I believe walt said the largest ham market, not the largest number of
licensed amateurs per capita.
The US tends to be one of the largest consumer markets on the planet for
everything.
When we look at it from a consumer point of view, the US is indeed the
larger market, however, when it is looked at from how many licensed amateurs
there are per 1000 people, Japan definitely is number one.
I believe it is something like 1 in 90 people have an amateur license in
japan, compared to the US's approximately 1 in 400....given actual
population differences, im not sure if there are indeed more literal
individuals licensed in Japan or if its just more per capita.
There was a study done recently that showed the hams per capita in each
country around the world...probably availible on the ARRL or QRZ websites.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Walt Smith" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2006 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: This might present blind hams with an opportunity


> That's nonsense. While I don't know their comparative sales figures with
> respect to Japanese and U.S. numbers, the U.S. is the largest ham market
in
> the world, so to say that the Japanese companies don't care about this
> market is the height of foolishness.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Anthony Vece" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2006 4:18 PM
> Subject: Re: This might present blind hams with an opportunity
>
>
> I get the feeling that these companies like ICOM KENWOOD and YAESU in the
> USA.
>   really have no say about the products that they receive from Japan.
>
> I spoke with a person from ICOM once who suggested that they were trying
to
> get beeps with different pitches so that you could interpret power levels
> and whatnot.  However, when the person told me this, he kind of suggested
it
> as a novelty.
>