Although there had been much speculation that Dishtronix was the mystery buyer of Ten Tec, we got confirmation in the last couple of days.

I wrote to Mike Dishop of Dishtronix, Ten Tec’s new owner, to ask him for more information about what we can expect from Ten Tec going forward. Here is his response:

Although Ten Tec has changed hands several times in the last couple of years, I would like to state that Ten Tec has changed hands for the last time in the foreseeable future. Dishtronix has been continuously operating for 17 years, is financially stable and will continue managing in a manner that promotes and maintains financial stability. My vision is strictly long term. I have no plans to leave this business and will continue to operate Ten Tec as long as I am physically able to do so. I believe the Ten Tec transceivers to be some of the best transceivers available at any price and personally have been operating an Orion II until the first change of ownership. Everyone who uses a piece of equipment long enough, develops a personal wish list of things they would change or improve. I feel extremely fortunate to now be in the position where I can use my skills and expertise from more than forty years of ham radio and SWLing to implement changes which I hope will make fantastic products even better.

Unfortunately I have had to make some tough decisions which were made for the long term health and viability of the company. The Ten Tec team is the nicest bunch of people you could hope to work with and have overall reacted positively to the changes. Some team members have chosen to pursue retirement or other opportunities but the core competency remains. We are extremely fortunate to have retained former engineering manager John Henry on a consulting basis and I must give him the greatest credit. I certainly would not take on this project without him and the other team members like Boyd Lichlyter and Patty Gann. Ten Tec is like a big family, and I do not view this as me acquiring Ten Tec but more like me joining an extended family of talented and skilled people. I hope anyone reading this who is in the market for a new radio will help me support this great group by at least trying one of their radios. Of the present production the Eagle is my favorite for having the best sound out of the box, and that is what my personal preference is always based on – good sound. My all-time favorite is of course the Orion II so an Orion III is on my personal wish list for the future. There are numerous Ten Tec user nets on the air and it is my intention so support them by posting the time and frequency schedules on the website. If I can accomplish one thing at Ten Tec it will be to be more customer-centric. I want to build the radios that you the customer wants! I am looking for ways to reliably engage with our customers so we can do that, and I think factory support of the nets is one way to start.

The Ten Tec team is working on production improvements to our facility and business. We are fully occupied with our commercial business at this time. When I have capacity the next step is to run the first batch of Omni 7+ which is the Omni 7 with some minor cosmetic changes and improvements such as a flat metal front for improved shielding. Following this we are releasing the Super Eagle which brings into the Eagle most of the DSP features found on the Orion II and is the first step on the path to the Orion III. This is different hardware from existing product so it is not a firmware upgrade. There are no firm dates or guarantees for when these things will occur.

The blow out sale prices are over and any outstanding orders at those prices are terminated The prices will be the regular list price. Those prices were previous owners intent to liquidate all inventory and will never be repeated.

I am pleased to state that we have completed some firmware updates which will be posted on the new Ten Tec website once it is up and running to entice people to visit the site.

Dishtronix has other new products under development as well. The DX2400MKII replaces the DX2400L1 legal limit + solid state amplifier and should be unveiled at Hamvention, to mention just one. We are close to beginning production of our Emtron DX2/3-SPd tetrode amplifiers which will also be shown at Hamvention. Further, there are some other exciting things happening which we may announce in the near future.

There has been some speculation if Ten Tec will move to Ohio. I do not plan to move anything at this time from the Sevierville – Knoxville area, but we may move within that area.

If I could ask the ham community to do one thing, it would be to please be patient with us. Things like this take time.

There is a little more on this new ICOM radio on the MLS website. Deliveries are expected “in early 2016” with a UK (initial?) price of “under £1000”. I shall wait.

See www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-icom-base-station-radio/icom/icom-ic-7300-hf-50-70mhz-transceiver-deposit-pd-6016.php

Skilman and AmateurRadio.com
have teamed up to give away TEN free copies of
Skilman Introduction to Morse Code
($49.95 value each)
Open to all US and Canadian residents.
Deadline to enter is 10 January 2016 20:00 UTC.

Editor’s note:

Skilman has sent us a 10% off coupon code ‘U4YDIFM’ (valid through 1/24).

From the description:

Developed by Dr. Jessica Parks, an expert in memory and cognition with a doctoral degree in experimental psychology, this course on six audio compact discs will guide you step-by-step to mastery of Morse code.

Dr. Parks draws on long-standing research and scientifically validated principles to give you every advantage as you learn the letters, numbers, punctuation, and pro-signs that you will need to communicate using Morse code. A booklet and complimentary digital download of the entire course are also included.

Always wanted to learn Morse code? Now’s your chance — for free!
Listen to the sample lessons and then enter to win below…

Skilman Introduction to Morse Code – Lesson 1 (24:02) Download

Skilman Introduction to Morse Code – Lesson 2 (24:32) Download

Prize Packages

Ten (10) 6-disc copies of
Skilman Introduction to Morse Code
http://www.skilman.com

Eligibility

Residents of the
United States and Canada
(shipping is included!)

How to Enter

It’s simple!
Leave a comment to this post.
(e-mail address will not be shared)

Entry Duration

Only 1 week!

You may enter only once from
3 January 2016 12:00 UTC
to
10 January 2016 20:00 UTC

(multiple entries from the same entrant will be discarded)

Winner Announcement

10 January 2016

We will announce the winner on AmateurRadio.com.

You can get the winner announcement by
subscribing to our free Amateur Radio Newsletter via e-mail,
following our posts via RSS feed, via Twitter (@amatradio),
or via Facebook (facebook.com/amatradio).

Sign up so you won’t miss our next prize drawing!

Please tell your friends about this giveaway!

Thank you to Skilman for offering these fantastic prizes!
http://www.skilman.com

Stories you’ll find in our January, 2016 issue:

Building Solar-Powered Amateur Radio Beacons for 630 and 10-Meters
By Geir Laastad LA6LU

In the August 2015 issue of TSM, Geir wrote about “Advanced Radio Noise Filtering Using DSP Technologies.” This time Geir puts his electronics know-how to work while he shows us how he built two amateur radio beacons for opposite ends of the amateur HF spectrum: the 630 and 10-meter bands. The site for his beacons is his remote cabin in the woods—far away from everything, which is why his beacons are also powered off the grid. Using QRP Labs Ultimate3 QRSS/WSPR kits, these beacons have to be very rugged to take the abuse Norway’s winters can dish out.

TSM Reviews: AOR DV-1 Wideband Receiver
By Chris Parris

AOR is a brand well known to monitoring enthusiasts. They have a long history of making high-end receivers featuring advanced technology capable of wideband reception from longwave to the high side of UHF. “Federal Wavelengths” columnist, Chris Parris, puts this pedigreed receiver through its paces and finds some welcome pluses and a few disappointing minuses. He especially liked this radio’s ability to seek out weaker digital signals that other radios missed and he found ways to overcome the radio’s anemic audio.

Retro Radio: Finding, Storing and Savoring Vintage Amateur Radio Gear
By Richard Fisher KI6SN

Knowledgeable radio amateurs describe “vintage” transmitters, receivers and transceivers as being somewhat relative—only you know it when you see it. That’s because each of us have our own radio experiences, some dating to decades ago and others more recent. Nostalgia is a many splendored thing. Last month he looked at broadcast-band and shortwave receivers of a rich, bygone era. In this second part, his focus is on collecting, restoring and enjoying commercially manufactured vintage amateur radio equipment. As Richard shows us, restoring these ham band workhorses requires more than just a fondness for days gone buy.

VHF and Above: Sporadic-E Propagation
By Joe Lynch N6CL

From late November to early January, and again in the middle of May through the end of July, sporadic-E propagation appears more often on VHF and above frequencies in the Northern Hemisphere. This type of propagation occurs when there is a sporadic ionization of the E-layer that appears in the late morning and late afternoon local time during those months. But, working meteor-scatter Sporadic-E is not for slow hands, Joe shows you how to work fast to successfully log QSOs using this ephemeral mode. And, for once, it’s not about expensive esoteric antennas!

ATSC Off-Air Local Television: The Programming
By Mike Kohl                                                     

The Golden Age of Television is really here. Never before has there been such an abundance of choices in TV entertainment for the home. Last month, Mike hinted at multiple delivery methods being used to deliver signals. This month he looks at the content provided by local television broadcasters to their local Over-the-Air (OTA) viewers in representative regions of North America. Mike continues to show us all how to “cut the cord,” this month looking at OTA programming rewards. You might be surprised at just how many OTA channels you can find where you live.

Scanning America
By Dan Veenaman
Pensacola’s APCO P-25 Phase 2 and Whistler’s New Scanners

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
DMR, APCO-25, MotoTRBO, and the IRS

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman NV6H
Mexican Military Returns to HF ALE

Digital HF: Intercept and Analyze
By Mike Chace-Ortiz AB1TZ/G6DHU
The US Navy HF Broadcast System Revisited

HF Utility Logs
By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman

Digitally Speaking
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Digital Voice on the HF Bands

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
DVB Dongles: Beef Up your $20 SDR

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
WorldSpace, WRN, WXFAX and More

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7UST
Catching Those Winter Mediumwave DX Signals

The World of Shortwave Listening
By Jeff White
A South Pacific Radio Odyssey

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
RNZI, BBC, RFI, WHRI and VOA

Maritime Monitoring
By Ron Walsh VE3GO
CMB: Continuous Marine Broadcasts

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
SDR: I’m a Believer!

Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
In Command Again Part 2: Experiments in Powering the Command Transmitters

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Stealthy Green Jolly Loop Revisited: On the Low Down

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

I received an e-mail from casting director Austin James of FSA Entertainment in Los Angeles about a new series he’s casting for a major cable network. He asked me to pass it along to you:

NOW CASTING RADIO EXPERTS
(Ham Radio, Shortwave/high frequency, technicians, enthusiasts/hobbyists)
AND ADVENTURERS WITH A THIRST FOR SOLVING MYSTERIES
FOR A NEW SERIES ON A MAJOR CABLE NETWORK!

Seeking a team made up of radio experts, code breakers and adventurers to embark on a mission to uncover the true meaning behind anonymous radio transmissions – “number stations.”

We are looking for experts who have thirst for solving mysteries, are adventurous & charismatic and have a STRONG knowledge of radio (including shortwave and Ham) as well as an interest in ‘number stations’ to be featured in this new and exciting series. We are looking for our ‘Indiana Jones’ of the shortwave world.

We are ALSO looking for ADVENTURERS – people who are not afraid to explore and investigate a wide range of worldwide mysteries; someone who is persistent, charismatic and fearless!

We are looking for people who have EXPERIENCE in travel, research and problem solving. For example: code crackers, techies, radio conspiracy theorists, private investigators, former FBI/CIA, hackers, former military, researchers, history buffs and urban explorers.

To be considered, please email the following information ASAP to: [email protected]

Please include:

• Name
• Age
• Phone number
• Email address
• Brief bio of you and your relevant experience to this (radio, explorer etc.)
• 2 recent photos

Back in October I headed to Chicago – HamRadioNow cameras in tow – to record the 2015 ARRL and TAPR DCC. It’s a three-day conference covering all aspects of digital Amateur Radio — digital radios that run analog modes; analog radios that run digital modes; hardware; software; operations…  On Friday and Saturday, there are usually 8 45-minute talks. There’s a banquet speaker on Saturday, and Sunday morning is a four-hour ‘deep-dive’ into a single topic.

It’s an intense weekend of shooting. Then a lot of editing to produce each talk as a separate program. I just finished uploading the 8th and final talk from Friday.

If you like high-tech, digital stuff in Ham Radio, you probably already know all about the DCC and the videos, right? Well, maybe not. Just in case, stop by my YouTube Channel: www.YouTube.com/HamRadioNow and check out Episodes 221 – 230 for this year’s shows. And to see all the DCC videos that I have online, there’s this Playlist.