Why Is SSB Expensive?
- Thread starter ditto1958
- Start date
Because they can. Anyone interested in SSB capability is usually classified as a hobbyist, and therefore someone willing to spend more than a casual radio listener. It's like back in the 1990's with the Uniden Bearcat 100 & 200 XLT's according to the legendary guru Bill Cheek he told me the only difference between the two was 50 cents worth of parts, although the retail prices varied greatly.
More features, more engineering, more logic, more parts, broader frequency range. Maybe some economies of scale as well, the SSB might not be as popular so they don't make as many. So that's my guess.
Did you ask C.Crane?
Did you ask C.Crane?
No. At the risk of offending some fans, I am very unlikely to ever buy a C. Crane radio. Imho, they are kinda like John Deere products where you pay for a name.
John Deere makes very good products. How much does their name cost?
That’s a good point.
jhooten
Member
According to my recent mini tractor buying experience about 15%.
More engineering design, more components, higher stability components, etc. Tighter crystal or ceramic filters for SSB cost more. If its an SDR then its more $$ invested in the software waveform.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
You will Always pay a bit more for capability. It's like this in Most hobbies.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
I own one, and it's a Keeper and works very well when I go camping or sit outside. Or I can bring out my 991A and work the World.
Slippery999
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I really like my C. Crane Skywave SSB2 and did pay more than some other radios but I thought I did well getting it for $149.
It really is an all around radio and does everything pretty well. Mine does well on SSB too.
It really is an all around radio and does everything pretty well. Mine does well on SSB too.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
$$$ Already there .... :c
I see where you're coming from. I had an older version of one of their bigger portables that was given to me after the display quit. The radio in the last Ford I'm ever going to buy had that problem so I was used to it and didn't have a problem with it after I set some presets on it. I've read they have that problem with some of their other models too.
But the Radio Solar I got several years ago has been an absolute joy to use and a lot tougher than I expected too. There were a couple of times when I forgot to put it away before I took off while I was driving and it bounced around on the floor of the sleeper berth until I could get it and it was fine. The $100 I paid for it was more than I wanted to spend but I haven't regretted it after getting the radio.
The Xhdata radios I have (a D-219 and a D-109WB) are a mixed bag. The D-219 has a great build quality, can't say that about the other.
The Radio Solar is the one I reach for the most whether it's listening to a ball game during the summer or music during the day.
Did a little checking today. SSB from Tecsun is actually not expensive. A PL-320 is about $45, and a PL-330 with SSB is about $65. Only $20 more. And a really nice PL-680 with SSB is $118.
At XHData, it is expensive- the D-109WB is about $40 and the R-108 is about $60. Want SSB? The D-108 with SSB is twice as much at just over $100.
C.Crane to me just doesn‘t make sense. The Skywave 2 is $90. Add SSB and the Skywave SSB 2 is $90 more. Wow. Why?
At XHData, it is expensive- the D-109WB is about $40 and the R-108 is about $60. Want SSB? The D-108 with SSB is twice as much at just over $100.
C.Crane to me just doesn‘t make sense. The Skywave 2 is $90. Add SSB and the Skywave SSB 2 is $90 more. Wow. Why?
Yeah, I started looking at the Skywave before I bought the Radio Solar and couldn't see spending the money of it, and that was before they updated it at least once.
The PL330 keeps looking enticing to me but I'd rather see Tecsun update it (and ad WB) or Qodoson come out with their next upgrade before getting anything else.
Slippery999
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- Jan 8, 2025
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I was deciding between the Tecsun 880 and the Crane Skywave SSB2. I ended out finding the Skywave with the link below. Still expensive but it made it cheaper than the 880. The company was great to work with too. Free shipping to Hawaii.🤙🏻
C.Crane SKYWAVE SSB 2
CC SKYWAVE™ SSB 2 With AM, FM, Shortwave, NOAA Weather + Alert, Scannable VHF Aviation Band and Single Side Band THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF PORTABLE RADIOS The Skywave SSB 2 has wide and accurate band coverage in a small size which makes it an excellent travel and emergency radio. Single Side Band...
www.chattradio.com
Slippery999
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I did some videos on the XHDATA D219. No SSB but for the price it's pretty darn good. Hard to beat $10. It's worth that to have around as an extra.
XHData D219 Shortwave Radio Series
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