Is Ten Tec dead and buried, or still on life support?

Something like the Ten Tec Scout

 

How about the Eagle? What did that rig cost new almost 2 grand? How much more radio could you get then for almost two thousand dollars? Not a flag ship rig granted, but from a shopping perspective, it seems like you could have gotten more bang for your buck with other brands.

For Ten Tec's sake I hope there is enough of a market who will pay the premium price for their product. I don't mean to come across as bashing them, I really hope they make it. I'm just thinking from a consumer perspective.

 

I suppose that works for telemarketers as well.

 

The Scout worked well and was a darn fine minimalists' rig.

 

Second (or third) that on the Scout. Nice little CW machine. Make the modules smaller, give them some kind of nifty storage, and make the current and voltage requirements suitable for battery operation and you'd really have something. I guess these days it should have some kind of a computer connection to do whatever it is that people do with computers attached to radios.

 

Agreed!
I think an updated, multiband Scout at 50-Watts RF output would sell. It doesn't need to be fancy, just work well. Perhaps it could incorporate the latest excellent Eagle or Argonaut receiver technology, incorporate a USB-B jack for control and audio, to include your mentions. It should also include excellent amplifier keying and ALC circuitry that devoid of the initial RF pulses seen in some recent rigs. Most amps today don't require more than 50-Watts drive anyway. In essence, it should incorporate features that make it portable or mobile for field use, yet versatile enough that it could be used as a base station during those days at home. The 50-Watt level seems perfect for these reqs.

 

I guess I'm a minimalist, perhaps Luddite, but if radio requires a computer in order to use it I find myself not interested.

In my mind computers perform boring tasks in my life in a time savings manner. Racking up a bunch of digital QSOs may be fun for the computer. I have never employed computers for fun and am too old to start now.

Minimalist or Luddite? I can take the ridicule.

 

I just saw five Scout modules on Ebay for ten bucks each, one was 17 meters, one for 30 meters, one for 10 meters, 15 meters, 160 meters, and 12 meters.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TenTec-Arg...351530?hash=item3d68fc03aa:g:MdgAAOSwtN5bIFdl

 

Most of those modules won't be of any use for the next 5 years.

 

Are you related to Ted Kaczynski by chance?