A very popular technique to compare consumer items on two dimensions where there are preferred segments of each dimension is Quadrant Analysis. The 2×2 table graph where each dimension is split results in four quadrants, one of which is the most desired, or Magic Quadrant. I call it here the Golden Quadrant: those rigs that have higher receive performance and get a higher cumulative rating on eHam.net. The two variables are split at the median point, where one-half of the rigs are above and below that measurement point.
As I included in my original NCJ articles, this technique gives the reader an effective screening device to entertain a smaller subset of rigs tested by Rob Sherwood that both perform very well and that other hams who have them think they are relatively good rigs overall. They are also identified at various market-entry price points, too. The viewer should take note of the tool ribbon at the top right of the graphic. They will allow manipulation of the graphed data so as to examine one rig versus another in greater detail. A screen shot tool in there too if you want to save a result and so forth. Finally, I’ve added a range slider at the bottom of each graph. The respective handles on each end of the X-axis allow for a selection of a slice of the data that will appear in the main graph. This is useful to select only the best performing or best bang-for-the-buck rigs for more detailed scrutiny.
I’ve created two pairs of such Golden Quads below. The first includes the Sherwood Performance Index (SPI) and the eHam rating with the absolute rig price in 2021 dollars scaled in color and size according to their price quartile. This yields a subset of rigs with higher composite receive performance that many hams rate highly, identified by the quartile of their price class in 2021 dollars.
The second Golden Quad takes the composite Sherwood Performance Index (SPI) and divides it by price at market-entry in 2021 USD. The price variable has been transformed into the same metric as the SPI (T-score). Thus, a ratio of 1.0 means that the rig is average on both the SPI and price. A ratio over 1.0 means greater performance-for-price while less than 1.0 suggests lesser bang for the buck, etc. This Quad identifies rigs yielding the highest performance for the price that other hams rate higher in terms of their satisfaction. But they are identified by their absolute price upon market-entry.
Based upon feedback from Bob K0NR, I’ve added a Golden Quad subset of data only on radios entering the market from 2000 to the present. It’s presented in a 3D Data Cube below including price, performance and eHam rating with the year of release colorized. In addition, I’ve included a similar 3D scatter plot substituting performance-for-price in place of the SPI. The viewer who wants only to focus on radios likely to be still available in the marketplace may want to use these two Golden Quad data cubes to help create their final list of purchase candidates.
I hope these results help readers examine some of the exciting new rigs on the market! And, most importantly, which one(s) you think your money is best for spending on one or more. That’s a decision only you can make.