Antenna Information comment

[K8DO at aol.com]

In a message dated 96-06-12 08:26:06 EDT, you write:

<< Four:  Before you put up another 150foot tower, have you given to charity?
>>

Cheez, the way prices have gone up since the 1st tower, I NEED the charity,
cuz I'll be poor before it is finished....

Denny

>From dave at egh.com (David Clemons)  Thu Jun 13 13:13:52 1996
From: dave at egh.com (David Clemons) (David Clemons)
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 08:13:52 -0400
Subject: your reply concerning Kenwood's marketing strategy (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9606130837.B4966-0100000 at newman.egh.com>



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 08:13:18 -0400
From: David Clemons <dave at newman.egh.com>
To: cuyeda at ix.netcom.com
Subject: re: your reply concerning Kenwood's marketing strategy

Hi Paul,

	Thank you for your reply.  In general, I find your points well made 
concerning the future of Amateur Radio and I understand that we both have 
a stake in that future.

	Unfortunately, I am concerned that Kenwood management is either 
unaware of the effect of selling amateur radios in truck stops, or that 
the effect is of no concern to them.

	I was a truck driver for over 15 years.  During that time, I made 
numerous stops at the big chain truck stops.  I was dismayed to find that 
the same display cases which held CB radios also held "Amateur Radio CW 
Amplifiers".  These amplifiers typically had an output of 25-50 watts, so 
you tell me who they were fooling.  The only reason they were labelled as 
such was to avoid legal problems with the FCC.  How many thousands of 
these went into trucks, and how many more thousands of these were bought 
by "trucker wannabe's" who used them from their homes to fill the 
airwaves with their profanity and useless drivel?  (Have you ever had the 
misfortune to hear what goes on in the CB band?  It was so bad that I 
stopped using the CB equipment in our trucks altogether.)

	A number of years ago, the FCC caused amateur band amplifiers to be 
sold without 10 meters being functional.  This was done in an attempt to 
reduce the illegal use of these units on the CB bands.  (Certainly it didn't 
solve the problem, but I'm sure it made a dent in it.)  The FCC has 
recognized the problem, and I certainly hope that Kenwood will too.  To 
act according as the Kenwood marketing plan indicates is to act 
irresponsibly.  Perhaps it will increase sales in the short run, but it 
could cause irreparable harm to the Amateur Radio service, and also to 
Kenwood's standing in the amateur community.  If the CB market is the 
answer to Kenwood's sales needs, why not just come out with a line of CB 
radios?

						Very Truly Yours,

						Dave Clemons, K1VUT