Trials and Errors Issue 52: Editorial on Amateur Radio Market - Is it Viable for Suppliers?

I'd be curious what that list is?

Radios may already exist that would be able to accommodate much of it. It is just that the radios that possibly can, have masked much of their true capabilities in order to build "more conventional" offerings for sales volume only reasons.

 

Hi Dave,

You seem to have this ability to come up with thought provoking threads. I had to think about the query you made in the title for a bit before responding. There are so many factors to consider.

For myself, I like to dabble with the new and the old. I do go on HF digital quite a bit. But then, I also consider that I don't want to rely on a computer to make transmissions for me. Then the 1962 Drake comes out where I use my favourite mode, AM. And, yeah, I was not around for most of what everyone else was talking of here, I sort of remember the 80's as a lad where I mentored with a local telly and radio repair store, so I like to be able to diagnose and repair what I have. Similar to an auto, I don't want to drive a computer, I want a basic car. New and shiny does not always mean repair friendly, or even user friendly in some instances. Few manufacturers include a schematic anymore. A shame. I think that takes all curiosity out of "what's under the bonnet". Even if you do not understand it, it can spark an interest to go a little further and learn.

I am uncertain if the Amateur market is viable for suppliers. As many have pointed out, many suppliers build equipment for other purposes. I cannot see where any would succeed in the long term if AR was their only product line. Where is the incentive, I suppose. I liken it to the lack of 1.25 metre equipment in the US, as I do not think in the rest of the world that band is allowed, which is akin to the 4 metre band in the UK which is also sort of a niche market so manufacturers are hesitant to invest in something like that, hence a lack of supply though they can be found.

I also agree with the posters that mentioned money, or lack thereof as a limiting factor for many AR operators. So, the ones making radios that cost what I consider to be an obscene amount of dollars/pounds, I just don't see that as being viable. Back to the new and shiny there. There is a lot of great technology out there in the AR world. But I think that manufacturers need to balance that with asking AR operators what they really want. Again, akin to an auto, I personally don't want all controls on a touch screen, 18 airbags or a voice telling me to slow down on the motorway. Some might. So, make products that people want, listen to the AR operators. They can make their flagship for those that want it and the more basic model for those like me that like it simple.

So, I fancy after all of this waffling the best answer to your query is viability for suppliers depends, I think, on if they listen to their customers and find what they want. Then you get the balance I mentioned above, they build some with the, I believe the term is "bling", and some models for those that do not care about that. That does not mean innovation goes away, either. There are plenty of ways to innovate, even with the most simple of radios.

I hope this all came out right. Sometimes my train of thought hits the kerb.

73 Dave
Tony AA7FR

 

Great comments N9DG (Duane). Very well articulated. Thank you.

I have a home theater processor that hit the market in 2010 and is fully IP controllable in addition to a few classic rotary knobs and switches. I don’t think I’ve touched the front panel in 5 years. Just don’t need to.

That’s how far behind the big three are right now.

I never use at least half the buttons on my FTdx-10 front panel while some functions that I need are buried two menu levels deep. Crazy.

We have a ham in our club that uses a Codan radio - no knobs, just a few buttons on the mic, and he loves it. It will be hard for a lot of hams to give up operating methods that have honed over the years. They shouldn’t have to. I just want the option operate the radio in different ways.

I have started playing around with cheap SDR hardware - it’s pretty impressive and like you mentioned a lot of hams are integrating it into their stations with external T/R relays and the like. All because the big three are so far behind.

Tom

 

I have been really enjoying SDR's and have added an SDRplay RSPdx-R2 to my 'older' Yaesu FTdx3000 and all I can say is WOW! it's an amazing hook-in and has 'supercharged' my receiver , it adds a panadapter that is just awesome. but that's not why I added the SDR to my rig , I just did this as a second or 'scouting' receiver. the two receivers really assist one another albeit theres a tiny delay on the SDR's side but I believe I can iron that wrinkle out. but it's amazing how sometimes the SDR hears better than the FTdx3k's but also there's some signals that the rig will dig out that the SDR cannot hear. so I'm really pleased with it. one great thing that Yaesu has done with this rig is there's ports for RX and also IF if you need tight resolution . ( also MU tuners which I cannot afford) . I was going to sell a bunch of my gear and get a Yaesu FTdx101MP but I don't need to because by adding a good quality SDR into the mix has breathed new life into my beloved Yaesu FTdx3000.
so I agree with your statement of how impressing this new gear is and implementing it onto older gear is really fun and adds new performance . 73 de N3TGY

 

Thanks Lon for the comments. As an aside, I really like that Grumpy Yeti moniker and drawing. Cool stuff! Dave, W7DGJ

 

Thank you , Dave - I have to give my 14 year old daughter all the credit... she's so imaginative and has this great silliness with her humor. she heard me talking on the radio with some fellows about ways to remember suffixes on call-signs and that's what she came up with . Now, if I can just get her to have her own license , her older brother dislikes radio, but she always loves to listen to shortwave on dad's radios, and she haunts the radio room when I'm down here quite often. I'll tell her you like her Grumpy Yeti ( she calls him Yeti Ham LOL) 73 de N3TGY , Lon ..