[TowerTalk] antenna choices

[David Gilbert]

For mass production you need a mass market.  I don't think there is one 
anymore.  Optibeam pretty much builds to order (although of course they 
stock parts and tubing), and given the variety of models required to be 
credible I suspect other companies do mostly the same.  I don't think 
you have a clue about the scale of the market or the costs involved.  
Stop and consider all the antenna companies that have folded or been 
sold in the decade or two ... some several times.  If selling cheaper 
antennas on a large scale was as lucrative as you claim somebody would 
be doing it, but reality is headed in the other direction.

Dave   AB7E



On 4/10/2015 9:56 AM, Bry Carling wrote:
> Mass production always lowers the price. That is not a fair comparison. Somebody somewhere is quite happily making Cushcraft antennas for a much lower price than these multi thousand dollar antennas.
>
> Best regards - Brian Carling
> AF4K Crystals Co.
> 117 Sterling Pine St.
> Sanford, FL 32773
>
> Tel: +USA 321-262-5471
>
>
>
>
>> On Apr 10, 2015, at 11:56 AM, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri,4/10/2015 8:08 AM, Bry Carling wrote:
>>> It seems like very few antennas are affordable to the average ham.
>>>
>>> It seems like they need some competition. With prices in the multiple thousands of dollars for a few aluminum tubes somebody could make lot of money by being less expensive...
>> When we buy a product, we are paying for design, manufacturing, marketing, shipping, documentation, and support. None of that is free.
>>
>> Want to reduce the cost of an antenna? No problem. Pull out the ARRL Antenna Book, pick a design, order the hardware, and build it. Or get some version of NEC and design it yourself.
>>
>> While you're at it, keep track of the number of hours you spend. From the cost of those overpriced antennas, subtract what you paid for materials, and divide that number by the number of hours. Chances are it will be less than what you could make flipping burgers at McDonalds.
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC
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