RE: "magic box"

["Smith, Richard" <rismith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

With all due respect to all who responded - - 
I am entitled to my opinion, and you are not required to agree with it.
The fact that you disagree, does not make you "right" and me "wrong".
Isn't that what this list is for?  The expression of different opinions?
If you disagree, that's fine.  There's no need to make this personal. 

Richard J. Smith, R.A.
rismith@xxxxxxxxxxx


- -----Original Message-----
From: fjm [mailto:mktspot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 12:52 PM
To: Smith, Richard
Subject: Re: "magic box"


So why don't you get ahold of one, reverse engineer it and then sell it 
to us for $100?  You're an architect? correct?  What's your time worth 
an hour?  I was discussing this with a skilled electronics hobbyist 
friend of mine.  He figured it would take him a minimum of 10 hours to 
locate the bits for a Harp Commander and assemble one.  He says it's not 
worth his time which he values at around $20 per hour.  That's not using 
an eyeletted board, that'd add to the cost involved.  What is fair to 
say is that you would not pay $279 for a Harp Commander.  Calling it 
outrageous in an archived public list is simply perjorative and 
inflamatory and would explain the amount of flak and derision you've 
received.  Mike's box design is unity gain and doesn't do anything 
besides match impdances.  It is missing parts of the schematic.  I think 
I have a better design kicking around on my hard drive somewhere if 
you're interested.  fjm