logo elektroda
logo elektroda
X
logo elektroda

Comparing Electric Magazines: INPE, INSTAL, Installation Market, Telecommunications Review

elektronikq 6279 11
ADVERTISEMENT
Treść została przetłumaczona polish » english Zobacz oryginalną wersję tematu
  • #1 16782633
    elektronikq
    Level 25  
    Which magazine would you recommend the most:
    INPE
    INSTAL
    Installation market
    Telecommunications Review
    ?
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #2 16782819
    zbich70
    Level 43  
    Maybe Wyborcza or Gazeta Polska? ... ;)


    Moderated By Akrzy74:

    3.1.11. Don't post messages that add nothing to the discussion. They are misleading, dangerous or do not solve the user's problem.
    Warning.

  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #3 16783501
    elektronikq
    Level 25  
    But that these newspapers are weak, is it some friend's joke? :(
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #4 16783554
    remot
    Level 33  
    elektronikq wrote:
    But that these newspapers are weak, is it some friend's joke? :(


    I don't think this is a joke.
    This is the answer (well ... maybe slightly sarcastic) to your strange question, given the title of the post.
    I would suggest myself - the NO weekly.


    Moderated By Akrzy74:

    3.1.11. Don't post messages that add nothing to the discussion. They are misleading, dangerous or do not solve the user's problem.
    Warning.

  • Helpful post
    #5 16783641
    opornik7
    Electrician specialist
    Industry-wide INPE.
  • #6 16789335
    elektronikq
    Level 25  
    I just mean an industry magazine. I would like to mention something, but I have not dealt with these magazines, so that's why I would like to ask. You can (if you want to) recommend other newspapers worth reading.
  • #7 16790724
    zdzisiek1979
    Level 39  
    Ignore it. I missed two. The articles were repeated every year. And the last two years of subscription it was random whether it will come to me and how it came after the deadline.
    Not worth it. Internet more up-to-date.
    In addition, these are only articles ala advertising info is limited, so you know that it is ringing but you do not know how the bell is powered.
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • #8 16790824
    JohnySpZOO
    Electric installations specialist
    I have been subscribing to ElektroInfo and ElektroInstalator for several years.
    This year I resigned from the extension of ElektroInstalator due to the fact that I had previously bought it on student conditions (they offered me the same - 50% of the price) - now they did not want to extend it because I would have purchased a subscription for the next 2 years - their loss.
    As for ElektoInfo, I also have a subscription for two years, which will end after the new year. Whether I will extend it or not, I do not know - this year I received only the September issue of the paper. Until the end of that year, there was no problem. In October I filed a complaint - apparently in November the remaining issues are to be sent. If the numbers are not, I give up.

    PS Honestly, this year I'm so busy at work that I don't even have time to look at the pictures in waste paper, which ends up in a carton in the basement.

    It all depends on the author what topic you are interested in.
  • #9 16791289
    Łukasz-O
    Admin of electroenergetics
    Currently, only a Professional Electrician "comes" to me. I wrote in quotation marks because they can send it as they want :D It's free, so I don't care.
    I confirm what my colleague Zdzisiek wrote. Most of the articles in such magazines are open or hidden advertising.
    The era of real trade press is over. Instead of collecting waste paper, I suggest the Internet, where everything is available immediately and does not take up space in cabinets and shelves.
  • #10 16792058
    Radiowiec 2
    Level 31  
    If it is to be an entertainment magazine, Murator suggests :) . You can laugh ... (such a word starting with the letter j).


    Moderated By Akrzy74:

    3.1.11. Don't post messages that add nothing to the discussion. They are misleading, dangerous or do not solve the user's problem.
    Warning.

  • #11 16792378
    Akrzy74
    Rest in Peace
    The conclusion (off-topic) is the point at which you no longer have the strength to think further.
    As you can see from previous posts, the word teaches or harms.
    I warn you against writing unrelated posts, i.e. writing about the influence of the Northern Lights on penguin menstruation. :|

    Ps. The post will be deleted.
  • #12 16795476
    Radiowiec 2
    Level 31  
    Buddy Elektroniq, reading and browsing some of these magazines, I find that it's just hard to choose. My main point is THAT in these magazines there are no authors or there are very few writers on electrical topics who have the knowledge they should have. This is due to the fact that ordinary people work in such publications and the so-called "rhyme" does not always suit the professionals we would like to read. At least that is what I see in the electrical industry. The majority of articles are sponsored by producers, according to which ... the best solution on the market is the use of their products ... because the others are already a museum of technology in their understanding. I do it like this: I read industry catalogs, which are full of recently, and all producers stuff them into us, and then I compare prices. Because an individual customer always keeps his pocket and the latest trends will not help, because when something new enters it is cosmically expensive. Yes, there are those who say the price does not matter. But that's a fraction of a percent. I am of the opinion that the team from Elektrody should not read these media and we should START WRITING and share knowledge. Likewise people from the SEP forum. I am not talking about myself, but they are better than me, more experienced, after Polibuds, WATs and others, which will not be published in publications or on yu tube. But there is a lot of material that would be even funny if not for the fact that the electricity poses a threat to humans.

Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around recommendations for industry magazines, specifically INPE, INSTAL, Installation Market, and Telecommunications Review. Participants express skepticism about the quality and relevance of these publications, noting issues such as repetitive content, delayed subscriptions, and a predominance of advertising over substantive articles. Some users suggest that the internet is a more reliable source for up-to-date information. A few recommend alternative magazines like ElektroInfo and ElektroInstalator, while others criticize the lack of knowledgeable authors in the industry magazines. Overall, there is a consensus that many traditional magazines may not meet the needs of professionals in the electrical field.

FAQ

TL;DR: For electricians asking “what’s the best magazine,” note a 0 PLN option exists (“Professional Electrician”) and, as one pro puts it, “The era of real trade press is over.” [Elektroda, Łukasz-O, post #16791289]

Quick Facts

Which is best: INPE, INSTAL, Installation Market, or Telecommunications Review?

From this discussion, the only direct positive nod was “Industry-wide INPE.” Others drew no clear praise. Choose by your project focus: power, building automation, or telecoms. Sample recent tables of contents before committing. If you want one title from this thread, INPE leads. [Elektroda, opornik7, post #16783641]

Are print electrical magazines worth paying for today?

Several pros said print has shifted toward advertorials and slower updates. One summed it up: “The era of real trade press is over.” Consider print for curated overviews, not bleeding-edge practice. Allocate budget toward timely online sources and standards access. [Elektroda, Łukasz-O, post #16791289]

Why didn’t my subscription issues arrive on time?

Fulfillment can slip. One subscriber reported receiving only the September issue that year and filed a complaint; remaining issues were promised later. Track deliveries, contact support quickly, and ask for back-issue bundles or digital access while you wait. That single data point shows real risk. [Elektroda, JohnySpZOO, post #16790824]

Are these magazines mostly advertising?

Multiple users observed overt or hidden advertising dominating content. Expect product showcases with limited schematics, calculations, or test data. That can help scanning the market but leaves gaps in engineering depth. “Most of the articles… are advertising,” one pro noted. [Elektroda, Łukasz-O, post #16791289]

How can I quickly vet a trade article for technical value?

Use this 3-step check: 1. Look for load calculations, measurement methods, or standards cited. 2. Verify examples are not brand-exclusive without alternatives. 3. Compare against manufacturer catalogs and pricing to spot sales pitches. Pros stressed that sponsored items dominate, so validate. [Elektroda, Radiowiec 2, post #16795476]

What does “industry-wide INPE” imply?

It suggests broader coverage across the electrical trade rather than a narrow niche. Expect articles that touch installation, safety, and products. If you need a single generalist title from this thread’s input, INPE drew that label from a practitioner. [Elektroda, opornik7, post #16783641]

Is a free magazine like Professional Electrician worth it?

Free can be fine for light reading and product awareness. One user receives it and doesn’t mind irregular delivery because the cost is zero. Treat it as optional browsing rather than core reference material. Pair with standards and trusted online guides. [Elektroda, Łukasz-O, post #16791289]

Should I rely on vendor catalogs instead of magazines?

Catalogs help compare specs and prices fast, and many pros use them first. One contributor reads catalogs, then price-compares, since sponsored articles often push one brand as “the best.” Cross-check any claim with competing datasheets before specifying. [Elektroda, Radiowiec 2, post #16795476]

What is a trade-press advertorial?

An advertorial looks like an article but promotes a product, often with limited technical disclosure. Users here noted such pieces dominate, so you may “know it’s ringing” without knowing the circuit behind it. Treat advice as marketing unless verified. [Elektroda, zdzisiek1979, post #16790724]

Where should I go for the most up-to-date practices?

Pros in this thread prefer the internet for speed and recency. Forums, manufacturer application notes, and standards updates beat print schedules. Use curated technical communities and official docs when safety is involved. “Internet more up-to-date,” one practitioner wrote. [Elektroda, zdzisiek1979, post #16790724]

I need rigorous, expert-written content. Will trade magazines deliver?

Expect variability. One experienced reader found few authors with the depth pros need and many sponsored narratives. For rigor, lean on standards bodies, textbooks, and peer-reviewed sources, using magazines only for market scanning. [Elektroda, Radiowiec 2, post #16795476]

How do I escalate missing issues effectively?

Document which issues are missing, then file a formal complaint with the publisher. Request re-shipments or digital copies and set a response date. One subscriber complained in October and was told replacements would ship in November. Keep records for refunds. [Elektroda, JohnySpZOO, post #16790824]

Are general newspapers useful for electricians’ technical decisions?

They are off-topic for specialized guidance. A moderator intervened when the thread drifted toward general newspapers. Stay focused on trade sources, standards, and technical communities to avoid noise. [Elektroda, Akrzy74, post #16792378]

Is an entertainment-leaning building magazine like Murator helpful here?

Treat it as light reading, not a technical authority. A participant joked it’s good for laughs, highlighting mismatch with pro electrical needs. Use it for homeowner trends, not for wiring methods or compliance choices. [Elektroda, Radiowiec 2, post #16792058]

What’s the failure mode to watch for with paid subscriptions?

Two risks surfaced: repeated content year-to-year and late or random delivery. If you hit either, pause renewal and pivot to online references until quality improves. This approach saved time and money for one subscriber. [Elektroda, zdzisiek1979, post #16790724]
ADVERTISEMENT