apache-labs.com

https://youtu.be/owaaT6u4XkY

Thanks for sharing Ken!

73,
Abhi

One of the most important factors that Rob left out of the discussion is that direct sampling radios are flat out cheaper to produce, thereby substantially affecting the profit margins of the manufacturers. Compared to multi-conversion superhet's, parts counts are way down, touch labor is way down, and automated test and alignment/calibration is far easier to both implement and perform. For HF anyway, direct sampling radios are the future when they are designed for high volume production. It's a sure bet that Icom is not selling the 7300 at a loss, or even at a reduced profit margin. You simply get more radio for less money while the manufacturers continue to make the same per unit. And, as everyone gets smarter about how to better design these things, performance will continue to improve.

The 7300 and 7610 are shots across the bow of Kenwood and Yaesu. It's quite remarkable there has not been an answering salvo yet. Meanwhile, the Flex 6400 and 6600 are shots across Icom's bow, and Apache's, too, I'm afraid. The war has started, and the average ham radio operator will be a happy beneficiary of the ensuing technology and price wars! The next few years are going to be very interesting!

73,

Scott

w-u-2-o wrote:One of the most important factors that Rob left out of the discussion is that direct sampling radios are flat out cheaper to produce, thereby substantially affecting the profit margins of the manufacturers. Compared to multi-conversion superhet's, parts counts are way down, touch labor is way down, and automated test and alignment/calibration is far easier to both implement and perform. For HF anyway, direct sampling radios are the future when they are designed for high volume production. It's a sure bet that Icom is not selling the 7300 at a loss, or even at a reduced profit margin. You simply get more radio for less money while the manufacturers continue to make the same per unit. And, as everyone gets smarter about how to better design these things, performance will continue to improve.

The 7300 and 7610 are shots across the bow of Kenwood and Yaesu. It's quite remarkable there has not been an answering salvo yet. Meanwhile, the Flex 6400 and 6600 are shots across Icom's bow, and Apache's, too, I'm afraid. The war has started, and the average ham radio operator will be a happy beneficiary of the ensuing technology and price wars! The next few years are going to be very interesting!

73,

Scott

Scott,

Read the Flex forums. Many, many unhappy owners complaining about the software: https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio .

"It's all about the software."

I think we all complain about everyone's software. Just read any forum

To put a finer point on your point, it's all about the UI. The UI is the system to most people. The foundation never gets the respect it deserves without a UI that makes it sing and dance. And even if the UI is top notch most people don't have an appreciation for what underlies it. The smart guys will disagree, of course, but that's only because they are smart and therefore do appreciate it!

73!

Scott

>"The 7300 and 7610 are shots across the bow of Kenwood and Yaesu."

Very good points by Scott. We can add Elecraft to the above list. Certainly they have the wherewithal to develop DDC/DUC architecture, but why they haven't announced a product is a mystery to me.

I was expecting an announcement at last year's Dayton, then this year and ...nothing. Still, I have to believe they are in the middle of designing a K4 or other successor to the K3 that's now a decade-old in design albeit with some evolutionary upgrades. So, assuming Elecraft releases a K4 in the future, will it be based on DDC/DUC or an existing hybrid superhet/SDR design?

Paul, W9AC