We Have Seen This Movie Before
A viewer pointed something out in the comment section of my last video that I cannot stop thinking about.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Americans said the exact same thing about gear coming out of Japan. Pocket transistor radios flooded the market. The phrase, floating around living rooms and electronics counters, was some version of "cheap Japanese junk." Made in Japan was a punchline, the same way a certain phrase gets used now.
Look at what happened next.
Those "junk" factories learned, tightened quality, and built the companies a lot of us now treat as the gold standard. Sony started as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo and shipped transistor radios the U.S. market first laughed at, then bought by the millions. Icom, Yaesu, and Kenwood did not show up fully formed as shrine brands. They showed up as affordable imports that undercut the established players — and then they earned the reputations they have today.
So, when someone sneers "cheap Chinese junk" in 2026, I hear 1959 talking. I hear brand envy dressed up as technical standards.
Quality matters. Spurious emissions matter. Part 97 matters. None of that requires humiliation as a teaching method.
Ham Radio Kids Table
If you missed the last episode of the Ham Radio Kids Table, you missed out on a great conversation with Jocelyn KD8VRX, Kurt AD8ML, and Andrew K8ARH. These guys are volunteering with a group of Hams who help Scouts earn the Radio Merit badge.
XTenna 'Mic Mini Pro v2' - Fully assembled and tested.
Exclusive XTenna designed fully assembled -24dB mini microphone that works for any radio that uses a 3.5mm TRS mic connection. Fully configurable using the simple A-B switch on the side. No longer do you have to carry/purchase 2 mics in your go bag. Uses highest quality -24db AOM electret mic element.
QRP Labs - QMX, QMX+
DL2MAN - uSDX, (tr)uSDX
HF Signals - zBitx
Elecraft - KX2, KX3
Pebble HF
#affiliate