How Not to Connect your Radio!

A few years ago, Radio Shack store managers were given the word that if anyone came into a store looking for a PL-259 to F-connector adapter, they were to ask the customer what they intended to use it for, and to refuse to sell the connector if the answer was anything like this:

"I heard you can hook up your CB radio to the cable TV line and talk all over the city!"

Seems this had become a major problem with some cable TV companies. The CB radios illegally transmitting on their lines were causing interference and damaging the equipment back at the cable transmitter station.

With that said, here's a story I saved that's related to this.

I believe it to be a true story, based on my own experiences at Radio Shack (as an employee in the 1970's and as an occasional customer now).


From: [email protected] (Christopher K Greenhalgh)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Funny Story
Date: 21 Oct 1995 00:28:23 GMT

The following is an actual letter sent to the address below. The original was typewritten, and all spelling and grammar has been carefully left intact, including errors. I thought this was pretty funny, and thought I'd share it with you guys. Respond if you like. With that said.... enjoy.

To Mr. [name omitted]
District Manager for Alabama
Radio Shack
3300 N. Pace Blvd
Pensacola, FL. 32505

Dear Sire,

This letter is complain about the problems I have having with the ham radio model number 19-1101 I had got from your company Radio Shack. I had this shipped special to me from your store 1096 Eastdale Mall Montgomery Alabama. I was got this because I think that i would get transmitt furthur that I did with the TRC 217 40 channel walkie talkie.

The problem that had first was when I was going to hook this radio HTX-1000 to the antenna the conektor on the radio was wrong it wouldn't attach to my cable. I was able to hook it finally by making a small change in in the connektor. As soon as I tried to use it there was no sound coming at all. This happened for two days and I never did get to talk to anybody the whole two days. That day the cable company came knocking my door and said there was something causing problems at my house and disconnekted my radio from the cable line. you knew when i brought the Radio that I was going to use that for my antenne. You didn't tell me not to why not?

Next time I decided to put the HTX-1000 in my automobile I thought I would see how it worked their. I hooked it to my CB-antenna and at least I could hear people. But what happens now is no one wants to talk to me because they says you have to have a licencs to talk to them. Why? I dont have to have a licencs to talk on my CB. They'll talk to me there. Anyhow it dont matter much anymore because somebody done took the radio HTX-1000 from my automobile.

What I would like for you Radio Shack to do is refund my money because I don't have the radio anymore and its not my fault i dont and I think you should give me back my money. Also the cable company here says that I hurt something in there line and want to be paid fix it. It will cost $27482.98 to fix the equipment they say was damaged because you didnt tell me not to hook it to the cable. Please remit to me the check for $27758.53 for damages due. To save this matter from going to court the check must be in my hand by June first or I will turn this over to my attorneys of law.

Thank you [name omitted]


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