[TowerTalk] New? Cable

[WD0M]

Well said, Jim.

Happy holidays,
73,
Joe

At 09:57 PM 12/21/2003, Jim Lux wrote:
>I agree with Joe here... I don't mean to impugn Jefatech.. just their
>webpage (the single page linked..by the way) seems to imply that they are
>selling LMR400, but not quite..
>
>And, practically speaking, hams (including myself) are cheap.. we tend to
>buy things of marginal provenance, mostly because we're able to deal with
>the untoward failures from marginal stuff, and, after all, it IS a hobby.
>
>However, if all we buy is the cheapest product, without concern for real
>quality, authenticity, etc., then we are contributing to the demise of the
>great middle ground.  Most hams aren't commercial operators, nor do they
>have the budgets of commercial operators. We're willing to take the risk of
>marginal performance, improvise, etc., in exchange for a lower price. For
>instance, we are uniquely able to buy non-type-certified radio hardware for
>our needs.  That lack of type-certification actually saves a bunch o'bucks
>for us.
>
>Likewise, think of all the hams who have invested their own time and money
>to provide a useful widget or another, and then had it knocked off and have
>given up making it, out of frustration, because they can't even get their
>costs back.
>
>We're in a weird position.. ham volume isn't enough to run a real big
>business on.  We exist by sufferance for a lot of manufacturers. Let's not
>screw it up by always seeking the lowest price, regardless, without a
>thought for the value of the intellectual property involved.
>
>All I ask is that when you are buying, think first... I personally believe
>that a vendor who deals straight and is honest, should be supported, even if
>I have to pay more. I will not patronize a vendor that is solely price
>sensitive, etc. (and I especially do NOT want to imply that Jefetech might
>be in this category.)