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where are all the new radio's
- Thread starter camaro1
- Start date
Plenty of new radios here Ham Radio Outlet - New Products - World's Largest Supplier of Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Equipment.
Well lets be honest, export radios are illegal just about everywhere. They are mfg'ed by one or two companies and then sold off to be re-badged for other companies. Most are made in third world countries by people making $.50 per hour (if they are lucky). Its not like the old days.
This really sums nothing up. In the last 6 years there have been plenty of new radio's out even in the illegal/gray area Export radio market. The whole cb & Export radio market is quite small.
I think this part of the article the original poster linked to, explains it:
"There just ain’t any money in CB radios any more. How can Icom make and sell an IC718 for US$550.00? Yup, priced one off the shelf in Singapore last week. There is way more radio in a 718 than any CB out there today. 4 times as big, 4 times as much power, 10 times the components and complexity, and only twice the price."
Real ham rigs are just waaay better than export radios for just a little more money. For $300, there are a whole host of used ham radios that are available that are far and away superior to even a new export radio for the same money. Peruse qrz.com, qth.com, even fleabay, and you will see nice Icom 725's, 728's, 735's, Yaesu 757's, 840's (if you're lucky), Kenwood TS-140's, and so on, for $300 or less. Even a 20+ year old ham rig is light years ahead of a new export radio, and the word is getting out.
It seems the FCC has been largely successful in moving the serious CB SSB ops away from 11m and over to 10m. Once on 10m, they rub elbows with hams who educate them about the "real" radios that are out there.
I still dabble in exports because they are cool little toys, and because I already have several good ham rigs.
That's my theory.
"There just ain’t any money in CB radios any more. How can Icom make and sell an IC718 for US$550.00? Yup, priced one off the shelf in Singapore last week. There is way more radio in a 718 than any CB out there today. 4 times as big, 4 times as much power, 10 times the components and complexity, and only twice the price."
Real ham rigs are just waaay better than export radios for just a little more money. For $300, there are a whole host of used ham radios that are available that are far and away superior to even a new export radio for the same money. Peruse qrz.com, qth.com, even fleabay, and you will see nice Icom 725's, 728's, 735's, Yaesu 757's, 840's (if you're lucky), Kenwood TS-140's, and so on, for $300 or less. Even a 20+ year old ham rig is light years ahead of a new export radio, and the word is getting out.
It seems the FCC has been largely successful in moving the serious CB SSB ops away from 11m and over to 10m. Once on 10m, they rub elbows with hams who educate them about the "real" radios that are out there.
I still dabble in exports because they are cool little toys, and because I already have several good ham rigs.
That's my theory.
Most 11 meter ops don't want the ham rigs because generally they do not have good AM performance. You are right though, a 718 is way better then most exports. I pointed out the Alinco Sr8t is priced around $500, just a buck fifty more then some of the top exports.
Not sure about the Maxlog or Anytone development stages.
The Lincoln II release news started because of a leak and so they had to spill the beans but they didn't want to say a whole lot more because it was still in development. I talked to President and the radio was planned to be released this fall/winter but they wouldn't be specific so they are probably still ironing out some details.
As for the argument that this represents some downturn in the export market, I wouldn't read that much into it. I think people in the U.S. forget that export radios are sold worldwide and these new versions especially sell well in other places.
I've talked with Magnum and they have some new stuff in the works but they wouldn't give up the details just yet.
Ranger actually has been pretty quiet lately after the 618 and the high power models. They really tried hard with mixing some of the new technology but sales on those models didn't hit home so maybe they are reorganizing their strategy right now...hopefully they are working on a next generation radio as well.
Galaxy released the 99V2 which I think was a little late to the dance. It probably would have sold better a couple of years ago when guys were still raving about their original 99V and lamenting that there wasn't a replacement.
The Anytone, CRE, and the Uniden 980 gave everyone a look at the start of new ideas for the market. I think with the second generation radios when they hit the market it will be another flurry of activity.
But just like scientists who thought they had the solar cycle figure out...I could be wrong...but I think the exports are coming...
The Lincoln II release news started because of a leak and so they had to spill the beans but they didn't want to say a whole lot more because it was still in development. I talked to President and the radio was planned to be released this fall/winter but they wouldn't be specific so they are probably still ironing out some details.
As for the argument that this represents some downturn in the export market, I wouldn't read that much into it. I think people in the U.S. forget that export radios are sold worldwide and these new versions especially sell well in other places.
I've talked with Magnum and they have some new stuff in the works but they wouldn't give up the details just yet.
Ranger actually has been pretty quiet lately after the 618 and the high power models. They really tried hard with mixing some of the new technology but sales on those models didn't hit home so maybe they are reorganizing their strategy right now...hopefully they are working on a next generation radio as well.
Galaxy released the 99V2 which I think was a little late to the dance. It probably would have sold better a couple of years ago when guys were still raving about their original 99V and lamenting that there wasn't a replacement.
The Anytone, CRE, and the Uniden 980 gave everyone a look at the start of new ideas for the market. I think with the second generation radios when they hit the market it will be another flurry of activity.
But just like scientists who thought they had the solar cycle figure out...I could be wrong...but I think the exports are coming...
Yeah! A chrome version of the CRE-8900 with all the bugs ironed out and a thumb drive slot to run all of your latest tweaks would be great! New brighter display colors with a dimmer button would be nice. A VFO too.
You could always put lead in the mic to give it some heft(plenty of space) and Bluetooth mic capability. 100 watt PEP.
You could always put lead in the mic to give it some heft(plenty of space) and Bluetooth mic capability. 100 watt PEP.
I would have to agree with this. Most of the ssb cb ops that I have heard are using rigs like this. And I also think a big reason is that these new "export" rigs are so unreliable that most of which are not worth the money. Extreemely noisy front ends, sensitive output sections, overly compilcated cheaply made SMD chassis...Eye candy clutter..etc. it just makes better sense to use a ham rig for ssb use....Now for Am use any of the newer export radio's will surfice where their true performance is just subjective opinion at best.