[Elecraft] The Phone Call

[Barry]

Mike,

     Actually, that really hasn't been my experience except Elecraft and 
Tentec which is no longer in business. I remember a call to Elecraft 
around 2100L EST when I ran into trouble when building my K2. The tech 
answered the phone and we spent about an hour trouble shooting a test 
that wasn't right. It turned out to be a bad capacitor, BUT the tech was 
the designer, Wayne. My experience with Elecraft has been over the top, 
but dealing directly with the developer has been something else.

73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Michael Walker" <va3mw at portcredit.net>
To: "Fred Soop" <fgstcf at gmail.com>
Cc: "Elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 12/11/2019 1:50:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Phone Call

>Fortunately, there are a lot of Ham Radio companies that you can
>actually reach out to to the developers and who are active hams.
>
>It isn't limited to just this one.
>
>Mike va3mw
>
>
>On Wed, Dec 11, 2019 at 1:47 PM Fred Soop <fgstcf at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>  I didn't actually make a call but after meeting Elecraft at Hamvention, my
>>  reaction was similar. Did not actually meet the top brass but one of their
>>  salespeople was able to tell me more about sorting out my antenna situation
>>  than many others combined.
>>
>>  73
>>  Fred AC9RQ
>>
>>  >>>
>>  I just read the Elecraft December Newsletter, so I made a quick phone
>>  call. It's still morning over there.
>>
>>  Big Radio Company: How may I direct your call?
>>  Me: Yes, hello, I'd like to speak to your CTO.
>>  BRC: Oh, I'm sorry sir, but I can't do that.
>>  Me: How about a co-founder?
>>  BRC: No...
>>  Me: Why not? I'm about to buy a new radio, and it's down to Elecraft and
>>  you guys, and Elecraft says I can go hang out with one of the big wigs and
>>  play radio, so I'm calling you to see if you'll match that offer. You know,
>>  maybe I can come over and hang out in your ham station -- you do have a
>>  station, don't you?-- and your big wig can come out and have a soda with
>>  me, and we can trade stories and shoot the breeze and then call CQ on 20.
>>  Yeah?
>>  BRC: No, sir, I'm sorry. <lowering her voice> To tell you the truth... we
>>  don't even *know* who the CTO is.
>>  Me:? Excuse me?
>>  BRC: We see important-looking people pass by all the time, but we don't
>>  actually know which one is the CTO. We're a big conglomerate now.
>>  Me: Well, maybe you can find someone under him, like the VP of
>>  engineering. I'd like to meet him. Or her.
>>  BRC: Oh, no. That's not possible. <lowering her voice again>. You see, he
>>  doesn't actually design any of our products. He has a team working under
>>  him, and they do all the work. <pausing> He does select the knobs that go
>>  on the radios, though.
>>  Me: The chief knob-picker, eh? Gee, I was hoping for someone who knows how
>>  to match impedance, or optimize a sigmoid response. Got any amplifier
>>  experts?
>>  BRC: Not really.
>>  Me: AGC gurus?
>>  BRC: Not that I know of.
>>  Me: Anybody who solders?
>>  BRC: Oh, yes! You could have lunch with Maria. She's our absolute best
>>  solderer.
>>  Me: Can she dig a signal out of the noise? Does she like hiking?
>>  BRC: <silence>
>>  Me: Never mind. You know, I'm glad I called you. I think my mind is made
>>  up. Good-bye and thank you!
>>  BRC: Good day, sir, and thank you for calling.
>>
>>  Al? W6LX
>>  <<<
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