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I have a couple Radio Shack meters: one analog that I think is older that the one you show here, and a couple early digital models which I still use now and then when there's a chance the meter will take damage.
Also, you're going to bring up Radio Shack but not mention the Cuecat?
Interesting, I was never aware this device existed.
And this, coming from someone where the Atari 2600 was an upgrade and a half over the handheld electro-mechanical Blip game, that says something.
What's that say? Fuck if I know, guess it just means I didn't get to see every device made...
"Anyone remember radioshack?"
Is that where we are now? Ugh. Hello grey hair. Hello back pain. Hello depressing reminders that I'm no longer 20.....
Yes. I remember RadioShack. I even remember "The Shack". I also remember "Blockbuster Video".
If we wanted to watch a movie at home, we had to go to the movie store and pick it up Timmy. The fucking movie store Timmy, it was the highlight of our Friday night lol.
There was still a Radioshack sign up in a plaza in the town I moved to a couple of years ago. I got excited that somehow this one Radioshack had survived. No such luck though, they just never bothered to remove the sign.
They're out there. A lot less common than they once were, but some still forge on.
I still have mine in my bin! I don't use it much anymore (I got a Fluke for free), but when someone asks to borrow its that one that goes in their hands.
Because I'm not letting people borrow my Fluke.
I don't blame you, even when I worked at a supply house and could get one at cost i couldn't afford it lol. When I do get one nobody will ever touch it but me.
...and now im considering a small business loan again, it would help...
This is actually the 2nd one, first one got a warranty replacement after a coworker (who I expected better of) borrowed it.
Thats what started the radio shack only loaner program lol
I'd rather help them by using the fluke myself than risk this one dying through mishandling again.
And yes I do still have the test leads LOL!
I keep my analog multimeter in an old padded Kodak camera case with belt clip that outlived its camera, along with the test probes, so that I don't lose them.
One of these things:
Mine is absolutely nothing special, a customer donated it to me. Still, never hurts to have a backup for my trusty Klein (too broke for a Fluke, I got the Klein through trade school like 8yrs ago)
I remember Radio Shack always asking for my fucking address and phone number, interrupting what should be a quick, simple purchase.
But what if you need warranty support on that four pack of AA batteries?
I swear to GOD this actually happened to me, but it was some other minor purchase like a cable of some sort ๐
And now look where they are. Take note big corpos, you're โ eventually โ next!
*shakes fist*
There was one in the town I grew up in, and I used to go and just browse for hours. Iโd sometimes buy a few cheap little bits and bobs so I didnโt piss off the clerk.
Believe it or not, I used to go to RadioShack to check out the latest cell phone technology when phones were just starting to catch on. I distinctly remember marveling over this super super thin bar-style phone and being completely amazed they made it so thin. It was one of those candybar phones with a 1 inch dot matrix screen (and an extendable antenna, of course). And it was silver, which I remember thinking was awesome. They were still selling Motorola StarTacs, to give you a sense of the time, and I thought โwow, tech is going to get awesome if they can make something like this.โ
We used to go to Radio Shack to buy those suction cup phone microphones that you could stick to the back of a corded handset, so that we could record prank calls. CB radio stuff sometimes, too. I think one of my K40 antennas came from there. I had a Realistic portable CB radio that ran on 9 AA batteries, and coax/adapter/antenna mirror mount to use it with a 102" whip on my bicycle.
I also drank New Coke. Suck it.
There are two Radio Shacks near me in WNC
There is still a RadioShack up and running in Bozeman, MT. Blew my mind when I saw it.
Does it still have electronic components or is it just a glorified mall phone kiosk?
Funny, the last Radio Shack I visited and bought something from was in Livingston.
My local Radio Shacks closed on 2015 - 2017, which isn't crazy long ago. I think I made some purchases on their website after that, which is still going.
I think ours closed back around 2013 or so โน๏ธ
But wait, they're still up and running online? Hell, it never even crossed my mind to check online after their stores closed, thanks for letting me know!
https://files.catbox.moe/6j3u2w.jpg
Look below the kitty and you'll see some Radio Shack Realistic Minimus 7s I got in the 90's. Still sound great.
Sorry, what? Was distracted by cat.
In close reach I have a RadioShack 50 Piece Precision Screwdriver Set. It gets frequent use, of course.
I have a little one-piece digital one from Radioshack. The leads are attached and wrap inside the folding lid so no way to misplace them. It's my favorite go-to tool, especially when checking outlets, appliances, or even batteries. They're still sold under a different Chinese brand.
Much easier than dragging out the Fluke.
I still have one of these but the hinge broke. It's small size caused issues when doing car stuff so I also have Klein. bought
The Tandys (a family who owned RadioShack at one time and are the namesake of their 80s computer line) are from where I live and still use the same or similar font for their name in their local philanthropic ventures. So I still see the Tandy logo all over the place.
I still have one like that from when I was a teen except mine was just some yellow generic model. It still works though.
I still have and use my digital one from ~1994! it has a pc serial interface with special software, on a 3.5 inch floppy. I'd share a pic but I'm not at home.
I've got the updated version from 98-2000 that got a USB upgrade.
https://files.catbox.moe/cmtyxw.jpg
You can see it's had a rough life but it still gets used nearly daily in a repair shop.
Cool!
If you haven't done so already, you should make a backup of the software, both as a full disk image and also the extracted files put in a zip file or something.
if I ever see a floppy drive again I will :)
Haha, I hear ya there. Thankfully my old IBM USB floppy drive still works ๐
I worked at one of the few franchise stores when they went through their big remodel. That store did close but there's still another open here in my town.
Radio Shack is still around.
Yes, round indeed is a shape.
I bought one right before they went out of business. Hardly know how to use it, but it works and is nice to have when needed, saves a bunch of money and time on easy diagnostics
