[Kenwood] Kenwood's Amateur Radio Plans

[J. Moen (K0ZXU/6)]

I just joined this list.  I posted a note (shown at bottom) on another 
Kenwood list, asking if anyone knew about Kenwood's plans for staying in the 
Amateur Radio business.  One response (shown below) said Kenwood has 
suspended Ham R&D for 2 years.

Could someone please re-post that note, and are there any other details?

 During this transition from analog to digital radio, with the increasing 
need for all services to increase spectral efficiency, is it possible 
Kenwood plans to develop new digital RF technologies for the commercial 
services first, then apply those to Amateur Radio in 2-3 years (along the 
lines of the D-Star standards)?  Or am I being too optimistic?

     Jim - K0ZXU/6

 ----- Original Message ----- 
 From: John Geiger
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 11:10 AM
Subject: RE: Future of Kenwood Amateur Radio business

 A message posted on the Kenwood reflector, about a conversation with a 
Kenwood rep, said that Kenwood is suspending R and D in the amateur arena 
for 2 years while they focus on the land mobile market.

 ------------  My post on another list ---------

I have a TS-2000, TM-D700 and TH-D7A(g).  I really like these radios, since 
they work well and have features many other radios don't have -- and 
features which I personally enjoy and do use.

While I'm not sure of the exact dates, it seems to me the creative efforts 
that went into building these radios were done in the late 1990s.  Since 
then, Kenwood has come out with the TS-480 series, and recently has also 
brought out a clone of the TM-D700 without APRS and PC support.   I do like 
the 480's built-in remote control functionality, but it also seems to 
partially target the mobile market, while lacking VHF/UHF which the ICOM 706 
has.

When I look at the ICOM Amateur Radio activity, I don't get excited about 
the 7800 -  I don't plan on spending over $10,000 for a radio any time soon, 
but I know that R&D for high-end products eventually trickles down into 
lower end products.  Now I hear ICOM will be releasing a replacement for 
their 706 (probably will be the IC-7000) with a detachable color control 
head and IF-DSP.  It probably lacks many of the Kenwood features I enjoy (or 
will enjoy -- like Sky Command if FCC eventually legalizes it).

But I'm forced to wonder if Kenwood has plans for future Amateur Radio gear. 
Are they working on new stuff, or are they resting on their laurels?  I know 
we are a small market, and it is hard to recover R&D costs when you spread 
them over a small volume of sales.

They don't seem to be well organized.  I attended Pacificon in 2004.  The 
Kenwood booth was empty.  I guess it was good they paid for a space, but it 
didn't say much when they couldn't get  employees to be there.

Is Kenwood simply milking as much cash out of their old R&D costs as they 
can, perhaps having shut down future development?  With few new Amateur 
products over the last 5 years or so, is Kenwood going to stay in this line 
of business?