The modular design was a Ten-Tec thing for many years, with different rigs sharing the same modules, and slightly different modules being interchangeable between different rigs.
In 1971, Ten-Tec introduced the first of many radios to carry the "Argonaut" name. This one was just... the Argonaut. These days it's known as the "Argonaut 505" to distinguish it from the later models.
I started with an Argonaut 505 with the 405 linear and a 250 PSU, back in 1987. Since then my collection has grown a bit.
In 2015/2016/2017 I got hold of three more Argonaut 505s.
Argonaut 505 Serial #1426 (April 2015, April 2017)
I got this one from Vidi la Grange ZS1EL, then he wanted it back, then he fixed the dial and put it on the air, then he got tired of it, then I got it back again :-)
It suffers from Dreaded Previous Owner-itis, the DPO obviously liked drilling holes in the front panel. The switch on the top right keys the rig, and the socket between RF and AF gain is a headphone socket, connected to the headphone jack at the back. Both of these could have been fitted in a little box on the side with cables to the rear connector. Also, the speaker wires are cut and connected to an RCA socket -- again a signal available on the rear panel.
While he was there the DPO also notched the top of the front panel for easier access to the VFO inductors -- something you set like once, ever. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And he fitted an SO-239 instead of the RCA antenna connector. BNC, I can understand. SO-239? *shudder*
So this is now my donour rig.
Argonaut 505 Serial #825 (May 2015)
Also from Vidi. Unfortunately the previous owner applied the power barse-ackwards causing some venting of magic smoke.
It is in very nice nick, however :-/
I think the previous previous owner used this as a mobile rig (there are mounting holes in the side plates) and that's why everything is secured with this brown stuff.
Also, tuning must have been funny to need these clearance dents for the front end
tuning coil adjusters.
Argonaut 505 Serial #824 (April 2017)
A gift from Vince Harrison ZS6BTY. In very nice nick.
2025-03-01: Argonaut 505 #732
The first Saturday in March is traditionally the CTARC flea market. There was an Argonaut 505 and two Icom IC-2Es on the "free" table. I donated R100 to the club, walked away happy.
This one is Serial #732, missing the side plates but otherwise complete and appears to be totally original and unmolested. I'm using one of the other radios as a sideplate donor, this one is going to be the 100% stock reference model.
Triton II
I bought a Triton II from the CTARC.
Triton IV
A friend up in Div 6 found a Triton IV with a 252G PSU. It's supposed to be dead, Idunno, I will have to investigate. Serial Number 544-0316.
- I scanned the Argonaut 505 Schematic and Owner's Manual. The last page of my Owner's Manual is missing -- compare it to the one from Ten-Tec.
- Argonaut 509 schematics.
- Ten-Tec Argonaut 505 Service Note 7: Installation of the Model 249 Noise Blanker into the Argonaut 505 circuit.
- Cleaner Keying for the Ten-Tec 509, Improving SSB Performance of the Ten Tec Argonaut 509 and Curing VHF Interference in Ten-Tec Argonauts.
- Speech Processor.
- TenTecWiki.
- (http://www.earlandrews.com/) Earl Andrews had a lot of Argonaut information. That site's been taken over by spam. Archive.org to the rescue
- F6EHP's collection.
