It's a throw-away instant gratification world now. Most hobby shops have been on the decline for some time. How often do you see people building plastic models, aquariums, scale railroad, RC planes, any of that. There's some, but not what it once was. Marketing showen people they can have what they want with little effort and at lower cost. The population doesn't take much pride in "I built it myself" any longer, they just want it now and want it cheap. I think near history has given ADD to the masses.
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I have to admit when I was just finishing up college (4 years ago) I was really struggling to "LEARN" anything.
I'd get hung up on what most people would consider a given and wonder "why", more often than not the answer I would receive from the professors was "well.....because that's the way it is."
Students aren't taught anything more than a+b=c, even in military tech school for a Microwave Radio Maintainer I was taught if the device shows this problem, replace board number blah blah blah and ship the bad board to the depot for repair.
I was really saddened recently because I really like my Radio Shack here in Bozeman and the 2 guys that really even have a clue just put in their 2 weeks notice.
Now I'm gonna have to train new people at their store to stop asking me if I know what I'm looking for today.
The other day at RS I overheard a conversation where the salesperson was trying to tell the customer that a 1gbps Ethernet router would allow somebody to surf the net faster when the guy only has a 12mbps internet connection.
It's over!!!!
I wish I was stupid rich and I could sit on a huge brick and mortar store that carried everything somebody would want.
I'm talking like a Best Buy size store full of Mouser, Digikey, tubes and EVERYTHING.
I'd get hung up on what most people would consider a given and wonder "why", more often than not the answer I would receive from the professors was "well.....because that's the way it is."
Students aren't taught anything more than a+b=c, even in military tech school for a Microwave Radio Maintainer I was taught if the device shows this problem, replace board number blah blah blah and ship the bad board to the depot for repair.
I was really saddened recently because I really like my Radio Shack here in Bozeman and the 2 guys that really even have a clue just put in their 2 weeks notice.
Now I'm gonna have to train new people at their store to stop asking me if I know what I'm looking for today.
The other day at RS I overheard a conversation where the salesperson was trying to tell the customer that a 1gbps Ethernet router would allow somebody to surf the net faster when the guy only has a 12mbps internet connection.
It's over!!!!
I wish I was stupid rich and I could sit on a huge brick and mortar store that carried everything somebody would want.
I'm talking like a Best Buy size store full of Mouser, Digikey, tubes and EVERYTHING.
Realistically speaking, building from scratch or even a kit is no longer the economically attractive approach it once was with cheap electronics goods mass produced all over the world.
I am sure that I am saving money as compared to commercially made gear designed similarly to my own, but in real terms I spend a considerable amount of money on this hobby, and have a huge investment in parts, test gear, and the end result of all of this tinkering.. I am sure this discourages many when you can pick up something that makes noise for a pittance at most big box stores. This includes many of my engineer friends who have all the required skills but are unwilling to invest the time or money to do it. Also of course there are a lot of other gadgets vying for attention and the money in people's wallets..
I do have a number of friends in their early 30s now who are about as interested in this stuff as I am, so I think there will be another generation interested in this stuff, and some considerably younger seem much more attracted to the hobby (and particularly vinyl) than I would have expected, and some of them want to build.
While LRE, RS, and Olson are gone or mere shadows of their former selves there have never been more parts available to the hobbyist. The internet is a good thing for most of us IMO, if you can wait a few days to some scant weeks for your parts. I grew up in the time when these stores were dying, and well before the internet - I remember for example when I had no idea where to get an inductor or film cap for a cross-over so I didn't, and that is no longer a problem.
I am sure that I am saving money as compared to commercially made gear designed similarly to my own, but in real terms I spend a considerable amount of money on this hobby, and have a huge investment in parts, test gear, and the end result of all of this tinkering.. I am sure this discourages many when you can pick up something that makes noise for a pittance at most big box stores. This includes many of my engineer friends who have all the required skills but are unwilling to invest the time or money to do it. Also of course there are a lot of other gadgets vying for attention and the money in people's wallets..
I do have a number of friends in their early 30s now who are about as interested in this stuff as I am, so I think there will be another generation interested in this stuff, and some considerably younger seem much more attracted to the hobby (and particularly vinyl) than I would have expected, and some of them want to build.
While LRE, RS, and Olson are gone or mere shadows of their former selves there have never been more parts available to the hobbyist. The internet is a good thing for most of us IMO, if you can wait a few days to some scant weeks for your parts. I grew up in the time when these stores were dying, and well before the internet - I remember for example when I had no idea where to get an inductor or film cap for a cross-over so I didn't, and that is no longer a problem.
I live within walking distance of a RS outlet.
When I first moved here RS drivers were all
the rage in the FR driver camp.
I bought every model they had and was happy.
Sad they don't have drivers now 🙁
HOWEVER !
I can still get (the aforementioned) perf
boards, and resistor paks, and caps,
and (lately) some Arduino oriented stuff ...
.................................
AND (I think ? (the aformentioned) 12V xfmr)
When I first moved here RS drivers were all
the rage in the FR driver camp.
I bought every model they had and was happy.
Sad they don't have drivers now 🙁
HOWEVER !
I can still get (the aforementioned) perf
boards, and resistor paks, and caps,
and (lately) some Arduino oriented stuff ...
.................................
AND (I think ? (the aformentioned) 12V xfmr)
I'm in my late 30's, and from my perspective, I think(hope) interest in EE and complex hobbies in general, is on the incline. The internet gives everyone access to so much.. If someone wants to do something, they can. In the past, you generally had to know someone to break in to it.
At least we can have an interest in EE. Try being a chemistry hobbyist in the USA. 🙂
Try getting good construction materials or parts to repair your furnace and be told they wont sell to you because you're not a licensed contractor.
I had the battery-of-the-month club card when I was in elementary school. I was flabbergasted when I noticed that it included a 9v as an option. I got a FREE 9v battery each month! I assure you this was a BIG deal to me having walkie talkies and other gizmos of the day. I felt like I was stealing from them each time I went in on the way home from school. I think I even got a second one after a year!
Dad would bring us to hang at Lafayette and Heathkit. Big tube tester at Two Guys. Good old days…..
Dad would bring us to hang at Lafayette and Heathkit. Big tube tester at Two Guys. Good old days…..
Don't forget one of the biggest hamfests in the country is at the fairgrounds this weekend. Lots of parts.
True there is a wider variety of parts available to the hobbiest, but a lot of those parts are nearly impossible for many hobbiests to use.....tine SMD's or BGA's. Even Digikey has been discontinuing their low volume or specialized parts. Most of their RF stuff is gone.
The old RS, LRE or Olson stores were a place to get parts, but they were also a place to hang out and talk to other like minded people....the internet hadn't been invented yet. This phenomenon returned with the early computer stores in the mid 70's like the Byte Shop, where you could go and talk with other people who built S-100 or SS-50 machines that dimmed the house lights to give you far less computing power than a $10 kid's game has today.
When I was young I got most of my parts from the trash dump. There were dozens of discarded TV's radios, and HiFi sets willing to give up their tubes and transformers so I could learn how to make guitar amps.
I think I bought my first computer (actually my dad bought it) because of Radio Shack. They had in the store this computer running with a flight simulator and...boy that looked cool for a kid, you know. Anyway, while my parents were shopping I would go in there and also I would go to Sharper Image (if I recall correctly the name). I was happy checking out stuff there.
I hate online shopping, I hate it with a passion. Luckily for me I can buy almost all the stuff I need just walking around my city's downtown. And it's cheap, sometimes too cheap. The other day I bought 3 NOS 5751's for 33 euros. I also bought a HP 400F AC voltmeter for 40 euros, I don't know what to do with it. I wanted its chassis.
I hate online shopping, I hate it with a passion. Luckily for me I can buy almost all the stuff I need just walking around my city's downtown. And it's cheap, sometimes too cheap. The other day I bought 3 NOS 5751's for 33 euros. I also bought a HP 400F AC voltmeter for 40 euros, I don't know what to do with it. I wanted its chassis.
I have a box of realistic lifetime tubes still in boxes that say lifetime guaranteed all from radioshack. I wonder what they would do if I brought them in for replacement? I don't think they would know what they are.
No doubt they wouldn't know what they are.....but do you have 6000 to 15000 hours on them so they're worn out?
BTW, the "free" flashlight was a big ol' gray four 'D' cell, with a red screw-on head. One most likely had to buy at least some batteries to get it up & running.
______________________________________________________Rick.............
BTW, the "free" flashlight was a big ol' gray four 'D' cell, with a red screw-on head. One most likely had to buy at least some batteries to get it up & running.
______________________________________________________Rick.............
I was pleasantly surprised that Microcenter store (at least here in DC area) started selling some DIY components. The selection is rudimentary and mostly related to robotics, but that's better than nothing.
OK this wont make up for a lack of stores, but we can all dream/remember what it was like "in the good old days"!
Allied Radio & Allied Electronics - 85 Year Catalog Archive
Allied Radio & Allied Electronics - 85 Year Catalog Archive
The same folks have done this for Allied Radio catalogs too.
Allied Radio & Allied Electronics - 85 Year Catalog Archive
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".but do you have 6000 to 15000 hours on them so they're worn out?"
Oh yeah most of them are plain dead, a lot of them the flashing has turned white. Most are Japan and US origin but there are a few Amperex made EL84's that if they did replace wouldn't come close to the quality as the original.
I was thinking of doing it just for kicks. It's sort of like payback for all the times I have had to go in there for something and they try to sell me a phone or batteries. One time I went in ran right over to the draws of capacitors grabbed what I needed and went to pay only to have the kid there tell me to hold on a minute. He then went outside and continued to smoke a cigarette and talk on his phone for five minutes. Yes our country is doomed indeed.
Now that I think about it payback sounds really good, time to fire up my tube tester and bring all the dead tubes down there for replacement I will tell you guys what they say to me lol.
Oh yeah most of them are plain dead, a lot of them the flashing has turned white. Most are Japan and US origin but there are a few Amperex made EL84's that if they did replace wouldn't come close to the quality as the original.
I was thinking of doing it just for kicks. It's sort of like payback for all the times I have had to go in there for something and they try to sell me a phone or batteries. One time I went in ran right over to the draws of capacitors grabbed what I needed and went to pay only to have the kid there tell me to hold on a minute. He then went outside and continued to smoke a cigarette and talk on his phone for five minutes. Yes our country is doomed indeed.
Now that I think about it payback sounds really good, time to fire up my tube tester and bring all the dead tubes down there for replacement I will tell you guys what they say to me lol.
I believe RS ended the Life Time tube warranty program quite a while ago. My local corporate owned RS store has a small sign indicating that they will not honor the Life Time warranty on tubes.
Oh yes, oh yes! Can't wait to hear this story. GO get 'em!!
EDIT: Damn, cross post with Kevin. He spoiled the fun. 🙁
EDIT: Damn, cross post with Kevin. He spoiled the fun. 🙁
I don't know if they can do that, pretty much breach of contract or false advertising. Can't hurt to try and I am sure I will still get a laugh out of it. If I make real stink about it maybe I can get a free flashlight😱
I wonder? What part of the term "lifetime" don't they understand?
So corporations can change warranties willy nilly with no repercussions whatsoever?
Quite probably, RS thought the supply & way cheap costs of tubes would mean they could replace said tubes three to four times over & still make a considerable profit.
Little could they conceive of a time when tubes were totally superseded by SS & be "on the hook" for these tubes.
_____________________________________________________Rick..........
So corporations can change warranties willy nilly with no repercussions whatsoever?
Quite probably, RS thought the supply & way cheap costs of tubes would mean they could replace said tubes three to four times over & still make a considerable profit.
Little could they conceive of a time when tubes were totally superseded by SS & be "on the hook" for these tubes.
_____________________________________________________Rick..........
This was about what I wanted to say, but you did it much better!
A cousin told me that his first HIFI set in about 1985 cost him about 6 months salary - while nowadays he would be able to buy a quite decent set with a week work. So indeed, DIY was just cheaper way of getting something, I think.
And I may be wrong, but it is my impression that in the glory days of RS most people were buidling copies of the ST35, ST70 and the Mullard circuits. In those times something as a EF180 was probably way to expensive, maybe even unobtainable, for the DIY'er - but now it is cheap as peanuts. And indeed, way more producers of all sort of components around: just in little NL there is a couple of OPT winders that even use quite some exotic materials, if the client wants. And there is also a lot of 'budget' - but good - material available.
I am young (32) but I think that nowadays one can do a lot more DIY than 40-50 years ago and therefore I am happy I am living now 🙂