AliExpress

This is an outlet for Chinese (only?) companies. I find some of their prices remarkable. Often the goods come by air in just a few days. On some items I guess you might have to pay some duty. Even so, their prices are unbelievable.

I suppose the downside is that this kills western manufacturing that cannot compete with labour costs. Making in Europe or the USA we would not be able to compete on price.  Making consumer goods more locally would stoke inflation.

See https://www.aliexpress.com/ .

Chinese - just how do they do it?

Just seen this on AliExpress.  It is a Chinese copy of a UK designed radio. The moral is register your design. What amazes me is the price. 

This is what the big Japanese manufacturers are up against. In my view, if the Japanese want to remain in the amateur market, I suspect the answer is to design in Japan, but make products in a low cost country. In the future this may not be China.

Beware!!

Earlier this afternoon I thought I had ordered a UV K5(8) transceiver from Aliexpress for the bargain price of just £0.98 with free airmail postage. 

At this price (well below the price of a coffee) I thought I could not go wrong. 

Later, I read the reviews. One pointed out that all you got was the antenna, despite it implied you got a full transceiver for this price. This is a total scam.

I cancelled the order immediately.

40m Pixie from AliExpress

From my bank statement I see my 40m Pixie kit from China, that has shipped, cost a little over £7. This includes all parts including crystal and PCB. At this price it would be hard to buy the individual parts. I very much want to build this as it will be the first amateur radio construction here in a very long time.   It is sufficiently simple and low cost that I should manage it, even if I am a little clumsy still with the soldering iron.

 No doubt Andrew G6ALB (3km) will help with a first test.

Low cost kits

See http://www.aliexpress.com/store/331885 .   This website has some very low cost rigs for sale. An example is a 40m Pixie at around $10 post free. You'd be hard pressed to buy the individual parts for less!

UPDATE 1430z:   I have just ordered a 40m Pixie kit from them.  Should be here in 2 to 3 weeks time. I hope I can manage to build it with my clumsy soldering currently.

UPDATE 2000z: G1KQH has found the same Pixie at an even better price:

Greetings Roger

 

I could of saved you a fiver out of your pension but you had to rush in:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-KITS-PIXIE-HAM-RADIO-HF-40M-CW-QRP-TRANSCEIVER-7-023-7-026MHz-/121521131018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4b394e0a

 

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/