* In a message to Steve Brack on 10-04-97, IVY IVERSON said the following:
II> I think RS dropped it over 10 years ago!  Just like they did the 
ensitive
II> little relay used for starting/stopping a casette recorder when a phone 
s
II> picked up/placed off-hook.  I used several of them, including adding a
II> standard phone to a key phone PAX system, (where you have to close an
II> independant pair of contacts to turn on the busy lights in all the other
II> phones).  I used another for recording my own phone.  But that little
II> relay hasn't been sold by RS for over 10 years.
        Hmm... I sell a pre-made module that provides the relay
        function you describe plus couples the phone's audio to an 8 
        output for recording or amplification purposes.  It's mainly
        used as a recording control.  Catalog # is 43-1236.
II>  II> But I guess RadShack doesn't think that people actually BUILD things
II>  II> any more!
II>  
II>  SB> Of course, we do!  In fact, there are more kits available now
II>  SB> than ever before.  Our Radio Shack Unlimited in-store catalog
II>  SB> carries many kits of various levels of difficulty.
II>  
II> Kits... ya, right.  "Build 12-15-24-36-however many different things
II> with this kit..."  Stuff for cub- and boy-scouts.  And you have lots of
II> parts, (but it never seems to be what _I_ need TODAY).  Do you have a
II> kit for a BCB-30 MHz receiver that's more than a TOY?  I don't mean a
II> 2-3 transistor toy, I mean something that looks and works like a real
II> radio when it's finished?  Somehoe I doubt it.
        No, those are the "Science Fair" line of kits stocked in the
        stores.  I'm talking about the build-it-yourself kits that
        involve circuit boards, soldering, & schematics, producing a
        finished product like an FM transmitter, or an AM/FM receiver.
        They are available via direct order from any Radio Shack store
        for delivery to your door as soon as the next day.
II> Sorry if I'm a little sour on RatShack tonight, I bought something
II> today, (a HTX-404, Cat. No. 10-1140, on close-out that I COULD NOT
II> afford), that has more damn functions in those 24 controls than the
II> whole Space shuttle has in it's cockpit and it's rear flight deck
II> combined!  And the 47 page "manual" was NOT written to be understood by
II> a normal HUMANS!  (I am no dummy: I have a strong background in
II> electronics, including Chief Engineer of an FM station.  I have managed
II> to receive the 3 440 MHz rptrs in the area on it, but can't hit a d___
II> one of 'em!  Yes, the PL is set properly, the offset is set properly,
II> running it off of 12 volts so it should be putting out around 5 watts,
II> set for high power etc etc etc... I KNOW it's transmitting, (I can hear
II> the hum in the stereo and a FS meter shows a potent signal when I key 
t),
II> but I SHOULD be able to hit at least ONE of those rptrs with NO 
ifficulty
II> on the duck!  But after OVER SIX SOLID HOURS of total frustration, I'm
II> getting ZIP!  It acts like it's far enough off frequency that it's 
utside
II> of the repeater's passband.  I never would have bought the thing, but I
II> need it for ARES.  I bought one HT, (an old 2-channel Motorola), that 
ust
II> was not working out.  (Don't ask.)  Then yesterday I got the RS flyer 
hat
II> had this thing for $100 off and I got it.  I hope I don't continue
II> regreting it, because as it is, there are some utility bills that are
II> going to be late because of it.
        A couple of things to remember.  The 70cm HT we sell has, as I
        reacll, a CTCSS encoder & decoder built in.  It may seem
        obvious, but I've helped at least one ham out by pointing out
        that he was changing the decoder PL instead of the encoder PL.
        Also, even though it's a clearance item, in most cases, it is
        returnable for a refund up to 30 days from the date of
        purchase.  Lastly, try taking it back to Radio Shack.  Ask if
        they have a frequency counter, and, if not, ask them to find
        out which store(s) in your area stock them.  You can use it to
        check the tx frequency's accuracy.  If it's transmitting
        out-of-band, then you can have it repaired or exchanged, or
        have your money refunded up to 30 days from the date of
        purchase.
II> Sorry, I don't mean to rag on you, but I'm so mad at the thing that I
II> could very cheerfully slam it as hard as I can into the cement retaining
II> wall outside my back door.
        I've seen customers feeling quite a bit more agitation than
        you've displayed here.  I only hope I've helped.  There is
        also product technical support available from 1-800-THE-SHACK,
        9AM-5PM CT, if you can't find a knowledgable source at a local
        store.
II> PS: I just had a contact on 446.000 simplex, so something works.  :-}
        *grin*  Keep pluggin' away.  The 2M & 70cm HTs are so
        feature-packed as to daunt many users.  You're not alone.
 -- SPEED 2.00 #2712: Spock/Data 2000: The Logical Choice.
--- GEcho 1.00
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