MIKE OF MIKE'S RADIO REPAIR

[Sonar]

I have read several posts/threads about Mike being MIA.
I believe I was one of the first to release Mike's contact information here on WWDX (with his permission,) and consider Mike a friend (of about 5 years,) besides one of my trusted technicians. I sent him several emails over the last two months using two of the email addresses that he usually replied to when a messages was sent. In all the emails sent to him over the past few months, I asked him how he was doing, and would appreciate a reply, as I was concerned about him being okay health wise. Those emails went without a return reply. I held back on calling him until this evening.
Even when Mike was producing and uploading video clips to YouTube, his VM box would often be filled. My last phone call to him before this evening was approximately 7 months ago. He actually answered the phone, and we had a short conversation about how everything was going in each other's lives.
Tonight's call went directly to his VM box, and like most of the time the VM box was full. The emails i sent him over the past few months, had nothing to do with needing his service, but were strictly based on my concern for him. I practically pleaded with him in my last email (about 3 weeks ago) to just wave a hand if he was okay. But still no reply. Has anyone heard from him via a text, email, or telephone communication? If so, is he alright? I'm sure there are many people like myself who are actually concerned about Mike. He's considered by a large percentage of the radio hobbyist community, a friend first, tech second. If anyone has heard from him recently, I would appreciate any information on whether he is okay? If he is indeed okay, and you know that to be 100% correct please let me (us,) know. Thanks. 73

 

[nomadradio]

Haven't spoken to Mike on the phone in almost a year. Not to put too fine a point on it, I find myself gargling obit listings for folks I can't seem to track down and contact.

The older I get, the more routine that seems to become.

And yes,I hope he's okay, I don't see eye to eye with every one of his technical judgements, but I'm grateful for his efforts. At least he's putting it out there.

I'll be plenty ready when he resurfaces and posts more YT vids.

Okay, so I went off to Gargle and checked. No obits that match.

(Sigh of relief)

73

 

[loosecannon]

Haven't heard anything from him since his last YT upload.
Neither has a mutual friend.

I hate to pontificate without at least a rumor to go off of, but he might have just gotten tired of the particular kind of BS that follows CB radio technicians around.
again, that's a complete guess and i have no info to confirm or deny it.

I also hope he is doing well, and would like an update.
LC

 

[OldTech03]

I have been wondering about Mike I do tune into his vids when I get to thinking about it. I don't always agree with some of his assessments but there has always been plenty of room for debate, for the most part, he is really solid and It would sure be sad to see him not be active.

 

[CDX8412]

I sent two scanners to Mike on Oct. 9 of this year (2019), and I received the email invoice within a week, and got the repaired/restored radios back on Oct 18. Very quick service.

I had no direct contact with Mike, but just did what I have done in the past...sent the radios along with a note detailing the work I wanted done. Also included my email address in order to get the PayPal invoice, and my mailing address and phone number.

I also wish Mike was posting videos again, as I really enjoyed watching them and learning from them, but there are any number of reasons he may have gone off grid. I hope all is well with him, but I can say that as of October 2019, he is still doing work, and as usual, he did a great job on my 35 year old radios.

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

Well... when ya got people scrutinizing your work that they can’t do themselves and do good to be able to change a fuse... this can happen. Even the best gets tired of having their work and efforts stolen and thrown together in a mashup video with the intent of ruining them.

if people would take their effort and “talents”, put them to good use, think how much better the world would be. Shame some of it is wasted on jealousy and envy.

 

[kaos513]

He did work 3 months ago to my radio I'm sure he is doing good.

 

[dave457]

Well... when ya got people scrutinizing your work that they can’t do themselves and do good to be able to change a fuse... this can happen. Even the best gets tired of having their work and efforts stolen and thrown together in a mashup video with the intent of ruining them.

if people would take their effort and “talents”, put them to good use, think how much better the world would be. Shame some of it is wasted on jealousy and envy.

Tap.... Tap... Tap

 

[loosecannon]

Well i guess that clinches it.

Im glad to hear that Mike is still around and doing work.
He's dedicated a lot of time and money to his business and it would have been a shame for him to close up shop. Heck there are parts out there that only he has!

The sad part of all of this, is that after reading through this thread i feel like i know why he's not making videos any more, and it's because of all the BS he's had to go through.
i could guess about more, but i don't think its right to put it all out here without knowing.
LC

 

[kaos513]

videos do take alot of personal time dont blame him

 

[Sonar]

I sent two scanners to Mike on Oct. 9 of this year (2019), and I received the email invoice within a week, and got the repaired/restored radios back on Oct 18. Very quick service.

I had no direct contact with Mike, but just did what I have done in the past...sent the radios along with a note detailing the work I wanted done. Also included my email address in order to get the PayPal invoice, and my mailing address and phone number.

I also wish Mike was posting videos again, as I really enjoyed watching them and learning from them, but there are any number of reasons he may have gone off grid. I hope all is well with him, but I can say that as of October 2019, he is still doing work, and as usual, he did a great job on my 35 year old radios.

That's good enough for me.
I feel better knowing he's okay. Thanks for the update. 73

 

[Sonar]

I sent two scanners to Mike on Oct. 9 of this year (2019), and I received the email invoice within a week, and got the repaired/restored radios back on Oct 18. Very quick service.

I had no direct contact with Mike, but just did what I have done in the past...sent the radios along with a note detailing the work I wanted done. Also included my email address in order to get the PayPal invoice, and my mailing address and phone number.

I also wish Mike was posting videos again, as I really enjoyed watching them and learning from them, but there are any number of reasons he may have gone off grid. I hope all is well with him, but I can say that as of October 2019, he is still doing work, and as usual, he did a great job on my 35 year old radios.

After thinking about it further, I hope Mike's getting back to the time when I'd send him an item on Monday (2 day ground UPS $25,) and get that item back on Friday, or Saturday of the same week.
I enjoyed his YT clips, but I'm not that into the technical aspects of the equipment we use.
I'm under no delusions that I'll ever be able to solder 2 wires together. I can only imagine how much time it takes in order to put together a clip. Time better spent on getting equipment repaired and back @ the shack of the operator who sent it in.
Finding out that Mike's most likely fine, and getting things done, made me realize how I'd rather get my equipment back quickly, than watch a clip of my (or others) equipment getting repaired. Mike's receipts are detailed enough. I know exactly what was done in black and white. I don't consider myself a selfish person, but in all honesty I learned a valuable lesson. I don't share contact information on technicians that I've discovered who do excellent work, @ an excellent price, and usually have a one-week turn aroun. If someone asks I will PM them a technician's information, and specifically ask them not to share it publicly (and PM it should someone ask for the contract info of A-Reliable technician.) I hope that doesn't sound too selfish, but I can't do the simplest of repairs. I hated waiting months for something as simple as a final replacement. I hope that Mike figure that out. It makes sense that he did. 5 years ago whatever I sent Mike would be done in 3 days. The last piece of equipment I sent him took about two months (if my memory serves me correct.) I can only imagine how swamped Mike got with people sending him equipment, and then making videos of particular projects must've taken away so much work time. Time better spent getting that equipment repaired and back to its owner. Putting YouTube videos on hold in order to catch up with what I would assume is hundreds of pieces that need repair. Mike put together my Madison in two days. He recapped and did a few other things to my Phantom in the same amount of time. That was almost five years ago.
I hope Mike's getting back to what's important to the customer. IMO what's important is not a YouTube clip, but getting equipment back to customers ascp. I wish Mike nothing but the best in all his endeavors, and Hope that the next piece of equipment I send him gets back to me in a reasonable amount of time. Even though I have found another very excellent technician I don't mind spreading the work around. As I mentioned in my op I consider Mike a friend, and someone I can rely on to get the job done, and dome right. Now that I think about it's usually these YouTube technicians that get the most complaints when it comes to how long it takes them to repair and send back a piece of equipment to its owner. 73

 

[undertaker]

Like fine tune cb….

 

[Low_Boy]

I always thought of mike as a good technition. Always figured he stopped posting time consuming videos because of a couple fools that were always putting him and every other technition down. Tap Tap. Just easier to do repairs and get on with business. Hope you are doing well Mike.

 

[El Kabong]

Somethings going on. He did a recap of a 2000 for me. Had it for the normal amount of time. Invoiced me. I paid and got the radio back... with a non working clock/freq counter. I emailed him. Nada. Silence.

I can't say Mike and I were best pals but we were on good terms. He's worked on a few of my other radios. I let him use my.other 2000 to video for his YouTube diode expose. It's not like him to do poor quality work THEN not deal with it or even respond.
I've.been thinking the worst myself.