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The price on these things from both Apache and FlexRadio are astronomical. Woof! I don't doubt their quality nor engineering; but I must question their marketing strategy, Six grand is not a little pricey - eh?

Considering the trend in open source hardware development and the number of Ham electronic hobbyists, the cost of these should come down some within the next five years or so. Would think so, as the SDRs have such great features; a strong selling point.

Just what components are they using on these boards that are so pricey? Top of the line FPGA's? Custom logic or multiplexers? Even then, they aren't more than a hundred or so, and that is for the cutting edge FPGA device. Me thinks it is geared around a huge profit margin just so that some can say they have the best cutting edge gear. Reverse sales psychology.

Sure would like to know what chips they are using to make the cost so high.

One thing about SDR radios, is that they were highly dependent upon the sound card quality to determine the range of the bandscope - for one. Quite sure these compact units cannot supply that. IOW - still too many compromises for an obscene price tag - IMO.

<blockquote data-quote="Robb" data-source="post: 496067" data-attributes="member: 8446">The price on these things from both Apache and FlexRadio are astronomical.&nbsp; Woof!&nbsp; I don&#039;t doubt their quality nor engineering; but I must question their marketing strategy,&nbsp; Six grand is not a little pricey - eh?Considering the trend in open source hardware development and the number of Ham electronic hobbyists,&nbsp; the cost of these should come down some within the next five years or so.&nbsp; Would think so, as the SDRs have such great features; a strong selling point.Just what components are they using on these boards that are so pricey?&nbsp; Top of the line FPGA&#039;s?&nbsp; Custom logic or multiplexers?&nbsp; Even then, they aren&#039;t more than a hundred or so, and that is for the cutting edge FPGA device.&nbsp; Me thinks it is geared around a huge profit margin just so that some can say they have the best cutting edge gear.&nbsp; Reverse sales psychology.Sure would like to know what chips they are using to make the cost so high.One thing about SDR radios, is that they were highly dependent upon the sound card quality to determine the range of the bandscope - for one.&nbsp; Quite sure these compact units cannot supply that.&nbsp; IOW - still too many compromises for an obscene price tag - IMO.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Robb, post: 496067, member: 8446"] The price on these things from both Apache and FlexRadio are astronomical. Woof! I don't doubt their quality nor engineering; but I must question their marketing strategy, [I]Six grand[/I] is not a little pricey - eh? Considering the trend in open source hardware development and the number of Ham electronic hobbyists, the cost of these should come down some within the next five years or so. Would think so, as the SDRs have such great features; a strong selling point. Just what components are they using on these boards that are so pricey? Top of the line FPGA's? Custom logic or multiplexers? Even then, they aren't more than a hundred or so, and that is for the cutting edge FPGA device. Me thinks it is geared around a huge profit margin just so that some can say they have the best cutting edge gear. Reverse sales psychology. Sure would like to know what chips they are using to make the cost so high. One thing about SDR radios, is that they were highly dependent upon the sound card quality to determine the range of the bandscope - for one. Quite sure these compact units cannot supply that. IOW - still too many compromises for an obscene price tag - IMO. [/QUOTE]

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