----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart Rohre" <rohre@arlut.utexas.edu>
To: <tentec@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 1:03 PM
Subject: The Argonaut V, a beautiful radio implementing DSP
> Last Fri. I received my Argonaut V. What a nice successor to the Scout
and
> much more!
>
> First of all, it is actually slightly smaller than the Scout, so was a
nice
> fit in my Wal Mart Plastic clam shell case that I used to carry my Scout
to
> Field Day, etc.
> It uses a similar hand mike, thus my four pin mikes will all fit.
>
> The radio was surprisingly intuitive. At first, as I read the manual, I
> wondered how I was going to remember how to get to various alternate
button
> functions and menus. (I am one of the rare ones who attempt to read the
> manual first!)
>
> However, once grasping the basics of the Function button invoking the
> alternate legends above the buttons, I was soon switching bandwidths with
> the various filter positions. The SSB filtering seems more effective than
> the Jones filter which I usually ran rather open on the Scout during SSB
> work. You can really hear the difference in selectivity between the 3kHz
> setting of the Argonaut V and the 2.4 setting. I was amazed that voice was
> very intelligible on good signals even at 1.8 kHz setting.
>
> The CW filter comes up at the 1 kHz position, which is a good starting
> point. I find 200 Hz narrow filters too tight for my ears, but it is
there
> if you want it.
>
> Having added features like Pass Band Tuning, and a several step noise
> reduction circuit; are welcome additions to a rig. For those who have
been
> long time Scout users, you will enjoy the new added bells and whistles
which
> do not unduly complicate use of the rig.
>
> There is one knob to the right of the finger dimple main tuning knob that
> controls the menu settings once a function is selected. It appears like
the
> dual knobs of several of the other controls, with which Scout users will
be
> familiar, but it is a single control. I realize they made it appear dual
as
> a symmetry thing, but I would have been just as happy to have it a single
> color knob. The only thing I am having to get used to is that when the
> attenuator, (RF gain) is invoked, it is a step function and if you are not
> watching the S meter or listening to the audio, you do not know after it
is
> invoked that it is "on". There is no annunciator led that it is on.
> However, it is a simple matter to punch Function, then the Attenuator
> button, and see if the gain changes. On a dead band such as some of the
> solar flares have caused, it is not as obvious when it is active as on
open
> bands.
>
> I love spinning that dimpled knob. It is very fast even though there are
> only two steps of tuning rate.
>
> As some have noted the Band control steps the bands up in frequency, ie if
> the rig comes up on 20m, and you hit Band you go up one band. That means
> you wrap around the bands to get to a lower band. I have not yet played
> with Band Stacking but I understand that is a way to take care of moving
> down. Out of long term habit, I usually start out on 20m, and see if it
is
> open, and if not, step to the next lower band and so on.
>
> With the Scout, I simply reached over and grabbed the next lower band plug
> in, with one hand while starting to unplug the band in use, (power off of
> course). I never thought about band order. Yet, my less used other end
of
> the world radio does have up and down buttons for the bands. Oh well,
> already, I find I am used to the quick action of the V and its
architecture.
>
> Since the Scout did not have RF gain, the step RF attenuator is a welcome
> addition. I do not miss an RF gain control. My philosophy of radios is
to
> keep it simple and allow more people at Field Days to be comfortable with
> operation of a radio not their own.
> The Argonaut is going to be a great competitor in this regard.
>
> The multifunction analog meter is also my favored way of handling S meter,
> power output, and other functions. On the Argonaut, the SWR is done as
> forward and reflected power which is more meaningful anyway.
>
> Hopefully, the bands will quickly improve and contact evaluations can be
> made.
> But, I am already happy to have a general coverage receiver in the ham
> shack.
>
> One of the greatest things is how quiet 80m sounds even tho it is summer!
> What I mean is that there is not the extra hash that many Yaecomwoods
suffer
> on the lower bands, even if you invoke their RF attenuation. The Argonaut
> receiver is sensitive but without the spurious. I may find my self
> investigating 160m what with the AM mode on this radio!
>
> Anyway, good job Ten Tec, this is a Radio Amateur's Radio, with enough DSP
> bells and whistles, and remote control and updates of firmware to keep the
> computer types happy. Yet, it looks as a radio should look IMHO.
> 73,
> Stuart K5KVH
>
>
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