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

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Pete, 

Nobody at ARRL looks at these before publication.  The "New 
Product" announcements are manufacturer's press releases.  The 
press releases go in an "inbox" and the layout staff grabs 
whatever they need to fill "holes" in the magazine. 

I raised the issue privately with key members of the editorial 
staff a few months ago when one manufacturer had "New Product" 
announcements in three different places in the same issue.  In 
one case the product was so new that it was not even available 
for purchase on the manufacturer's own web site!  This, in spite 
of a two month lead time for QST advertising <G>.  

Bottom line, "New Product Announcements" are not subject to any 
of the normal QST editorial standards. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Pete Smith
> Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 3:09 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] 2006 Top Ten Chutzpah Awards - the top two
> 
> 
> 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
> The World HF Contest Station Database
> Full details on 3165 contest stations
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