Yes, now that I think about it, I recall that the QST review was unduly
harsh. I think QST has been biased in favor of the big-3 import brands,
just like Consumer Reports favors Japanese cars and doesn't like
truck-based SUV's. QST seems more interested in the bells and whistles
these days rather than solid performance, and CR says, "Why would you
want a 4X4 when you can buy a minivan? QST reviews many years ago
focused more on how the radio works and its design, even including block
diagrams and partial schematics.
However, I thought that the prices of the Delta/Argonaut II were high,
relative to the competition. On the other hand, competitive rigs were
not all that great in their performance. I used a TS-680 and thought it
was awful.
But, as you say, time marches on, and the Argo V is a newer, better
design for less money. Although I already have a Scout, there may be an
Argonaut V in my future.
73,
Bob WB2VUF
Caitlyn M. Martin wrote:
Hi, Bob, and everyone else,
The Ten Tec Delta II and Argonaut II were not
panned, but they did not get stellar reviews.
I personally thought they were harshly panned. I
talked to Scott from Ten Tec at Dayton and he blamed
the poor sales and ultimate demise of that radio on
the review.
What galled me most was what the reviewer was most
upset about. He noted (correctly) that between the
PBT and the Jones filter you could completely shutdown
the receiver. That irked him to no end. Yet you
could do the same with the dual PBT on an IC-781 and
that did get a stellar review. Basically the reviewer
didn't understand the functionality of the radio and
panned it as a result.
At the time it was new I loved the Delta II/Argonaut
II for just what the reviewer hated: the ability to
tightly control and adjust the receiver passband with
the PBT and Jones filter. I could pull out weak SSB
stations from under the shadow of broadcasters on 40m
and leave pretty much just the signal I wanted. Even
a Kenwood TS-850 (also new at the time) couldn't do
that. I was impressed.
Of course today I use the IF DSP bandpass filter in my
Argonaut V combined with the PBT and get similar
results with a better, quieter receiver. Time and
technology march on.
73,
Caity
K7VO/8
Caitlyn M. Martin - K7VO
http://www.mizuhoradio.com/personal/k7vo
Blog: http://k7vo.blogspot.com
ARRL QRP-ARCI #11018 ARS #445 G-QRP #11577 AK QRP #637
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
|