Where oh where has the Jupiter gone? – TenTec deep sixes the Jupiter 538 2 - October - 2012
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, N4PY, TenTec, TenTec Jupiter, TenTec Orion II, TenTec Pegasus
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Without much, if any, announcement TenTec has quietly dropped the TenTec 538 Jupiter.
Rumored for some months was TenTec likely dropping the model when supplies on had were depeleted of main boards and certain short supply components.
It seems that like the Pegasus it was developed from, the Jupiter’s time has passed.
Support for the medium term seems very likely, as new units with warranties have been sold until recently.
Surprising is the ultra low key brand management surrounding the TenTec lineup change. The rumble & concern that TenTec is on thin ice greatly could be nipped in the bud if TenTec communicated with the market more.
As for the Jupiter, they are an awesome rig at their last new market price, and at the typical used price there are few radios as fun to use as a Jupiter. Being much a Pegasus with knobs, the ability to run a Jupiter in Pegasus-mode using N4PY’s software is a huge plus.
On the speculative end of things one has to wonder when (and even if) the Orion II will be updated/replaced?
73
Steve
K9ZW
From the Yahoo Groups Jupiter538 Reflector:
As the current owner of one of K9ZW’s former Jupiters I have to echo how much fun this rig is to operate. The filtering and noise reduction are amazing. From my experience on regional nets, if I can’t hear, nobody can. But I can clearly pull many stations out of the muck that others can’t. I also get many compliments on my audio quality, particularly after adding a Heil mic to the rig.
Like my previous Icom 718, this is an HF rig only, up to 30 mhz. But I quickly found out what other hams told me, I didn’t really want an all-in-one rig. Sunday nights I literally work an HF net and 2 m net at the same time… yes, a mic in each hand… haha. HF and VHF are so different, yes, I really need two separate rigs.
The best thing is, while somewhat different from the 718, it is no more difficult to operate. I read through the manual a few times and have not had to look at it but a few times since.
What a fun radio to operate!
73,
Paul – AE5JU