Showing posts with label Leixen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leixen. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Monday, September 9, 2013

Leixen VV-808: Sale

I got an e-mail saying the VV-808 (VHF version) is on sale for $118.24 including shipping to the US. (The UHF version is still at $144.04 with shipping.) That's not the sub-100 number I think starts to make it interesting again and I don't know if this is just a temporary sale to gauge response.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Rotary Encoder

I got the rotary encoder in the mail today. Now, I need to carve out a little time to see if I can fix this thing.


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Leixen VV-808: Popping Issue Fixed

Eileen sent me an unprompted follow-up e-mail on the popping issue - which, to me, is a good sign that they want to provide high quality products and fix any issues that are discovered in the field. Here is what she wrote:
"For the "popping" sound, it is a procedure problem, some radio would appear the "popping" sound often, and some may appear seldom, so people ignore the "popping". For fix the problem have to change the CPU of the radio. So it can just fixed by us. If some one want to send the radio back for fixing the problem, we will fix it for free, but he should pay the freight cost. But I think the freight fee maybe too expensive, so if some one can change the clip as attached by himself, I can send one to him. But I think it is difficult for ordinary people. As you know, disassembling the radio may break the radio, and changing the clip would be much difficult. And we won't warrant the radio again since it is disassembled."
I read that as a software/code (procedure) problem in the firmware. Since the chip has to be replaced, then it must be like most other radios with a write-once chip. She sent the picture below, too. I think replacing that chip is beyond my skill level. (I'm just hoping to fix the rotary encoder when I get it and that's just three solder points! That's complicated enough for me.)

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Leixen VV-898: Flashlight

John (K3NXU) made a funny in my original post about the Leixen VV-898 Dual Band Mobile. He wanted to know if it would have flashlight (like all the Chinese HTs.) I am probably violating my NDA, but I have this super secret picture of a VV-898 prototype. As you can see, it does have a flashlight!


Sunday, July 7, 2013

Leixen N8 Frequency Counter

Eileen of Leixen asked me if I was interested in the their N8 Frequency Counter. The specs and details are below - including a video demonstrating its use. I see a lot about Chinese radios, but I don't see much about tools like this. Is anyone using anything like this?

[ UPDATE ] I should have included the link to buy ($25 plus shipping) at AliExpress.

Description
N8 handheld frequency counter using dot-matrix LCD, it mainly used to measure the frequency, CTCSS and DCS of radio.

The counter adopts the inductive measurement without the use of feeders, which make the measurement convenient and quick.

The counter can also used as a torch for it has a bright LED lamp.

Specs
Measure range: Frequency 1MHz ~ 1000MHz, all CTCSS, all DCS.
Operating Current: 46mA current measurement
Torch current: 20mA
Battery: 3 1.5V AAA alkaline batteries
Auto power off: 60 seconds

   

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Leixen VV-808S

I also asked Eileen about the VV-808S that is listed with the VV-808 and VV-898 on their site. She says:
"The VV-808S is a upgrade of VV-808. It updates some bugs, and plus some functions. For your VV-808, the bugs is nearly updated. So it may not have much differences to you."
More info as I get it. The VV-808S is not available via AliExpress yet.

Leixen VV-898: Dual Band

As I guessed yesterday based on a poor translation, the VV-898 that is listed on the Leixen site will be a dual band mobile radio. From Eileen at Leixen:
"Yes, we are planning a dual band mobile radio. The model would be VV-898. But it is just been developing. It would take some time. Maybe not so quickly."
So no details and no date, but it doesn't keep me from hoping it is the same form factor as the VV-808 single band.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Two-Stage Double-Shou

A "Two-Stage Double-Shou" with a "cool debut soon."*

Image of a "Two-Stage Double-Shou":


I don't know** what that is exactly, but I'm excited.

* Alternate translation is a "Double-Double" with a "flashy debut."
** I have a guess.

Leixen VV-808: Popping Follow-up

I sent my video of the popping sound to Leixen and got the following response:
"We know what you mean for Popping. We did test, it really popping sometimes when the antenna connected. For the PoPPing, We can't find what is the problem for now. We will try to solve the problem. Thank you for your feedback."
They've been quite helpful (including with getting a rotary encoder), so I really hope they are able to solve this issue. I'd like to buy another VV-808 or two - one for the office and two for the cars. I'd like to standardize on one radio and this one is small enough that my wife won't balk at having it put in her car. Plus the price is pretty good even with the increase after they sold the first several.


Monday, June 24, 2013

Rotary Encoder

Thanks to Ken who pointed out that I can get a replacement rotary encoder. I suspect Eileen Lin of Leixen, who has been trying to help me, had to post it, so I could order it.



So that's what one looks like when it isn't in several pieces. :)

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Leixen VV-808: Menus

Between my broken dial, display, and a manual in Chinese - this may not be 100% accurate. I figure it is a start. Corrections, additions, clarifications, and general insults are all welcome.

1 APO OFF, 10M, 20M, … , 80M, 90M, 2H, 4H, ... , 14H, 16H
2 APRO
3 BC Lock ON/OFF
4 Beep ON/OFF
5 CHASave
6 DTMF ON/OFF
7 DW ON/OFF
8 DecType
9 DecCode
10 EncType
11 EncCode
12 FM Switch to Broadcast FM
13 FM Scan
14 FM SQL
15 FM DW
16 Font SMALL/BIG
17 KeyLock K+S/PTT/KEY/ALL
18 Keypad ON/OFF
19 Lamp CONT/OFF/KEY
20 NameSYS ON/OFF
21 NameCHA ON/OFF
22 NamEdit
23 OpenDIS User Defined/All/Lease Time/Leixen
24 P1 Long Programmable Key P1 - Long Press
25 P1Short Programmable Key P1 - Short Press
26 P2 Long Programmable Key P2 - Long Press
27 P2Short Programmable Key P2 - Short Press
28 P3 Long Programmable Key P3 - Long Press
29 P3Short Programmable Key P3 - Short Press
30 Power HIGH/LOW
31 PTT ID ON/OFF
32 Roger ON/OFF
33 Reverse
34 RPT SET
35 RPTType
36 SaveBat ON/OFF
37 SCAN Starts scan, Menu button will stop
38 SCNMode TO/CO
39 SCANADD ON/OFF
40 SQL 0-9
41 Step 2.5KHz
42 Tail ON/OFF
43 Talk
44 TOT OFF, 10, 20, … , 110, 120 (seconds)
45 TxStop ON/OFF
46 Vox ON/OFF
47 Vox D 15, 25, 35, 45
48 Vox S 0-8
49 VXB ON/OFF
50 WIDNAR NARROW/WIDE

Leixen VV-808: More Popping

So it isn't just me and this is a UHF version. Thanks to SA0CEO for sharing the video! Also, I will add that when the radio is scanning, it is almost continuous popping on mine.

Leixen VV-808: Short QSO Sample

Another fancy iPhone video, but for giving you a small taste, I think it works.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Leixen VV-808: Popping

Still popping.. squelch is all the way up, tried a difference antenna, and operating from a different QTH. The popping volume is independent of the volume setting of the radio. Sorry for the iPhone video - working with what I got - but you can hear the pop at about 6 seconds. I don't see the green light come on like when SQL is broken and I am actually receiving.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A Theoretical Question

I have this friend...

Say a couple of guys were looking at taking something apart... because that is what guys do. Just to keep this on topic, let's pretend it was two hams and they were taking apart an inexpensive Chinese mobile radio.

The first guy, who bought the radio, took a few screws out and couldn't easily pull the cover off, so he hands it to the second guy and says, "Can you get this apart?"

The second guy messes with it for a second and then hands back the radio with the cover off. Ta da! Slice of pie, piece of cake!

A little while later, the first guy notices this:



Which leads to this:



And this (sorry - not a great picture, but you get the idea):



So, apparently, it is important to take off the knob first before pulling on the face plate as the plastic that holds the rotary encoder together isn't designed to take much force. Go figure. Oops.

The radio still works - you can use the controls on the microphone. The display is messed up (see image). It is unknown when that happened - during the opening of the case or during subsequent "trouble-shooting." Transmit and receive both seem fine.


The first guy feels like he setup the second guy for failure by just handing him the radio and asking for help. He doesn't think the second guy owes him anything at all.

The second guy feels extremely guilty and wants to pay for the broken radio.

So, theoretically, do you think the second guy owes the first guy anything? I'd like the internet to be the final arbiter in this as we can't keep passing cash back and forth.

Leixen VV-808: Disassembly

1. Remove the knob for the rotary encoder by pulling straight forward. Mine was very tough to remove.
2. Remove the three screws from the front face plate.
3. The face plate is connected to the main board via a ribbon cable, so gently pull the face plate forward.
4. Remove the four screws from the main part of the radio.
5. Lift the cover straight up.

At that point, all the easy stuff is done.

In my radio, the board with the display is marked:

LEIXEN
R1500-DISP-C
2012-3-31

The main board is marked:

LEIXEN
R1500-A4B
2012-08-06


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Leixen VV-808: VV-808S

Just noticed this while looking for an English manual:

PRODUCT NAME: VV-808S
DTMF / two tone signaling / identification code, Stun / remote halo / activate full-featured voice encryption and other security safeguards your call,
12V, 24V adaptive.

And this:

VV-808S car radio upgrade notification


VV-808S is a VV-808 based on the upgrade, upgrade more powerful, microphone in hand to support the company's UP / DO function, 12V/24V adaptive, the convenience of our size car customers.