Simon Brown, HB9DRV, comments on new HRD

[KC2WOU]

i would just like to thank hrd for giving me the program for free...as a ham for almost three yrs. i could not see using anything else...its like part of my rig...turn on rig turn on hrd.....and log book is just wonderful tool.... thanks again......i myself see no issue in donations for there service......

[HB9SLM]

I'm a happy HRD user to,
Simon was allways open for good ideas from the community. Some are complaining but do not recognize how much hours Simon spend to create this Programm suite.
HRD is more advanced than all the similar high prized Products.
Thanks to Simon for that present.
the newest version from HRDSoftware does have some hick ups.. but overall it's still an improovement
I fear the lack of many user for the paid version will have an impact of to the improvement of HRD in the future.

[AC2FO]

I like HRD and will use it the cost is cheap and if you complain about it, you are even cheaper. People were spoiled because it came out free but like anything else you want updates etc, then nothing is free unless HRD can get these hams who are complaining about a pay version to help do all the software work for free. Until then stop your crying and either use the free program that isn't up to date , or pay for it it is your choice no one is twisting your arm to use HRD.

[BX2ABT]

I have to wonder how someone who can't afford 8 cents a day for lookups even affords to get into the hobby in the first place! No doubt many of those have no problem buying their booze, their cigarettes, eating out a few times a month but 8 cents a day for lookups??

Last time I checked, the FCC lookup was free to use all anyone wants.

To give your mind some perspective:
Yes, I can afford 8 cents a day, but those 8 cents become 30 dollars over the span of a year.
Then it comes to choosing: spending 30 dollars on components/coax or on QRZ.com.
I can find info on other hams from various websites without paying, so my choice is components/coax.
Even smarter.....I can get second hand RG-58au which was used as network cable. More components for my 30 bucks.

And no, I don't smoke, don't drink, can only afford one meal out a month. I carry my own lunch and water every day. I drive a 14 year old Toyota and pray every day that my fourth hand TS-440S holds up. No subscribtions to any ham related magazine, I am not a member of any club, my QSLs (500 pieces for 15 US) go via the bureau using a friend's club membership. I run Linux on second hand hardware, so no HRD for me.

Radio is in my blood. I can afford it if I make choices (and sacrifices). I will probably never be able to buy a new multi-thousand dollar rig, but I don't have to. I have fun with what I have and do, and I am satisfied with that.

But I understand your point: there are a lot of cheapskates who act like you described above. What I miss is the "for the good of everybody" mentality and in my opinion QRZ.com and HRD don't display that well enough.

[W9MB]

To give your mind some perspective:
Yes, I can afford 8 cents a day, but those 8 cents become 30 dollars over the span of a year.
Then it comes to choosing: spending 30 dollars on components/coax or on QRZ.com.
I can find info on other hams from various websites without paying, so my choice is components/coax.
Even smarter.....I can get second hand RG-58au which was used as network cable. More components for my 30 bucks.

And no, I don't smoke, don't drink, can only afford one meal out a month. I carry my own lunch and water every day. I drive a 14 year old Toyota and pray every day that my fourth hand TS-440S holds up. No subscribtions to any ham related magazine, I am not a member of any club, my QSLs (500 pieces for 15 US) go via the bureau using a friend's club membership. I run Linux on second hand hardware, so no HRD for me.

Radio is in my blood. I can afford it if I make choices (and sacrifices). I will probably never be able to buy a new multi-thousand dollar rig, but I don't have to. I have fun with what I have and do, and I am satisfied with that.

But I understand your point: there are a lot of cheapskates who act like you described above. What I miss is the "for the good of everybody" mentality and in my opinion QRZ.com and HRD don't display that well enough.

Callsign lookup is free.......automated callsign lookup is cheap. HRD is free. Next level HRD is cheap. Make your choice, I thought I was cheap....jeeze.....

[WA4OTD]

The added features have been nice, but when Simon released a software I never saw a bug, even in the "test" software. Every release I've downloaded post Simon I've found significant bugs. Still like HRD, but some of the bugs have been tough to get around.

[BX2ABT]

Callsign lookup is free.......automated callsign lookup is cheap. HRD is free. Next level HRD is cheap. Make your choice, I thought I was cheap....jeeze.....

HRD = 59.95
QRZ = 29.95
Added: almost 90 bucks out of my hobby budget of 250 US a year. Yes, I need to do things the cheap way, so no thanks for me. If I could contribute in any other way to HRD or QRZ.com then I would be game, but unfortunately that is not possible.

[M0TGN]

i must say that if I use something regularly i almost feel compelled to show my support. Every time I switch the radio on, i use HRD, I use QRZ, i use HRDLog and eQSL.cc. All of which i support, subscribe or donate to. It makes me laugh, that every time an update is announced, 30 pages of I'm happy with V5.xx on a xxxx and it works fine so I wont pay for it.... Well good for you, what possible use is that information to me ???

To me its all about context.

In the UK we are having a crisis with Milk. (not radio related - but bear with me) The public are about to be hit with a 2p per pint rise in price. The fallout has just been awful. Dairies cant pass the hike on, so they cut the price of the producer. (farmers now milking for less than it costs). Farmers on strike, dairies forced to pass n the price hike at the threat of loosing the contract with the supermarkets.. etc..Terrible news. but this is over 2p per pint !! You wont find many people moaning about the price of bottled water which is now more expensive than Milk... Yes WATER !!!

So what am i saying here ? well if you have no intention of upgrading, fine. Thats completely your decision. You may not be in a position to, and again thats fine. Their are a lot of software programs available to use for free, but for gods sake, let the new developers get on and do their job without having to firefight the rationale of upgrading and disputing the price.

So sit back, enjoy a nice cool glass of water, and let them get on with it.

[WN9HJW]

I have to wonder why all this blatant advertising and apologetics for a product series of releases continues to appear in "Ham Radio News". Maybe someone needs to create a new forum called "Ham Radio Product Marketing".?

It seems more appropriate that this information would appear in the board that QRZ has dedicated to HRD in the Tech section.

I thought the same thing. Plus every time an HRD thread appears here, it turns into a bitch-fest that puts the product in a negative light. That marketing strategy doesn't make sense to me. And it comes across as clumsy.

[K2WH]

I have to wonder how someone who can't afford 8 cents a day for lookups even affords to get into the hobby in the first place! No doubt many of those have no problem buying their booze, their cigarettes, eating out a few times a month but 8 cents a day for lookups??

Last time I checked, the FCC lookup was free to use all anyone wants.

I thought so-called "Super Moderators" were supposed to be impartial, non controversial and not taken to insulting its members. I guess not. Where's a moderator when you need one. Someone needs to go back to finishing school.

K2WH