Like many of you, I have installed an ad blocker on my browser. I don’t really care about the website that glass lovers are going crazy over or the smartphone accessory that is almost too good.
I don’t, however, run the ad blocker when I’m using QRZ.Com. It’s not that I want Fred, AA7BQ, to make more money. I want to find out about what new goods and services people are offering to amateur radio operators.
Here are three recent QRZ.Com ads that I’ve clicked on:
Hamcestry.com. From the Hamcestry.Com FAQ:
What is Hamcestry?Obviously, it’s a play on the word Ancestry, but for HAM radio. I bet everyone who is an amateur radio operator got involved in the hobby because someone they knew was a HAM and that got them interested. And every HAM probably has influenced at least 1 other person to take up the hobby too. I started Hamcestry as a project I thought would be interesting to see grow. It relies on other people using it. Without that, it goes nowhere, so hopefully there will be enough interest to get that to happen. I am always hearing the stories about how “so-and-so” got started in the hobby, so I know the interest and desire to tell people the who’s, how’s and where’s of how they got started is strong and alive. I thought it would be nice to visualize these connections.
I like this idea, and I’m going to add a few of my Elmerees to the site. The site also offers practice exams and Morse Code practice as well.
FA-VA4 Antenna Analyzer Kit. The FA-VA4 Antenna Analyzer is an improved version of the IV-Meter from DG5MK, based on his article published in QEX May/June 2017. It has a frequency range 100 kHz to 100 MHz and costs $140. This looks like a very cool project to me.
K3NQT for Vice Director. Lloyd Roach, K3NQT, is running for Vice Director of the ARRL Atlantic Division, and he’s advertising on QRZ.com. I was especially interested in this ad because I (unsuccessfuly) ran for Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division several times in the early 2000s. While Lloyd seems qualified for the position, I found his vision to be a little vague. I emailed him, hoping to get some clarification on what he’d actually do as Vice Director, but he didn’t seem interested in engaging in a discussion with me.
Another interesting twist is that he’s running against Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, the former FCC Special Counsel, who was responsible for enforcing the Amateur Radio Service rules during his last ten years at the FCC. Both men are highly qualified, and this will be an interesting race.
Ray Price says
I enjoy your perspective on things. I would think that a person running for such a position would be willing to discuss issues with you. Your blog and twitter presence means he could possibly reach more. 73
Dave New, N8SBE says
More than likely, like most politicians, he doesn’t consider anyone outside his constituent district to be of any importance. I learned this on a tag-along with my local representative to the state legislature. He showed me the hundreds/thousands of so-called “grass roots” emails and letters his office staff have to wade through daily, most from outside his district. The only ones kept were from his constituents, the others were all round-filed unread.
I could completely understand his attitude about this. Why spend time with folks that you don’t represent, when you have so many folks in your district that deserve your time and attention?
Now, national media is another story entirely. Perhaps Mr. Roach didn’t understand the reach of your blog, or maybe he misunderstands this whole online media thing. Surprising, considering he took out an ad on QRZ.com.