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Reviews For: popular communications

Category: Amateur Radio Periodicals

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Review Summary For : popular communications
Reviews: 53MSRP:
Description:
magazine for shortwave,cb,scanner listeners some amateur radio articles
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00532.1
N3DQU Rating: 2002-05-04
I like it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I think Pop Comm does a pretty good job, considering the wide audience they are catering to. Yes, they do get controversial at times, but that doesn't make it a bad rag. If you don't like static in your reading, there is always QST hi!
N8YV Rating: 2002-04-28
Going downhill fast! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I first subscribed to Pop Comm in my pre-amateur days as an avid SWL---a hobby I've enjoyed for decades. I was impressed with its diversity, its open-minded "attitude" and its coverage of SWL gems and rare info.

It was certainly inexpensive, added variety to my mix of subscriptions and provided me with additional resources. Yes, the Readers Speak Out section was not my cup of tea, but the articles were at least okay.

I did not renew my subscription, but recently received a promotional copy. What happened? This was a real surprise to me---I don't remember Pop Comm like THIS! I am not happy with the way it's apparently tanked itself!

It sure seems that P.C. supports implicitly, if not blatantly, the activities of illegal CB and freebanding, at least if my issue is indicative of things. There was a questionnaire/survey in my copy, one of the questions asked being whether I intend to renew my "ham license" or not!

Well, I don't have a "ham license" per se, but I AM a licensed amateur radio operator! Is a CB freebander now in control of this publication?
KE4MOB Rating: 2002-03-29
Uh.....no. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used to subscribe back when I first got bitten by the SWL bug (pre-ham radio) about 10 years ago. It was a good magazine back then...the prime focus was on the monitoring aspect of the radio hobby rather than the latest cellphone of the month or CB. There was some technical stuff, which gave it an air of respectability. The garbage could be ignored.

The issues kept getting thinner and thinner, and it just seemed like PopComm lost it's radio roots altogether. It seemed like the radio hobbyist was completely ignored. The last two issues I got took a whole two minutes to read.

Get Monitoring Times instead.
WD8MGO Rating: 2001-12-03
Nice, but needs help! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I agree with some of the other statements about the quality of Pop Comm. True, it is not what it once was(when Tom Knietel was editor).
But I have to disagree with some of the other statements. Not all Hobby Radio Publications have to cater to HAMS. Amateur Radio and SWLers are different species and should never be confused.
It would be nice to see Pop Comm purchased by Grove(the competition) and bring it up to speed and listener quality. A proud SWLer with an Amateur Radio License.
WA4ZQX Rating: 2001-12-03
This magazine not for hams! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you are a freebander, illegal CBer, pirate (broadcast and ham), and hate ham radio operators and the laws that preserve our small piece of the radio spectrum, this magazine is for you. If you are a ham who believes that laws exist to keep us all honest and help us justify our spectrum slice, don't bother. Pop Comm has turned rotten in the last year or so and is not a "ham" magazine.
Gary
WA4ZQX
WB4M Rating: 2001-11-05
A joke Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I totally agree with KC9L!! This magazine is openly dedicated to illegal "freebanding", illegal equipment, illegal power, etc. I had to laugh at the "Unit" of the month, or something like that, photo. Here was some guy sitting at his "Unit" station, surrounded by his totally illegal setup. What joke that rag is.
KC9L Rating: 2001-01-25
Why is this even listed? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
How does a magazine that advocates cb dx, freebanding, and pirate radio get listed on here as an "Amateur Radio Periodical"?

I could overlook all that if there was anything of interest, but it's not even a good magazine from a writing or layout standpoint. I've read more interesting stuff in public bathroom stalls.

Save your money and time. If you want ham radio coverage, see QST or Worldradio.
WB9YCJ Rating: 2000-10-29
Good value, limit CB, Freeband and Radar Detectors Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good magazine and can be made better with the arrival of the upcoming "Wireless and Bluetooth Age". I still prefer MT or the British Short Wave Magazine but Pop commis is still very affordable and a good value especially for those younger ops on a budget. Mr Dixon, I am a current subscriber who will likely continue to renew as long as the curent topics receive coverage. Things like Longwave, TV DXing, Alice Brannigan, "How I got started", Gordo, Clandestine, Pirate, Aviation, SW tuning tips, etc. are very much suited to this magazine. . Iam looking at the Sept 2000 issue and CANNOT really find much wrong with it. Be conservative with the 26, 27 MHz and radar detector stuff. Its a turn off to many of us, and should it blossom, Im a goner. Great entry level rag!
K7LA Rating: 2000-10-29
Doofus Monthly Time Owned: N.A.
Popular Communications should be re-titled Doofus Monthly. Always looking for ways to reduce radio to the lowest common denominator (like editorials advocating removal of 11 meter mileage limits) it has no place in my periodical library.
RFBUFF Rating: 2000-10-26
Refreshing New Views. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been reading this magazine for years. Glad to see they're progressing with the times and covering more contemporary issues. I see that some other amateurs take issue with this, sorry but the ostrich approach no longer works. Service the majority of your readership or perish. I suspect that the majority of those who complain about the "extended" coverage are in fact more concerned that public acknowledgement might lend itself to an aire of legitimacy. Change is inevitable and it's a normal human trait to resist it...just don't ignore it though. I think Harold Ort and his staff are to be commended on a good magazine that covers it all. 73

Charles