I suspect Icom's focus and main income is marine and aircraft gear - especially the huge GMDSS marine market. The operational requirements for GMDSS gear is similar to Ham needs - SSB across the HF bands and FM in VHF - so I suspect they'll continue to build "ham gear" as long as there's a profit there. But there's nothing like the HUGE market for virtually identical (and so easy to manufacture and support) GMDSS rigs.
That might also suggest why ICOM has not been real fast to address CW keying issues when they do occur - they relate only to the Amateur market. E.F Johnson went the same way, moving out of the Ham market an into the (then very lucrative) land mobile market in the 70's and 80's. When land mobile went to VHF trunking systems - something with no direct application to the Ham market - Johnson simply stopped making Ham gear. Ron AC7AC P.S. In this world of tag lines let me offer, ""Once you've stood a busy watch or two the code is yours for keeps. After that it's simply a language that you know, that you can't forget if you tried. By Jingo, you'll think in dots and dashes for the rest of your life." Raddall, 'The Nymph and the Lamp' -----Original Message----- Even with the release of the TS-590, Kenwood's interest in the serious high-end of HF gear has been in some doubt for a long time. That leaves only Icom who appears serious enough to be around a decade hence as a full line manufacturer. 73, de Nate >> -- ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
