Michael: Thanks for your interest.
Over the last year or so, we've had several numbers thrown around about cost of the ground station. It's way too early for me to be comfortable with any of them.
Here's how Jim Sanford looks at it: I spent nearly $500 for my first APRS-included handheld. I spent nearly $600 for my first mobile APRS-included rig. A year later I spend nearly as much on a mobile for the wife's car.
Were I not involved in Eagle, and presented with the opportunity to purchase or build this digital voice ground segment for similar costs, I'd do it in a heartbeat -- and I am NOT an "early adopter" that industry loves so dearly.
The Eagle team is very well aware of the "they built it, how do I use it?" syndrome. That's why we're looking at the whole system. We're avere aware of the need to keep costs low. I can not yet project what the costs will be, but I have a sense that the above numbers will be acceptable to many. If we get there I'm happy, but will press to do all we can to lower it. Remember, we're building 3 space segments, and hopefully thousands of gorund elements. If the cost comes in higher than that, I'll be pushing hard for redesign or other options, to drive cost down.
In my reading of the industry, and in my day job, I see where technology is headed. This gives me confidence in predicting that we'll deliver at a cost that many hams have already accepted for new equipment of lesser capability. It will not be a $19.95 widget. But it won't be a $5999.95 CIA device, either.
It is too early to lay out projections. At this point all I can say is what I think, listed above, and Jim Sanford's promise to do everything possible to make it affordable to the average ham. If it isn't, I won't have anyone to talk to. I geet it.
Thank you for your support and interest.
73, Jim [email protected]
Michael Tondee wrote:
Jim Sanford wrote
REMEMBER THAT AMSAT IS DEVELOPING THE GROUND STATION ALONG WITH THE SPACE SEGMENT. You will not be left on your own to develop ground equipment. You will not be asked to mortgage your house; affordability by the masses is a key component of the design for the entire system.
At this point in time, is there anyway you can elaborate on the above statement? We may well not have to mortgage our homes but 'affordability" is a somewhat relative term. What AMSAT considers affordable and what I consider affordable may be two completely different things. Are we too early in the design process for you to reveal what you have in mind along the lines of ground station equipment? Possibly some type of surplus downconverter again? etc. etc. Thank you for your hard work on the project, Michael, W4HIJ AMSAT # 36017