Heathkit cult

[john]

At 12:46 PM 10/14/04 -0400, MIKE BRYCE wrote:
>Another example?
>
>Sure, the Elecraft K2. Great transceiver.... but by the time you option it
>out to a useable radio, you're talking in excess of $1500...for a kit

I'm not sure "usable" is accurate, more like "full tilt" but even so,
it's the best 1500$ radio you can buy today.

How many have they sold? Over 4000 of the K2s. Perhaps not many
by HW101 standard (which I built and loved!), but pretty decent
these days. It's a world class radio too.


>the K1, will set you back nearly $450 for a complete rig..that does two
>bands.

>get a Icom 703 for $399 from HRO...

if you're willing  to settle for second rate, yes. And that's close out price
not suggested retail. Also, the K1 for two bands is $279, not 450.


>Ok, let's talk on a smaller scale, no microprocessor controlled rigs and so
>on. Even simple qrp transceivers would be a hard sell. Can you imagine the
>price one would have to have to duplicate the HW-8?

Yes, likely in the 150-250 range. Cheaper than the HW8, in real dollars.
There's lots of similar rigs available today, with better performance
than the HW8. Check the SST line. SIngle band yes, but superhets
with fine crystal filters.

>As much as I enjoy my green radios, clearly the time of large scale complex
>kits are just for wide eyed dreamers..

Don't tell elecraft that.

Respectfully,
John K5MO
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