BASIC

This brings me back...

Deploy your BASIC code to our 6502 data center in just one tweet. Welcome to 8-bit cloud 😜 pic.twitter.com/ZmB1WIUx4C

— BBC Micro 🦉 bot [v2] (@bbcmicrobot) February 11, 2020

Baofeng Tech Amazon Prime Day Deal: Programming Cable

This Baofeng Tech Amazon Prime Day Deal is now live:

PC03 FTDI USB Programming Cable for BaoFeng, Kenwood, Wouxun, AnyTone

If you don't have Amazon Prime, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial if want to take advantage of the deals from Baofeng Tech.

Baofeng Tech Mobiles: CHIRP Support

The latest version of CHIRP now supports the Baofeng Tech mobiles (UV-2501+220, UV-2501, and UV-5001). I got to try out a beta version and had no problems with the basic functions.

Via Miklor on the BAOFENG AMATEUR RADIO NETWORK (B.A.R.N.) Facebook page

Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220: Programming from your PC

A how-to video for installing and programming your Baofeng Tech UV-2501+220. Grab the software here. You'll need a USB cable like the BTECH PC04 FTDI USB Programming Cable as well. (The process is the same for the Baofeng Tech UV-2501 and Baofeng Tech UV-5001 - simply download the appropriate software for those models.)

Some general comments about using programming software for radios:

If the you can't figure out which Comm Port the radio is using, go to the Device Manager in Windows. You can see which port is correct or if the cable isn't showing as installed properly. The latter is often the guess if you aren't using a genuine FTDI chip.

As a best practice, I always like to save a copy of the original configuration before I make any changes.

Baofeng Tech Programming Cable for Mobile Radios

I've been manually programming everything in to the UV-2501+220 and I plan on doing a short video tutorial of the process. However, I am really glad my BTECH PC04 FTDI USB Programming Cable arrived yesterday.

Scripting for the Win

When you’re a coder, you code things to happen automatically so you don’t have to do them again and again manually. pic.twitter.com/PgtIgyb8zs

— Charles Arthur (@charlesarthur) December 15, 2015

Least Favorite Software

Are there certain software tools you hate? I hate Taleo. It may be great for HR professionals and hiring managers, but as someone looking for a job and encountering it frequently, it leaves me frustrated.

First, when you create a scrolling frame inside a web page, you start at minus one.

Then the errors start.

Error - job title too long. (You asked, I told you. 25 characters? That's it?)

Error - certification not valid. (So you have a predefined list of certifications? Therefor any certification I have that isn't on your list, I cannot add at all. Oh, you have one that is close, but not exactly the same. Should I pick that? If I do, can I attest that I have answered all the questions accurately?)

For the field that is often promoting diversity, they sure aren't building the ability to support it into their tools.

Maybe I want a job writing this software, because those people must have great job security as it is impossible that they've ever had to use their own system to apply for a job. I exaggerate but UI is really bad.

6-in-1 Programming Cable

I love things like this 6-in-1 cable for programming various radios. Of course, with the problems people have with counterfeit chips, poorly fitting connections, COM port confusion, etc. maybe it isn't the best idea to introduce another variable.

Discovered here.

Programming Jargon

Funny programming jargon. Read them and then come back, so the following will make sense.

Some of these are funny to me on a couple of levels. I work with a guy whose written communication can be a little confusing. We call it Yoda Speak. However, his SQL and other logic doesn't suffer from the same aliment, so we can't accuse him of Yoda Conditions.

I'm guilty of Smurf-like Naming Conventions when I get to name objects in our infrastructure, e.g. Knox_Engineering_HP_Laserjet_Series_2.Engineering.Knoxville.TN.USA.NA.Earth.MilkyWay

We have also seen procedures named TEST_Something get promoted to production or as they say protoduction.

Lastly, the mere act of getting up to go ask a question will simulate the rubber duck effect. That happens to me way more than I would like to admit.

Ham Radio Deluxe

I've given up on trying to keep tabs on Ham Radio Deluxe. There has been way too much drama since the new owners took over. The transition has been a little bumpy to say the least. The Yahoo Group has been flooded with complaints about the pricing and bugs in the newer releases. It seems to have brought out the worst in some hams. From a development perspective, it appears they took the classic "ready, fire, aim" approach.

I expect that things will level out and some lessons learned will make things smoother going forward, but hold on to your hats for now.

Quansheng TG-UV2: CHIRP Support

Looks like CHIRP support for the TG-UV2 may not happen in the immediate future:

"Dan replied to my inquiry with the following: " It depends on the radio, of course, but if it is going to happen, it would take less than a week of development time. "

He didn't venture when that week might occur. And that tiny word "if" looms large.

Ian"

I didn't see a way to vote/show support for a particular radio on Dan's site. He's doing this for free, so whatever he decides to do next is clearly up to him. As a quick data point, the relative Yahoo Group memberships are:

TG-UV2 - 431
UV-5R - 1,126
UV-3R - 3,118

[Updated June 29, 2012 - I meant Quansheng not TYT.]

Stay On Call

My world...

Programming Software Problems

I agree with Julian (G4ILO), the various Yahoo Groups are almost unreadable right now due to the flood of programming issues - mostly related to counterfeit chips:

"Problems with programming cables seem to be making up half the traffic in forums and groups dedicated to handheld radios. The problems are all associated with cables that use (or claim to use) Prolific USB adapters. These days, programming cables come with USB adapters built-in, so the need for separate USB to RS-232 converters - which could use a less troublesome FTDI or Silicon Labs chipset - is eliminated. But so, unfortunately, is the option to solve the problem by using a different type of adapter."

These are the major steps - no matter what radio/software.

1. Successfully install the USB to Serial adapter driver for the programming cable. Verify that the OS says the device is working properly by looking in Device Manager (Windows).

2. Also in Device Manager, determine what COM port the cable is using.

3. Install the programming software for your radio.

4. Configure the software to use the COM port that was verified in Step 2.

5. Read from the radio.

You cannot move to the subsequent step until you have successfully completed the prior one.

Learn to Code 2

In addition to the Code Year project, Lifehacker has their Learn to Code: The Full Beginner's Guide available in 5 parts. I always learn better when I have multiple sources. Different books/courses/instructors complement each other and help me fill in the weak spots.

Code Year - Learn to code in 2012

parislemon Screw your other new years resolutions -- learn to code! (nice new initiative from Codecademy) codeyear.com #codeyearSun, Jan 01 18:44:20 from Tweet Button retweeted by arrington

IT Generalists

Scaling lessons from Google’s CIO — Cloud Computing News:

"In the question and answer period that followed, Fried elaborated on these concepts, telling someone that IT generalists are probably born, not made. He said at Google, the company looks for folks that want to keep improving their skills, and even has a program to help give those people the tools to be better engineers when they find those traits in employees. He said the Google culture is one where the general engineers who understand the system have a lot of input and power, which is a cultural shift that organizations that want to build at scale should try to implement."

We are all becoming generalists at our company. When there are so few of us, you have to learn a little bit of everything.