Print

[K0UA]

Apparently the Mercury IIIs is no longer available as a kit. Finished product only for the $2799 plus shipping. Sure glad I got mine when I did. I saved over $300 (paid 2499 and free shipping)  Things change.

      DISCONTINUED

Regrettably we are no longer offering the mercuryIIIS KIT version, we understand that some may still want to experience building of their own HF amplifier. Unfortunately, this was decided in order to maintain the price of the mercuryIIIS stable.

[W9FIB]

The price of popularity. Sometimes something is too good!

[W9AC]

The price of popularity. ..

And the economics of price sensitivity as a function of demand outpacing supply. 

Pual, W9AC

[K0UA]

I am guessing that others as well as my local friend that just got his Mercury IIIs, felt that the 300 dollar premium was well worth it to a "ready made" ready to play out of the box. I have nothing to prove that with, but it could be the case.

[K7LZR]

Also reduces the human error factor.

[WA2EIO]

From one of the videos on youtube, it appears that there is a lot of hand work that goes  into the making of the parts and preparing the cables for the unit.   It may just be easier/more cost efficient to continue and complete the unit, rather than having to make the parts, and  then separate them and make sure that everything is included in the box that should be, and it is all carefully packed.

Additionally, I  wonder if there have been many returns of kits that 'did not work' because they were not completed correctly,  (although assembly is NOT that difficult!) and since, like Heathkit, Ken will not let you fail, he may have had to put more time and effort into 'repair.'  Complete and tested units may actually keep the cost down, since the kits did have a price increase already, and they are now concentrating on the tuner and the new amp.

[K8AXW]

After getting FCC type acceptance there is no need to supply this amp as a "kit."  Final assembly, which consists of nuts and bolts and 13 solder connections is nothing compared to the PITA after-sale problems with a kit.

EIO is right on!

[K0UA]

After getting FCC type acceptance there is no need to supply this amp as a "kit."  Final assembly, which consists of nuts and bolts and 13 solder connections is nothing compared to the PITA after-sale problems with a kit.

EIO is right on!

Yep, I think you are likely right. They could pay someone $20 an hour to assemble them. Even more, and still make more money selling the completed model. Let alone solving "kit" assembly problems. 

[KC0W]

 A Mercury IIIs is available right now on QRZ............Probably won't last long.

 https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/hf-amplifier-mercury-iiis.828893/


                                                     Tom KH0/KC0W

[VE7RF]

After getting FCC type acceptance there is no need to supply this amp as a "kit."  Final assembly, which consists of nuts and bolts and 13 solder connections is nothing compared to the PITA after-sale problems with a kit.

EIO is right on!

With no FCC  approval, they can only be sold as a kit.  Flip side is, the pre-assembled, FCC certified version now sold, is ham bands only.   The kit version would TX  way  outside the ham bands.  Non issue really, as the new version will still cover mars freqs etc.

[W9FIB]

After getting FCC type acceptance there is no need to supply this amp as a "kit."  Final assembly, which consists of nuts and bolts and 13 solder connections is nothing compared to the PITA after-sale problems with a kit.

EIO is right on!

With no FCC  approval, they can only be sold as a kit.  Flip side is, the pre-assembled, FCC certified version now sold, is ham bands only.   The kit version would TX  way  outside the ham bands.  Non issue really, as the new version will still cover mars freqs etc.

Why do you need an amp that goes outside the ham bands as a ham?

[W9IQ]

With no FCC  approval, they can only be sold as a kit. 

Not exactly true. If you ensure that they are sold to a licensed ham for use in their station, for example, part 97 allows you to sell completed amplifiers that are not certified.

§ 97.315 Certification of external RF power amplifiers.

(a) Any external RF power amplifier (see § 2.815 of the FCC Rules) manufactured or imported for use at an amateur radio station must be certificated for use in the amateur service in accordance with subpart J of part 2 of the FCC Rules. No amplifier capable of operation below 144 MHz may be constructed or modified by a non-amateur service licensee without a grant of certification from the FCC.

(b) The requirement of paragraph (a) does not apply if one or more of the following conditions are met:

(3) The amplifier is sold to an amateur radio operator or to a dealer, the amplifier is purchased in used condition by a dealer, or the amplifier is sold to an amateur radio operator for use at that operator's station.

- Glenn W9IQ

[KD6VXI]

There is also a limit as to how many completed amplifiers you can sell if not type accepted or sold as a kit.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

[W9IQ]

There is also a limit as to how many completed amplifiers you can sell if not type accepted or sold as a kit.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

No there is not if the exception that I posted applies.

- Glenn W9IQ

[VE7RF]

There is also a limit as to how many completed amplifiers you can sell if not type accepted or sold as a kit.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

No there is not if the exception that I posted applies.

- Glenn W9IQ

The story I got was just one amplifier per year.