RadioBanter - View Single Post

July 21st 05, 03:46 PM

wrote:
Dave Heil wrote:
K4YZ wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote:
Hoping that they can sell enough to expand the concept, because it is a
good one....

I don't think that's going to happen, Mike.

First off, I don't think very many folks will drop $3K to $6K on a
radio that comes incomplete, computer or not.

Incomplete?

Incomplete as it requires more than providing a power source,
ground and an antenna to get operating.

Yes, $3000 to $6000 is a lot of dough. Definitely way above *my* ham
radio
budget. But that's just me, and what I'm willing to spend. Others will
put
down a lot more for just a tower..

But a tower is a rigid structural item. That's one of the LAST
things I'd skimp any money on!

The DZ website makes the point of comparing popular rigs of ~40 years
ago
and their prices when adjusted for inflation. New ham gear in the bad
old
days was amazingly expensive when you consider the inflation factor.

In fact, consider what PCs cost just ten years ago! A 486DX50 with 32
meg of RAM and a half-gig hard drive could cost you big bucks then -
and it's a doorstop today.

Whelllp...it's 2005 and $3000 is still a chunk of change!

I can spend a heck of a
lot of LESS money and get more radio AND computer for my bucks!

Maybe more computer, but not more radio, if the performance is up to
the claims.

Is that "performance" worth it, Jim, for a non-professional
station? Sure, if I was trying to transmit high fidelity audio I might
want to drop those extra bucks. But in an era when I can communicate
via a satellie with an HT and a hand help yagi, I'd be hard pressed to
justify the cost.

But the big issue is how many hams will spend the money, and how many
DZ needs to sell to be viable. Maybe he only needs/plans to sell 100
or so.

How many Amateurs might have the need for the specifications?

Consider the Elecraft K2. When it first came out, I heard some
scoffing in the peanut gallery that said very few hams would pay
almost $600 for a rig that was, in basic form, CW only, hambands only
and QRP. They said that having SSB, 160, NB, ATU and 100W all as
extra-cost options would doom the rig and the company.

But more than 5000 have been sold since 1999 with minimal advertising.

True.

But a topped-out K2 still comes in UNDER $2000 if you add in ALL
of the options...And not mcuh more if you add in the new VHF
transverters. And in it's present configuration, you can get started
for well under $750. That's a lot easier pill to swallow.

Secondly, it's a "kit" only in the sense that it does come
"disassembled". The potential buyer is actually paying the
"manufacturer" for the privilege of him (the "manufacturer) not having
to pay an assembly line.

I don't think so. It's not clear from the website how much assembly the
buyer actually does. Obviously it's less than the bag-o-parts scenario
of some kits but less than fully assembled.

OK...maybe you ahve to solder the wires going to the front panel
pots and antenna connectors and a couple of point-to-point chassis
connectors.

To make his "three evening" claim it can't be much more elaborate
than that.

Lastly, he brags about the "kit" being "built in America" because
the owner "builds it right here in America". I wish I had the spare
change to drop to buy one for no other reason than to see where all of
the pre-assembled boards are actually assembled. No doubt in some
PacRim nation where the guy who REALLY built it wouldn't be able to
afford it in a lifetime.

I think the boards may be assembled here in the USA. There are all
sorts
of prototype and assembly outfits here in the USA to do small runs. Of
course
they cost a lot more per unit than "offshore", but if you're not making
a
million units or even 10,000 units, the total package price can be very
competitive.

I know. I did that for a while, as Lennie will quickly remind
you!

But even on "limited production runs" of 500 or less units, the
cost was prohibitive

There aren't nearly as many components built in the U.S. as in the past,
Steve. Even back in the late seventies and early eighties, most solid
state devices were produced in Mexico, Maylasia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc.

Yep. And while first runs of new devices may be US made, the production
quickly moves away. Not just silicon devices, either, but many other
components.

By "components", I didn't mean the actual resistors, SMD's,
etc...My bust.

Among the reasons that I continue to use Ten-Tec gear is that families
in the U.S. receive pay checks when I do so. Ten-Tec manufactures their
enclosures, plastic components, variable caps and the like. When I
telephone for service, a real person answers the telephone and directs
my call. A service tech in the U.S. handles my inquiry. If my
equipment needs service, I ship it a relatively short distance, pay a
fair price and it is turned around in short order. Parts are on hand
for most Ten-Tec gear produced.

Yep. Service alone is a reason to buy Ten Tec.

Yep!

My "made in USA" Orion is filled with components manufactured in the far
east. Everybody's else's rig is filled with 'em.

Not everybody's! ;-)

Not mine!

Thank-you old TV's!

For me to buy this latest assemble-it-yourself transceiver, it'd have to
be considerably better than what I have now. From what I've read, it
has numerous features which I see as having dubious value.

The real telling point will be the performance up against an Orion or
other top-of-the-line state-of-the-art rig.

Absolutely.

But who's gonna pony-up the change for one to find out...?!?!

73

Steve, K4YZ