I'm a long-haul driver, and only take a few days every two months to wind-down and re-supply. I have been studying for my Technicians and General exams for a couple of weeks, and had intended to have tested by now. No testing locally, and it was while I was waiting for my order to be filled, that I saw only two online testing slots available between today (25-Aug-2020) and November.
None the less, this was my only opportunity to get a radio I had picked out so I will have something useful when I test and get my call-sign. Besides, I love listening, and have the discipline not to press the PTT until I am legal.
It is a busy time for ham radio. Besides the critical shortage of open exam spots, I noticed every online store shows the mobile transceivers I am considering are out of stock, but the HT I picked is available everywhere, and HRO was closest to my Fort Worth starting point. I liked the price, and I liked their website telling me what was in stock (and what was not) before I ordered.
I also liked the way they handled the COVID-19 issue. So I ordered from my truck, set delivery as "Will call" and took a rented car to the store. I read the scathing reviews, so did not expect much. Sometimes, however, I just stumble into the best, and that is what happened yesterday
Once parked, I called the store to say I had arrived and to ask if my order was ready. Jeff Locke answered the phone, and told me he would check on my order and call me back. He did call back soon after and apologized that my order was not quite finished, that they had many orders that had come in, and were trying to hurry, so it would be a few more minutes and then he would meet me at the door.
He came out about five minutes later, and we went through my bag of new toys: Yeasu FT3DR handy-talky, Diamond RH77CA 2m/70cm antenna, an adapter for that antenna, a corded mic (so I can use my radio while driving in my rig (we can hold a mic, but not a phone or a radio), and a WIRES-X cable kit. It was all there and the receipt, and Jeff turned to go back inside.
I knew they were busy. He was professional with me, but his mind was focused on what he had to do *next.* Still, I am new, just invested a moderate sum in a new hobby, and had questions. I said, "I know you are busy, but I do have a few questions, and could use your help."
Even through his mask, I could see his expression change from a focus on thousand things that needed to be done, to a warm, almost happy, focus on me. He answered all of my questions. For example, that with no call sign yet, could I even *listen to* my new radio, since I knew it required a call-sign to be entered upon turning it ON the first time. (Yes. Leave it blank, or enter a few random characters). Was I missing anything I would need once I had my call-sign. (No, but for truck use, I will find I want an external antenna on the truck).
When I get my HF (all band, really Mobile radio, are the screwdriver antenna too heavy to take the wind loading of a truck on the highway (almost certainly not, Jeff answered-- but I knew of otter options just in case).
We went on like this for several minutes, and having answered all my questions, like the Elmer that he is. I saw his name-tag, but asked for a card, because I already knew I was going to write this review. He earned it.
Thank you HRO, and thank you, Jeff Locke. I''ll be back for that mobile rig. read more