[Elecraft] Reviews [was Happy But Very Sad ... which never made sense to me]

[Fred Jensen]

On 6/23/2012 9:29 AM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
> Where is the data to back up what was said on eham.  It was one guy!

Roger that.  We had a cheapie wireless router that might make it across 
the room on a good day.  I asked on the NCCC list for recommendations 
for one that might cover the house, or at least the first floor. 
Several folks, all of whose info and opinion I respect, recommended a 
particular brand which I'll leave out since it isn't relevant.

Reading the reviews on Amazon, there seemed to be two opposite poles. 
About 2/3 of the reviewers [there were 35-40 reviews total] gave it at 
least 4 stars, a number gave it 5, and had glowing words about how easy 
it was to set up, took them just a couple of minutes, and they can hear 
it on the moon.

The other 1/3 gave it one star [or none], said it incredibly hard to set 
up, the control software was a disaster, they had to learn all about 
IP-tables, and the signal didn't make it out of the house.

Trusting my friends, I purchased it.  Don't know about the moon, but it 
covers the house, Andrea can now download books onto her Kindle in the 
living room at the speed of light.  I walked around outside some with my 
smartypants fone and I get moderately good signals maybe 100-150' from 
the house.  It took me longer to unpack it than it did to get it 
working, the software worked just fine, there were no IP tables 
[whatever they are], and everything wireless in the house, including the 
DirecTV HD DVR is happily connected.  For all I know, the microwave 
might be too. :-)

Had a similar experience on eHam with a GAP antenna.  I finally bought 
it.  Everything was/is just fine, it works great, and now I just need 
the KAT500 and I can have all my coax connected at the same time.  So 
far as I can tell, all these reviews are just data.  No information, 
just words and you never know the circumstances surrounding them.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
- www.cqp.org