Hi Tracy--
The manual specifies power requirements for the Argosy II (model 525D) as
12-14 Vdc regulated to 5% or better, 500 mA receive, 9A maximum transmit.
I have used one down to 11.5 Vdc but have not tried any lower voltage. As
far as current drain, there is a front panel button which will turn off the
digital display section. That same switch has a spare set of contacts so
you could run the meter lamp through the switch and really reduce your
current. When you are using the rig with the display switched off, you
still have the benefit of 1 kHz dial calibrations on the dial skirt. There
is a rear panel switch which switches the rig from 50 watts to 5 watts
output. You could operate the Argosy for a long time with a small storage
battery.
If you get one, be sure it comes with the audio CW filter. The 8-pole SSB
filter (model 220) in place of the standard 4-pole is most worthwhile,
whether you work CW or SSB. Mine has the crystal CW filter, too, but I
never use it even though I only work CW. So far I have not found that the
noise blanker does anything, but then again I'm not plagued by noise.
I've seen well equipped Argosy II rigs sell for between $350 and $550. I
suppose it is whatever the market will bear.
Regards, Mike N4NT@chartertn.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "W7TRX" <w7trx@mindspring.com>
To: "Michael O. Hyder" <N4NT@chartertn.net>; <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] TT Scout on batteries?
| Mike,
|
| I have had several recommendations to do just that. I am intrigued.
|
| I have a few questions now for the Argosy II.
|
| Any clue how low the supply voltage can get before the radio chokes?
|
| What are the RX and TX current requirements of the Argosy II?
|
| What is a typical range of prices for a Argosy II in excellent condition?
|
| Oh no! I may be getting the TT bug. {:-)
|
| 73, Tracy
| W7TRX
|
|
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: Michael O. Hyder <N4NT@chartertn.net>
| To: W7TRX <w7trx@mindspring.com>; <tentec@contesting.com>
| Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 4:31 AM
| Subject: Re: [TenTec] TT Scout on batteries?
|
|
| >
| > You can probably get a Ten-Tec Argosy for about the same as the Scout.
It
| > will do fine at 12 VDC.
| >
| > Regards, Mike N4NT@chartertn.net
| >
| > ----- Original Message -----
| > From: "W7TRX" <w7trx@mindspring.com>
| > To: <tentec@contesting.com>
| > Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 12:14 AM
| > Subject: [TenTec] TT Scout on batteries?
| >
| >
| > |
| > | Greetings,
| > |
| > | I am planning a portable radio setup for some outdoor fun. I have a 5w
| > solar
| > | panel and 14ah gel cell for power. I plan to use SSB only. The TT
Scout
| at
| > | first glance looks like a good radio for this use. The RX current
| > | requirements are OK with some mods to lower this a bit.
| > |
| > | I did a Deja search and saw a number of posts regarding running the
| Scout
| > on
| > | battery power. The word is, it needs a minimum of 12.8 volts for the
| > voltage
| > | regulator to operate properly. 12 VDC and you will have problems. This
| > would
| > | seem to make battery use unpractical. I am not entirely clear was the
| > | resulting symptoms are, but it was mentioned enough to cause concern.
| This
| > | seems to be unrelated to the known frequency drift/correction problem
| that
| > | occurs during long strings of CW.
| > |
| > | I was hoping someone in this group could shed some additional light on
| > this
| > | for me.
| > |
| > | Thanks for the help,
| > |
| > | 73, Tracy
| > | W7TRX
| > |
| > |
| > | --
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| > | Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
| > |
| >
| >
| > --
| > FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/tentec
| > Submissions: tentec@contesting.com
| > Administrative requests: tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
| > Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
| >
|
--
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Administrative requests: tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
|