WEATHER TOO!!! -- I have been fishing and
working outdoors ect..and ham radio has taken a bit of a back seat right
now..HOWEVER....---->>> I am slowly getting around to reworking some
pages and I still work on my ham projects a bit in the evenings! 73 Earl
VE3AB (July 31-2011)
CLICK HERE TO GO....>>>>(((( These pages are being worked on LINK
WILL BE DEVELOPED IN A WEEK OR TWO.((its summer up here in
northern ontario!! HOT WEATHER TOO!!! -- I have been fishing and
working outdoors ect..and ham radio has taken a bit of a back seat right
now..HOWEVER....---->>> I am slowly getting around to reworking some
pages and I still work on my ham projects a bit in the evenings! 73 Earl
VE3AB (July 31-2011)
Dial Cord replacement
and restringing. see this
page that has photos
click to visit that page
I will be writing a page
about PTO rebuilding and
dial string replacement in
the future.
and restringing. see this
page that has photos
click to visit that page
I will be writing a page
about PTO rebuilding and
dial string replacement in
the future.
MODIFICATION to replace the 10
meter band (pretty dead right now
with the low sunspot cycle) and
replace it with 30 meters ( a good
cw and qrp band). Shown in pic
left..the mod was not that hard to
do.
I am still in the process of
evaluating the mod. PS. ACTUALLY
now..with my DDS vfo--I was
listening to 10 mhz and the signals
were good on receive. I have no 10
mhz antenna yet.
meter band (pretty dead right now
with the low sunspot cycle) and
replace it with 30 meters ( a good
cw and qrp band). Shown in pic
left..the mod was not that hard to
do.
I am still in the process of
evaluating the mod. PS. ACTUALLY
now..with my DDS vfo--I was
listening to 10 mhz and the signals
were good on receive. I have no 10
mhz antenna yet.
I patched into my Argonaut 509 by lifting a .01 uf capacitor near Q2 (PTO/VFO) and patching in a DDS VFO (the N3ZI ver 2). This was my
current project (Feb 7, 2011) on the bench. JUNE 13th..I have (at least temporarily) suspended trying to marry up the DDS vfo with one of
my 509s.
I will (probably) resume working on it again in the fall and winter months.
current project (Feb 7, 2011) on the bench. JUNE 13th..I have (at least temporarily) suspended trying to marry up the DDS vfo with one of
my 509s.
I will (probably) resume working on it again in the fall and winter months.
www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com REFERENCE PAGES for Ten Tec Argonauts 505, 509
and 515 (the older series of Argonauts from the mid 1970s to around the mid 80s)
Here are a few pages of general notes, photos, links and ideas. These pages were carried
over from my old web site www.earlandrews.com and I have rewritten them June 13, 2011.
and 515 (the older series of Argonauts from the mid 1970s to around the mid 80s)
Here are a few pages of general notes, photos, links and ideas. These pages were carried
over from my old web site www.earlandrews.com and I have rewritten them June 13, 2011.
Last winter.. I worked on an
Argonaut I had previously
purchased a few years earlier.
I went though the circuitry and
compared the "modified" argonaut
with my good working 509.
Made voltage measurements and
undid a few mods.
Argonaut I had previously
purchased a few years earlier.
I went though the circuitry and
compared the "modified" argonaut
with my good working 509.
Made voltage measurements and
undid a few mods.
(NOTE TO SELF)... I want to make up a list of capacitors in the Argonaut(s) that are good candidates for "re-capping".
The capacitors in the Argonaut..(particularly the electrolytics) are probably due or near due for replacement. I want to make up a list
of these capacitors and buy some new modern electrolytics. --- When I do this little project..I will add a page onto this series of pages.
The capacitors in the Argonaut..(particularly the electrolytics) are probably due or near due for replacement. I want to make up a list
of these capacitors and buy some new modern electrolytics. --- When I do this little project..I will add a page onto this series of pages.
| 1.Many vintage transceivers are mechanically worn out from years of use. Most notable worn part is the mechanical band switch. Switch indexes are no longer available. Most but not all individual switch wafers are available but it is very labor intensive to replace these wafers. 2.Many circuit boards have become intermittent after years of heating and cooling, expanding and contracting during the course of normal operation. Intermittent problems on circuit boards can be repaired but this is most often a slow time consuming process to locate the intermittent solder connection or trace on the board. 3.Many vintage transceivers have undocumented modifications. These modifications often render a transceiver un-repairable since the service technician often can not easily determine the nature of the modification and its effect on the operation of the transceiver. Some documented modifications will also render the transceiver un-repairable since the modification drastically changes the operation of transmitter or receiver. 4.Many vintage transceivers purchased from on line auction sites, hamfests and yard sales may not be as advertised and may require extensive repair to bring them up to original specifications. Ten-Tec Service will evaluate your vintage transceiver. If it appears that the repair cost will be excessive we will give you an estimate for the cost of repair before any repair is attempted. If you decide not to have the transceiver repaired there will be a charge for one hour of labor ($60.00) to cover the cost of the bench time necessary to evaluate the transceiver. We will then ship the un-repairable transceivers back to you at your expense |
| NOTES FROM TEN TEC regarding service of the older Ten Tec Rigs. (from their web site). NOTE: I do repairs (fixes) of circuit boards by mail order. I do not do alignments (yet) because I don't have the procedure and I still need to evaluate my test equipment ect. But I can do fixes to circuit boards by mail..I have spare parts and boards. My shop rate is only $10 per hour for troubleshoot component level fixes. (not alignments). |
| IF....you have an older Ten Tec Radio (especially along the lines of these older rigs with plug in circuit boards and discrete components) AND..it is too costly (and time consumming) to repair Id be interested in buying it (them). I can repair at my own pace (which is usually slow and methodical!!!) or if UNSERVICEABLE..I can part it out and have some parts for other hams. Like my $10 per hour fix it fee..I sell my parts very reasonable. If the parts and labour were too HIGH..people would not buy or repair. |
| JUNE 13TH 2011..this series of pages/notes ideas ect..will be finished and added to in a a day or two. I am working on it ...73 earl ve3ab |
These pages under construction..slowly I am
putting the pieces together..73 earl ve3ab
31 july 2011.
putting the pieces together..73 earl ve3ab
31 july 2011.