[TenTec] Transceiver Nirvana/Transceiver Pricing

[John Rippey]

Duane G. wrote:

>No matter how you slice it all ham radio gear today is
>less expensive in inflation-adjusted real terms than
>they have ever been at any time in history of ham
>radio, - for any level of performance.

I was not referring to analog radios. For example, the Mark V Field is now 
$1689 new--a terrific price on a basically analog radio with dual 
receivers, etc. I concede that there has never been a better time to buy a 
Mark V Field but . . . it's a very old design.

When I mentioned the hit on our pocketbooks I was referring to radios that 
didn't exist three or four years ago (most of the Mark V's circuitry harks 
back to the 80s--if that's what you want, fine), hence are not susceptible 
to such price/value comparisons. Since the designs are new (for us hams, 
that is), the manufacturers are going to charge whatever it takes, and it 
looks as if what it takes is a heavy up-front investment, and this 
substantial outlay must be recovered in the sale of X number of rigs.

I regard $3300+ for the Orion and $8000-9000 for the IC-7800 as 
constituting a significant hit on the pocketbook, and it looks as if that 
is just the beginning, since there's no doubt we will be seeing second and 
third generation variations of these high-end leaders. What I was 
suggesting is if this is the brave new world, I'm not sure I want to be in it.

I understand work is going on on true software designs--more power to those 
folks--but I wonder what value in the end this work will offer for hams 
who, like me, cannot write a line of software code and who essentially have 
to take what the manufacturers provide.

'Nuff said.

73,
John, W3ULS