[Elecraft] OT: Motorola buys Yeasu. Wow!

[Corboy-Poteet]

My thoughts (semi-serious) were that should the Amateur products
portion of Vertex include manufacturing and marketing it might be
worth looking at. Internal access to the Japanese market and I would
think that Elecraft could cherry pick for the capabilities they could
use (like manufacturing). But you are right, even should Motorola be
able to do a clean split of the amateur radio portion they would
certainly expect the buyer to assume all warranty obligations and
other repair, not a pleasant prospect.

But probably all of Yaesu amateur products are so inextricably tied to
Vertex commercial and government gear that a clean separation will be
impossible. Motorola is certainly not going to continue turning out
Yaesu amateur radio products but the 20% left in the hands of the
company's founder may do so in some form.

Ironic, if Yaesu fades and Kenwood slowly withdraws, we may get back
to the point where the big names in amateur gear are again American
and (perhaps) European. I guess China could enter the market but I
would expect that the Chinese business model does not include low
volume endeavors like Ham Radio (unless, of course, Elecraft sells
hundreds of thousands of K3's and the Chinese notice). :)


Mike   W5FTD






> Ha ha ... someone hand Wayne the smelling salts ... 
> he likely passed out after reading that post (Elecraft acquires Yaesu).

> Guess opportunity and problems come in bunches!

> w9gb


>> You know, this may be Elecraft's opportunity to make its first
>> corporate acquisition: take Yaesu off Motorola's hands (this assuming
>> that Yaesu has some manufacturing and marketing assets). Though
>> probably Yaesu manufacturing is contracted out to China; perhaps not a
>> net plus for Elecraft.
>  
>> Mike  W5FTD