In reading through the postings and discussions and being an Omni VI+
owner, it seems to me that the readers have not disclosed the true
hidden requirements. I project that the needs are a $500 CW only radio
in place of a $2500 all function radio.
Frankly, I don't see that happening. For those that want a CW only
radio for under $500, look at the QRP rigs that are available. Some are
quite advanced, however they typically are classed as QRP rigs. I tend
to agree with some of the others in that the demand for a CW only rig is
quite limited. At the same time the ELECRAFT K2 seems to fill most
areas of this market.
As a series of questions, look at it this way; what's the demand for
single band radios? (The Heath and Swan single-banders went by the
wayside years ago.) Whats the demand for FM HF radios? (Scarce as hens
teeth, I'd say.) What's the demand for FSK only or AM only radios.
(Class C RF amps are a thing of the past although much more efficient
than todays linears for that mode.) What's the demand for ham band only
radios? (Most today have general coverage receivers.) The answer to all
of these questions is NIL. In reality, I think most of (and that "most
of" is probably 80% to 90%) the market is looking for a good all mode,
all band, general coverage RX radio. Just look at the features now
showing up in the market. One area being radios that cover 160M through
70CM, all modes. Wow, isn't technology great! Years ago we used to
have 4 or 5 big boxes to cover that many bands. (And some of them didn't
work to well either.)
While there is a niche market out there for some exotic radio, there
will all ways be niche manufacturers with the objective to fill it.
They won't be found amoung the major players however.
73
Bob K4TAX
Dale L Martin wrote:
>
> > A fair number of the responses I got to my first posting were centered on
> > telling me why a new CW-only rig couldn't be built. And a few
> > were even busy
> > telling me that SOMEONE ELSE was building such a rig. How about,
> > instead of
> > discussing why a certian rig COULDN'T be built, let's talk about
> > why such a
> > rig SHOULD be built.
> >
> > As I pointed out, CW is being de-emphasized. A rig built from the
> > bottom up
> > as a CW-only rig, and completely optimized to make it absolutely
> > the best CW
> > rig available, would certain help to generate more interest in the mode,
> > extending the life of the mode. And, if CW has to die (as some say), this
> > may be our last hurrah for the mode.
> >
> I'm not inclined to agree. I think the generated interest in the mode would
> be pretty slight. Too slight for most manufacturers to give a CW optimized
> radio as you would like to see more than a second glance. I believe most
> non-CW operators are not CW operators for reasons other than the CW
> capabilities of the radios currently on the market.
>
> What do you want from your CW optimized radio? What will it take to
> optimize a current radio (for example: Omni VI+) to what you want it to do?
>
> What percentage of the ham population now not operating CW will then buy
> such a radio and begin operating CW?
>
> What features or functions are on the current radios that keeps the non-CW
> operating portion of the ham population from being attracted to CW?
>
> 73,
> dale, kg5u
>
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