Can You Hear Me Now? - RF Cafe Forums

Ran across a very funny letter by a Design News reader on the reliability of moden appliances. Here it is (forgive the copying). ---- Ted

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Here's my story: My original (or first two to three) analog cell phones worked reliably when the battery was charged. When cell phones went digital, they started doing strange things. About every three to four months, I had to go across town to stand in line at a real cellular store (not the mall kiosk where you buy them) and get the “echo” function turned off. They had no idea why I would get a 3-second delay of every thing I said played back loudly in my earpiece. (Note: I was never good at the Row, Row Your Boat rounds.)

Recently, my husband decided to solve the problem by getting me the master of all cell phones. It's that popular flip style with the glitzy name. He even got the top brand wireless earpiece with it. This was not a cheap shopping trip for him either. The ear piece worked for a month or two, and then it started cutting off five minutes into every call. Next it started activating the amazing function on the phone to dial the number of the name you speak into the phone — in the middle of calls. Before cutting your call off, the phone screen would repeatedly demand you to SAY NAME NOW. Thank goodness I didn't have Mr. Goshdarn programmed in, because the demand repeated until I turned the earpiece completely off. That required removal of the battery, because the single “off/on/redial/volume up/volume down” button didn't always perform the specific function I wanted. That too, passed. Now, even with a new battery I can lay it on top of the cell phone and the phone says “Weak signal.” I'm now holding this fancy dancy phone to my ear, because even after years of yoga I still can't safely secure anything THAT thin with the shoulder to the ear. Do my arms get tired? Absodanglutely not! I now have to change ears/hands when I turn to the south. The reception is fine if I'm facing due north. It starts getting static at east and west and totally inaudible facing south.

It's not like I'm technically incompetent. I'm an engineer and thrive on high-tech gadgets. Right now I'm shopping for the most sophisticated hammer that money will buy.

Rebecca Balch

Chattanooga, TN