Thanks for video. I remember those rigs when they were launched (quite expensive in the UK). The band module made it quite a compact HF transciever in it's day. My favourite trick for cleaning those edge connectors is to use ordinary paper which works like super fine emery paper. Good that you got it all working again. 👍
Hi Kevin, thanks for your video. I've been inactive on the HF bands for quite a while but am now retired and wanted to get the Scout555 I bought from a fellow ham in the 1990's into operation. I found all the remaining band modules on eBay and did put it into operation on 10m (CW) with our local DOK F27 ham group for a while before the Corona pandemic broke out here in Germany. The only problem is that the TX frequency drifts out of the FLS lock after it warms up. I found a MOD on the internet from a Canadian OM published in the 1990's to replace one or more of the SMD capacitors with NP0 capacitors; however, these very small capacitors on the PTO circuit board are very hard to identify. On the Scout555 manual Page 3-16, the Figure 3-12 PTO Schematic shows the capacitors to be replaced as C14 (33 pF) and/or C15 (UNK value "selected in production" but might be 18 pF). His MOD states only one needs to be replaced "as we do not need to completely stop all drift - we just want to ensure it never drifts out of range of the FLS." I emailed the OM VE3EFJ in Nov 2021 with close-up photos of my partially-removed PTO board with several capacitors highlighted but never received a reply. I am thinking that he may be a silent key. Today, I did a thorough internet research on OMs knowledgeable on the TenTec Scout 555 and came across your TH-cam video. I really want to try his MOD, but, as these SMD capacitors are extremely small, I want to make sure the ones I marked on my photo are, in fact C14 and C15 before I try removing them with a solder wick. I would gladly send you or any ham reading this post the same email info (with the MOD write-up and my macro-photos) that I had sent to VE3EFJ. I have also asked one local club member who is experienced with SMDs and am awaiting an answer from him; however, he does not own a TenTec Scout. According to the schematic, C14 & C15 are in parallel along with C8 (330 pF), and C8 is in series with a parallel network of 4ea 470pF capacitors (C3 to C6). Without de-soldering, I am not sure whether I can measure the values of what I think are C14 & C15 correctly since they are still in the circuit. Any hints/tips on this approach would also be appreciated. Many thanks in advance for any help on this. Vy 73's de Glenn Rossi (WB5FDJ / DL8FG) - [my direct email is on QRZ.com]
Kevin, Excellent video because it points out two things: sometimes old radios just need a little TLC to bring them back to the land of the living AND never bjy a Ten Tec Scout! Seriously, glad you found a replacement speaker! 72/73, Bill, k6whp dit dit
Fantastic video. I have one of these and probably needs a thorough going through sometime soon. This video helped me understand how it was put together and solve its shortcomings. Thank you so much. Dave K8WPE
I loved this rig. I bought one new in '95. It was great. Other than the band modules. I wish TenTec would make the Argonaut VI with an adjustable 50 watt PA with a more rugged form factor.
Not yet. But I will. I just found your TH-cam video about it on QRZ.COM.Those magloop antennas are almost magic. A guy from the local QRP Club there in St Louis came to one of our ABG gatherings and brought one. It was really amazing how well it worked. He used a bicycle rim for the loop and worked a station in California on it with 5 watts.
Ah, I need to update the page. That link is to the build video. It underwent many revisions. The final design video is here: th-cam.com/video/ZTsYRyEkCkQ/w-d-xo.html
I’ve got one that seems to have rf getting in on transmit. It doesn’t happen on dipoles just on mobile with a screwdriver antenna. Swr is ok. I’m going to check and see if it happens on cw with the mike disconnected.
Hi Kevin, Have you tried using a pencil eraser to clean contacts? Works great and less abrasive than all but the very most fine sand paper. Nice channel.. 73, Glenn WA4AOS
Thanks Glenn, I have used erasers on flat contacts. The PCB edge contacts are basically pads of solder though. The socket depressed grooves into the solder that were dirty. An eraser wouldn't have gotten down into the grooves. You can re-flow the solder, but then you have to clean up flux. I used a very fine grit and was gentle. Just enough to clear the grooves out.
Hi Kevin, I had a Scout for about 10 years and kept my contacts cleaned with an eraser but I may not have had that many insertions of the band modules. It was not a bad transceiver but as you speed up your transmit CW speed to above 25wpm, there are problems with interrupts with the microcontroller. For casual CW contacts around 20WPM it was fine. I also thought the Jones filter was decent, not stellar, but OK.. I finally sold it and got and Omni 6+ then a matching Paragon II; nice combo. 73, Glenn
Thanks for video. I remember those rigs when they were launched (quite expensive in the UK). The band module made it quite a compact HF transciever in it's day. My favourite trick for cleaning those edge connectors is to use ordinary paper which works like super fine emery paper. Good that you got it all working again. 👍
Hi Kevin, thanks for your video. I've been inactive on the HF bands for quite a while but am now retired and wanted to get the Scout555 I bought from a fellow ham in the 1990's into operation. I found all the remaining band modules on eBay and did put it into operation on 10m (CW) with our local DOK F27 ham group for a while before the Corona pandemic broke out here in Germany.
The only problem is that the TX frequency drifts out of the FLS lock after it warms up. I found a MOD on the internet from a Canadian OM published in the 1990's to replace one or more of the SMD capacitors with NP0 capacitors; however, these very small capacitors on the PTO circuit board are very hard to identify. On the Scout555 manual Page 3-16, the Figure 3-12 PTO Schematic shows the capacitors to be replaced as C14 (33 pF) and/or C15 (UNK value "selected in production" but might be 18 pF). His MOD states only one needs to be replaced "as we do not need to completely stop all drift - we just want to ensure it never drifts out of range of the FLS."
I emailed the OM VE3EFJ in Nov 2021 with close-up photos of my partially-removed PTO board with several capacitors highlighted but never received a reply. I am thinking that he may be a silent key. Today, I did a thorough internet research on OMs knowledgeable on the TenTec Scout 555 and came across your TH-cam video.
I really want to try his MOD, but, as these SMD capacitors are extremely small, I want to make sure the ones I marked on my photo are, in fact C14 and C15 before I try removing them with a solder wick. I would gladly send you or any ham reading this post the same email info (with the MOD write-up and my macro-photos) that I had sent to VE3EFJ. I have also asked one local club member who is experienced with SMDs and am awaiting an answer from him; however, he does not own a TenTec Scout.
According to the schematic, C14 & C15 are in parallel along with C8 (330 pF), and C8 is in series with a parallel network of 4ea 470pF capacitors (C3 to C6). Without de-soldering, I am not sure whether I can measure the values of what I think are C14 & C15 correctly since they are still in the circuit. Any hints/tips on this approach would also be appreciated.
Many thanks in advance for any help on this.
Vy 73's de Glenn Rossi (WB5FDJ / DL8FG) - [my direct email is on QRZ.com]
Kevin,
Excellent video because it points out two things: sometimes old radios just need a little TLC to bring them back to the land of the living AND never bjy a Ten Tec Scout!
Seriously, glad you found a replacement speaker!
72/73,
Bill, k6whp
dit dit
The Eagle is much better built. I think Ten Tec got it together a bit late though.
Fantastic video. I have one of these and probably needs a thorough going through sometime soon. This video helped me understand how it was put together and solve its shortcomings. Thank you so much.
Dave K8WPE
I loved this rig. I bought one new in '95. It was great. Other than the band modules. I wish TenTec would make the Argonaut VI with an adjustable 50 watt PA with a more rugged form factor.
I still have one of these rigs and it looks brand new and has all the band modules.
Guess I should use it more.
Lee, WA8QFE
Good job Kevin. I hope all my repairs will be as easy as you make it look! 73 DE K7RMJ Frank
Thanks Frank. I see you're a member of the antenna builders guild.. Have you seen my mini junk box magloop?
Not yet. But I will. I just found your TH-cam video about it on QRZ.COM.Those magloop antennas are almost magic. A guy from the local QRP Club there in St Louis came to one of our ABG gatherings and brought one. It was really amazing how well it worked. He used a bicycle rim for the loop and worked a station in California on it with 5 watts.
Ah, I need to update the page. That link is to the build video. It underwent many revisions. The final design video is here:
th-cam.com/video/ZTsYRyEkCkQ/w-d-xo.html
I’ve got one that seems to have rf getting in on transmit. It doesn’t happen on dipoles just on mobile with a screwdriver antenna. Swr is ok. I’m going to check and see if it happens on cw with the mike disconnected.
Hi Kevin,
Have you tried using a pencil eraser to clean contacts? Works great and less abrasive than all but the very most fine sand paper. Nice channel..
73, Glenn WA4AOS
Thanks Glenn, I have used erasers on flat contacts. The PCB edge contacts are basically pads of solder though. The socket depressed grooves into the solder that were dirty. An eraser wouldn't have gotten down into the grooves. You can re-flow the solder, but then you have to clean up flux. I used a very fine grit and was gentle. Just enough to clear the grooves out.
Hi Kevin,
I had a Scout for about 10 years and kept my contacts cleaned with an eraser but I may not have had that many insertions of the band modules. It was not a bad transceiver but as you speed up your transmit CW speed to above 25wpm, there are problems with interrupts with the microcontroller. For casual CW contacts around 20WPM it was fine. I also thought the Jones filter was decent, not stellar, but OK.. I finally sold it and got and Omni 6+ then a matching Paragon II; nice combo.
73,
Glenn
Nice work, and you are like me, I have to run upstairs to switch antennas to the bench, ha! 73..wd0akx
👍73's from France 🇫🇷 14frs2507 Sébastien