Ten Tec Omni VII Ham transceiver easy job turned bad NO repair past maintenance Red Flags

Story time at D-Lab electronics. This time someone tried to slip a dog into the shop. Presented it as a straight forward repair. Inspection revealed many issues. I decided it best to pass on this one. These days, I have to be very careful of repairs I accept. Especially when working on expensive equipment. A mistake can be bad for income and my reputation. I had a uneasy feeling about this one, so back to the owner it goes, No Repair.

[@f.k.burnham8491]

Smart move. I used to get equipment in that "Nobody has been into". On much equipment you can see when an American Phillips screwdriver was used to try to remove the screws, as it wallows out the cross slot, as it does not fit properly. (Yes, I have the correct screwdrivers). Red flag pops up. After a call to the customer comes the admission that "Well, yeah, I did open it to see if I could see the bad part". Yeah, sure............... That just made the jobs more time consuming, but I did repairs if they were approved, with no callbacks.

[@mobicus1]

Smart move, sending it back after the inspection. It's too bad people have to be like that so often.

[@wolfhawg]

This is why I don't sell on E-bay. Sent radio. Person said it didn't work. Returned money. When it arrived the pa board was swapped out. Now I only sell face to face. Thanks for sharing your experience. 73s

[@hamradiohack]

Oh yeah. Ebay is terrible for a seller. I dont gamble

[@scottb5662]

Thank you Terry. This is good advice., I fix things for folks and am thinking about more in retirement. I'm listening to ya!

[@jerryuhte1284]

Like your videos ,makes one wonder how things get screwed up, some people are just a mess ! 73, Jerry

[@richardbrobeck2384]

We have all been there at one time Terry glad you are a upstanding guy and knew how to deal with this customer .

[@Tom-W7TMD]

Good Call!! Someone was looking for an escape goat. You should charge him an inspection fee for your time!

[@ztechrepairs]

I love watching your repairs. Much different than what my repair shop does which is phones laptops and basically any electronic board. I always have a tough time telling customers know when somebody else has been in a device but you got it right on if you see too many red flags you got to turn it down. Right move for sure

[@bobblum5973]

Terry, without watching the video again I can't be certain, but I'm confident you sent the (uncashed) check back with the radio. I don't think there's any better way to handle the situation. You'd think people would learn: if you want an honest repair person, be honest with them first.

[@umajunkcollector]

Terry should be compensated for his time, at least one hour, plus return S&H. Many shops would hold such a rig until paid - to look at it, and disgnose the troubles, and give an estimate. Not many repairmen do free estimates because the owner that MISREPRESENTS the needed repairs, i.e. doeen't admit to tinkering. Risks cut both ways, there are some bozo repairmen on YT too. Plus the risks from S&H. So taking on a very expensive rig like this is a GAMBLE for both sides. People lie like hell! Cheers for Terry, and jeers for the Omni tamperer.

[@bobblum5973]

@umajunkcollector I agree about compensation, but that's up to Terry, his choice. One clarification. When I said "be honest", I meant that included being upfront with each other. Not stating the history of the gear is equivalent to lying; saying it's "untouched" when it obviously isn't would be a true lie.

[@michaelrwilson3468]

Hi Terry Mike Wilson WB7ECB. I watch your Video on the Ten Tec the Omni 7 and you done the right thing by returning the radio to the owner . when some one says it need thing repair I do go over radio and thay don't tell you the trouth about it. I walk away and ship it back you did the right thing.👍73's

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Great Information Terry

[@rciancia]

Good move Terry !!!! Hope all is well with you and Marcia !!

[@kane100574]

Good call...

[@dhpbear2]

What are knob 'skirts'? Apparently they're optional?

[@cornelishummel7987]

You deed good to send it back

[@dr.detroit1514]

I'm kind of a general handyman, I can fix not all, many things that break, and in the past I've fixed other people's stuff; Radios, tv's, lawn and garden equipment, cars, etc. But things like this, and other problems, is why I don't touch other people's stuff anymore. And on top of that, they typically would want to only pay me peanuts to do it. Too much headaches. As far as I'm concerned, they can take it to the professionals, and pay those rates, to get it fixed.

[@hamradiohack]

You made the right decision. This is why I refuse to work on people's radios I dont know.

[@mikesmuseum]

"I smell a rat" 😂 Isn't that the truth. This was definitely a 'rat's nest'!

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Terry, Good call. I think your suspicions were well grounded. On the upper shelf, is that an Icom IC-7850 or 51? Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@d-labelectronics]

That's a icom 7800. Have it on 10 meters

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

Love the videos..only issue not long enough

[@rudolfogrease7895]

100% you're correct. Apparently there are so many academy awards actors that will try to screw a nice person like yourself. I'm in a business too and when I smell a big rat, I edge my way out. There's no amount of money that I will put myself in an urgency (not a mess) unless I'm doing something for my country and immediate family. Good for you and sometimes you really have to make a statement. Love D'Lab

[@tubeDude48]

Good move!

[@Team-fabulous]

Dont tell me another TenTec bites the dust!!!

[@Doonit_hard_way_since_65]

They seem to attract this type of owner. Finding even a newer one without some sort of do it yourself heroism is getting very rare.

[@mboykin6047]

A righteous solution.

[@flintdavis2]

Aloha D-lab , I’m enjoying your videos. I’ve been browsing your Solid state videos, I’m trying to repair an SWR Bass 350 amp. I cooked a nice 12” 8 ohms speaker testing, it’s not blowing fuses. Can I repair it without all the fancy tools you have? Or will it make a nice parts donor for a guitar tube amp build? I have experience repairing electronics,I’m safety conscious. Any recommendations?

[@d-labelectronics]

Sounds like a shorted final transistor putting DC on the speaker output

[@flintdavis2]

@@d-labelectronics thanks D-Lab, I'll try to find that "final transistor " and test for DC at speaker Jack.

[@stevebumstead9840]

Smart move Terry.

[@tschupbach]

Yep, took me a while to learn not to go near rabbit holes. Turned down stuff that would have kept me from doing useful work.

[@heaven-is-real]

Good for you.

[@umajunkcollector]

Reminds me of CB ""repairs"" or mods done by a screwy screwdriver! But this could be the work of an ""EXTRA"" classy ham now days, after watching a few expert youtube vidds . Many wannabeez watch Terry, Paul, Dave, Buzz, Brian, Shango, Bob, John, etc.,and then become dangerous with a soldering iron. Many mechanics have customers that need them to fix what they tried to fix themselves. This is why the real experts get more than 100$/h, and it takes them additional hours for damage control. The Orion type TenTec rigs are not for the screwballs, If I invested that kind of money, I would not mess around inside it, but rsther have the radio doctors hsndle it.

[@tomsherwood4650]

I would encourage CBers to monkey with their radios and put themselves off the air.

[@davidkerl1431]

The "rats" become obvious right out of the box. There are those who will try to slip something past a repair shop, if they think they can. I hope he paid the shipping back to him. It will make a really great door stop/wheel chock! Dave N9HF

[@d-labelectronics]

Nope, I took the hit on the return UPS. Better that, than getting stuck with the aftermath!

[@miguelrichartmellado2834]

Well done frend. The hot potato retuns...

[@tdmckee-mm8wn]

I vote the ham radio videos go to their own channel. Very small number of views for ham videos versus guitar and bass amps.

[@tomsherwood4650]

I had a Jupiter and a VII at one time and no real problems with the radios. I sold them in 100% condx. Well I think I had a prob with the Jupiter with a diode in the tuner section but it has been so long ago. SMD radios, I pass on fixing them. Too bad TT went out of business. First they had to compete with Japan, then China put the last nail in the US radio makers coffin. We did it to ourselves.

[@tomsherwood4650]

Or maybe it was a bad cap in the Jupiter. Cannot remember. But I did fix it myself with factory parts.

[@ne2i]

You can refuse service to anyone for any reason. This hacked up rig is a good reason.

[@Maria-EstherEsparza]

TEN TEC used to make beautiful transceivers. The Omni VI is the newest one I’d ever have any inclination towards owning. To my eyes, the Omni VII just looks about like any another soulless black plastic microprocessor-dominant disposable door-stop radio.

[@DeadKoby]

I have a few "NOPE's" in my video library also.

[@yellowtomato]

I get alot of those. The classic one is a long email chain asking how to fix it. Time wasters.

[@wb8cxo]

Good Move!

[@zbaby82]

Sometimes you have to say no.

[@woodsontr]

👍

[@brentnearhood8874]

Ain't life grand! 🐭

[@ralphj4012]

A shame you didn't release a video with supporting evidence, I could do with a laugh. Fectum esse conscientiam.

[@toddrodgers908]

Hello, do you repair TenTec Argonaut V? Half of the bands has full 20 watts output. The other half of the bands has output in the teens and 160 meters only has 5 watts output. Thanks and 73 de KK4YLF

[@Team-fabulous]

Im considering buying a beautiful Jupiter with a fault.. No power output on 20 meters.. everything else is fine..Maybe a relay Mr D~Lab??? What you think,,,,,

[@d-labelectronics]

Yep, or maybe a fried trace due to high SWR on that band.

[@Team-fabulous]

@@d-labelectronics good man. Thank you.

[@captlarry-3525]

While you or I might work on a rig like this - for ourselves - there is no way we should be doing it for other folks for money. Just not our skill set. Double Krueger-Dunning IMHO.

[@donr2670]

Shame that is would happen to such a nice little radio, RAT made me laugh! As a CW guy I was always interested in this radio and the RGO-One but they are just a little too far off the beaten path.

[@mackfisher4487]

Dam it’s too bad you can’t publicize the bad player call, as this seems to be out and out fraud.

[@miguelrichartmellado2834]

👍👍

[@electrolytics]

Hope you charge them inspection rate. Thanks D Lab.

[@d-labelectronics]

Nope, just sending it back, will loose the UPS, but gain not dealing with it

[@Kibwunga]

I was a Ten Tec fan for years, but they never were the most reliable rigs, and some of the later designs showed a lack of engineering passion IMO. You could tell they were not into it any more.

[@yellowtomato]

He can send it to Ten-Tec.

[@michaeldomanski2472]

what was the serial number of this unit?

[@FishingHam]

Ten Tec sucks I sent in a transceiver for repair ended up telling me they couldn't fix it and sent it back with loose screws in the chassis!! Then I called tentec the guy on the phone was extremely arrogant sounded like I was a dumba** didn't know what I was taliking about. NEVER A TENTEC! 73 de KD2AVU

[@jeffalessi]

Its nicer to be kissed before being bent over. Safety First...

[@Justplast]

OK ok I GET THIS EVERY DAY d-LAB JUST SEND BACK

[@umajunkcollector]

Or the other option is that it would cost over 1k$ to fix it, R&R PCB's / bad parts, and do/undo needed repairs that could take hours for parts and labor. Fixing tampered with stuff costs more! CHA CHING A pro like Terry, or Dave (12voltvids) and other EE's on YT get a lot of flack from jerks out there in KZbin land, just look at the trolls that do DIY SHTF and SNAFU screwball repairs, then send the mess to the real experts for damage control.

[@gonebamboo4116]

🤔

[@vfrfoxtrott6430]

73s QRO

[@Porco_Utah]

that is exactly why I do not repair radio for anyone I don't know very well any more. I used to repair radio as hobby , also worked at authorized repair shop for Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, Alinco , ARC ( Cessna ) , King aviation radio. Now I only repair my own radio. I prefer to let professional customer service people deal with difficult people, not me tech. AG6JU

[@coldfinger459sub0]

👍