[Premium-Rx] consumer vs premium-rx's

[Stephen M. Linscott]

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004, refmon wrote:

> Hi,

<snip>

>
> Premium-RX's didn't cost an arm and a leg simply because the government was
> buying them-they are expensive because they utilize precision components and
> designs in small quantities--therefore a certified unit piece costs
> significantly more than the same piece from a mass-produced lot.  Add to
> this that manufacturers have to test and certify to various levels depending
> on the purchaser of the unit, and you've got a raelly expensive item.
>
> John Collins

An example of component quality:  the PRC-74 was a small 20 watt
solid-state military SSB/CW transceiver from the 60's.  When I was in
Navy MARS, we picked up some through the equipment disbursement program.
The units had been stored in an open crate in a field outside of Austin,
TX for at least 4 years, exposed to rain, heat, cold, etc. THEY WORKED! We
found a sheet with one of them that listed the cost to the government as
$6800.

Sounds like a lot, but consider that every solid state component had been
subjected to repeated hot/cold cycling and vibration testing before it
ever made it into the rig (one can only imagine how many didn't make it),
and every connector and PCB land in the unit was gold plated.

When you removed one of these units from it's case, you got the same sense
of awe that we get today when we look into a premium receiver.

Just my opinion - maybe I'm more easily impressed than some! :-)

                            - Steve -   W5EGP

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*   Steve Linscott           Information Technology Division     *
*   linscot at rice.edu      Rice University       Houston, Texas   *
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