Baofeng CT-3

Another day, another dollar, another radio... Baofeng CT-3:

GENERAL

Frequency Range:	136-174 / 400-520MHz
Memory channels:	Up to 128 channels
Frequency stability:	2.5ppm
Frequency step:	2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/20/25kHz
Antenna impedance:	50Ω
Operating temperature:	-20°C to +60°C
Supply voltage:	Rechargeable Lithium-lon mAh 7.4V/1800
Consumption in standby:	380mA
Consumption in transmission	≤104A
Mode of operation:	Simplex or semi-duplex.
Duty cycle:	03/03/54 min. (RX/TX/Standby).
Dimensions:	58mm x 110mm x 32mm
Weight:	130g (approximate)

TRANSMITTER

RF power	5W/1W
Type of modulation	FM
Emission class	16KΦF3E/11KΦF3E (W/N)
Maximum deviation	≤±5 / ≤±2.5kHz (W/N)
Spurious emissions	＜-60dB

Connect Systems CS7000: Update

I've been following the development of the CS7000 (and the mobile CS8000), but not published much about it. Jerry sent this update a while back to the CS7000 Yahoo Group:

"I got some good new and bad news about the project. Being good or bad depends upon your perspective.

The good news is I will be able to put in full DMR capability fairly rapidly. The bad news is I had to take out the WiFi Capability in this version of the radio.

After speaking to some experts in the field of Software Defined Radios, it was determined that my existing hardware design had a small chance of ever doing DMR. The reason had to do with the Error correcting code of DMR verses the other formats. DMR uses a technology called "Turbo" while all the other formats use a technology called "Convolution". If I wanted to do DMR as a software defined radio I would either need a fast DSP processor or have a DMR baseband chip like what is used in the CS700.

The best solution to have a combination DMR and D-STAR radio was to add the DMR baseband chip like was used in the CS700 and change the hardware design so it looks very very close the existing CS700. While this approach is the more expensive approach, it will allow me to incorporate DMR into the CS700 very rapidly. Possibly even before the D-STAR. 

Because I had to add a fairly substantial size chip along with the AMBE 3000R, there was no more room for the WiFi module. Possibly in a future version of the CS7000 I will put back the WiFi module.

The hardware has now been redesigned and I submitted it to the manufacturer for review to make sure he can build it. The software is progressing smoothly although there is substantial work to take into account the new hardware design.

I will be able to put in the WiFi in future versions by a careful mechanical design of the electronics. Probably use Hybrid circuitry to reduce the size. I might at that time also incorporate Blue Tooth and GPS along with the WiFi if I can get the parts I need.

May also be able to do a multi band design. For now I am concentrating on getting the first version of the CS7000 finished with both D-STAR and DMR capability.

Jerry Wanger KK6LFS"

Routers

As is often the case, life seems to work in themes... since I've talking about the CWNP, I see a couple of articles about routers.

The first is a primer for buying a new router for your home.

[[[ UPDATE: Check out this reddit thread about the anonabox ]]]

Second is anonabox : a Tor hardware router:

"The anonabox easily encrypts Internet usage with a simple device that secures all web traffic, not just the traffic coming from one program. No software to download or configure, no login credentials, no registration, just plug it in and your network connection is encrypted. The anonabox also allows people to use programs over Tor that never supported it before or required complicated configuration like Skype, Safari and Filezilla, to name just a few. Also the default firewall configuration protects your computer or network from outside access."

Topsung TS-689: 10W, Triband

I waited a few days to do my regurgitating of Hans' discovery of the Topsung TS-689. I thought I might see what others thought as his posts usually get people chiming in if they have any experience with a particular radio. In this case, no one seems to have the 10 watt, tri-band handheld transceiver. I couldn't even find a different picture of the radio.

Description:Tri-band: 136-174MHz / 350-400MHz / 400-470MHz• Tri-band, dual display and stand-by• DTMF encode and decode• ANI function• 2 tone encode and decode functions• 1750Hz tone• CTCSS / DCS• 200 memory channels• FM radio• Torch light function• Reverse function• HI/MI/LO power selective, max.: 10W• Scrambler function

While 10W and a tri-bander might interest some, I agree that the extra 5W isn't worth much and there are better choices than 350 – 400 MHz.

Portable SDR

PortableSDR:

"The PSDR is a completely stand-alone (no computer needed), compact, Portable Software Defined Transceiver (hence the name, sorta). Originally designed for backpacking use by Ham Radio operators. It includes complete coverage up to about 30Mhz (plus 144Mhz), it has a 168Mhz ARM processor, color display, and an innovative interface. "

Via reddit

Standards

Not a joke! RT @rjek: Today is World Standards Day. Except in the US, which celebrates it on 23rd. http://t.co/ePc5KIvpIa
— Thomas Robitaille (@astrofrog) October 14, 2014

Leixen VV-898: Hans Reviews

Hans reviews the Leixen VV-898:

"The receiver is sensitive, very sensitive. With an average sensitivity of -127dBm the Leixen is amongst the most sensitive radios around. Sensitivity isn’t everything though; the capability to separate wanted signals from unwanted signals is much more important. 

That proved to be something the Leixen VV-898 can’t do at all. Even on a relatively deaf antenna, a Diamond discone, I heard mixer products and out-of-band signals all over VHF and UHF."

CWNP

I'm looking into the Certified Wireless Network Professional program for my next cert. CWNP is vendor agnostic. I've never formally done any training or studying on the wireless side, but after reading a couple of chapters, I'm excited about the (no surprise) overlap with ham radio topics. I spotted a ham calling "CQ" in the CWNP forum.

Wouxun KG-UV950P: 800 MHz Receive

BuyTwoWayRadios reminds us that the Wouxun KG-UV950P quad band radio will also receive from 700.000 to 985.000 MHz. The trick is to make sure you are using the "A" side of the radio to hear the 800 MHz band:

"To access the 800MHz band, simply press the A/B button and switch to A, Press the 2 Key (MHz), and enter a frequency from 700.000 MHZ to 985.000 MHz. Once entered, you can also scan the entire range of those frequencies on the A side by pressing the * (Scan) key for two seconds to initiate the scan."

409Shop Introduction Video

A little promo video about the 409Shop...