I seem to recall that a philosophy of the "Micro-Lite DXpeditions" was not to use amps.  Maybe this one is different?

But their signals were really weak here in central TX last night on all bands that I could detect their signals.  So maybe this also is a no amp expedition.

NA4M

Alan - the best way to communicate with me regarding eHam is via the published email address for the product reviews manager

73 NA4M

There is...

It's in our Product Reviews Policy which is shown on the main reviews page and also on each new review submission page in the right margins.

"NOTE: Newly submitted product reviews will not be displayed on the web site until after they have been
screened and approved."

and

"eHam reserves the right to edit or remove reviews and/or products for any reason at any time without
prior notice."


73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

I've been away from internet connectively the last few days. Product reviews are now not displayed until after they have been screened and approved.   But I'm back now and the back log of reviews has been screened.

Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

The new server also has updated reviews software.  One update is that new reviews will not be displayed until they've been screened/approved by eHam.

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

N2RRA sez:
"The only one thing I would like e-ham to change is not allowing reviews to post without an actual legal call sign. I think being it's a ham web site it should be kept that way and not allow reviews that insult, or ridicule anyone without knowing who they are and whether they have a valid reason for posting.

Point is I don't like folks hiding behind a computer being a so called "Troll" not knowing if your being attacked by someone who knows nothing about our hobby, or is there just to stir trouble."


Let me add my 0.02 to K5TR's replies on this topic.

I understand and sympathize with those who feel call signs should be required for postings and particularly product reviews.

However the other side of the coin is the issue of personal privacy in the internet age.

While call sign IDs may shield some trollers, the use of call signs IDs also opens oneself to potential abuse because of an easily determined identity.

The use of non-call sign/anonymous eHam ID's provides a measure of personal privacy protection that some feel important.  I have had to remove numerous reviews at the request the reviewer who used his call sign but tired of receiving abusive emails or other communications from those who disagree with the opinion of a product he reviewed.  

Yes - email can be easily deleted but I understand why someone would not wish to receive "hate mail or calls" over their product opinion.

So - I don't feel the use of a call sign generally adds any more or less validity to a product opinion versus one from a non-call ID.  Of course non-call sign ID's can be abused but call-sign ID's can be as well.  

As far as insults or ridicule from any ID - we try to catch those but are not always successful and welcome any heads-up to point us to reviews that run afoul of the review guide lines including:

"Do not use product reviews to criticize someone else's review. Everyone is entitled to express their product experience and opinion without being publicly criticized."


73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

It's not yet available. When someone has one in their shack is the time to add it to the category and submit a review.

73 de Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

eMail me the updated URL's.  Currently the only way to update/change them is for me to edit and change the URL.

productreviewsmaster1@eham.net

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

There's no illusion that there are not lots of reviews posted as a result of a request from a vendor. It's expected and not an issue as long as it's not blatant advertising/marketing and not abused.

But when there is a sudden large quantity of reviews posted in a short period of time it obviously raises flags that someone may be attempting to influence the reviews in a inappropriate manner.   In this case it was not malicious. But inquires about the situation were overwhelmingly opposed to the reviews being used in this fashion.  

Everyone may not agree and that's OK.  

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

When a manufacturer/publisher urges his customers/subscribers to post reviews of his own product it becomes a situation of as one review reader stated: "Solicited reviews are just unpaid advertisements."

The obvious review solicitation by the DX bulletin publisher also results in the posted reviews being in violation of one of eHam's product review guide lines:
"eHam's product reviews are not for advertising, marketing,..."

This guide line attempts to minimize any influence in eHams reviews by manufacturers/dealers/publishers/etc. that in turn keeps trust/credibility with our readers for our reviews.

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

The DX bulletin publisher asked his subscribers to visit eHam and submit reviews. This resulted in the sudden barrage of reviews for his bulletins.  For the time being most of those reviews have been made "inactive".

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

KG6WLS wrote:
"...So, could eHam make the "REVIEW" section where you can only post a review once for one paticular piece of equipment...instead of posting the same bashing or glory hog statements multiple times? If not, then yank the responses to the reviews."

We try to do this.  eHam's product review guide lines state in part...

"Limit your reviews to one review per product. Multiple reviews of the same product by one person unfairly skews the product ratings.  If you submit more than one review for the same product your older reviews will be removed."

However, the new review screening process is manual.

During screening the only way to determine if a specific poster has previously submitted a review of that product is by watching for key words or phrases such as "update" or "newer", etc. as a clue that they've previously submitted a review for the product.

And yes - sometimes folks sometimes get carried away bashing or defending a piece of gear in the reviews for whatever reasons.  

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

W3LK sed:
"Are these people incapable of just deleting such email and getting on with it?"

I understand.  However, the fact remains many times I've been requested to remove reviews because of attacks from those who disagree with their review.

The issue is not how easy it is to delete a barrage of abusive emails but rather why should they be subjected to them in the first place.

They submit a review opinion perhaps hoping to help inform their fellow hams of their product experiences and as a result they become the target of a hate mail campaign.  No one should have to deal with that.

NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

Anonymous eHam logins are not the ideal situation and is misused at times.  But there are two sides to the coin.  

One example: On many occasions eHam subscribers post product reviews but others disagree with their review opinion for whatever reason.  

If the reviewer has not used an anonymous ID they are frequently attacked with torrents of venomous and abusive emails from those who disagree with their review.   Why should anyone have to deal with that abuse for expressing their product opinion?  An anonymous login shields them from the abuse.

I get lots of requests that product reviews should only be accepted from those who "own" the product.  How the heck can ownership realistically be validated?  Seems the same for call sign IDs. Just because someone requests a login with a call sign doesn't mean it's really theirs or correct.  Should eHam just accept their call sign on face value?

eHam is run by volunteers in their spare time.  Trying to validate product "ownership" or if someone is really the holder of a call sign probably would not be a productive use of our time.

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager

Per WB6SIK -
"Contact the webmasters? I'm sure they are in on it. Especially if a company buys a lot of advertising on eham.net. They don't want the company to look too bad or they might take their advertising elsewhere."


I'm eHam's Product Reviews Manager. If you read the Product Review guide lines you'll note the following:

"eHam's Product Reviews are independent of eHam's advertisers. eHam's advertisers should accept whatever reviews are posted within eHam's Product Review guidelines as described here."

Do manufacturers contact us about reviews?  Sure they do. But in almost all cases only for legitimate reasons of a review not following guide lines.  Anyone can do that.

Accusations of reviews manipulation because a manufacturer purchases eHam advertising have no foundation in fact and are simple conjecture.

I couldn't even tell anyone who eHam's advertisers are except by looking at the ads on any given day.

73 Phil NA4M
eHam Product Reviews Manager