Perturbation

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Ten-Tec: Fits and Starts

Posted: 24 Sep 2016 04:40 AM PDT
https://ke9v.net/2016/09/24/ten-tec-fits-and-starts/


Whether or not the current version of Ten-Tec still has serious plans about
returning to the market seems questionable. What we know is that the firms
assets belong to the owner of Dishtronix, a reputable electronics and HF
amplifier manufacturer in Ohio.

Its owner was forthright at the beginning of this year about his plans and
the realities of resurrecting a brand best known for it’s work in the
1970’s and 80’s in a new millennium. He said Ten-Tec would release firmware
updates for a few of its transceivers. It did. He said Ten-Tec would have a
presence at the Dayton Hamvention. It did. He said that there would be a
couple of new product offerings — souped up versions of the Eagle and Omni
7. So far, nothing.

I’m not certain that you can even purchase a new transceiver from Ten-Tec
right this minute?

The operation has moved to a much smaller facility in Sevierville and is
servicing equipment with only a few employees. And these are apparently
overwhelmed with service work based on this recent public posting:

The Sevierville operation is presently overwhelmed with handling Service
and Small Parts orders. This will hopefully be resolved by end of October.
Also it was made clear in this communication, no attempt to contact the
Dishtronix operation in Ohio should be done. They have no parts nor
technical information about any of the Ten-Tec models or products. The
staff in the Sevierville operation are working as a First Come First Serve
basis for service work and parts orders. The Sevierville staff will address
all models and requests and research as they have time. Â* Please be patient
and understanding for a response to your request. Please DO NOT contact the
Ohio Dishtronix offices for any matters regarding Ten-Tec or Ten-Tec
products�.

Dishtronix has a full-plate with the launch of its new Prometheus amplifier
and having also taken on the Alpha Amplifier baggage along with Ten-Tec in
the RKR debacle.

It’s almost as though owner Mike Dishop, N8WFF is a glutton for punishment.

Will Ten-Tec survive? Your guess is as good as mine but it might well come
down to your definition of success. Continued service and the sales of
replacement parts would certainly make some Ten-Tec owners sleep easier.
Others are waiting on a new super-charged Eagle before committing again to
the brand.

I think a lot of time has passed since Ten-Tec last functioned as a
designer and manufacturer of amateur radio transceivers and the market has
likely slipped away from them. Still, I’m impressed with Dishop and have
received plenty of private feedback that he’s one of the really good guys
in our hobby.

This recent response from him to a complaining Alpha Amplifier customer
makes me believe Dishop is indeed, one of the good guys and good people
can overcome almost any adversity.