On Jun 28, 12:30?pm, wrote:

ARRL publishes a wide range of books and
periodicals, has the Maxim Memorial station
on the air every day, sponsors a wide variety
of contests and operating activities, is
present at most major hamfests, is constantly
involved with FCC, has the QSL bureau, ARRL
VEC, and a host of other things, all amateur
radio related.

One more thing ARRL does: in-depth, Consumer-Reports-style Product
Reviews.

The ARRL Lab runs Amateur-Radio-related products
through a wide variety of independent lab tests and
on-the-air operating environments, and publishes detailed
reports of the results. They've been that sort of review
for over 25 years, and the Product Reviews from all that time are
available to members free.

Want to know the difference between a TS-950SD
and a TS-950SDX, or compare them to a current-
production rig? Just download the reviews.

In some cases, such as the Elecraft K2, there is an expanded review at
the website.

The way I figure it, if a Product Review from ARRL helps me make
better-informed choices, the whole cost of membership may be recouped
in savings. One Maxcom
Matcher situation can spare a lot of hams a lot of expense
and wasted effort. (A Maxcom Matcher cost about as much
as an ARRL Life Membership at the time).

Yes, there are product reviews on websites like eham.net.
They are valuable because they are owner's opinions and experiences.
But AFAIK, nobody does extensive
independent lab testing of amateur gear except ARRL.

73 de Jim, N2EY