BWAHAHAHA So the Radio Shack worker asks "Can I help you with something?"

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Disclaimer: if you know nothing about electrical circuits and electronics, you may not find this funny at all.

I went to Radio Shack yesterday to buy some splitter equipment for a cable TV so that I could plug it into my recently acquired All-in-Wonder Radeon 9700. So I'm browsing their section with all the coax cables and splitters, browsing the different models they have. So I start looking at these splitters and realize that these splitters come either impedence matched for 75 Ohms or 300 Ohms and that some are rated to work properly up to 1100 MHz while others work up to 2500 MHz. Anyhow, I'm cursing myself for going out to the store without having first checking exactly what I needed when a Radio Shack employee approaches me:

Radio Shack Employee: "Hello, can I help you with something?"

Me: "No... actually, yes you can help me (realizing that either he would help me out or hilarity would ensue). I need a splitter for a coax cable, I'm going to be splitting cable TV output and I'm not sure which model I need; you see I have cable internet hooked up downstream and I want to make sure the signal is still good."

RSE: "OK..."

ME: "I'm not sure what impedence I should be looking for 75 Ohm or 300 Ohm. Also, I'm not sure I can use the splitter that's rated up to 1100 MHz. Do you know what the impedence output of most TVs is and if the frequencies used by cable TV/internet exceed 1100 MHz?"

RSE: "(looks at me with blank stare) Ummm... errr... I think you should get the higher one because if it's higher it can handle the low better."

BWAHAHAHAHA, these battery salesmen are so lost, they are completely clueless about their own products *edit* and instead of admitting it, pull answers out of their ass.

Still this is isn't the funniest response I've ever heard from a RS saleman. The best was undoubtedly when I asked if they carried breadboards, and he answered "you mean, like, for the kitchen?"

 

[ThaGrandCow]

The funny thing is he was right. The one rated for a higher frequency could also take the lower frequencies no problem. You asked for the one that you would need, he recomended the one that would work in more situations.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: ThaGrandCow
The funny thing is he was right. The one rated for a higher frequency could also take the lower frequencies no problem. You asked for the one that you would need, he recomended the one that would work in more situations.

i think he interpreted that the sales person meant the impedance. i dunno what he really meant though.


but the part about breadboard is funnier

 

[Ryan]

This isn't too funny. More than likely, he is just a poor kid looking for some holiday work.

 

[brxndxn]

If you're splitting cable signals, a 1100mhz splitter should be what you want. A 2500mhz splitter is made for satellite TV output.

BTW, imo, the Radio Shack salesman didn't sound that bad to me - especially compared to the rocks at Best Buy. Radio Shack people generally seem to know a little about electronics. For example, if you ask a Radio Shack employee for flux, he will give you flux. If you ask a Best Buy employee for flux, he will give you a DVD Special Edition copy of Back to the Future Part 3.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

What you neglect to take into account was that you didn't know either, so you are exactly as stupid as the person you're laughing at. In fact he was getting paid to be there while you were wasting time since you didn't have the info you needed. I guess that makes you even dumber than him, huh?

 

[Bleep]

The question was dumber than the answer. Have you ever heard of 300 ohm coax?

Bleep

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: ThaGrandCow
The funny thing is he was right. The one rated for a higher frequency could also take the lower frequencies no problem. You asked for the one that you would need, he recomended the one that would work in more situations.

I was referring to the impedence, but the point is that he obviously had no clue what he was talking about. Also, the fact that one's rated for higher frequencies shouldn't have any effect on its performance in splitting lower frequencies.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: ThaGrandCow
The funny thing is he was right. The one rated for a higher frequency could also take the lower frequencies no problem. You asked for the one that you would need, he recomended the one that would work in more situations.

I was referring to the impedence, but the point is that he obviously had no clue what he was talking about. Also, the fact that one's rated for higher frequencies shouldn't have any effect on its performance in splitting lower frequencies.

it should be just as good if not neglibily better.

anyway the breadboard one was good though.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: ThaGrandCow
The funny thing is he was right. The one rated for a higher frequency could also take the lower frequencies no problem. You asked for the one that you would need, he recomended the one that would work in more situations.

I think, in this instance, joo have been pwned.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Bleep
The question was dumber than the answer. Have you ever heard of 300 ohm coax?

Bleep

I've never paid much attention to coax cable since I've never had to do anything with it, so I hadn't any idea as to what I needed to impedence-match to. And for your information there is obviously some use for it since they did sell splitters that were for impedence matching to 300 ohms.

 

[5ayle]

*cough* Superiority *cough* complex *cough*

man i'm so sick...

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: ThaGrandCow
The funny thing is he was right. The one rated for a higher frequency could also take the lower frequencies no problem. You asked for the one that you would need, he recomended the one that would work in more situations.

I was referring to the impedence, but the point is that he obviously had no clue what he was talking about. Also, the fact that one's rated for higher frequencies shouldn't have any effect on its performance in splitting lower frequencies.

it should be just as good if not neglibily better.
anyway the breadboard one was good though. did that really happen?

That's exactly what I'm saying. His answer did apply to most situations but the explanation was purely pulled out of his ass (that was the funny part).
The breadboard thing did actually happen, my EE buddies and I had a good laugh when I told them about it.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: 5ayle
*cough* Superiority *cough* complex *cough*

man i'm so sick...

Ummm... no, not really. Had he said "I don't know", I wouldn't have thought any less of him.

 

[cliftonite]

can i scc riddhi now please

 

[cliftonite]

hf9wnpdjhclpvir;b-jr.gug;if[kf;8bg[delg

 

[EyeMWing]

404:Teh funnay not found.

Breadboard, however, is HILLARIOUS.

 

[bleeb]

You are a moron and a d1ck. So who cares if they don't know the impedence rating or what a breadboard is. You are still a condescending jackazz.

 

[fyleow]

To be fair to him the question is somewhat technical and not expected to be common knowledge. If it was "Bob's TV splitter shop" then you could find him at fault, but I think in this case he tried his best to help you.

 

[Sid59]

cookie?

 

[HonkeyDonk]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
What you neglect to take into account was that you didn't know either, so you are exactly as stupid as the person you're laughing at. In fact he was getting paid to be there while you were wasting time since you didn't have the info you needed. I guess that makes you even dumber than him, huh?

LOL...OWNERIZED

 

[KC5AV]

Originally posted by: Bleep
The question was dumber than the answer. Have you ever heard of 300 ohm coax?

Bleep

Yeah... the flat twin-lead stuff is 300 ohm.

 

[dighn]

omg there are two bleeps

 

[tm37]

I actually hate going to radioshack to get transisters and stuff. The one where I used to go would alsways be stocking the day I needed it and if I did not have the raioshack cat.# they could not helkp me. PNP is that the same as NPN?

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: fyleow
To be fair to him the question is somewhat technical and not expected to be common knowledge. If it was "Bob's TV splitter shop" then you could find him at fault, but I think in this case he tried his best to help you.

True. You cannot expect a poorly paid Radio Shack employee to know everything about every single product. A cable guy, on the other hand, should know. Also, as others have pointed out, YOU didn't know..