[TowerTalk] 2006 Top Ten Chutzpah Awards - the top two

[Pete Smith]

Both New Product announcements from September QST - 

p.41 Isotron 40/20 meter antenna that looks like a cross between a 1960's UHF antenna, a birdhouse, a ceramic coil from a BC-375 and a collection of leftover flashing material.   Really, guys, are we supposed to believe this works?

p. 32 "Broadband Manpack Antenna and Mast from B&W" -- claiming less than 2:1 SWR 1.6-60 MHz.  Picture looks like two christmas tree light reels, a lot of hookup wire, two three foot pieces of tubing and a humongous balun/dummy load.  Rated for 20 watts.  $545 for the antenna alone, or $1190 (!) for the antenna and mast kit.

The serious point of all this -- who the heck at ARRL is looking at these things before publication?  Whatever happened to the ARRL's holy attitude about not advertising things that make no sense?  Oh, I forgot - new product announcements are FREE.  But how many new hams will be duped?

I thought the August QST was pretty good, but this ... horrific!

73, Pete N4ZR
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