There is the physical value of a radio and then there is the sentimental
value of a radio. Clearly in most cases the sentimental value is much
much greater than the physical value. Of course when one needs to get a
radio repaired or when one wants to sell a radio, the sentimental value
goes to $0.00 for the buyer. Likewise for the fellow doing the repairs.
I repaired radios for years for $25/hr, then $35/hr, then $50/hr and
finally $75/hr. The time/labor was a small part of the the price. It
was the test equipment required being the main reason for the price
increases. One can no longer repair a radio with a Black Beauty
soldering iron or a Weller soldering gun and a Simpson 260 VOM.
Yes, we are into a throw-away world.
73
Bob, K4TAX
On 1/26/2021 9:22 PM, Byron Cordes via TenTec wrote:
I would have to agree fixing some of the old radios is cost prohibitive , at $150 an hour it
doesn’t take long to eat $500 ! Then there’s shipping ! I’m in the midwest and
it’s about $50 each way. Is that radio or others worth $600 it could be but if it broke again in a
year and that time is only was a $300 repair bill . Thats a $1000 !That investment in the old radio is
like the old car that nickels and dimes you till you junk it.
I hate to say it but it’s a throwaway world.
73s Byron AC9PA
On Jan 26, 2021, at 9:05 PM, Bob, WB2VUF via TenTec <tentec@contesting.com>
wrote:
I suspect that most of the Sevierville employees are gone; retired, laid off
or quit. Dishtronix appears to be focused on their own products and Ten Tec
government and commercial products. Also, Ten Tec was shut down by Covid
restrictions.
I've been able to repair Paragons (mine and a friend's). A rig like that can
eat up many troubleshooting hours, so to pay someone to fix it would be cost
prohibitive. The other big limitation is parts obsolescence. If a processor
or memory chip goes, the rig is finished, unless one can find a parts rig.
That's why it's important to have at least one truly vintage rig in the shack,
like my Heath HW-100. I can still get tubes, generic transistors, resistors
and capacitors.
73,
Bob WB2VUF
On 1/26/2021 3:08 PM, Bernie Skoch via TenTec wrote:
I recently had an Orion II in to Ten-Tec for repair on a problem that was just
beyond me to fix.
Service was good, reasonably priced, but slow. The tech called me to get
payment information and to my surprise told me it was only him there; he was
the only one doing repairs.
I have no reason to doubt him, and that might at least partially explain some
of their limitations.
There are plenty of independent amateur radio repair firms. Maybe one of these
can help:
eHam.net
73 and good luck.
Bernie
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Lawson <elawson@grizzy.com>
To: tentec@contesting.com
Sent: Tue, Jan 26, 2021 1:46 pm
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Ten Tec Argo V repair
I guess it is important to keep in mind that the only value our radio
toys have is the enjoyment of using them so better to use them up than
let them sit. So no big deal once you get your fair value of use from
them if they cannot be repaired.
That said, seems one thing going for TenTec traditionally was their
service. If loyal user is willing to pay to have them determine if a
rig is repairable and, if so, at what cost; then so long as they are
making money it would seem bad business to turn everyone out in
the cold. I assume it is not a viable business practice or they really
do not want to support the ham gear anymore beyond whatever they now
produce and given what they produce and that does not seem a viable
business model either at this point.
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