Yes, the economics can be brutal. But the investment gap was ever thus. I'm
a boomer who first learned of amateur radio when I was in junior high
school. I wouldn't get my license until many years later. But I pored
through Heathkit, Allied, and Lafayette catalogs and visited our local
Henry Radio store looking longingly at the radios. Then, as now, there was
a wide range of price and performance. IIRC, the gold standard, or so it
seemed, was the original Collins line, before Rockwell bought them out. My
meager in-person sampling of stations at the time yielded a similar
observation to yours: more Heathkits, Drakes, Atlases, and others than Collins.
In the end, I guess, we pay the price we must for a radio that meets our
operating interests and needs, and change radios if or as those interests
change.
As a mid-price-ish rig, "We'll always have the K2 [he hoped]; here's QSLin'
you, kid."
A satisfied K1, KX1 builder/user...
W/best regards,
Pete
--
--
Peter N. Spotts -- NM5PS
ARRL Public Information Coordinator, New Mexico Section
http://www.nm5ps.net | Email: [email protected] | Skype: pspotts
QCWA #34679 | SKCC #4853S | QRP-ARCI #4174 | CalQRP #67
NEQRP #714 | NAQCC #2446 | G-QRP #13202 | Polar Bear #348
On March 25, 2019 08:45:07 Bob McGraw K4TAX <[email protected]> wrote:
With all of the wonderful ideas and features advanced for a K4, I find
one thing which has been seemingly omitted. PRICE! Yep, hams want
radios with all the features whistle band bells along with alleged
performance.............. in the $1000 price range. Look at the volume
of sales of radios in this price range. A large majority of hams today
do not have $3500 to $6500 to invest in a radio. Yes I know the
technology, engineering investment and cost to produce is a major
component of price. But still, hams want inexpensive radios. It may
not be feasible to produce a product in the $1000 price range, but ICOM,
Kenwood and Yaesu seem to think so.
ICOM IC-7300 = $979; Yaesu FT 991A = $1100; Kenwood TS-590SG = $1200;
Yaesu FT-DX3000 = $ 1300; Kenwood TS-480HX = $1000
Yes I know these are not in the performance league of the current K3S,
but these are what is on the air, in mass, today.
73
Bob, K4TAX
Very happy with my:
K3S, KPA500, KAT500 and P3
______________________________________________________________
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--
Peter N. Spotts -- NM5PS
ARRL Public Information Coordinator, New Mexico Section
http://www.nm5ps.net | Email: [email protected] | Skype: pspotts
QCWA #34679 | SKCC #4853S | QRP-ARCI #4174 | CalQRP #67
NEQRP #714 | NAQCC #2446 | G-QRP #13202 | Polar Bear #348
On March 25, 2019 08:45:07 Bob McGraw K4TAX <[email protected]> wrote:
With all of the wonderful ideas and features advanced for a K4, I find
one thing which has been seemingly omitted. PRICE! Yep, hams want
radios with all the features whistle band bells along with alleged
performance.............. in the $1000 price range. Look at the volume
of sales of radios in this price range. A large majority of hams today
do not have $3500 to $6500 to invest in a radio. Yes I know the
technology, engineering investment and cost to produce is a major
component of price. But still, hams want inexpensive radios. It may
not be feasible to produce a product in the $1000 price range, but ICOM,
Kenwood and Yaesu seem to think so.
ICOM IC-7300 = $979; Yaesu FT 991A = $1100; Kenwood TS-590SG = $1200;
Yaesu FT-DX3000 = $ 1300; Kenwood TS-480HX = $1000
Yes I know these are not in the performance league of the current K3S,
but these are what is on the air, in mass, today.
73
Bob, K4TAX
Very happy with my:
K3S, KPA500, KAT500 and P3
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[email protected]
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[email protected]
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
