P25RX-II Product Announcement

[GTR8000]

One huge advantage BTT customers and potential customers have is that we're dealing directly with the developer, not a mouthpiece go-between who may or may not be spreading false hope by having his position within said corporation overblown or misleading.

Keep up the great work, @btt, you are clearly on the right track with the P25RX, and providing a much needed alternative to higher priced devices!

 

[goldmyne99]

The VALUE of excellent customer support by BTT should not be overlooked.

Like any purchase, everyone has to decide what they can spend and what it is worth to them.

FWIW, Many issues regarding supply chain problems and the price point were discussed this thread.

Requesting an update on new units/manufacturing status

Would it be possible to get an update on new units being produced? Possibly how long the waiting list is and/or when you possibly expect to catch up? I completely understand if you don't want to share the information, and that you're so busy providing support and updates that putting out more...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[btt]

I'm getting email about the pricing as well. Got one bordering on hate mail the other night. lol. I had to explain that this is a new product and the price has not changed. I've already said that I will continue to produce the original P25RX product when I can. The price hasn't changed for that in some time. I originally tried to start with what other small business owners had suggested that I charge. Back then, that was approximately $300. It was clear that the people here thought that was too much for a P1-only product and suggested it should be $150. I changed the pricing to $249 and gave a $50 discount for a significant number of units that I sold for the year. Think about it. I sold a bunch of hand-built units for $199 when it was suggested that I should have charged $300. I ported portions of the P25-P2 support in OP25 from a mixture of Python and C++ to standard C and open-sourced my efforts (as required by GPL). As far as I know, it is the only P2 code you can get that doesn't depend on a full operating system with Python, linear-algebra libraries, etc. This may have resulted in projects other than OP25 having P25-P2 support for all I know? They won't admit it. lol. Support for DMR was added. I love working on the receiver, and I love the good people here at RR that made it possible for me to get this far with it. I probably shouldn't share my finances here in public, but over the entire project, I can say that my income is poverty level when you add it up. I'm ok with that, but I have racked up debt on my credit card (almost maxed), I've borrowed money from family. This is not because of a lack of interest, but because of a variety of factors. Just when things were starting to get good, the parts shortage caused a cycle of whack-a-mole trying to get ahead of it. I was sick for a couple of weeks. I spend a lot of time on firmware/software.

I get it. I'm charging too much again. The discount code for the new product is good for $50. I'm going to lower the pricing by $50 tonight and cancel the discount code for the P25RX-II product. I really haven't seen much feedback for the units that have gone out yet. I did the best I could with what was available. I did 6 revs, and built 4 of them before arriving at the current product. I hope it is as well received as the original product. Again, I thank all of you for helping me get this far with this project! I'll keep it going as long as I can.

 

[GTR8000]

I get it. I'm charging too much again.

No, you're not.

I was not intending to suggest that in my initial post, but rather was noting that for those of us who were considering purchasing the original model, the $190 jump to the new model was not insignificant. Yes, technically it's a new product with improved specs, however for the average Joe, the functionality is largely the same as the original model.

People are clearly willing to pay the price for the new model, discount or otherwise, as evidenced by the fact that they have sold out immediately and more people are inquiring as to how they can get one. Charge whatever is fair to you and won't put you in the poorhouse. Anyone who is expecting you to sell these things at a price point where you break even or worse, at a loss, is being utterly ridiculous.

 

[goldmyne99]

I get it. I'm charging too much again.

Charge the price YOU need to charge to stay in biz. They will sell.

 

[cmjonesinc]

Someone is always going to complain no matter what you do. Obviously there's s a big demand since they sell out almost immediately. If people don't like it they can find something else. Personally I was surprised at how cheap the original was considering how well it worked and the amazing support. As soon as the supply levels out and you can keep some stock, I'll be buying the new model at whatever price you decide is fair. Keep up the great work.

 

[MStep]

I think you made a smart decision lowering your price by 50 bucks from 449 to 399. Physiologically much more paletteable and you put a 300 dollar difference between Blue Tail and Uniden, and that is significant. And I think most of us realize that this is more a "labor of love" than a great profit making venture. Continued success.

 

[FreqNout]

Someone is always going to complain no matter what you do.

Charge the price YOU need to charge to stay in biz. They will sell.

Todd - You have a super product! Do not be afraid to price your product to make a profit. Some will complain but many more will buy. It is part of biz. Heck your instant customer support and software updates are worth the $$!

 

[aubertine]

I'm getting email about the pricing as well. Got one bordering on hate mail the other night. lol. I had to explain that this is a new product and the price has not changed. I've already said that I will continue to produce the original P25RX product when I can. The price hasn't changed for that in some time. I originally tried to start with what other small business owners had suggested that I charge. Back then, that was approximately $300. It was clear that the people here thought that was too much for a P1-only product and suggested it should be $150. I changed the pricing to $249 and gave a $50 discount for a significant number of units that I sold for the year. Think about it. I sold a bunch of hand-built units for $199 when it was suggested that I should have charged $300. I ported portions of the P25-P2 support in OP25 from a mixture of Python and C++ to standard C and open-sourced my efforts (as required by GPL). As far as I know, it is the only P2 code you can get that doesn't depend on a full operating system with Python, linear-algebra libraries, etc. This may have resulted in projects other than OP25 having P25-P2 support for all I know? They won't admit it. lol. Support for DMR was added. I love working on the receiver, and I love the good people here at RR that made it possible for me to get this far with it. I probably shouldn't share my finances here in public, but over the entire project, I can say that my income is poverty level when you add it up. I'm ok with that, but I have racked up debt on my credit card (almost maxed), I've borrowed money from family. This is not because of a lack of interest, but because of a variety of factors. Just when things were starting to get good, the parts shortage caused a cycle of whack-a-mole trying to get ahead of it. I was sick for a couple of weeks. I spend a lot of time on firmware/software.

I get it. I'm charging too much again. The discount code for the new product is good for $50. I'm going to lower the pricing by $50 tonight and cancel the discount code for the P25RX-II product. I really haven't seen much feedback for the units that have gone out yet. I did the best I could with what was available. I did 6 revs, and built 4 of them before arriving at the current product. I hope it is as well received as the original product. Again, I thank all of you for helping me get this far with this project! I'll keep it going as long as I can.

IMHO you did not charge too much. The fact that they sell out immediately is proof!

 

[btt]

All, thank you for the continued support. I want to bring up an important point that I failed to make when introducing the P25RX-II. With regards to functionality, the P25RX and P25RX-II are currently very similar. Of course, I'm open to input on how future firmware/software development progresses, but I intend some differences in development philosophy between the two products. With the P25RX-II, I intend to work towards making it more versatile, configurable, and something that the user can tweak. I would like to make the communication protocol binary and documented (API) in order to enable potential 3rd party software. It will take some time. Something that is still a very high priority for both products is implementing the scanning profile support and TG zones.

 

[Mike_G_D]

As someone who is familiar with RF hardware design, testing, product development, production, and a little of the marketing even, I have to say what you have done with limited resources is quite remarkable! Frankly, the original product is still amazing given the price I paid for it (and I did use the limited time discount) and it honestly became my primary receiver for monitoring my local trunked system.

Due to current chaos in my life (seems to be yearly for me lately - another move) I will have to wait for the "dust to settle" financially before I can purchase the newer version, probably, realistically, some months away at this time, unfortunately. But that would likely be the same for the original version of which I was planning on purchasing another of before you announced the new model. Same deal - have to prioritize my money sinks and certain basic stuff, some of which has gone way up for me now, has to take priority over hobby interests. That's just life as your financial hardships are for you - crosses to bear for everybody, as it were!

Let me put it this way - if someone, hypothetically speaking, were to offer me a choice between a free brand new SDS200 and a free brand new P25RX-II it would be an easy choice for me to make, the P25RX-II wins for me hands down!

I would have a little harder decision to make if the offer were to replace the SDS200 with a Unication G5 ONLY because it would be nice to have good performance in a compact handheld all-in-one receiver with front panel programming to just "grab-and-go". But, believe me, it would NOT be an easy choice to make!

Now replace the competitor with something like the latest multi-band Harris/Tait/Motorola/Kenwood/BK full-on handheld WITH included full programming software paid-for license, interface cables, etc,......weeeeeellll...then I might have to bend away from the P25RX-II offer. BUUUUUTTT.....!!!...I'd likely STILL plan to buy one down the road anyway!

-Mike

 

[FreqNout]

I have to say what you have done with limited resources is quite remarkable!

100% agree! Proof is performance.

Personally, I do not think of the p25rx rig as a competitor. It is a new tool in the hobby. It ADDs to the hobby in ways that others rigs do not. Perhaps others do not see it that way, but many on this forum have a shelf full of rigs. Buy what makes you happy and enjoy it. Life is too short.

(OT - Now off to the grocery store to see real sticker shock.)

 

[dcr_inc]

If $50.00 is going to break you, You are in the WRONG hobby

 

[pcman67]

Todd, I just want to say that you charge what you feel is a fair market price and also fair to yourself for your products. I know the newer product takes longer to calibrate and you have to hand assemble each one plus you are also providing top notch customer service as well as constant software/firmware performance and feature updates. Add to the fact that parts and components have increased in cost and some are very hard to get, I think your products are a bargain.

This is a free enterprise market. You are free to charge what you want for the product and the market will decide if your product is worth the price you charge or not.

You can’t please everyone and you’ll always encounter many folks with many different personalities and sometimes you just need to let that roll off your shoulders and just stay the course.

 

[jtwalker]

Indeed, the final price of the original model was $260, and the II lists for $450 (there is a discount code good until year end, but I'm unsure of how much it knocks off the price). $190 is quite a jump, even if the II is 'new and improved', still a tough pill to swallow. That said, it's still $200 cheaper than the SDS200.

EDIT: No hate, obviously the product gets glowing reviews and has generated quite a bit of interest, and as I said it's still quite a bit cheaper than an SDS scanner or a Unication G series pager. Just posting my observations as a potential customer, that's all.

Yep, the price increase jumped it right out of consideration for me. I guess it was too cheap not to have one @ $260, but I could never find one in stock. I don't think I want one bad enough to part with $450.

 

[FreqNout]

With the P25RX-II, I intend to work towards making it more versatile, configurable, and something that the user can tweak. I would like to make the communication protocol binary and documented (API) in order to enable potential 3rd party software.

This sounds great. A documented API for more diy software options will add to the tool box. Looking forward to seeing progress down the road.

 

[btt]

Yep, the price increase jumped it right out of consideration for me. I guess it was too cheap not to have one @ $260, but I could never find one in stock. I don't think I want one bad enough to part with $450.

The price for the P25RX-II didn't jump. It started at $450 and went down to $399 as of yesterday. The P25RX has been $249 since last year. Still is.

 

[goldmyne99]

This sounds great. A documented API for more diy software options will add to the tool box. Looking forward to seeing progress down the road.

Yes, an API will indeed allow for easier development of apps and display/control projects for us DIYers.

 

[btt]

The price for the P25RX-II didn't jump. It started at $450 and went down to $399 as of yesterday. The P25RX has been $249 since last year. Still is.

Correction: It was pointed out to me that the P25RX is listed at $259 on the website. It was available for $249 without the cable/antenna at first. Later on, I made it a package deal for $259.

 

[MStep]

The price for the P25RX-II didn't jump. It started at $450 and went down to $399 as of yesterday. The P25RX has been $249 since last year. Still is.

Now I have to keep watching that product page to see when more units become available. A similar, although not quite as technically adept as the Blue Tail, is the story of the ATS-25 shortwave receiver. (You can probably see it on Amazon, for those not familiar). Yes, these products are in two different worlds, but there are interesting correlations between price and availability.

Most of my college work was in marketing. The guys at Blue Tail will come up with the right formula once they can get production into higher gear. The age old question goes something like, "Do you want to sell 1,000 widgets at 9.95, or 500 widgets at 14.95?"

Everyone who has ever taken a marketing course has faced that conundrum. Once again, best wishes BTT.