[TenTec] ORION---K2

[Clark Savage Turner]

On Sunday, December 14, 2003, at 08:09 AM, Ron wrote:

> Total Cost $20/hour....Gee, let's see..... Parts and labor, testing, 
> quality
> assurance, finance people, customer support, sales, continued 
> non-recurring
> engineering (to correct issues), manufacturing/engineering overhead, etc
> (such as economy of scale)........ Total cost could get in the 
> $100+/hour.
> So, I think that a manufactured K2 cost could really be out of site if 
> that
> is all the company produced and maybe that's why it is in kit form.
>
> Even the kit version cost does not represent the real cost.
>
Doesn't represent the benefits either.  Try $2000 for a decent 
electronics course, then there are the lab fees (at my local University, 
nontrivial costs!)  Then there is the corresponding "free" service built 
into it, I can now fix my own gear because I know what is inside and I 
tested it myself every step of the way.  A few years ago, I recall that 
a Professor (at Cal Tech?) had based a course on building a NorCal 40A, 
he even had a text to go with it.  Their courses cost more than my above 
quote, not to mention the tough entry requirements :-) .

The simple calculations don't come close to the reality.  However, when 
I dig into my pocket, one costs a bunch less than the other to put into 
my shack.  The time I spend is essentially free since its my hobby and I 
love it  :-) .  For a complete appliance operator, there are different 
calculations, of course!

Clark
WA3JPG