[TenTec] Jupiter frequency jump - Another view on product concept

[George, W5YR]

Good account, Bob. Been there and done that to a large extent . . . didn't
get the t-shirt, though!   <:}

The most compelling evidence of your presentation is a comparison between
the Pegasus and the Kachina 505DSP. The 505 sold for around $2200 - the Peg
for about $900. The 505 was built like a high-end computer with super
shielding throughout, etc. The Peg placed a couple of circuit board in a
box, ran wires everywhere and concentrated on firmware. The Peg was
designed from the get-go to meet a hard and fast price point in the market.
Its performance comes comfortably close to that of the 505 although its
tolerance to r-f , etc. leaves a bit to be desired, as some have reported.
The 505 is absolutely RFI bulletproof.

Bottom line: the Peg is "good enough" for most ham purposes, performs
adequately, offers many of the advantages of a DSP-based radio and sells
for a very attractive price. Thanks to after-market software development,
the Peg has become more fully featured and more convenient to operate. The
505 has died a natural death for several reasons, the chief of which was
that it was released for production before all its essential features had
been implemented, and as a sub-set of the final design, it could not
compete with the Peg on price in the marketplace. Plus, its superior
construction and much more elaborate circuitry cost more than the market
could bear as a final sales price for a non-conventional radio.

Interesting stuff, Bob . . . thanks for your insight.

72/73, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6       
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe SOC 262   
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
Icom IC-756PRO #02121  Kachina #91900556  IC-765 #02437


Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> 
> There's another line of thought and practice.
> 
> Initially a product concept is produced, a document often derived by
> Engineering, circulated past the Sales department  and finally to the
> financial boys in the company.  The idea, and the target selling price along
> with a projection of annual or lifetime sales are solidly massaged by all
> the departments.  Once accepted, the engineer(s) design the product with a
> "target" cost in mind.  Schedules must be met at all costs.  Then, once
> designed and operational, the prototype is handed off.  The manufacturing
> group gets its hands on the "new design" and try to make them in a
> production, as opposed to a prototype, environment.  They often do a "cost
> down" study which often eliminates certain parts felt necessary by the
> design group.  And of course the procurement department says that certain
> parts are too expensive, the lead times are too long and if parts x y and z
> are replaced with parts aa and bb, then the cost will drop sharply and there
> will never be a shortage of production parts.  (If you believe this, I have
> property located 10 miles east of Florida for sale.)
> 
> Now at this point the product doesn't resemble anything that was designed,
> represents nothing that sales can sell and there is simply no market for the
> product.  As to the customer, well now Marketing steps in and says "Mr.
> customer, we have this product that only cost X thousand dollars that will
> cause blazing streaks across the daytime sky and you can buy it for a song."
> 
> Frankly, it's a wonder that any of these boxes work or meet the user
> expectations.  Finally, Service shudders at the thought of aa customer unit
> appearing in their department.
> 
> All in all, it's a good solid business and design concept and we buy them by
> the thousands.  And are happy about it.
> 
> Oh, you need a manual to operate this unit?  We'll have a printed version in
> about 6 months.  For now, sorry, the only thing available is a photo copy of
> the engineers notes.
> 
> Now, for those that think the above is a HOOT!.  Spend 15+ years in an
> electronic manufacturing operation, one that carries the product from
> concept, to engineering design, through mass production manufacturing and
> finally to the end user and provide service support.  IT'S NOT FUNNY!