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Tytera GigaParts Explorer QRZ-1
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I owe QRZ and apology and I need to eat my share of crow here.
I was not aware QRZ was giving away these radios to new hams. That just bumped my respect for them up a bit (still 2 notches above zero, but not zero any more).
That's one way to encourage new hams. I've done my best to help other hams and sometimes that has included giving old radios away for free.
If buying a new radio is a true stumbling block to a new ham, then all of us that are hams should be willing to help. I don't agree that spending $25 more for a radio is the way to do it, but it is one way. With the low cost of CCR's, I'd encourage other hams to skip a few $5 coffees and buy a young ham their first radio.
My opinion of ARRL, however, stands, even if it was meant in jest. Ham radio operators gotta stop taking themselves so damn seriously.
I was not aware QRZ was giving away these radios to new hams. That just bumped my respect for them up a bit (still 2 notches above zero, but not zero any more).
That's one way to encourage new hams. I've done my best to help other hams and sometimes that has included giving old radios away for free.
If buying a new radio is a true stumbling block to a new ham, then all of us that are hams should be willing to help. I don't agree that spending $25 more for a radio is the way to do it, but it is one way. With the low cost of CCR's, I'd encourage other hams to skip a few $5 coffees and buy a young ham their first radio.
My opinion of ARRL, however, stands, even if it was meant in jest. Ham radio operators gotta stop taking themselves so damn seriously.
That's pretty cool that they are giving them away. I started with a $20 CCR which was more like a gateway into the hobby, my license, and much better higher priced gear after I upgraded to General 30 days later. I still own that CCR, 10 years later, and use it for experiments and testing with digital stuff.
As to coffee, I grind/brew mine at home so I was able to give my newly licensed buddy an XTS5000 w/FPP along with a convertacom and an external antenna so he can enjoy analog and P25.
As to coffee, I grind/brew mine at home so I was able to give my newly licensed buddy an XTS5000 w/FPP along with a convertacom and an external antenna so he can enjoy analog and P25.
Nah, you really don't. The management still sucks over there. Giving kids CCRs is not the answer either. The kids are walking around with $1200 cell phones, but everyone else has to pay for them to get a $30 radio for free?
Back to the radio, it is a re-badged TH-UV88 that you can pick up on Amazon for $35...$30 if you buy 4 or more. Unless I'm missing it, nowhere does Gigaparts say that any part of the price is going to new hams. Is the price going to drop to $35 on November 1 when the program ends?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I may not agree with their methods, but at least it's something.
Seems like hams used to hand down their old radios when they upgraded, as a way to encourage new hams. Now many seem to focus on getting top dollar on e-Bay. And, yes, I've sold radios on e-bay when they were not suitable to give away, or worth far too much money, or I couldn't find someone who actually needed one.
Kind of what I'm wondering.
Each week when I go grocery shopping, Safeway has a pop up on their credit card machine that asks me if I want to "donate money to help sick kids". I guess I'm supposed to since they are trying to make me feel guilty. But they never explain exactly who the money is going to or how much Safeway keeps for administration.
I prefer to know where my money is going, even when I'm giving it to someone else. Not sure I'd want to spend more on a radio without knowing exactly how it helps.
Maybe someone can link to a detailed explanation about this program.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
That's pretty nice for a new ham that cannot afford a radio.
I'd encourage other hams to consider sharing your old radios with those new to the hobby.
So, are we to believe the increased cost of the radio is to fund this offer? While I read the part about a different user interface and an "English" manual, the price posted seems a bit steep.
But, it isn't free.
Read the details on GigaParts' website. The "New Ham Jumpstart Program" includes the radio and RT Systems programming software. But, you have to buy the programming cable. The "free" $60 radio requires a not-so-free $30 programming cable to make effective use of the radio. Yes, I know, real hams program their radios by hand. But, this program is for new hams. SMH
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
"That's how they get you."
Still, "free" radio is a free radio, and if it gets someone into the hobby that otherwise couldn't, it's a good thing.
I just wonder where all the "Elmers" are? Has ham radio really turned over the role of Elmer to the empty void of the interwebs?
I'm told that the cable is only $12.95 from GigaParts.
Do new folks have elmers? Do they know what an elmer is? Would they seek out the advice of an elmer?
FWIW, I know of new hams and potential new hams who are being elmered by experienced hams. But, if a new ham gets their license online or goes into a test session where they don't know anyone going in and still don't know anyone coming out, I imagine that there's not much elmering going on.
There are probably five hams that I can name as my top elmers. I have several other elmers who have taught me things along the way. I try to return the favor mostly in group settings. Just last night, I gave a Winlink presentation to a local ARES team.
Do new folks have elmers? Do they know what an elmer is? Would they seek out the advice of an elmer?
FWIW, I know of new hams and potential new hams who are being elmered by experienced hams. But, if a new ham gets their license online or goes into a test session where they don't know anyone going in and still don't know anyone coming out, I imagine that there's not much elmering going on.
There are probably five hams that I can name as my top elmers. I have several other elmers who have taught me things along the way. I try to return the favor mostly in group settings. Just last night, I gave a Winlink presentation to a local ARES team.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Instead of seeing new hams sucked into buying turdy Chinese trash that sounds like a bag of smashed buttholes, has poor selectivity, causing them to be ignored because no one can hear the muddy, muffled low audio or the end user can't hear the reepater because their one chip wonder is desensed from their LED light bulbs, it'd be great if folks did what some of us do: give away FREE GOOD QUALITY radios.
What do I mean? Surplus wideband LMR gear is cheap/free and most of us who have been in the business have it laying around collecting dust bunnies and spiders. I have given away countless HT1000s, Kenwood TK-780s, Motorola GM300s, etc- programmed and ready for use on local 2m and 440 repeaters and simplex for FREE 99 to any new hams. They get a SIMPLE, QUALITY to use radio, show them how to build a CHEAP J-Pole that actually WORKS and they have a starter setup that BLOWS AWAY any Chinazon garbage. They can actually work local and even distant repeaters, HEAR CLEARLY, and their first experiences are POSITIVE.
"Ask not what ham radio can do for you, but what can you do for ham radio" my fellow old timers.
But, do they have a flashlight?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Reminds me, I've got a couple of VHF HT1000's I need to do something with.
But, alas, no flashlight and no FM broadcast radio, so essentially useless radios…..
kny2xb
Member
Yup, deal breakers right there
You can still program the radio without it, its just a pain in the butt.
But, do they have a flashlight?
Made my day!
I'm failing to understand something here.....why do we have to buy equipment or give equipment to new hams? These kids are literally walking around with $1200 phones, spending $20/day at Starbucks, etc. I know, I know....not all of them, but you get my point.
My HTX-202 was a Christmas present, but I worked my behind off to buy my first HF radio, as a high schooler. FT-900AT. I either bought my antennas from HRO, or built them myself. I get that we want to get new people into the hobby, but are we really so desperate that we have to buy new people their radios?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Not everyone is that fortunate. I think the idea was to help those where the cost of a radio was the stumbling block.
Or, it's a way to increase the ranks of amateur radio operators by offering a free radio, even to those that could easily afford one. Some ham groups (and it gets mentioned frequently on this site) feel that the average age of the amateur licensee is way too old and we need to attract a younger crowd.
Or, it's just a gimmick to get people to spend money and make them think they are doing something to save the hobby.
Sounds like you were fortunate to receive on as a gift from someone who felt that you needed a radio to get started in the hobby?
Sounds like you were fortunate enough to have a job and could eventually afford an HF radio, and an antenna.
Some do seem to think that getting anyone with a pulse into the hobby is the #1 goal.
My feelings on that:
1. I'm a ham, have been for a very long time, and paid for all my own gear until I realized there was a crap-ton of suitable LMR radios if you knew where to look.
2. I'll often poke fun at amateur radio when they start to take themselves too seriously. Sometimes that poking stick is sharp and I push hard...
3. I think that if amateur radio as a hobby wants to survive, it needs to drag itself out of the 1970's, toss of the whackers out, get a sense of humor, and evolve the hobby into something that would attract younger people.
4. Seems to me that there are a lot of elderly hams that are downright frightened that the hobby might change and someone may not learn to use CW on a vacuum tube radio, or God forbid, not have to collect aluminum cans to afford the parts to build their first radio from scratch.
5. I think that getting "anyone" into the hobby isn't a good idea. Ham radio needs to attract those that are truly interested. Those that are interested shouldn't need to pass some sort of inspection made up by elderly hams.
My opinions, which are worth precisely zero to anyone else other than me.
Then the application process should include a needs analysis...which it doesn't. The radios are free to those who have a QRZ user account, a photo ID, and have been licensed in the past 30 days. If your application is approved, you get a discount code to use at GigaParts to buy the radio.
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