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Posted: 6/8/2021 9:32:47 AM EDT
[#1]
I have only been to the HRO close to my house. VERY well organized and you must be a HAM to work there. The guys there ranged from 30's to 70's and seemed to know what they were talking about. The prices seemed a little high compared to what I could find online but the knowledge base is worth something.
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Posted: 6/8/2021 10:48:16 AM EDT
[#2]
I miss having Universal in my backyard. Now I have to drive all the to Akron and hit up DX.
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Posted: 6/8/2021 11:14:33 AM EDT
[#3]
Most of the ones around here have gone bust.
I have had good luck doing business with HRO in NH, but have never been to the store. |
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Posted: 6/8/2021 5:13:40 PM EDT
[#4]
I was in R&L yesterday. They are back open. They are nice and have a good used selection.
Memphis used to have a store. Memphis Amateur Electronics? It was decent. I went to Texas Towers in Dallas once and wasnt impressed. They are shut down now. |
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Posted: 6/8/2021 5:17:17 PM EDT
[#5]
AES was my local till they closed it down…solid selection of equipment and knowledgeable guys behind the counter…also sponsered the Orlando hamcation…I even got 2 of my licenses there…Pitt they closed up shop…now I’m relegated to mail order from gigsparts or dx engineering
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Posted: 6/8/2021 10:56:05 PM EDT
[#6]
There used to be a radio store in Oak Park outside Chicago. I can't remember the name of the place, it was right alongside the Eisenhower.
When I first got my license I made many a journey to that place. I used to use AES in Milwaukee when I was active years ago, but never made it to the store. As far as I know, there are NO radio stores in IL these days. |
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Posted: 6/8/2021 11:18:07 PM EDT
[#7]
HRO is the only one I've been inside within the past 30 years, the Phoenix store seems really
well run and I've done online orders through them where they've done near real-time followup on issues that came up. In the 80s we had a few hole-in-the-wall type places that catered to electronics hobbyists and did a little ham stuff on the side, but that business model is long gone. I'm just happy I have the option of driving for an hour or two and be able to touch radios, even though I seldom do that. |
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Posted: 6/9/2021 2:05:55 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I was in R&L yesterday. They are back open. They are nice and have a good used selection. Memphis used to have a store. Memphis Amateur Electronics? It was decent. I went to Texas Towers in Dallas once and wasnt impressed. They are shut down now. Oh man that is cool, I love those guys! Have gotten 2 radios from them so far. |
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Posted: 6/9/2021 5:35:15 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: HRO is the only one I've been inside within the past 30 years, the Phoenix store seems really well run and I've done online orders through them where they've done near real-time followup on issues that came up. In the 80s we had a few hole-in-the-wall type places that catered to electronics hobbyists and did a little ham stuff on the side, but that business model is long gone. I'm just happy I have the option of driving for an hour or two and be able to touch radios, even though I seldom do that. I live 5 miles from the current Phoenix HRO location & avoid it. Too many issues with them over the years going all the way back to their Camelback Rd location. |
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Posted: 6/9/2021 9:56:18 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Most of the ones around here have gone bust. I have had good luck doing business with HRO in NH, but have never been to the store. I became licensed in early 2017 and a month later we were heading from MA (our home at the time) to ME for vacation, so I stopped at HRO in NH and bought some radios. I received a lot of good advice from Cal at that store. I've also bought from them at Near Fest and Boxboro (now HamXposition). I've only been to the store one other time, but will likely head there in the near future now that I live mere miles from their location and they are back allowing customers in the store. The NH store is rather small but jam-packed with gear. I've never been to any other store, so I can't compare it to anything else. |
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Posted: 6/9/2021 6:09:15 PM EDT
[#11]
Associated Radio in Overland Park. Kansas
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Posted: 6/9/2021 10:47:49 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Associated Radio in Overland Park. Kansas Are you saying its the best ? we went to KC a few years ago, and I forgot to check it out. the WWI museum was amazing . |
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Posted: 6/10/2021 12:27:29 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted: Ham Station in Evansville Indiana was a cluster fuck roof leaking shit piled everywhere tower sections laying on the floor it was awesome  Ham radio paradise. Amateur radio will never be the same without Hara. |
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Posted: 6/10/2021 11:44:41 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Are you saying its the best ? we went to KC a few years ago, and I forgot to check it out. the WWI museum was amazing . Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Associated Radio in Overland Park. Kansas Are you saying its the best ? we went to KC a few years ago, and I forgot to check it out. the WWI museum was amazing . They are a family run independent store not a big HRO type which I've been to in the past and wasn't as impressed in comparison. They have a pretty extensive stock of just about everything and a good used section too with all sorts of used antennas, radios and other stuff. They will make custom cables on the spot too. I'm biased because I've shopped there since 1993 so... |
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Posted: 6/11/2021 6:10:44 AM EDT
[#15]
I’m not sure they have a storefront anymore, but good ol’ Burghardt, in Waterville, SD, was the best I’ve ever seen. Can’t believe nobody has mentioned them!
HRO got one visit from me, and never again. This is the Salem, NH, store. I was there to spend good money but their lack of customer service/respect made me walk out and never return. As a newly-minted ham I had narrowed down my radio choices to just two or three in their catalog. I then wanted to see things in person before I pulled the trigger, so I made the drive to HRO. At the time I was thankfully living only 40 minutes away from the store. The salesman seemed nice and let me do a side-by-side comparison on the countertop as he and I discussed the merits of each model. I chose a radio and then he said if I gave him the model numbers of the antenna, balun, coax, etc. that I wanted, that he would go and get them for me while I put the radio back in its box. Right about then one of their regular customers arrived. This was a weekday afternoon and not some busy time, so the other customer was the only one there besides me. The staff consisted of about four or five people that I could see. Shockingly, the salesman put down the paper I had given him with the antenna and accessory info on it, and sort of leaned back and relaxed and began to talk to the obviously-familiar customer. It was as if I had disappeared. Ten minutes later I said “excuse me” to the salesman, and he waved his hand in a dismissive manner and said that he would be right with me. I waited fifteen more minutes and then left. Took my business to AES and proceeded to buy almost all of my gear there for the next 20 years or so until they closed. |
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Posted: 6/11/2021 11:11:54 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: They are a family run independent store not a big HRO type which I've been to in the past and wasn't as impressed in comparison. They have a pretty extensive stock of just about everything and a good used section too with all sorts of used antennas, radios and other stuff. They will make custom cables on the spot too. I'm biased because I've shopped there since 1993 so... @mancow that sounds great. I have ordered from them before, but will stop by next time we visit KS  |
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Posted: 6/11/2021 2:06:05 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I became licensed in early 2017 and a month later we were heading from MA (our home at the time) to ME for vacation, so I stopped at HRO in NH and bought some radios. I received a lot of good advice from Cal at that store. I've also bought from them at Near Fest and Boxboro (now HamXposition). I've only been to the store one other time, but will likely head there in the near future now that I live mere miles from their location and they are back allowing customers in the store. The NH store is rather small but jam-packed with gear. I've never been to any other store, so I can't compare it to anything else. Ah! A familiar "name" from gun-related email lists and forums. I didn't realize that you had escaped the people's republic. Another couple of years for me, I think. Congrats!
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Posted: 6/11/2021 10:37:08 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Ah! A familiar "name" from gun-related email lists and forums. I didn't realize that you had escaped the people's republic. Another couple of years for me, I think. Congrats! Hi. Thank you. It's been a long haul getting out of MA and COVID delayed us for a year. Back on subject: It's also delayed my getting antennas up for an HF station. I'm a member of Nashua Area Radio Society, but they hunkered down due to COVID so I can't get the advice I need on antenna placement (in trees, no towers), etc. Hopefully by the Fall. |
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Posted: 6/12/2021 6:52:33 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Hi. Thank you. It's been a long haul getting out of MA and COVID delayed us for a year. Back on subject: It's also delayed my getting antennas up for an HF station. I'm a member of Nashua Area Radio Society, but they hunkered down due to COVID so I can't get the advice I need on antenna placement (in trees, no towers), etc. Hopefully by the Fall. In terms of brick and mortar, I have spoken with "Rich" at the NH HRO store and he seemed pretty well informed. What kind of advice are you looking for? A lot of knowledgeable people here. I started this thread to ask questions prior to setting up my first (and so far only) antenna, that has a fair amount of info in it from the experienced guys. I have only been a ham since March, so don't have much experience or knowledge to share, but I can tell you that I am having good results with a horizontal wire antenna strung up between 2 trees with a third tree holding up the center - all with ropes on pullies. Am using an MFJ-2012 (in stock at NH HRO) at about 60' up, that is good on 40, 20, 10, and 6. There is also a less expensive version if you're not running or don't plan to run higher wattage, the MFJ-2010. These antennas are inexpensive enough that it isn't a nightmare if they don't work for you. Using mine and 100w, I have hit as far west as CA and as far east as Moscow, and I am not aggressive about pursuing DX contacts. |
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Posted: 6/12/2021 8:37:54 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: In terms of brick and mortar, I have spoken with "Rich" at the NH HRO store and he seemed pretty well informed. What kind of advice are you looking for? A lot of knowledgeable people here. I started this thread to ask questions prior to setting up my first (and so far only) antenna, that has a fair amount of info in it from the experienced guys. I have only been a ham since March, so don't have much experience or knowledge to share, but I can tell you that I am having good results with a horizontal wire antenna strung up between 2 trees with a third tree holding up the center - all with ropes on pullies. Am using an MFJ-2012 (in stock at NH HRO) at about 60' up, that is good on 40, 20, 10, and 6. There is also a less expensive version if you're not running or don't plan to run higher wattage, the MFJ-2010. These antennas are inexpensive enough that it isn't a nightmare if they don't work for you. Using mine and 100w, I have hit as far west as CA and as far east as Moscow, and I am not aggressive about pursuing DX contacts. Having "attended" (virtual & in-person) a few Ham Bootcamps, I know what antennas (Buckmaster DX-OCF 7 Band & Diamond X50A) I want. I have tons of trees (some not in the best shape) surrounding my house, I need someone with expertise eye-balling the tree situation to ID where to hang them and what needs to be trimmed back, etc. NARS president gave me the name of the tree company he uses and I'll have them hang pulleys and rope for me when they trim out the trees. I already had my electrician run ground rods around the house to the entry point and where I assume the balun will be located. |
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Posted: 6/12/2021 9:42:49 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Having "attended" (virtual & in-person) a few Ham Bootcamps, I know what antennas (Buckmaster DX-OCF 7 Band & Diamond X50A) I want. I have tons of trees (some not in the best shape) surrounding my house, I need someone with expertise eye-balling the tree situation to ID where to hang them and what needs to be trimmed back, etc. NARS president gave me the name of the tree company he uses and I'll have them hang pulleys and rope for me when they trim out the trees. I already had my electrician run ground rods around the house to the entry point and where I assume the balun will be located. Moving my response to the Antenna thread here. Let me know if you object to me duplicating your post in that thread, and I will delete it. I just think that you will get more people offering advice when the thread subject matches the discussion. I don't think as many folks are interested in which brick and mortar store is best, so won't be in here reading. |
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Posted: 6/13/2021 8:33:09 PM EDT
[#22]
If I want to go to a retail store R&L is my go to store.
Have bought radios from them, HRO and DX engineering online. |
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Posted: 6/14/2021 11:08:06 AM EDT
[#23]
They are opening a HRO about 25 min from my QTH. I actually applied for, and was offered a job as their shipping coordinator, but declined it due to the low pay. It’s in a nice building, hopefully will be nice inside.
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