We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: RIP Universal Radio  (Read 2858 times)

Offline Beerus Maximus

  • Administrator
  • DX Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 1433
    • Spookytown!
  • hold my beer and watch this
    • View Profile
    • Beerus' 30 Below Site
    • Email
RIP Universal Radio
« on: November 21, 2020, 2321 UTC »
Universal Radio is closing shop. This one hurts. The Ostermans were really dedicated to SWL.

https://www.universal-radio.com/RetireNotice.html
Logged
# Genetically engineered sentient sausage & undisputed inventor of the end-fed dipole. I also invented the schlumpy dipole.
# KiwiSDR, NetSDR, Airspy HF+, Airspy HF+ Discovery, TS-590, IC-7610, FTDX10, ANAN 7000 DLE MKII
# beerusmaximus@gmail.com * North Shore, Massachusetts

Offline BoomboxDX

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 846
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2020, 0647 UTC »
I'm a bit surprised no one is purchasing the online store. I'm sure the website gets a lot of traffic.

Not a good harbinger for the radio hobby in general.
Logged
An AM radio Boombox DXer.
+ GE SRIII, PR-D5 & TRF on MW.
The usual Realistic culprits on SW (and a Panasonic).

Offline NJQA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 343
    • Virginia
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2020, 1634 UTC »
I have been expecting this.  The first hint was the move of the store location, followed by the sale of service manuals and parts.  Then a number of used items they had listed started to look like someone was thinning out their collection...I was told this was from hamfests and estate sales but I wasn’t convinced.  Updates to their site were slow and last week they seemed to stop.

It’s too bad.  They will be missed.
Logged

Offline East Troy Don

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1530
    • Southern Wisconsin
  • "If you can't convince them, confuse them" Truman
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2020, 1739 UTC »
Disheartening news.  Universal always displayed professionalism and knowledgeable , courteous customer service.
Best wishes to Fred and Barb. I wish you nothing but the best in your retirement.
Thank you.
Logged
Primary: R75 W/WV-601 passive loop masted @ 20'  Secondary: Yaesu  FRG 7700 W/MLA-30+ indoors. Tertiary: Grundig  750. Tecsun PL-990X, Tecsun PL-880 . Malahit DSP SDR V3,  . : Also, Qdosen DX-286, 1940 Mantola am/sw tube. CountyComm GP-5/SSB hand held, Tecsun PL-380 ,et al.  QTH: FONTANA, WI  USA.  Sea Level: + 990' .  75 miles (but not far enough) NW of Chicago

Offline Sealord

  • Global Moderator
  • DXing Phenomena
  • *****
  • Posts: 2684
    • Jacksonville, FL USA
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2020, 1935 UTC »
Bummer
Logged
All reception direct unless noted - G33DDC & RX340/4SQ Array - Off Air/Studio Recordings -  sealord40m@yahoo.com

Offline pinto vortando

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 941
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2020, 2344 UTC »
Sad news.  :(

They were not only a good source for radios but all the other bits an pieces as well,
especially some of the hard to find stuff.  Always professional and courteous they
were my first stop when looking for anything radio.

Best wishes to Fred and the staff.  Thank you.

Logged
Das Radiobunker somewhere in Michigan

Offline skeezix

  • Global Moderator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5786
    • Minneapolis, MN EN35
  • What does 'RNO stand for?
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2020, 0011 UTC »
I will miss them. They were always the first place I'd go to when looking for equipment.

Logged
Minneapolis, MN

Offline RobRich

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 2099
    • Tampa, FL USA
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2020, 1617 UTC »
Cross-posting from https://swling.com/blog/2020/11/end-of-an-era-universal-radio-is-closing-shop/ ....

I shop DXE and eBay more these days, but I have made a few purchases from Universal Radio over the years. Hate to see it go, but I understand wanting to retire, too.

Suspected something was occurring when noticing several transceivers were no longer listed as “in stock” a few days ago. Even without the store, the site has lots of amazing information.

Hope the best for the owners and staff as they move forward.
Logged
Tampa, FL USA | US Map Grid EL88
My Public Receivers: KiwiSDR 2 | Web-888 SDR
Airspy HF+ Discovery | 2x Msi2500 Msi001 | 2x RTL-SDR V3 + NE602 | 2x RTL-SDR V4
148' + 60' Loops-on-Ground | 30' Inverted Delta Loop | 31' Vertical | 18' End-Fed Vertical

Offline ThaDood

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1376
    • Likely, not where you are.
    • View Profile
    • Extreme Part #15!
    • Email
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2020, 0329 UTC »
I still miss AES. Always done very well with them. And, for A/V gear, I still miss WDS, (Wisconsin Discount Stereo.) Am I showing my age by saying that?
Logged
“I am often asked how radio works. Well, you see, wire telegraphy
is like a very long cat. You yank his tail in New York and he
meows in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? Now, radio is
exactly the same, except that there is no cat.”
-Attributed to Albert Einstein, but I ripped it from the latest Splatter .PDF March 2025 issue.

Offline Rizla

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 240
    • Sonoran Desert, AZ
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #9 on: November 26, 2020, 2309 UTC »
I learned a ton of things from their website back in the late 90's, such a helpful site just being there. I'm thinking of the days when dxing.com and a few others were go-to places (i.e. long ago). Sad to hear about this.
Logged
QTH: Sonoran Desert, AZ. Kenwood TS-820S, FT-891, Tecsun 880, neophyte in a forest of antenna wire.

Offline syfr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 690
    • View Profile
Re: RIP Universal Radio
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2020, 0102 UTC »
...hope the cats are OK!
Logged
Kiwsdr x 2. TenTec Paragon/NRD535
Pages: [1]
« previous next »
 

HFUnderground T-Shirt
HFUnderground House Flag
by MitchellTimeDesigns