About RobustReviews

Welcome to RobustReviews, your home for retro-tech explorations and amateur radio reviews!

I’m Andy, and I run the RobustReviews YouTube channel, where I dive deep into vintage technology, obsolete formats, and radio gear. I’ve been uploading videos occasionally, but from April 2025, things are going to move a lot faster! 🚀

📡 What You’ll Find Here

• In-depth reviews of classic tech
• Amateur radio projects
• Restorations & repairs
• Deep dives into obscure formats

A Quick Bio

In case you were wondering, my name is Andy, and I live in East Anglia, UK. I’ve had a few different jobs over the years, but currently, I work full-time in industrial electronics and calibration.

I’ve had a lifelong passion for all things nerdy, especially in the world of electronics. I was that kid who loved taking things apart, and a chance encounter with a Betamax machine around 1997 kicked off my obsession with old video formats.

FAQ

• “Don’t I recognize you from…?”
  Quite likely! If it involves a pub, or if you work in a factory, there’s a chance I’ve passed through as part of my day job. But realistically, it’s probably the pub.

• “Marital status?”
  Divorced, currently single as of March 2025. (Form an orderly queue, ladies.)

• “Something about films, television, or computer games?”
  Never really had an interest in any of them. Stopped watching TV entirely around 2015 (including streaming), have seen only a handful of films in my life, and never played video games beyond Nokia Snake.

  I did once play Streets of Rage on Christmas afternoon c. 1994 on a MegaDrive. My mum beat me, and in what I believe the kids call a rage-quit, I launched an ashtray across the living room. (Ah, the ’90s…)
  I got a smack, was sent to bed early, and I’ve been sworn off video games ever since.

• “Biggest fear?”
  Flying. Severe aviophobia. Yes, I’ve tried everything—including medication. Even thinking about it makes me feel sick. I don’t even like going into aircraft that are on the ground at exhibitions. Even if they have no engines, I still panic.

• “Favourite videotape format?”
  VHS.

• “Least favourite videotape format?”
  Betamax. (Yes, really.)

• “Favourite music?”
  Anything that is not musical theatre or Fleetwood Mac. I really dislike Fleetwood Mac.

• “Callsign?”
  2EOYOS. I generally avoid using it in videos because it gets irritating. Mostly on 2m/70cm, occasionally on 10m, but not really into HF stuff.

• “Can you stop squinting in your videos..?”
  Sorry! My eyesight is pretty terrible. I have to wear thick, uncomfortable contact lenses, and I usually take them out for videos—so I can’t focus on anything.

• “Most embarrassing moment?”
  My life is a long series of embarrassing moments.

  But one that’s safe to tell? Attempting to eat a box of stuffing mix at 08:30 live on the radio.
  It turned to concrete in my mouth, leaving me unable to speak during a live segment.
  I tried to wash it down with coffee, which made things ten times worse.
  I ended up pulling lumps of it out of my mouth into a studio bin—on live FM radio.

• “Something else?”
  Drop me an email—I might answer…

Follow & Contact

🔗 Follow me on YouTube: RobustReviews

🕊️ Follow me on X: @RobustReviews

📸 Follow me on Instagram: Robust.Reviews

📧 Contact me: hello@robust.reviews

I do not use Facebook. If you see someone claiming to be me on there, let me know—it’s not me.

Last update 20 March 2025