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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!zehntel!dual!lll-crg!gymble!umcp-cs!seismo!hao!hplabs!hpisla!hplvla!chris
From: chris@hplvla.UUCP (chris)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <2800008@hplvle.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-May-85 11:01:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplvle.2800008
Posted: Mon May  6 11:01:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Jun-85 05:59:59 EDT
References: <10189@brl-tgr.UUCP>
Organization: HP Loveland Instrument Division
Lines: 31


Well, I cannot answer for your feelings of being burned, but there is
something which everyone must remember about TAPR: they are NOT in business!
TAPR is a nonprofit R&D corporation, and they all have other jobs, with 
the phone secretary being the only paid employee. Their interest in making
the TNC's is strictly to promote packet radio, ham radio, and in this they
have been diligent and successful. Ham radio will grow because TAPR has done
what the commercial radio manufacturers will not or cannot do: produce first
class products for a decent price, forming a bridge between the radio and
the computer which most hobbyists can afford. When they sold the rights to
Heathkit and AEA on the TNC 1 design, it was for a strictly nominal ammount.

Now, as the progress in packet makes a less expensive form of TNC available,
more people yet can afford the mode, and TAPR had lots of money tied up in
the remaining kits. As a naive buyer, would you prefer to send your dollars 
to an unknown outfit in Tucson or to Heathkit? Well, its my guess that after
Heathkit came out with a $299 kit with cabinet, few TAPR TNCs sold at the
old price, and TAPR had to clear out its inventory. All the "bearded
experimenters" who were able to take the plunge already had their TNC's 
(I own 3) and the more cautious users preferred the bigger name of Heath.

TAPR will be spending more time yet developing 9600 baud modem boards, and
possibly even 220 MHz RF decks for high speed packet, boosting both the
computer-ham radio link and the use of the 220 band. I have lots of respect
for those guys, both technically and personally, for continuing their
efforts in an environment which would probably dishearten and tire me, 
especially after I already spent 8 hours at my regular job, and 4 years
developing first class equipment for marginally grateful ham community.

				-chris, WD5IBS
				hpfcla!hplvla!chris