[TenTec] Reflector Buy-Back program

[Gary J FollettDukes HiFi]

Dwelling on a mediocre product like the 7300 is probably not the objective of this forum.

However, learning as much as possible about direct digital receivers is relevant because that is the way things are going to go, for KenSuCom and for Ten Tec (as well as Elecraft).

I look back at the old mechanical switch television tuners, many of which I have repaired or replaced, and laugh because the television companies charged EXTRA for the Varactor diode tuned sets when they began to replace the mechanical tuners. In reality, the manufacturing costs for Varactor tuned tuners were a fraction of the costs for the switch type tuners. For a while, the television makers had the best of both worlds, lower manufacturing costs cost and higher prices. It doesn’t get any better than that from a business perspective.

This will happen with digital direct conversion radios as well, once the improvements in real dynamic range are made and the selling prices fall into line with manufacturing costs.

Imagine the driving force for manufacturers:
	1) No expensive crystal filters
	2) No bandswitches
	3) Virtual knobs that can do any function you desire (for those who, like myself, insist on a radio with real knobs)
	4) Ability to improve function with a simple downloadable firmware upgrade - something Ten Tec pioneered
	5) Every feature you can imagine, including a band scope that puts Orion (and most other radios) to shame
	6) A natural course for obsolescence, driving new sales. Obsolete one crucial part in the radio and panic drives people to liquidate the old and buy new

The Flex business model of introducing a new model every time the seasons change drives prices of previous models low enough that we bargain hunters can buy pretty awesome performance for pennies on the dollar. 

As a result, the only thing that depreciates in value faster than an SDR is an open can of Coors Lite. That’s great for us bargain hunters…


Gary 

W0DVN
	
> On Aug 16, 2016, at 10:50 PM, Joe Papworth via TenTec <tentec at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> Can we buy this forum back from the 7300?
> I'll chip in $5.00 for starters...
> 
> Later,
> Joe, K8MP
> 
> Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
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