Tytera GigaParts Explorer QRZ-1

[AK9R]

GigaParts was selling this radio at the Huntsville Hamfest:

Explorer QRZ-1 5W VHF/UHF Handheld Transceiver

Explorer QRZ-1 5W VHF/UHF Handheld Transceiver

www.gigaparts.com

Supposedly a joint development by QRZ.com and GigaParts.

A TYT TH-UV88 with a different name.

 

[KB4MSZ]

Can I cancel my license and go take the Tech?

 

[alcahuete]

Only $25 more than the TYT. SMH... Doesn't surprise me with the QRZ.com crowd. They push this CCR crap all the time.

 

[mmckenna]

What little respect I had for QRZ (which was only slightly above zero) is now gone.

I wonder how long before ARRL is in on this game? I'm sure they'll want one with the MARS/CAP mod already done. You know, so when "All Else Fails" hams can jump on public safety frequencies to act as "net control"?

 

[kny2xb]

I wonder how long before ARRL is in on this game? I'm sure they'll want one with the MARS/CAP mod already done. You know, so when "All Else Fails" hams can jump on public safety frequencies to act as "net control"?

Shhhhhhh, you'll give them ideas

[Although maybe they can partner with that guy from Idaho]

 

[mmckenna]

[Although maybe they can partner with that guy from Idaho]

You'd be able to buy the individual radio...

-OR-

Get the official "ARRL Emergency Responder Pack" that includes:

-Orange Vest that says "Emergency Communications" on the back and your call sign on the front. Pockets for 3 radios (or Snickers bars).​

-Gold plastic badge with a space for your call sign.​

-Hard Hat with your call sign on it (antenna and propeller available for an additional fee)​

-Spare battery so when you have to pull an "all nighter" at the fair grounds supervising the cub scouts directing traffic.​

-Comically long flexible tape antenna so you look like an "operator".​

-Speaker Mic with 10 watt internal amp so everyone at IHOP will know you are an important person.​

-Mag mount antenna, because you don't want to reduce the "Resale Value" of a 25 year old Chrysler mini-van.​

-Mag mount orange strobes with cigarette lighter adapters because the wife won't let you permanently wire anything.​

-"When all else fails" magnetic signs to put on the wife's mini-van (if she lets you borrow it)​

-Skywarn decals​

-Big sticker that says "I monitor 146.52"​

-Instructions on how to download DHS IFOG guide so you can "interoperate" on VTAC/UTAC channels with your "public safety partners".​

-All this fits inside the included "GO Bag".​

-Free lifetime membership to HamSexy.com​

 

[KB4MSZ]

Speaker Mic with 10 watt internal amp so everyone at IHOP will know you are an important person.

I never thought of that.

 

[mmckenna]

I never thought of that.

Bonus points for using it at "All you can eat Pancake" day.

 

[mmckenna]

Bonus points for using it at "All you can eat Pancake" day.

I know, I'm going to he77 for that comment.
But some hams are so easy to make fun of when they get in packs and start encouraging themselves.

FWIW, I've been a ham for a long time, but only went to one ham club meeting. Took about 10 minutes to see where that poopshow was going. Never went back.

 

[kny2xb]

Get the official "ARRL Emergency Responder Pack" that includes:

-Orange Vest that says "Emergency Communications" on the back and your call sign on the front. Pockets for 3 radios (or Snickers bars).​

-Gold plastic badge with a space for your call sign.​

-Hard Hat with your call sign on it (antenna and propeller available for an additional fee)​

-Spare battery so when you have to pull an "all nighter" at the fair grounds supervising the cub scouts directing traffic.​

-Comically long flexible tape antenna so you look like an "operator".​

-Speaker Mic with 10 watt internal amp so everyone at IHOP will know you are an important person.​

-Mag mount antenna, because you don't want to reduce the "Resale Value" of a 25 year old Chrysler mini-van.​

-Mag mount orange strobes with cigarette lighter adapters because the wife won't let you permanently wire anything.​

-"When all else fails" magnetic signs to put on the wife's mini-van (if she lets you borrow it)​

-Skywarn decals​

-Big sticker that says "I monitor 146.52"​

-Instructions on how to download DHS NIFOG guide so you can "interoperate" on VTAC/UTAC channels with your "public safety partners".​

-All this fits inside the included "GO Bag".​

-Free lifetime membership to HamSexy.com​

Just remember, whatever happens, you said it, I didn't

DISCLAIMER: I know nothing, I was busy watching NotARubicon's latest video on YouTube

 

[kny2xb]

-Speaker Mic with 10 watt internal amp so everyone at IHOP will know you are an important person.​

​

​

Oh God, that reminds me of eating at Shoneys & a work crew came in with their Nextels turned up loud​

​

Trying to eat with multiple 'ba-deep ba-deep' at max volume, no thanks​

 

[mmckenna]

multiple 'ba-deep ba-deep' at max volume

I think we all hated Nextel in our own way. It made every tradesworker feel like a ham radio operator.


Back on topic….

The CCR fad has been an annoyance.
Companies figuring out how to charge even more for them by slapping a different sticker on them is even worse.
It's almost like CCR manufacturers are learning the way of Motorola.

 

[WRQS621]

You know what is more annoying than Amateur Radio operators, RR forum trolls who come here to show off to their "friends". Anyway.

I think all types of radio is interesting. I am personally thankful this 100+ year technology is still around. With the horrible state of media and the internet, radio is one of few sources of communication where you can hear unfiltered communications. The more folks we can have in radio hobby the better. Innovation and knowledge will increase with each new participant. QRZ and Gigaparts are giving away these radios/kits to newly licensed operators. All good in my book.

 

[mmckenna]

You know what is more annoying than Amateur Radio operators, RR forum trolls who come here to show off to their "friends". Anyway.

One does what one can.

I think all types of radio is interesting. I am personally thankful this 100+ year technology is still around. With the horrible state of media and the internet, radio is one of few sources of communication where you can hear unfiltered communications. The more folks we can have in radio hobby the better. Innovation and knowledge will increase with each new participant. QRZ and Gigaparts are giving away these radios/kits to newly licensed operators. All good in my book.

The low cost radios have certainly benefited the hobby (geez, did I just type that?) to some degree. I question how much radio costs kept people out of the hobby, however. A $120 2 meter hand held from one of the big amateur radio manufacturers isn't much of a stretch from having to buy 3 or 4 CCR's to find one that works correctly.

But when a group like QRZ takes an existing model radio, slaps their sticker on it, and then jacks up the price, that's not doing anything to help the hobby. It is just pure greed. And there will always be fools who fall for it.

 

[rescuecomm]

Whose $8,000 boots do you polish? Funny how the people who don't pay for their own radios and radio systems look down on those who!

 

[alcahuete]

You know what is more annoying than Amateur Radio operators, RR forum trolls who come here to show off to their "friends". Anyway.

No...actually, the hams in the orange vests, pretending to be policemen, are still far more annoying. Trust me.

QRZ and Gigaparts are giving away these radios/kits to newly licensed operators. All good in my book.

That's great! For everyone else, they're charging $25 more than if you'd just buy the non-re-badged TYT radio.

 

[mmckenna]

Whose $8,000 boots do you polish? Funny how the people who don't pay for their own radios and radio systems look down on those who!

No ones. The "$8000" radios I use are not mine, they belong to my employer. My own personal radios are old commercial radios I've cleaned up and used. I have an old JT1000 that does a whopping 16 channels on VHF, and a few old Motorola CDM's and Kenwood TK's that do glorious analog single band. Those are the radios I own and mostly paid for.

By "looking down" do you mean giving away most of my old amateur only radios away to other hams and others who were working on their ham tickets? I've cleaned up old e-wasted commercial radios and given them to hams. I've given away old back up batteries to ham clubs to keep their repeaters on line during long power outages.

Who I look down on are groups like QRZ that take a $39 CCR radio and jack up the price and sell them to gullible people who think the QRZ sticker on it somehow makes it work better.

Oh, and I -DO- look down on those with the fake amateur radio badges.

 

[marcotor]

Get the official "ARRL Emergency Responder Pack" that includes:

You forgot:

An "OFFICIAL First Responder Hero" License plate frame for the van, or your "Responder Unit" P71
2 custom designed wet and apply decals of a German Shepard or Rottweiler for your "K-9 Response Unit" door pillars
A red LED to place on top of the Mag mount antenna - lights up to let everyone know you are talking
For Police types, official look and sound door decals that are vague like "Constable Patrol"

... seen on vehicles (and heard on the air) here in SoCal

 

[sonm10]

Man, y'all make a sour bunch.

 

[jeepsandradios]

I am not a government employee and never will be. I couldn't deal with some of that, but I can say with 100% certainty I agree with pretty much everything said. I have been a ham for over 25 years and other than some APRS and Search and Rescue stuff dont use it at all. Tried to get involved in a local county RACES group years ago and I was the youngest guy there. Unless it was what they did yearly they wanted to do nothing but complain about the counties TLMR system and how they dont get used for any events. Area I moved to 4 years ago has basically no ham activity..its great.... Oh and I did just recently put up a 440 machine at home...P25 to keep the CCR out..