Motorola selling cheap, Chinese-made antennas

[code3kid]

Hello all,
Yesterday I received my Motorola NAD6502 VHF 150-162 Heliacal
antenna that I ordered from Wiscomm. Immediately upon opening the package I
knew something was amiss. The bag was in was just a ziplock with a sticker on
it with no /\/\ logo. When I took the antenna out of the package the plastic
didn't feel like an OEM antenna, it was much more smooth and didn't have the
matte texture of an OEM antenna. It became obvious when I saw the phony squished
together tiny logo. This is not the fist time I'm ordered /\/\ stuff from
Wiscomm and I'm well aware of their good reputation so this shocks me that this
came from them. I already called them and attempted to inform them that they may
have accidentally got a bad order of them. I wasn't even trying to ask for my
money back. I told him everything I said above and he immediately got defensive
and said that they are the largest OEM /\/\ dealer and that they would never try
to pass off fake inferior product for a $13 antenna. He also said that all of
their stuff comes directly from Motorola to him then to me. This antenna
definitely didn't come from /\/\.

 

[code3kid]

More pics

packaging

 

[mmckenna]

Not defending Wiscomm, although I've had good experiences with them...
The packaging does say "Made in China". It's common for these larger companies to start farming out some of their products to Chinese factories. More and more you'll see this.
Made in China isn't necessarily bad. Chinese factories can make great products if the company (Motorola) is keeping control over the quality. Slight variances in materials can show up due to different designs, materials, etc.
Nothing wrong with Motorola farming production out to Chinese factories if they can meet the technical requirements. I'd check the antenna and make sure it's good, then be happy with it.
Wiscomm has a good reputation, and I'd agree, I doubt they'd sell you an inferior product just to make a few bucks. They are too big a dealer to risk doing something stupid like that.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I've been ordering from Radio Parts a lot here lately (slightly lower prices, same shipping costs). I know I had an OEM UHF XPR antenna and it came in a small plastic bag with Chinese (I'm guessing) all over the thing.

What's the bottom of the base look like?

 

[16b]

Note the spelling mistake on the label: "Data Code" instead of, presumably, "Date Code." Also "03.03.2015" is not a date code format I've ever seen Motorola use. It's hard for me to believe that Motorola wouldn't have at least put their own label on it.

Tell the dealer you're going to send it back for a refund. Regardless of where they got it, it looks cheesy. I wouldn't be satisfied with it, personally.

 

[SCPD]

Was this through E-Bay?. Any grief from Wiscomm should be reported to them and if it was not an E-Bay transaction, a compliant to the BBB if in fact they are selling counterfeit Motorola parts. Motorola's legal department may be interested in this too

 

[code3kid]

Was this through E-Bay?. Any grief from Wiscomm should be reported to them and if it was not an E-Bay transaction, a compliant to the BBB if in fact they are selling counterfeit Motorola parts. Motorola's legal department may be interested in this too

Nope, directly from the Wiscomm website, Already called them, they denied everything.

 

[code3kid]

The base looks legit, however the plastic skirting is thinner than the OEM.

 

[ElroyJetson]

The only way to see if maybe this is just what Motorola is actually providing these days is to order one direct from Motorola and cut out the middleman.

It's not inconceivable that Motorola has changed vendors or specifications or the Chinese vendor may have cut corners.

I would not be quick to accuse a retailer of selling counterfeit product without investigating a little more.

Call Motorola and order one antenna of the same type if you can. Setting up a parts account with them is easy anyway.

 

[code3kid]

The only way to see if maybe this is just what Motorola is actually providing these days is to order one direct from Motorola and cut out the middleman.

It's not inconceivable that Motorola has changed vendors or specifications or the Chinese vendor may have cut corners.

I would not be quick to accuse a retailer of selling counterfeit product without investigating a little more.

Call Motorola and order one antenna of the same type if you can. Setting up a parts account with them is easy anyway.

Couldn't agree more and i may just do that but 16b has a good point. Even if this is what they're pushing currently you would think they would know its "date code" not "data code" also the more i look at the base skirting, the thickness varies all the way around the antenna to almost paper thin.

 

[SCPD]

The picture has 2 different types of vhf antennas.

 

[code3kid]

The picture has 2 different types of vhf antennas.

correct, but the bases, logo, packaging, and material should be the same.

 

[SCPD]

packaging

Is it possible wiscomm just repacked the antenna into a plastic with there own Barcode and inventory print?

 

[Project25_MASTR]

correct, but the bases, logo, packaging, and material should be the same.

Are the color codes right for the band?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SCPD]

The print on antenna is questionable but like mentioned companies change plants and such. The color coding does have me wondering since its a mix of all 3 signs. Most have that exact print in the antenna that have been known to be fake and clones. Just don't see why or how wiscomm would sell that if it was direct from their order site.

 

[sjxts3000]

It's not Wiscomm... it's Motorola. Motorola is farming out a lot of the older antenna manufacturing to different contractors in China who are using cheaper materials, different molds, etc. All for the sake of saving a few bucks.... project that over the number of antennas they sell and that's a lot of money. Newer radios don't have antennas made like that.

Edit: I rescind that statement. Went back and looked at an antenna that I bought directly from Craig at Wiscomm and yep...the same crappy build quality. Never really noticed as I bought it for a project radio and then parked it in the drawer as a keeper when I sold the radio.

MTS2000des is right.... Craig has some explaining to do. ASAP.

 

[MTS2000des]

Don't know if I buy that.
We ordered a bulk of OEM Motorola antennas for XTS and APX radios (directly through a local MSS). None of them look like the one pictured, and certainly don't have misspelled words.

I say Wiscomm has some splainin' to do.

FWIW, the knock off antennas are crap. But if one pays for an OEM legitimate product and it is priced accordingly, they'd better get just that.

I'll be a local MSS would not try to pass that cheap crap off.

 

[sjxts3000]

Taking a look at this junky antenna that I have.... it's starting to resemble the junky LindaWang crap

 

[code3kid]

It's not Wiscomm... it's Motorola. Motorola is farming out a lot of the older antenna manufacturing to different contractors in China who are using cheaper materials, different molds, etc. All for the sake of saving a few bucks.... project that over the number of antennas they sell and that's a lot of money. Newer radios don't have antennas made like that.

Edit: I rescind that statement. Went back and looked at an antenna that I bought directly from Craig at Wiscomm and yep...the same crappy build quality. Never really noticed as I bought it for a project radio and then parked it in the drawer as a keeper when I sold the radio.

MTS2000des is right.... Craig has some explaining to do. ASAP.

Starting to look like that's the concensus. I don't know how to bring it to his attention (not sure who that is) but I'm willing to back up this argument if someone was to bring this to Motorola or Wiscomm's attention. To start off I'm gona email Wiscomm with a link to this thread

 

[code3kid]

Here's a batboard thread talking about the same thing. Is this antenna OEM? - Batboard

Same antenna