Another problem

I have too many radios. I can't find my Baofeng UV-5R.

Desktop

So, it's not the battery. I've pulled everything out of the PC - got down to mobo and proc. It beeps appropriately at the lack of memory. I then tried with different memory to see if that changed anything. (It's actually pretty hard to tell given the lack of a consistent response from the machine. See below.) Got a diskette error, so I plugged the card reader back in - no joy. I disabled it in the BIOS - no joy. Hard drive plugged in/unplugged - no joy. Using the onboard VGA after pulling the video card, wireless card, and tv tuner card - no joy.

I'm pretty comfortable saying it is the mobo given the variety of responses and the elimination of so many variables. The first pic is of the screen at POST that asks if you want to enter setup or the boot menu. The second is actually the same, but it is trying to display the Dell logo. I mostly get a black screen - power on, fans turning, but no video out to the monitor, but I thought these were just great fun, so I had to share. I don't think I want to spend $50 on a refurb motherboard to put into this seven year old computer. At least I could listen on the KG-UV8D while I was working. (I even see a red UV-3R reflected in the first picture. It's like ham radio Easter Eggs.)

Decision time... I still think I need a Windows PC and my laptop won't last forever given its problems. So, a cheap laptop or a cheap desktop. My XYL needs something, too. She primarily uses the iPad, but uses the desktop for working from home and occasional tasks related to eBay or consignment sales.

And the hits just keep on coming...

Now the desktop has died. Won't boot past the BIOS screen. I hope it is just the CMOS battery. I'll pick up one today and find out easily enough.

The latch on the laptop is worse, so I accidentally shut it off three times yesterday. Time for some duct tape. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Ha!

Wouxun KG-UV8D: Time to Play

Thanks to the team at BuyTwoWayRadios for loaning me a Wouxun KG-UV8D. More soon...

Wouxun KG-UV8D: Unboxing

BuyTwoWayRadios.com has the KG-UV8D and does an unboxing video for our consumption.

Runbo X5: Notes

Anger comments on the Runbo X5 Android phone with UHF:

"Have good and BAD news...Phone works, but there is a software problem with the Walkie Talkie mode.
1: If you go and set it as per page 7 of the manual;
• Select Australia say channel 25 Frequency 477.0250
• You can PPT (transmit (TX) no problems)
• However you cannot receive?????????????
2: If you select one of the 6 programmable options and manually set the Frequency for e.g.
• TX 477.0250 and RX 477.0250 ( Channel 25 frequency)
• It all works as one would expect….
• You can transmit and receive from others using hand and fixed Walkie Talkie‘s and it works well.
You also have to pre-program the 2 emergency channels – otherwise it is useless if you need for urgent / medical reasons.
So if you only ever use a limited set up to 4 channels and you pre-program the phone; then you’re OK… But if someone wants you to go to another channel, then you have to manually delete and re program…
If there is a FIX for this I would love to know what it is...."

Judgmental Maps - Knoxville

Wow. An amazingly judgmental map of my home town, Knoxville. I'm tagging this with "Ham Radio" since they reference the hobby on the map.

You have to know the town, but some of the labels are hysterical.

Burgers and ducks.
Used books.
Gold ball on a stick.

FireChat

One of the commonly discussed benefits of ham radio is that it works without the support of someone else's infrastructure. FireChat promises "off-the-grid" communications using your Android or iOS mobile phone. In a tweet, they say:

"It works using Bluetooth and P2P Wifi (iOS) / WiFi Direct (Android). On Android, it uses Open Garden's mesh tech software."

The range is listed as about 30 feet, so don't throw out all your ham equipment for a SHTF situation. I'm surprised it isn't better with WiFi - even marginally. The most common complaint about the current version is the lack of filters/the ability to setup private chat areas. And you can't chat between iOS and Android devices.

Also, FireChat has been mentioned by Rush Limbaugh, so it must be good.

It's a neat idea, but with such limited range I don't think it offers much for me.

iPhone/iPad Battery Life

A good article about the iOS battery life and how to resolve drain problems.

Via @Pogue

Lisheng UT858: Mobile

Hans has posted about a new mobile... the Lisheng (Yshon) UT858. It is a 50W mono-band available in 4 flavors (136-174, 350-390, 400-470, or 450-520 MHz). It can be yours for $150 USD.