Mike,
Actually, that really hasn't been my experience except Elecraft and
Tentec which is no longer in business. I remember a call to Elecraft
around 2100L EST when I ran into trouble when building my K2. The tech
answered the phone and we spent about an hour trouble shooting a test
that wasn't right. It turned out to be a bad capacitor, BUT the tech was
the designer, Wayne. My experience with Elecraft has been over the top,
but dealing directly with the developer has been something else.
73,
Barry
K3NDM
------ Original Message ------
From: "Michael Walker" <va...@portcredit.net>
To: "Fred Soop" <fgs...@gmail.com>
Cc: "Elecraft@mailman.qth.net" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 12/11/2019 1:50:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Phone Call
Fortunately, there are a lot of Ham Radio companies that you can
actually reach out to to the developers and who are active hams.
It isn't limited to just this one.
Mike va3mw
On Wed, Dec 11, 2019 at 1:47 PM Fred Soop <fgs...@gmail.com> wrote:
I didn't actually make a call but after meeting Elecraft at Hamvention, my
reaction was similar. Did not actually meet the top brass but one of their
salespeople was able to tell me more about sorting out my antenna situation
than many others combined.
73
Fred AC9RQ
>>>
I just read the Elecraft December Newsletter, so I made a quick phone
call. It's still morning over there.
Big Radio Company: How may I direct your call?
Me: Yes, hello, I'd like to speak to your CTO.
BRC: Oh, I'm sorry sir, but I can't do that.
Me: How about a co-founder?
BRC: No...
Me: Why not? I'm about to buy a new radio, and it's down to Elecraft and
you guys, and Elecraft says I can go hang out with one of the big wigs and
play radio, so I'm calling you to see if you'll match that offer. You know,
maybe I can come over and hang out in your ham station -- you do have a
station, don't you?-- and your big wig can come out and have a soda with
me, and we can trade stories and shoot the breeze and then call CQ on 20.
Yeah?
BRC: No, sir, I'm sorry. <lowering her voice> To tell you the truth... we
don't even *know* who the CTO is.
Me:? Excuse me?
BRC: We see important-looking people pass by all the time, but we don't
actually know which one is the CTO. We're a big conglomerate now.
Me: Well, maybe you can find someone under him, like the VP of
engineering. I'd like to meet him. Or her.
BRC: Oh, no. That's not possible. <lowering her voice again>. You see, he
doesn't actually design any of our products. He has a team working under
him, and they do all the work. <pausing> He does select the knobs that go
on the radios, though.
Me: The chief knob-picker, eh? Gee, I was hoping for someone who knows how
to match impedance, or optimize a sigmoid response. Got any amplifier
experts?
BRC: Not really.
Me: AGC gurus?
BRC: Not that I know of.
Me: Anybody who solders?
BRC: Oh, yes! You could have lunch with Maria. She's our absolute best
solderer.
Me: Can she dig a signal out of the noise? Does she like hiking?
BRC: <silence>
Me: Never mind. You know, I'm glad I called you. I think my mind is made
up. Good-bye and thank you!
BRC: Good day, sir, and thank you for calling.
Al? W6LX
<<<
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