Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » Ham Gear » HF radios, why so expensive??? « Previous Next »

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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 5155
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 10:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The Posts below have been moved to this area from the Open Area of the Forum.

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Bc910
Intermediate Member
Username: Bc910

Post Number: 430
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 11:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I would love to get a good HF radio. They just seem sooooo expensive, new or old! Why is it I can get a realy good export (HF) of a realy realy good 2 meter etc. radio for like $300.00 bucks new but I cant even seem to find a good used HF radio for that?
BC
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 2326
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 4:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There are a number of reasons mainly they are produced in such small numbers. If FT-840 were produced at 10,000,000 per year like a 27 inch TV and widely sold in best buy My bet is the price would be more like $199 not 600!
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Racer_x
Intermediate Member
Username: Racer_x

Post Number: 125
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 6:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Simple - Look inside one. There's A LOT of radio in an HF rig. 2 meter FM rigs are comparatiuvely simple in design and construction. CBs - and that includes exports - are even simpler in design and construction.

You can get a good HF rig inexpensively. I bought a TS680S for less than $350 almost a year ago. A TS140S goes for around $300 on auction sites. Newer rigs go for more, as do rigs with more features. Top end radios tend to keep their value longer than entry level radios do.
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Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad

Post Number: 186
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 8:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There's much more engineering that goes into a good HF rig, components are of higher tolerance, and there are fewer made.

The typical recipie for high price.

Chad
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Patzerozero
Advanced Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 549
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 5:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

you gotta look at the used equip lists of the major ham dealers, bc. some update daily, others 1 or 2 times/month. of course i have yet to find the ic706mkIIg for $100 i'm looking for, but i see decent HF prices from time to time. & you get a better chance of satisfaction in case of a problem then if you go the auction route. have only ever gotten 1 radio that way that didn't operate properly & it was returned without a hassle.
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Kirk
Intermediate Member
Username: Kirk

Post Number: 287
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 9:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

BC look around. I bought an awesome TS-940 for 400 shipped to me! I've had it 4 years and would never trade it! Just look and search--
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Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 490
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2005 - 4:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It seems that the question has been solved with they don't loose value and those that have them know what they are worth, they are also very well constructed and most cover several bands and not just 3 bands like the imports. BTW: Kirk, That was a gimme for a Woody TS-940.

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