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PA2AGA > HDDIG 26.07.00 02:45l 231 Lines 7523 Bytes #-9302 (0) @ EU
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From: PA2AGA@PI8HGL.#ZH1.NLD.EU
To : HDDIG@EU
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 00 17:09:25 MET
Message-Id: <hd_2000_199D>
From: pa2aga@pe1mvx.ampr.org
To: hd_broadcast@pa2aga.ampr.org
X-BBS-Msg-Type: B
> > resistors and a few plugs.
> >
> >
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 13:01:33 -0400
From: "Bob Lewis" <rlewis@staffnet.com>
Subject: RigBlaster
Personally, I wouldn't purchase a RigBlaster to use with PSK31. I can
and have built something simpler and less expensive (I've never even
had the need to use an isolation transformer). However, if I expected
a nice box with custom silk screened labels, a custom PC board, a
printed manual and to pay someone else to put it together for me then
I think $80 is reasonable and fair. Oh, and don't forget the cost of
advertising (nothing sells very well without it).
RigBlaster is also designed to handle things like a voice recorder
playback and slow-scan where you need to instantly switch between the
mike and the sound card. It's overkill if all you use it for is PSK31.
But hey, people purchase 400 mhz pentium computers every day to run
their word processor and to log onto the Internet at 33.6 K.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 12:26:34 -0500
From: "Steve Sampson" <ssampson@usa-site.net>
Subject: RigBlaster
Radio-Shack used to (still?) sell a Microwave Oven leak detector
for over $30 that consisted of a microwave detector diode and a meter.
Skateboards have fewer parts, and are just as expensive.
What you say has nothing to do with marketing.
Marketing anything to Hobbyists (of any type) is going to produce
products that cost more than a mass-market. Figure the best case.
How many of these do you think they can sell? 3k? 5k? I think that
is stretching it.
How many products have you brought to market? You seem to
present yourself as a better businessman. Why is that? Do you
have an MBA? What University is it from?
Rather than competition, don't you think the radio manufacturers will
implement the design internally? Too few parts? Too little profit?
"Rob" wrote
>
> In my view, RIGBLASTER is very expensive considering the small number of
> electrical components involved.
>
> Considering the apparent popularity of RIGBLASTER, I do not think it won't
> be long before someone else, like MFJ, makes a similar interface at a
> fraction of the price.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 14:39:29 -0500
From: "Rick Ruhl" <ricker@cssincorp.com>
Subject: RigBlaster
Rob,
How about an MFJ OEM version of PSK31, with a sound card and a keying circut
for around the same price?
You must have been listening in on our phone calls or emails between us and
MFJ :)
Rick Ruhl
President, Creative Services Software, Inc.
http://www.cssincorp.com
>
> Considering the apparent popularity of RIGBLASTER, I do not think it
won't
> be long before someone else, like MFJ, makes a similar interface at a
> fraction of the price. If you can't build one, personally I would wait
for
> some REAL competition to appear in the market place.
>
> 73's
> Rob
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 15:29:35 -0400
From: "Rob" <Pse@NoEmail.Com>
Subject: RigBlaster
Steve,
Hmm.... Let's try to compare apples with apples..
MFJ has been selling for years a packet TNC/Radio switch box for $39.95 US.
This switch box also has a nice silk screened circuit board with jumpers etc
in a nice metal box.
The RIGBLASTER unit is similar. RIGBLASTER is essentially a TNC switch with
a few extra parts to interface the PC to the rig. None of these extra parts
are very expensive. I would expect that the cost to build both units to be
around the same give or take a few dollars.
Both units are also advertised extensively.
I highly doubt that these MFJ switches outsell the RIGBLASTER interfaces.
It is more likely the other way around!
Considering the selling price of the MFJ packet switch sold in the same
market, I think a reasonable price for a RIGBLASTER unit would be between
$40 and $50 US, if not lower. But when there is lack of any real
competition, you can charge almost any price. Isn't that part of the
American dream?
Now, what do you think?? Is RigBlaster too expensive??
73's
Rob
"Steve Sampson" <ssampson@usa-site.net> wrote in message
news:snmapcobjjt16@corp.supernews.com...
> Radio-Shack used to (still?) sell a Microwave Oven leak detector
> for over $30 that consisted of a microwave detector diode and a meter.
>
> Skateboards have fewer parts, and are just as expensive.
>
> What you say has nothing to do with marketing.
>
> Marketing anything to Hobbyists (of any type) is going to produce
> products that cost more than a mass-market. Figure the best case.
> How many of these do you think they can sell? 3k? 5k? I think that
> is stretching it.
>
> How many products have you brought to market? You seem to
> present yourself as a better businessman. Why is that? Do you
> have an MBA? What University is it from?
>
> Rather than competition, don't you think the radio manufacturers will
> implement the design internally? Too few parts? Too little profit?
>
> "Rob" wrote
> >
> > In my view, RIGBLASTER is very expensive considering the small number of
> > electrical components involved.
> >
> > Considering the apparent popularity of RIGBLASTER, I do not think it
won't
> > be long before someone else, like MFJ, makes a similar interface at a
> > fraction of the price.
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 16:14:56 -0400
From: "Bob Lewis" <rlewis@staffnet.com>
Subject: RigBlaster
> I think a reasonable price for a RIGBLASTER unit would be between
> $40 and $50 US, if not lower
Why don't you go into business. I'm sure you can take over the market
at $40 :-)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 15:20:28 -0500
From: "Steve Sampson" <ssampson@usa-site.net>
Subject: RigBlaster
How many products does MFJ have?
How many products does West Mountain Radio have?
Does the number of products allow you to sell one product at
cost, if the others are heavy revenue/higher profit products?
"Rob" wrote
>
> MFJ has been selling for years a packet TNC/Radio switch box for $39.95 US.
>
> The RIGBLASTER unit is similar. RIGBLASTER is essentially a TNC switch with
> a few extra parts to interface the PC to the rig. None of these extra parts
> are very expensive. I would expect that the cost to build both units to be
> around the same give or take a few dollars.
>
> Both units are also advertised extensively.
>
> Now, what do you think?? Is RigBlaster too expensive??
Expensive to me is 99 cents for sunflower seeds, or 99 cents for a 20 oz
coke. Even heroin has gone up to $15! ...it's the end of the world...
Steve
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 20:19:10 GMT
From: nomail@rob.knoware.nl (Rob Janssen)
Subject: RigBlaster
Bob Lewis <rlewis@staffnet.com> wrote:
>Personally, I wouldn't purchase a RigBlaster to use with PSK31. I can
>and have built something simpler and less expensive (I've never even
>had the need to use an isolation transformer). However, if I expected
>a nice box with custom silk screened labels, a custom PC board, a
>printed manual and to pay someone else to put it together for me then
>I think $80 is reasonable and fair. Oh, and don't forget the cost of
>advertising (nothing sells very well without it).
Funny that you mention that. I have always proclaimed that advertising
To be continued in digest: hd_2000_199E
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