Comment by bcrl
3 hours ago
Most people don't have an idea just how expensive high speed Analog to Digital Converters are, yet modern wifi radios often have 2 or 3 at a price under $30. Going to Digikey right now, an ADC capable of 14 bits at 350MSPS is over $200 (quantity 1), and that doesn't come with all the other supporting hardware needed to build a radio. The magic of volume production of hardware in quantities of millions is quite something.
Is it tho ?
The Rigol DHO800 has 1.25Gbps 12 bit ADC and cost less than $500, that is entire machine. I doubt the ADC parts cost more than 10% of machine.