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Author Topic: WOW...What is going on ??  (Read 1563 times)

K1QQQ

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WOW...What is going on ??
« on: November 07, 2022, 05:33:43 PM »

Do not mean to be inflammatory but an oddball question before I catch some sleep...hmmmm


I have been watching YouTube allot on my TV.


Anything about amateur radio brings ONLY Technician type conversation and subjects only that seem related to Technician type thought. Everything. Then if about radios EVERYTHING is Chinese stuff !!! Anytone/Baofeng/Btech/TYT/QYT an on and on.

OK. Is it economic ? Most would probably do better with a HT marketed by known manufacturers who have marketed to the USA Europe and the whole earth chronically. Specs on radios are usually true. One gets schematics and the possibility of repairs. Reliability of radios way better !!! Often it might be worth it to pay a little more for better quality.

Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood/Alinco  etc. do not exist.

Not knocking economic. Cost of a new HF amp !!!!

When I entered amateur radio the whole radio spectrum was open for conversation. VHF/UHF and up were not that popular. The FCC made that area the simpliest as to testing as nobody wanted to use that area. Of coarse things have changed and much might have to do with size of antennas. VHF/UHF/up 'ground wave' very useful and small antennas make it easy to extend coverage. Ground Wave still exists on lower frequencies. Submarines communicate with the whole earth via the oceans using VLF etc.

Maybe China owns all the new amateurs ?

Better get out of here. I am getting delusional. Spend time watching YouTube and the subject of Amateur Radio. Anything goes nowhere except Technician type thought. Nothing else exists.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2022, 05:36:36 PM by K1QQQ »
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GRUMPY2021

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2022, 05:46:04 PM »

I'll just throw it out here ... you have a whole bunch of youtube "used car salesmen".  I think the 'technician talk" is there because they might be the most eager to learn and the most gullible to the "used car hype".  What I mean my "used car hype" in amateur radio is the look of astonishment on the thumbnails ending in BUY BUY BUY this is the best ever... affiliate link below.  I think a lot of the salesmen on Youtube aren't much more than technician class themselves.    As far as why the push for Chinese stuff.  They get sent those Chinese items for free usually in exchange for a positive review.   Then they also have started that catch phrase, "why for the price it's good enough!".   Not sure they realize if they keep pushing Chinese s**** all we will have left is Chinese s***.   My 2 cents.   YMMV
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AI5BC

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2022, 05:50:36 PM »

YouTube is the idiots Bible.
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AK5B

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2022, 06:17:52 PM »

YouTube is the idiots Bible.

Yes, indeed!  Sad, isn't it? 

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K1VSK

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2022, 06:22:59 PM »

It seems YouTube also affects thought pattern and lessens the ability to communicate succinctly and clearly.
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W6SWO

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2022, 08:18:55 PM »

They're probably talking about a lot of technician stuff because that's the entry level license and they're trying to get folks into the hobby.  Besides, all I ever hear Extras talk about is who's a "real ham" and how much they hate the ARRL!  ;D ;D

Agree on the Chinese gear.  I'm not interested in it at all.  I stick to the big manufacturers.  I've got enough Chinese junk that stops working after a few days or weeks in my house and I go out of my way to avoid getting more.
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K6BRN

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2022, 09:59:01 PM »

There is a great deal on YouTube regarding HF equipment as well, including radios, radio mods and antennas.  Some of it is pretty useful and well done.  So I'm not sure where the idea that only poorly done "Technician Grade" (nothing wrong with Technicians) VHF/UHF topics are posted on YouTube came from.

Like anything free, it's quality varies.

Brian - K6BRN
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KF4HR

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2022, 03:09:05 AM »

It has been said, hams are generally cheap.  For many hams trying to save a buck the influx of inexpensive ham products from China fits their bill perfectly.  Although most that have been in the hobby more than a few years know, we get what we pay for. 

And it seems for some hams, once they feel they have mastered the operation of their  equipment, their next step is to make a Youtube video about it.  Perhaps it's all about building their Youtube Channel audience and making a few bucks.

In years past we used to hear hams talk about getting on the radio to do some equipment experimenting, testing a new antenna system or testing something new they built.  Or building a new circuit of some sort.  Or trying to work a rare DX station, or work a VHF/UHF opening (on a mode that requires more than clicking on a FT8 line).  Many now-a-days prefer to just exchange a grid square and call sign with a hi/bye digital mode rather than carry on a conversation and get to actually know someone.  For many, ham speak of the past has changed.  But as the saying goes, the only constant is change.

So perhaps an answer the question, "Wow... what is going on??  Today's popular phrase "playing radio" sums up what's going on.  (A phrase we didn't hear 20 or more years ago.) 
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AC2EU

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2022, 07:21:24 AM »

VHF/UHF has been the "entry level" band in the hobby for a while. I'm not surprised that there is a lot of "Technician" talk about it.
Everybody is also looking for their 15 minutes of fame with a YouBoob channel, to , so there's that...

This is some useful information on the Youboob, but as you say , a lot is a waste of time too, with misleading or bad information.
The allure of cheap radios is a powerful force to the uninitiated. After about a year or so they will come to appreciate the finer things in Ham life, like Alinco/Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood or maybe even Elecraft!

K1VTX

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2022, 08:41:04 AM »

Couple of quick points:

Cheap Chinese radios have gotten more people involved in Amateur Radio in recent years than any other factor. Baofeng UV5 or similar is usually the 1st thing a 'Tech' will get their hands on. Hence the videos geared towards technicians.

To say the only videos out there are Tech in nature is false. Do a search on OH8STN for starters.

Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood/Alinco  etc. do not exist? Try doing a search by specific model.. Overwhelming amount of information /opinions / setups.

Not everything Chinese is of poor quality. I own a Kenwood 520, Icom 706, Yaesu 450D and 100D. All great rigs, but I also have a Xiegu G90 which is my dedicated POTA rig. Not a whole bunch of Hams complaining about that one.





« Last Edit: November 08, 2022, 08:50:16 AM by K1VTX »
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WB8VLC

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #10 on: November 08, 2022, 08:42:35 AM »

It's so ridiculous with this Youtube nonsense and misinformation that apparently now we are supposed to evaluate the quality of ham antennas by how well they sell on Amazon.

https://qrznow.com/top-7-portable-ham-radio-antennas-on-amazon/
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K8AXW

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #11 on: November 08, 2022, 09:01:30 AM »

Why spend big bucks for quality gear to monitor dead repeaters? 

Or, at the very best, try to talk to someone who can't spell Kenwood, Yaesu or even Icom?

The term, "play radio" was preceded by the term, "go ham." 

Welcome to the new world of ham radio.  Get used to it. 10-4?

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A Pessimist is Never Disappointed!

K6CPO

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #12 on: November 08, 2022, 11:40:57 AM »

Some thoughts about YouTube:

There is a lot of good information available on YT. I have been able to replace the brake rotors, pads, headlights and driving lights on my 23 year-old truck with the help of YouTube. It's also enabled me to keep a 20+ year-old washing machine running. However, when it come to ham radio information, I will go to a couple of members of my club for help, including one who worked for Bird at one time. YouTube is the last place I go for information.

It's too bad we can't get to some of the new hams before they get "blinded by the price" of a new Baofeng on Amazon. Unfortunately, those radios are hawked by several of the more popular YouTubers, a couple of which I saw sitting behind the tables at the ARRL booth at Hamcation back in February. It's sad the league is endorsing these people that seem to think the only good radio is a Chinese one.
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W4KYR

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #13 on: November 08, 2022, 12:59:24 PM »




Anything about amateur radio brings ONLY Technician type conversation and subjects only that seem related to Technician type thought. Everything. Then if about radios EVERYTHING is Chinese stuff !!! Anytone/Baofeng/Btech/TYT/QYT an on and on.

OK. Is it economic ? Most would probably do better with a HT marketed by known manufacturers who have marketed to the USA Europe and the whole earth chronically. Specs on radios are usually true. One gets schematics and the possibility of repairs. Reliability of radios way better !!! Often it might be worth it to pay a little more for better quality.



Maybe China owns all the new amateurs ? 

The Chinese manufacturers send free radios to selected Youtubers in exchange for a "review". 

Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood/Alinco do not do this.

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AA4HA

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Re: WOW...What is going on ??
« Reply #14 on: November 08, 2022, 05:37:02 PM »

My pet peeve is the magical EFHW antenna that someone tries to multiband or just put up a random chunk of wire.

Then you find out that they are unlicensed (gonna take that test soon and then I will be a super-ham!) and they are asking if someone will sked with them to "test" their antenna.

Not even a tech who has a basic understanding of what HF they can operate on and in what modes. They want to jump up on 40 or 80 to chat away.

Reddit is the worst for it; When I started to follow the amateur radio areas of Reddit I thought I had awakened from a coma, in to a world where everyone suddenly had lost 50 IQ points (Idiocracy on the radio). Trying to bring even the simplest technical aspects of RF, antennas, licensing... whatever, and get downvoted for being a Debbie-downer on their fun-parade.

We can't fix stupid, now I just want to ignore it.
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Ms. Tisha Hayes, AA4HA
Lookout Mountain, Alabama
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