I, like Larry East seems to have, checked out the SGC web page.
I was not pleased by the statement co-signed by the principals of
Index and SGC.
I think it is a sad case that INDEX seems to have handed off the "name" or
pedigree (which appears to becoming more mongrel than pure) without
assuring the present owners of the INDEX Labs QRP+ and ++ that they WILL
have continuing service, upgrades, etc. Given the modular nature of the
rig (though densely packed) one can easily have assumed the ease of
upgrades and fixes for the rigs, making for long-term utility
- now that
the basic box would APPEAR to
be orphaned, and its long term utility seems suspect, particularly to
anyone
who does not have the means to burn a PROM and so on.
Two years ago I expressed fears that this rig would be too short term an
endeavour, and would be orphaned. If anyone is close enough to Gig Harbor
or SGC, I would strongly urge them to contact Index or SGC and have them
EXPLICITLY state publicly at the SGC site and in their ads what the status of
the 2000 + rigs is. Does SGC choose to
take on MORE than a 'name' (a name I fear is being muddied by their LACK
of communication - form letters stating 'boards not available' do NOT cut
it, IMHO)) and is SGC prepared to take on the continuing support of the
products sold until recently under the Index name?
If so, fine. They both should say so, rather than just proposing a new
radio to be offered by 'a company with more than 25 years experience',
while at the same time letting the present customer-owners twist in the
wind.
That all said, I await further news, before I turn to Ten-Tec once again
for a company with a track record of long term business and long term
product support. Neither Index nor SGC are currently showing the class
that TT seems to have demonstrated from the beginning of its operations.
Brien
VE3VAW
Toronto
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