Baofeng GT-3: UV-5R Comparison

This video makes me want to try a GT-3.

2013 Running

I finished a 12 mile run today. I don't think I will run any more before midnight, so that brings my total to 895 miles for the year.

I'd like to break 1,000 in a year.

Baofeng UV-3R: The Other Blue

I'm sure this is old and not terribly interesting news, but I just stumbled across the light blue UV-3R. I remember when all the colors used to be a big deal. Now, we expect five colors and sixty varieties of the case.

Baofeng UV-82: FCC

The Baofeng UV-82 now shows up in the FCC database.

409Shop 10 Year Celebration

409Shop is celebrating being in business for 10 years. They tweeted out several deals as part of the festivities. For example, the BF-E500S with USB cable and speaker microphone is $55 USD shipped.

Baofeng GT-3: BF-E500S

Thanks to Nate for pointing out the first revision of the GT-3 revision of the UV-5R: BF-E500S at the 409Shop for $49 USD.

I'd pay a few bucks more to get the GT-3 based on the looks alone. Yikes. And I continue to be amazed by the creative model numbers. This one sounds like the latest Mercedes.

Knoxville Brew aka K Brew

My chef friend had been talking about a new coffee place: Knoxville Brew. They serve up a mighty fine cup of Joe. I had a simple drip (the El Ishco from El Salvador). It was quite smooth and had a fantastic flavor. K Brew isn't exactly close to my house, so that's good for my wallet.

HF-One MKII: Not Looking Good

A refund:

"I just gor my money back. 

Crazy guy, crazy company, crazy people........... bad story"

MicroSD Card Microcontroller

Bunnie talks about hacking MicroSD cards:

"An Arduino, with its 8-bit 16 MHz microcontroller, will set you back around $20. A microSD card with several gigabytes of memory and a microcontroller with several times the performance could be purchased for a fraction of the price."

Keystone Cops

Too funny...



Via Bayou Renaissance Man

Avoid Category Names That Suck

Avoid Category Names That Suck when designing your web site. A couple of key points:

1. Don't get cute with the names.
2. Don't make users guess.

I'm pretty good with my "labels," but my static pages above could use some work. The Baofeng page just sort of evolved. I'm happier with the ReadMe and The Radios pages as I built them to meet specific needs.

TYT TH-9800: Unboxing

Martyn does a quick unboxing and overview of the TYT TH-9800.

Extremes

Trying to save seconds... in a distribution facility.



Trying to save hours/days... the speaker wasted a day walking to get medicine from a person that didn't have it.



Via LifeHack

TYT TH-9800: Landing

Brndnstffrd comments:

"I just received an email stating that the radio is out and available for preorder, and is expected to be arriving here in the US in 2 weeks!

http://www.kightradio.com/TH-9800-Quad-Band-Mobile_p_20.html"

Martyn Allison (Radio-Mart) says:

"We now have the TH-9800 in stock in very limited quantities and will also be accepting back orders, I plan to have a you tube video over the next 2 or 3 days and we have already started a Yahoo Users group for this model 

http://www.radio-mart.net/TYT-TH-9800-Quad-Band-Transceiver.html"

Yahoo Group is here.

Hans has a copy of the manual for your reference here.

FINsix: Shrinking the Power Brick

FINsix wants to change power adapters by increasing the frequency at which they work:

"4x smaller and 6x lighter than today's adapters
Built-in USB port replaces phone/tablet chargers
Charges laptop and 10W devices simultaneously
Wall plug form factor eliminates bulky AC cable
Only occupies a single socket when plugged in
Compatible with all major laptop brands
Ideal for mobile professionals and students 

Product Description
The FINsix laptop charger is a full-powered AC adapter that is four times smaller and six times lighter than what is typically found on the market today. The reduced size allows for a form factor which plugs directly in to the wall and only consumes the space of one socket. This eliminates the bulky "inline brick" implementation as well as the thick AC-side cord that is commonly found on laptop chargers. Also, with its auxiliary USB port for powering other devices, this adapter replaces your phone and tablet chargers as well."

Via Technology Review via Ace of Spades HQ

Old School Typewriter Fonts

Old School Typewriter Fonts - create cool labels for your projects.

Via the Retrotechnologist

Bayesian Morse Decoder

 A Bayesian Morse Decoder

"To demonstrate the Bayesian decoding capability I tuned my KX3 on W1AW frequency 3.58105 Mhz at 8:00 PM EST today and let two identical FLDIGI copies of the same v3.21.75 software running from the same audio source. I have a SignaLink USB connected between KX3 and my ThinkPad laptop running Linux Mint OS. 

On Fig 1. below I have the legacy SOM decoder on the left side and the new Bayesian decoder on the right . The legacy decoder makes a lot of errors and CW bulletin is not really readable. On the right side I have enabled Bayesian decoder and you can actually read the bulletin, though the lack of proper word spaces make this still a bit difficult to read. In any case Bayesian decoder provides significant accuracy improvement with real life noisy CW signals."

Via Slashdot

Jot Script and Jot Touch 4 Review

This is by far the best review of the Jot Script Evernote Edition I've seen. He compares it with the Jot Touch 4.

Based on his comments, I think I will try the Jot Script - once I get a job.

On a related note, I ran into a guy using the Jot Touch 4 at a coffee shop and he showed me how he used it. It was clear he had mastered it - his handwriting on the iPad with the Jot Touch 4 was better than mine with pen and paper.

Futile

(Trying a Google+ embed, so I don't know if this will display in the RSS feed. Live and learn!)

Amazon Trade-In PSA

Post Christmas Public Service Announcement:

If you got an old, busted (as in lame, not broken) UV-5R and want the new hotness that is the GT-3, try the Amazon Trade-In service.

Via WiredInsider

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

And from some of the usual suspects...

Merry Christmas Eve!

And no surprise, I am posting this as usual.

Kirisun K700: Digital VHF HT

Thanks to Christian for the heads up via this tweet. Just in time for Christmas (well, not if you actually want one), the Kirisun K700 Digital VHF HT for $135.00 (USD).

Brand Name: Kirisun
Storage Channel: 256
Dimensions: 116mm x54mmx30mm
Frequency Range: 136-174MHz
Model Number: K700
Channel Spacing: 12.5KHz
Operating Voltage: 7.5V DC ±20%
Battery: 1500mAH Li-ion
RF Output Power: 4W/ 1W
Color: Black
Weight: 243g

KIRISUN K700 The transceiver is a micro-miniature multiband FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing local-area two-way amateur communications along with unmatched monitoring capability

Features:

Product Features:

Excellent noise suppression, digital voice clarity

Digital / analog compatible analog devices to ensure a smooth transition

Ten million sets of figures key voice encryption, safe and secure

Digital intelligent signaling, richer management scheduling function

Function Description:

1. FDMA frequency division multiple access technology, spectrum efficiency improved several times;

2. support digital mode, analog mode

3. the digital voice encryption

4. a variety of call mode, all call, group call, a call, emergency call

5. PTT default contact (group) call

6. the emergency alarm (single, joint) 3 × 4 modes

7. Stun, activate

8. the working status query

9. the digital power saving mode

10. 1.8-inch large LCD display, support icon display for easy SMS messages, call records read;

11. low power, signal strength, battery capacity display, real-time understanding work status

12. call history, call records can be displayed 20;

13. address book function, support 50 contacts;

14. you can edit SMS function, the default shortcut short message

15. manual dialing

16. calls and SMS ringing Tips

17. firmware programming mode (software upgrades);

General features:

1. in English operation interface

2. the emission of high and low power selectable

3. three-color LED indicates sending, receiving, scanning and other state

4. channel lock, keypad lock function

5. whisper function

6. sub audio / digital tone

7. the end eliminate

8. the monitoring function

9. mixed scanning

10. TOT emission limit protection

11. the calculator

Specifications:

General
Frequency Range	136-174MHz
Channel Capacity	256
Channel Spacing	12.5KHz
Operating Temperature	-25°c~ +55°c
Operating Voltage	7.5V DC ±20%
Battery	1500mAH Li-ion
Frequency Stability	±2.5 ppm
Dimension (with battery and antenna)	116mm x54mmx30mm
Weight (with battery and antenna)	243g
Transmitter
RF Power Output	4W/ 1W
Frequency Modulation	16KφF3E/11KφF3E (Analog) 4FSK(Digital)
Antenna Impedance	50Ω
Modulation Limiting	±2.5kHz
Radiated Spurious Emission	-36dBm < 1GHz -30dBm > 1GHz
FM Noise	45dB 25KHz 40dB 12.5KHz
Modulation Distortion	< 3%
Receiver
Reference Sensitivity	0.25μV 12.5KHz
Adjacent Channel Selectivity	60dB 2.5KHz
Intermodulation	60 dB
Spurious Response Rejection	60 dB
Rated Audio Output	1W
S/N	45/40
Rated Audio Distortion	≤3%

Package Contents:

• 1 x Kirisun K700 Digital Two-way Radio(VHF 136-174MHz)
• 1 x 7.4V 1500mAh KB-760 Li-ion Battery
• 1 x VHF 136-174MHz Antenna.
• 1 x Belt Clip.
• 1 x ENG Manual
• 1 x Charger with Adapter (Provide PSU plug for your Country)
• 1 x Hand STRAP

Knoxville! Knoxville! Knoxville!

In addition to being the Most Bible-Minded City, Well Read, Most Romantic, and Most Patriotic, we are the Heaviest Drinkers (Men)!

Via Says Uncle

Tech Support

Baofeng GT-3: Review by W9MDB

Mike (W9MDB) shares his thoughts on the GT-3 on a post to the UV-5R Yahoo Group:

"My observations so far. 

#1 Same poor performing antenna as what people refer to as the UV-5R "stock"antenna (it's the Baofeng UV-5R Logo antenna)

#2 Battery/charger is not compatible with UV-5R batteries at all - nomodification possible that I see

#3 Speaker sounds a lot better to my ear (I have some high frequency hearingloss and I hear more low freq on the GT-3)

#4 Had to trim my FTDI cable jack as the radio case around the jack is atouch deeper than the UV-5R so the top pin wasn't seating fully

#5 CHIRP speaks to it as a UV-5R

#6 Firmware is BFS311 and reports as BFB297 on power up so should be fullycompatible with UV-5R

#7 The GT-3 software has one more menu than the UV-5R for setting freq rangeotherwise it's identical that I see.

#8 The specifications in the manual are identical to the UV-5R.

#9 I'm seeing better FM performance on my UV-5R then the GT-3. Stationscoming in weaker on the GT-3 with both radios using identical Diamond RH771antennas. My experience contradicts Jerry's review.YMMV apparently.

#10 I'm questioning the weather resistance. I don't see a lot of differencefrom the UV-5R. The speaker grill is quite open and you can see the LEDlight through the microphone hole. The keys don't look like they are sealedto the case. I suppose they might've coated the board (haven't taken itapart yet to see)..that would be the only thing I can think of that mightmake it more water resistant than the UV-5R.manual/box says nothing aboutwater resistant.

Software available here if you want to try the Baofeng VIP software

http://www.radioddity.com/downloads

Mike W9MDB"