[Elecraft] Elecraft vs. Heath.

[Darwin, Keith]

Interesting thoughts, comparing the two companies across time & space.
 
I see many similarities, but one major difference.  Elecraft has managed
to thrive against the market forces that caused Heath to sink. The
Japanese rigs dominate the field and offer lots of features for a low
price.  Well, wait, now, TenTec seems to be doing well tool.  Maybe it
isn't the same market.
 
There are indeed more hams today and we as a group have more disposable
income than 30 yrs ago.  Sheesh, many of us were in our teens back then
and are just now getting to where we can spend some serious money on ham
gear. 
 
Also, I believe the ham population has become far wiser regarding gear
performance.  Back in the day, sensitivity seemed to be the driving
metric.  These days we're looking at all kinds of performance metrics.
When we examine yesterday's well-respected rigs based on today's
knowledge, we find they often come up very short.
 
A smarter customer base with more money to spend means you can build a
superior product and have luck selling it.  I believe Ikensu has missed
the boat to some extent.  By focusing of features first, performance
second, they've pushed the top performing rigs into the top category.
Average folks are left with sub-standard rigs to buy.  This has created
a hole in the market which Elecraft is doing a great job filling.
 
- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411.ssb.100 -
- K3 wave 3 -