I wonder what "strong sales" are for something like an R8b these days.

I also wonder what R&D costs would be for a suitable replacement.

Ten-tec is the only US company I can think of that's brought out new models in the last 5 years or so. I imagine they're spreading some r&d costs across shortwave and ham product lines.

On the bright side, I think products like the Sat 800, and lower cost chinese portables will help expand the market for higher end radios.

Well, I agree that a high end receiver probably isn't going to be a
cash cow, but wasn't this equally true when the R8 and R8A were
introduced? The market for such items has been very small for a long
time. I don't know what explains Drake's interest in high end
receivers unless they just like building them.

Maybe they'll drop out of the market after the R8B runs its course,
but I'd like to see them stick around. Best case scenario: the 800
does so well that Drake figures it can fund the R&D for a new
receiver. If, as I imagine, the Sony SW77 was the 800's primary
competitor, this scenario might not be so far fetched.

Steve