Ham Radio Outlet

Pat, the tall skinny nerdy looking guy at HRO. Is a prick. He has insulted my intelligence not only once, not twice, but 3 times. Third time is a charm. I walked out and decided to take my business elsewhere. I would suggest steering clear of this place. One star because that is the lowest possible rating.

We are very blessed here in Portland to actually have a ham radio shop nearby. In most cities, the only option is to order online. This is a national chain, the prices are average but the service is always great, although it’s usually pretty crowded. Pat is always extremely knowledgeable and friendly, as are the other staff.

«Oh, so you purchased a YaeComWood from Ham Radio Outhouse?»
Joking aside, HRO is the première Portland metro area destination for all things ham radio. The customer service here is enthusiastic, patient and highly qualified. Experienced hams will enjoy their excellent inventory; newbies will appreciate folks who are generous with advice.
HRO is also a good alternative to Radio Shack for things like coax, DC power supplies, the always-​useful Anderson PowerPoles («sexless connectors»), antennas, and other RF-​related things.

Bar none — this is the store in the whole of Portland metro area for any Ham Radio supplies. I was floored by the options and blown away by how advanced the stuff is. They have the latest in hand-​held, mobile, and stationary equipment… and oh man do the people who work there know their stuff.!!
They gave me some great ideas.
Parking is tight but worth circling around for a spot.

It’s pretty rare when a mistake earns a lifelong customer, but that’s what happened.
I ordered a bunch of stuff from HRO’s web store and my order was shipped out of Portland. The order got a bit messed up (all my accessories were right, but they put the wrong radio in the box). I emailed HRO and they put the right HT in the mail that day with a return label for the wrong radio. I had the right radio in my hands on the business day after that.
It’s pretty rare that a company does that kind of thing these days (kind of a shame, because it’s the right thing to do). I’ll be ordering from HRO again due to how quickly and professionally they responded to their mistake. Of course, I’ll be sure to double-​check my packing list on the next order ;-).