Dusted off the Ten-Tec Today

Here Andrew

2 Likes

Oh dear, another radio seems to have followed me home :wink:

@K6EL if you were wondering why I worked you twice on 20 meters… well, this was the 2nd time:

Still working the gremlins out of this very clean Yaesu FT-101ZD MK0 (made in 1979). Sometimes when it comes back from TX to RX, the audio is attenuated (you can hear in this video). I suspect the T/R switch needs to be replaced, and probably a bunch of old capacitors.

And one more - thanks @W7DLZ for another one!

6 Likes

Apparently the FT-101zd was discontinued in 1986 so your set there must be at least 40 years old!

It’s a fascinating dichotomy of pieces of technology. In 1985 we had computers being sold based 68000/68020 processors representing the high end of classic microprocessors whilst upstarts like MIPS, SPARC and PA-RISC were taking over the professional workstation market with RISC design going on to rule the roost. Whilst at the same time radios using 12BY7 + 2x 6146 valves (tubes) were still being sold and were still quite desirable despite the “maturity” of the components and design by mid 80s standards.

I wonder how many 101s and 901/902s are sat on shelves or in cupboards gathering dust bunnies whilst their capacitors slowly fade away? Definitely need to organise a vintage radio event just to give these old boys and girls a run out on the bands.

2 Likes

Radioworld has a couple of TS-830S for sale, one at £499 and the other at £399. Tempting! :wink:

1 Like

My first HF rig was one of these:


I got it in 1983 - it’s late 60s vintage. I think it had been sitting on a shelf for years because when I went to pick it up the owner demonstrated it to me but it didn’t work. He lent me some even older gear while he fixed it. It was a little temperamental but it got me on the year for a few years.

Even if I still had it I wouldn’t lug it up a SOTA summit.

1 Like

If you think a 45 year old radio is worth £499 can I interest you in my lightly used Brooklyn Bridge that I have for sale?

Nice radio Brian but no way is one worth that kind of money.

Just so, Andy, hence the wink. Its a wonderful machine and a piece of nostalgia to cherish but not for silly money. I’ll content myself with my TS-520S!