I'm inclined to agree with you and Jeff.
As far as buying the 539+418, one scenario that I can see is $$$ up front.
Assuming that the final price is around $800-900 for each, it may be
easier on a limited budget to buy the 539 first, then buy the 418 at a
later date, if more power is desired. Easier to justify to the XYL, if
required, as well.
A well-equipped Eagle is going to cost half again as much as the 539/418
combo. With the auto-tuner, a couple of CW filters and the NB, I have
over $2,300 invested in mine.
Apparently I got so preoccupied with the omission of the 12- and
60-meter bands in the 539 that I overlooked the fact that no auto-tuner
is available. How many of us who run 5 watts or less use resonant
antennas all of the time? Strike four.
My rationale is that, since I already have the Eagle, and with a KX3 at
home waiting to be assembled when we get home from vacation, if I bought
a 539 it would be a shack-bound item.
However, I like the design and features of the 418. As Jeff said, many
of us QRPers have multiple QRP radios. I have a 556 Argo, K1, K2, K3/10
and a KX3, as well as a QRP++ and even a HW-9, most of which should work
well with the 418.
72/73 de Jim - AD6CW
On 8/13/2012 11:38 AM, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
> I think you may be on to something Jeff.
> It's pretty clear that there is a market for a QRP radio that can be, in one
> fashion or another, upgraded to 100 W out. Elecraft is selling quite a few
> K2/10's & K3/10's that can be upgraded at a later time...a K2/10 with the
> KPA100, a K3/10 with the KPA3.
> Now, if you think the cost of the TT 418 is high, look at the cost to upgrade
> the brick on the K2 or K3. Factor in as well that the Elecraft bricks are
> specific to that model radio only, whereas the TT amp will work with almost
> any appropriately rated rig.
> Now personally, for the shekels involved, I'd personally be more likely to
> buy an Eagle than an Argonaut VI + TT418 combo. But that's me. Clearly there
> is a market for a brick to update a QRP rig to a "standard" outpput, and
> clearly there may be a market to take the next step as well.
> We shall see.
> 73, ron w3wn
>
>
>
> On 08/13/12, Jeff Davis wrote:
>
> I think their strategy is to offer a QRP transceiver (the new Argo VI)
> with a matching optional 100W PA. If the Argo VI comes in at under a
> $900 then they can offer a QRP/100W station for around $1600 and be in
> the ball game. In addition, since the amp works with other low-powered
> equipment, they build a new market for that. I have 14 QRP kits in the
> shack here, built over the ages, and a 100W PA that would work with
> most any of them is an attractive option for me.
>
> What I don't fully understand, however, is why someone would buy that
> combo (Argo VI and amp) from scratch?
>
> For about the same money I can buy a 100W Eagle that can be turned
> down to QRP level, and get it with an internal auto-tuner. That would
> take up less space on the desk and be a singular package versus the
> Argo VI, amplifier, tuner, power supply, etc.
>
> With no auto-tuner option in the Argo VI, either QRP or 100W, the
> desktop footprint grows as does the investment - assuming one makes
> use of non-resonant antennas...
>
> 73, Jeff KE9V
>
>
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