[Kenwood] New rig rumors??

[peter A Markavage]

R&D doesn't mean invented. A lot needs to go into the development of a
product even if everything is "practically off the shelf". The
implementation and integration of these "practically off the shelf" items
can be an time consuming and worker and process related set of expenses.
Manufacturing and testing expenses also are a big chunk of the cost.

IC7800 has its design roots in government sales internationally. I would
find it hard to believe Icom would have designed the 7800 just for the
Amateur market unless they have alternative markets to draw revenue from.
The 756 PRO series has been popular for the last several years. Wanting a
price point above $1900 and below $11,000, it seemed natural for Icom to
add some nice fuzz to the PRO II, jack the price up to $3000, and tout it
as the poor's man 7800.

Pete, wa2cwa

On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 13:50:59 -0600 "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj at mc.net>
writes:
> what R&D--there is nothing here that is being invented--everything i 
> have
> mentioned is practically off the shelf.
> 
> judging by pro III and IC7800 sales, i'd say the market is there.
> 
> 73,
> rob/k5uj
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "peter A Markavage" <manualman at juno.com>
> To: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 12:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] New rig rumors??
> 
> 
> > Quote - in fact, if they took the 870, added a 200 w. pa, and the 
> 850's
> > great AM
> > performance they would pretty much have it.  Throw in a TFT 
> bandscope
> > display and built-in p.s. and they would clean up.
> >
> > Your assumption here is that the market is big enough to support 
> the
> > research and development expense to design and market this type of 
> rig.
> > Maybe Kenwood doesn't feel that strongly.
> >
> > I think they should design a "Kachina" type of transceiver, based 
> on the
> > learning curve of the TS-2000/B2000 designs and also get the 
> TL-933
> > cleaned up for "type acceptance" for sale in the U.S. Downloaded 
> firmware
> > upgrades would be great icing on this design. The traditional box 
> and
> > knob design shows following the crowd and even worse, third man 
> out.
> >
> > Pete, wa2cwa
> >
> > On Sun, 9 Jan 2005 11:06:13 -0600 "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" 
> <k5uj at mc.net>
> > writes:
> > > john, is the TL933 currently in production?  is it a legal limit 
> HF
> > > amp?
> > >
> > > the reason i am asking is i have not heard of it so i'm 
> interested
> > > in
> > > finding out more.
> > >
> > > i think kw should go for the market that simply wants a good HF 
> SSB
> > > ragchew
> > > rig.  it should be designed for good casual SSB and AM 
> operation
> > > with decent
> > > audio.
> > >
> > > in fact, if they took the 870, added a 200 w. pa, and the 850's
> > > great AM
> > > performance they would pretty much have it.  Throw in a TFT
> > > bandscope
> > > display and built-in p.s. and they would clean up.
> > >
> > > what mfrs seem to miss is that not everyone is obsessed with 
> digging
> > > weak
> > > ones out of the mud and so on.
> > > if I can't hear someone on my 870, to bad for him.  i find 
> someone
> > > else to
> > > talk to.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > rob/k5uj
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
> > > To: "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj at mc.net>; 
> <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
> > > Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 10:30 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [Kenwood] New rig rumors??
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi Rob,
> > > >
> > > > Go see www.rigpix.com, under Kenwood.  They have a
> > > > TL933 amp that is not imported into the US for some
> > > > reason (Type acceptance?)  It is a great looking amp
> > > > also. Resembles a tower computer.
> > > >
> > > > I think that Kenwood is having problems finding a
> > > > niche right now, so they have jumped on the mobile
> > > > direction instead.  Most people would agree that Yaesu
> > > > currently has the best contesting rigs-and if you look
> > > > at the QST reviews, they have less sensitivity, but
> > > > better IMD and blocking numbers.  Icom seems to have
> > > > grabbed the DXing market-better sensitivity, slightly
> > > > less good receive numbers.
> > > >
> > > > I think Kenwood is going after the VHF market.  The
> > > > TS2000 is the best VHF/UHF rig out there, and many of
> > > > their past VHF monoband rigs are some of the best
> > > > rated (TS60, TM255, TR851A).  The F6A is probably one
> > > > of the best multiband HTs out there, although the
> > > > receiver isn't too good once you get outside the ham
> > > > bands.
> > > >
> > > > Will be interesting to see what direction they go.
> > > >
> > > > 73s John NE0P
> > > >
> > > > --- "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj at mc.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > john, i have heard nothing definite.  i hate to be
> > > > > pessimistic and i hope i
> > > > > am wrong, but what i have heard seems to be wishful
> > > > > thinking.  one reason i
> > > > > bought my 870 last year was that i had a feeling it
> > > > > might be the last fixed
> > > > > station type rig from kenwood.  i have a feeling
> > > > > they are moving toward
> > > > > mobile, HT, and TS2000 production and that's it.
> > > > > one reason i think that
> > > > > is that unlike yaesu and icom, they no longer
> > > > > manufacture a full line of
> > > > > station accessories such as a linear amp.  i think
> > > > > if they had plans to
> > > > > continue to compete with Y and I in the "big rig"
> > > > > area, they'd still be
> > > > > selling a complete line.  however, my comments are
> > > > > just more speculation
> > > > > from another uninformed ham and should be taken as
> > > > > such.
> > > > >
> > > > > rob/k5uj
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
> > > > > To: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
> > > > > Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 1:06 AM
> > > > > Subject: [Kenwood] New rig rumors??
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Now that the TS870 has been discontinued, and
> > > > > Kenwood
> > > > > > is left without a high end rig, has anyone been
> > > > > > hearing rumors about Kenwood's next rig?  Maybe
> > > > > > something to introduce at Dayton 2005?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 73s John NE0P