[Elecraft] This does not bode well for the chip users of the world

Thu Apr 29 20:47:25 EDT 2021

Staring out at the LA seashore, I see scads of ships waiting to offload in numbers I’ve never seen before. Whatever the legitimate reason for that bottleneck, it must compound the delay of possibly scarce items including commodity ICs.

I think we only have one silicon foundry  stateside in AZ and I think run by Intel. A stunning amount of critical chips are made in Taiwan which seems to be the object of desire for a neighbor to its right.

While government involvement through policy or incentives is a spirited topic to discuss, I think the EU has invested a lot more money in trying to have more foundries than we have. Leaving things to market forces has unintended consequences.

I can now finally justify my unbuilt Elecraft kit collection under the guise of anticipating a global shortage.

Paul
W6PNG 

> On Apr 29, 2021, at 5:30 PM, Harlan Sherriff via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> Amazon has 50 piece NE555 for $5.39 ready to ship, two day delivery 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Apr 29, 2021, at 5:29 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV <lists at subich.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Welcome to the world of "just in time" inventory meets off shore
>> production.  Then couple that with a Chinese Communist Party that
>> makes sure that Chinese companies get their orders filled before
>> the rest of the world.  Then don't forget that there are not enough
>> shipping containers to accommodate all the freight demands.
>> 
>> International commerce is reaping the rewards of concentrating
>> manufacturing in China while stripping the US & Canada (and to a
>> lesser extent, Europe) of much of their manufacturing base.
>> 
>> It's not just chips but pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics and
>> even consumer staples.  The trend will only get worse if the current
>> administration has its way and increases taxes on business and capital
>> by 50%.
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>>  ... Joe, W4TV
>> 
>> 
>>>> On 2021-04-29 5:11 PM, Gary Memory wrote:
>>> It isn't just IC's.  I placed a $250-ish order from Mouser two days ago.
>>> Most of the items are common components, with a BO lead-time into
>>> September.  We live in a different world, at least temporarily if not for a
>>> long haul?
>>> Gary N7BRJ
>>>> On Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 5:01 PM Ken B via Elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> Its affecting everything - Tried to by a bunch of 555 timing chips for
>>>> the local troops scouting project - none around, glad we don't need them
>>>> till November.
>>>> 
>>>>    On Thursday, April 29, 2021, 04:50:57 PM EDT, Wayne Burdick <
>>>> n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Many off-the-shelf parts are affected as well.
>>>> 
>>>> Wayne
>>>> 
>>>> ----
>>>> elecraft.com
>>>> 
>>>>> On Apr 29, 2021, at 1:13 PM, Linda M <wa6vab at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hi Wayne.
>>>>> I would think the Parts you use are Off the Shelf Semiconductors.
>>>>> The Auto Industry are Custom Fab semiconductors.
>>>>> Ray WA6VAB  K3
>>>>> 
>>>>> From: Wayne Burdick
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:40 AM
>>>>> To: Mark Goldberg
>>>>> Cc: Elecraft Reflector
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] This does not bode well for the chip users of
>>>> the world
>>>>> 
>>>>> Indeed, it's a ubiquitous curse. Fortunately we stocked up far in
>>>> advance on most parts and assemblies.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Wayne
>>>>> N6KR
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Apr 29, 2021, at 10:39 AM, Mark Goldberg <marklgoldberg at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> For smaller customers that are not buying millions of parts at a time,
>>>> it
>>>>>> is even worse, as they have no leverage. That includes the company I am
>>>>>> working for and I would assume companies like Elecraft. Even for simple
>>>>>> orders from distributors of in stock parts they are taking a week to
>>>> ship
>>>>>> rather than the usual next day shipment. It is really disruptive.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Mark
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 10:20 AM Dave Cole <dave at nk7z.net> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> An interesting story from OPB dealing with the global shortage of
>>>> chips...
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>> https://www.opb.org/article/2021/04/29/it-s-not-just-cars-ipads-and-macs-suffer-from-semiconductor-crunch/
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> 73, and thanks,
>>>>>>> Dave (NK7Z)
>>>>>>> https://www.nk7z.net
>>>>>>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>>>>>>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>>>>>>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>> 
>> 
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