With Varying Frequency - Amateur Radio Ponderings

The Hiberling PT-8000 has received it’s FCC approval! Here is the German Announcement:

PT-8000A·B / HN-8000A·B 21.05.2008

Im Mai ist die Prüfung der PT-8000 Transceiver auf Übereinstimmung mit den Zulassungsbestimmungen der Federal Communication Commission (FCC) der USA abgeschlossen worden. Die Transceiver können nun in den USA und in Kanada vertrieben werden.

Da die Zulassungsbedingungen der FCC den CE-Bestimmungen in Teilen ähnlich sind, konnten noch ausstehende Tests für die CE-Kennzeichnung ebenfalls abgeschlossen werden, so dass auch in den EU-Ländern in Kürze ausgeliefert werden kann.

Hier [1372 kB] kann der Prüfbericht für die FCC eingesehen werden.

Here is the link to the FCC Approval Letter:

http://hilberling.com/sonstig/fcc-grant_pt-8000.pdf

Here is the link to the FCC Approval Testing:

http://hilberling.com/sonstig/fcc-grant_pt-8000.pdf

Now I have to figure out how to get PT-8000 operating time before I part with the amount of scratch needed to aquire one of these rigs!

In other Hiberling News:  (From the English Translation by Southgate of the German Press Release)

Brand new Hilberling PT-8000 donated to Deutscher Amateur Radio Club

There was a special VIP visit at the DARC HQ on Tuesday.

The Hilberling Company were there to donate the first serial Hilberling PT-8000 to the HQ.

The DSP-transceiver for HF, 6 m and 2 m, will be set up in the shack of the HQ-radio-tower at Baunatal. It will be used for transmitting the DL-news bulletin every Thursday night at 1730 UTC on 3770 kHz ± QRM or similar. 

DARC Vice-President Dr. Walter Schlink, DL3OAP, Leader of the technical department Thilo Kootz, DL9KCE and Secretary Helga Gautsche, DO1FIB, thanked Hans Hilberling, DK7LG, Klaus Lohmann, DK7XL, and Jan Hauschildt of Hilberling GmbH for this brandnew transceiver which is given on permanent loan.

73

Steve
K9ZW

One question that always looms in a an Amateur’s mind is “What will the new Rig I want cost me?”

In the case of the Hiberling PT-8000 it is really a bit of a wild card guess, as the final market price almost certainly will remain an unknown until FCC acceptance is complete, as the FCC may require certain manufacturing expenses currently not presently included in the cost.

The PT-8000 Euro Pricelist suggests pricing higher than the IC-7800 and FTdx-9000:

(Click for larger copy of pricelist)

Roughly Translating out of Euro without VAT the 100w version would run USD $14,600.00 and the 600w version $16,400.00 is the European list is matched by the USA version of the PT-8000

It is unclear if the 600w version includes an external power supply.

In the end we will have to wait and see, but in general it looks like we can expect the PT-8000 to cost around the money needed for other professional grade gear aimed at the Ham Amateur Market.

73

Steve
K9ZW

Hot off the press is the news from Array Solutions that Hiberling is sending a team with two PT-8000 to an FCC Acceptance Test Lab in Austin Texas for a January 2008 test series.

Hiberling and Array Solutions will likely update their websites in the next few weeks to reflect the excellent forward progress.

Once the testing work by PTI Austin (Professional Testing (EMI), Inc.) is complete and the FCC issues their letter accepting the PT-8000 for the USA Market then Array Solutions will be able to offer the radios for sale.

Hiberling’s Production run and Array Solution’s sales programs both will kick off once the FCC approval to offer the PT-8000 is in hand!

Great news for the USA Amateur looking for a high quality radio of an exclusive sort!

73

Steve
K9ZW

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Previous article “Will the New Year Bring us the PT-8000 Transceiver?”

(click on either picture for a larger version)

Ok, I haven’t asked either Hiberling or Array Solutions if the rumors are at all true, that the USA Amateur Transceiver Market will see the Hiberling PT-8000 on offer in the first quarter.

The rumbles are likely wishful thinking, but it does seem that there are amateurs ready for the new rig.

Previous article “Information Update - PT-8000 from Hilberling (Array Solutions)”

73

Steve
K9ZW

Breaking News - Jay from Array Solutions Emailed this morning that Hiberling will introduce a full Mil-Spec version of the PT-8000 after the amateur version is fully rolled out & shipping.  Very cool!

At Array Solutions Hamvention booth I had a good look at the new Hiberling PT-8000 Transceiver.

This radio is BUILT ! 

For the first time outside of Military Gear I’ve seen a new production Transceiver that matches the quality of my stereo (the Studer-Revox Exception Series  CD/Tuner/Amp Trio)!

Let me preface, if you are prone to let sticker-shock get in the way of engineering & quality, the Hiberling is simply not for you.

If you understand that aerospace grade build quality, specially when adversely impacted by a weak US Dollar, costs real money, then you may find serious potential in the PT-8000.

Design is Bauhaus-meets-Rainbow - the stark machined billet look with a fantastic multicolor display and the charming colored face & trim accents.

A set of quick-card manuals are built into the radio, and pull out from under the rig (sort of like on my office photocopier).

The radio is awaiting FCC approval, so this is a curb-side impression only, as until I get a chance to spend a couple hours running a PT-8000 I won’t be ready to review it.

The Hiberlings & staff were personally present to explain the radio, and had brought along a Plexiglas sided display rig that was a joy to look at - first rate through-and-through!

My Dayton Travel Partner has a pre-order in for his PT-8000, though first USA deliveries will be towards the end of the year.

The 600 watt version I’m interested in will likely follow a couple months later.

Several amateurs did ask why the PT-8000 was not available in a full Kilowatt version.  Though the German’s shrugged and seemed to wonder why American Amateurs were so interested in a 1000w version, one would expect at least a light Kilowatt version down the road.

This radio is worth watching!

73

Steve

K9ZW

Ok, I’ll confess that with only a few weeks to go until the trip to Ohio, I have the “Dayton Drool” and bad!

There are so many new pieces of gear that I want to see.

First off is the interesting PT-8000 from Hilberling GmbH which in itself is dripping with “Spitzentechnologie!”

The advance technology Hiberling GmbH is promoting is obvious when you review the specs and look at the construction. I think a 600 watt model in Blue simply must be somewhere in my future!

The Yaesu FTM-10R (Link is to Universal Radio’s Page on the new Rig) looks like a prime candidate for my motorcycle, as the Bluetooth implimentation would in theory make rig operation with in-helmet mic & sound an easy proposition.

At the top of my list, and a likely aquisition is the new TenTec Omni VII net-ready transceiver.

I can really see a role in the K9ZW shack for the Omni-VII.

There is software, filters, switches & more that I am eager to see as well.

73

Steve
K9ZW