Posting

I'd be posting except I'm spending all my time dealing with this Microsoft bug. I'm a) an e-mail hoarder and b) an old school "uses folders to organize everything" curmudgeon*, so this is a huge pain. Sometimes dragging works. Sometimes hitting "Escape" works. Sometimes I right-click and "Move." Other times, I cut and paste.

Fixed in December. Bah, thanks for nothing Microsoft.

* If the Outlook client search was better, I might get away from my folders. It's no gmail when it comes to search for sure.

Baofeng Tech UV-50X3 and CHIRP

This is pretty cool when you think about it...

 

MILESTONE: CHIRP's First OEM Partnership

The BTECH UV-50X3 became the very first radio to be exclusively supported by CHIRP programming software. CHIRP is a volunteer based effort to cohesively program radios from all vendors on Windows, Linux and OSX. BaoFengTech.com fully supports CHIRP and the efforts that CHIRP volunteers make to provide you the easiest programming solution between your radios. Download, support, and learn more about CHIRP at:http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Download

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 UV-2501+220: Software

I always like to review the software to get a sense of the options. Here is a snip of the UV-2501+220 software. You can download it from the Baofeng Tech website.

More FTDI Problems

So back in October of 2014, an updated FTDI driver prevented non-genuine/fake chips from working. It appears Windows Update is pushing out a driver that is causing new problems.

So if you are buying a cable to program your radios, you can save yourself some trouble and get one with a genuine FTDI chip.

Via Slashdot.org

2015 Brickolore Top 10 Links

Looking at my Google Analytics data, the top 10 visited links in 2015 were:

10. QYT KT8900: Software

Both this post and number four on the list suggest a real desire for a good quality, but inexpensive mobile. They made the list despite only getting posted in May of 2015.

9. Baofeng UV-5R: Schematics

The UV-5R remains popular and hams like to tinker/fix things.

8. Brick O'Lore: Ham Radio Page

I'm surprised that this got so many hits as I don't maintain it - looks like I should do some updates.

7. Baofeng UV-5R: Software v2

Again, software posts seem to be popular. And everyone that got a UV-5R wanted to check out the the new version of the software.

6. Brick O'Lore: The Radios Page

I'm glad this gets some hits as I try to keep it updated as a quick reference - I would like to expand it by keeping track of lowest prices and other miscellaneous data.

5. Baofeng UV-B5: Best Kept Secret

The UV-B5 still seems to be a sleeper.

4. QYT KT8900: Dual Band Mobile

I think the Baofeng Tech UV-5001 and Baofeng Tech UV-2501 mobile radios would have been more popular posts than the KT8900 - except they weren't released until November.

3. Brick O'Lore: Baofeng (UV-3R) Page

The little clone of the Yaesu VX-3R, the UV-3R, really got folks interested in the Chinese radios. I can't believe it still gets so many hits.

2. Baofeng UV-5R: Extreme Receive Modification

And hams would love to get something for nothing!

1. Brick O'Lore (main web page)

This tells me that lots of people visit my blog the old fashioned way - by going straight to the root domain.

Here's to an interesting 2016. May it be everyone's best year yet!

Baofeng Tech: BTECH UV-5001 & UV-2501 Software

One of my favorite ways to check-out the features of a radio (without actually having my hands on it) is to look at the software. Here are some screenshots for the software for the Baofeng Tech UV-5001 and Baofeng Tech UV-2501 mobile radios.

Menu options:

FM Radio:

Channel memory:

Optional features/settings:

DTMF and tones:

Other/squelch:

Bunnie Related Tweets

Nothing to do with Easter...

Check out my article in @IEEESpectrum The Death of Moore's Law Will Spur Innovation http://t.co/ZOHYZi0mS9 #OSH4ever #MooreAt50
— bunnie (@bunniestudios) April 1, 2015

"For example, throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium, programmers were encouraged to abandon hand-optimized assembly language in favor of cramming in more features using ever higher-level languages. Snappy performance, if it wasn’t there on release day, would come soon enough with the next generation of CPUs."

chumby was a former project of Bunnie's. I have a chumby One and used it for awhile, but it was never the smart desk clock on steroids that I thought it would be.

C3 prototypes pic.twitter.com/UPd3tZZnxP
— chumby (@chumby) April 1, 2015

CHIRP: TERMN-8R and OBLTR-8R Support

Per the AnyTone Tech web page, CHIRP now has basic channel editing support for both the TERMN-8R and OBLTR-8R. I'm sure there will be more to come.

With Friends Like Me

So a former co-worker was asked to document a system after a problem occurred that resulted in a couple of hours of downtime. From his description, it sounded more like a communications issue than a true technical issue. And this system is massive when you include all the moving parts - database, communication servers, web servers, client-server apps, PLCs, HIDs, printers, scanners, etc. Everything sits on top of an IP network, of course, with a Microsoft Active Directory infrastructure, so toss in potential problems with the Cisco hardware, DHCP, AD logins, etc. Even if they froze the environment, it would take years to document every component and potential problem. So given that he was asked by a seagull manager to document this behemoth*, he was a little frustrated I think.

I tried to help out by endorsing him for the "Software Documentation" skill on LinkedIn.



* I do think there are parts of this system that could use better documentation. I also believe in good postmortems, so you can avoid or minimize problems in the future. However, in this situation, I think the criticism of the manager's request is appropriate given the nature of the problem and the environment they are in.

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.

Baofeng UV-82: Software

Interesting work by Jim (KC9HI):

"I don't have a UV-82, but having an interest in one, I downloaded the software and installed it to see what I could learn from it. The software that I installed for the UV-82 is v13.01.12. 

The software I am testing has an identical layout to the v12.05.06 CPS software for the UV-5R. With both Optional Features menus set to the same values, there is no difference that can be seen when switching between both programs. 

So how did it get all of the settings to be the same. Easy... I just loaded the .dat file from my UV-5R. It read it right in. Every channel and every setting is there."

Baofeng UV-82: Software

We've ended up with a second Yahoo Group for the UV-82. I don't know which came first, but the one linked here was started by Martyn (K4TEC) and he uploaded the software for the UV-82.

Some screen shots for your viewing and internet analysis pleasure...

Excel Pins Disappearing

I have a problem. Every once in a while, my Excel 2010 "Pinned" and "Recent" documents disappear from the Jump List in the Start Menu. I'm an Excel junkie, so I like to keep my favorites pinned and access my most recently used files with the Jump List.

Others have had this or similar problems, too. (here, here, and here.)

I have a guess about why mine disappear. I use a dual monitor setup at work. Sometimes I need a second instance of Excel running, so that I can compare files using both displays. So, after opening one Excel file, I click on the Start Menu and type "Excel" to start a second instance.

When the second Excel instance starts, I get a "File in Use" messagebox. It says:

"PERSONAL.XLSB is locked for editing 

by %Username%.

Open  'Read-Only or click 'Notify' to open read-only and receive notification when the document is no longer in use.

The buttons give me the options of Read Only, Notify, or Cancel.

I've not gone through and documented each case, but I can replicate the problem where it will delete the "Pinned" items and only the last files I was using show up in the "Recent" list. All it takes is opening the second instance of Excel and then closing them in a certain order. It may also require that changes be made and saved to one or both files. I don't have a fix yet, but at least I know how to avoid the problem.

This does not affect the files that are pinned inside the Excel application under File | Recent. In fact, that is where I go to recover my Jump List pins. I scan the list and open the files I want to re-pin.

KG-UV920R: Programming from your PC

So the programming software for the KG-UV920R was uploaded to the Wouxun Yahoo Group. And it turns out that Wouxun has called the software: KG_UV920R Commander V0.1.0. Beta - Programming Software by Wouxun. Ed notes that Wouxun is aware they have appropriated the name "commander" that has been used by Jim for his popular KG-UV Commander software for quite some time.

I guess we should just be happy they didn't call it the Commander CHIRP programming software.

I also see you can get the USB programming cable on eBay now.

Updated after posting: VA3ISP has a fix for an import error when trying to use the software with an Excel file.

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.

Baofeng UV-3R: Rounding Problem in the Software

The latest version (1.10) of the UV-3R/UV-X4 software fixes a bug where frequencies are rounded incorrectly.

Baofeng UV-3R: Expanded Frequencies

In addition to the old trick of opening up the ability to store alpha tags in the Baofeng UV-3R, Frank Fort notes in the comments that he's opened up the frequencies available to his radio via the software:

"Baofeng Uv-3r Mark 11 is now with a 115Mhz to 530Mhz TX and RX modification, with the modded program...

• Close the UV-3R Mark 11 software if you have it running.
•  Browse to folder where the software is installed. (The default is C:\Program Files\UV3R.)
•  Double-click the "setting.ini" file.
• I tried copy and paste but didn't worked for me so i just changed manually for this.

[setup]com=2searchcom=1name=1
language=english 

[ModelInfo]
Freq0=[136-174/400-470]
data0=6013401700400047

Freq1=[115-400/400-529]
data1=5011993900409952

• Close the file and save the changes.
• Run the UV-3R Mark 11 software.

The (Name) option will work in the program only,not on the Baofeng but you can take notes.

So now you have now 3 frequencies choices in the menu up left in the program window. Now that's fun...I have a Baofeng Mark 11 with 19 menu options and work very well..."

Anyone else try it and have any luck? I know with the Wouxon that you can open it up and receive, but that the radio isn't designed to transmit outside the original frequencies.

Baofeng UV-3R: Alpha Tags

While they do not display on the radio, you can enable the alpha tags in the UV-3R Mark II software.

1. Close the UV-3R software if you have it running.
2. Browse to folder where the software is installed. (The default is C:\Program Files\UV3R.)
3. Double-click the "setting.ini" file.
4. In the first section, [setup], change the value for name to 1. The line should now read "name=1" without the quotes.
5. Close the file and save the changes.
6. Run the UV-3R software.

The fields in the name column should no longer be grayed out and you will be able to edit them.

Baofeng UV-3R: Mark II Software

[ Don't have a UV-3R yet? Get one here. ] 

UPDATE 11-12-12: A new version (1.10) has been released under the UV-X4 model. It adds the ability to update the FM Broadcast memories via the software. 

With the release of the new Baofeng UV-3R Mark II, the original software has also been updated. (You still have the option of using CHIRP.) And, as usual, Julian is ahead of the curve with his post about the updated software.

To use the software, you will need a few obvious items - the UV-3R (Amazon), the free software, and a programming cable. Download the software here for version 1.09. You can order the programming cable or build one. If you don't have a radio, then you can order one here, there, and yonder.

Before walking through the install, here are some trouble-shooting tips to keep in mind.

• Make sure the first memory location is populated. It will cause errors if it is left blank.
• Always read from the radio first and save the file as backup. It is nice to have a known good config. This practice does assume you can read from the radio without writing first.
• As you may have gathered from the lines just above, sometimes you must write a file to the radio first. An example of this situation is when you get an NKT_3R.EXE Error Signature.
• Likewise, if you get both rows on the display showing DDD.D25 then try adding some frequencies via the software and write to the radio.
• Make sure your cable is good.
• Confirm in Device Manager that the USB driver installed correctly.
• Verify that the COM Port used by the USB device matches what you have configured in the software - see screen shots below.
• Set the baud rate to 1200 if you have inconsistent results using the software.

Also, you should note that the old software created ".dat" files. The new software creates ".3R" files. You cannot simply rename a ".dat" to ".3R". However, you can open the new ".3R" files in the old software.

The install process is fairly simple.

I plugged the USB cable into the radio and then into my computer. I turned on the radio and Windows 7 installed the Prolific appropriate driver. In this case, it is using COM8.

As I mentioned in the trouble-shooting, you may need to change the baud rate to 1200. Right-click the device and select Properties. You can change the baud rate (Bits per second) using the drop-down box.

Now that we know the USB driver is installed correctly and which port it is using, we can start installing the software. Double-click the file you downloaded (extracting it from the compressed file if needed - if you need something to open .RAR files, try 7-zip.) Click Next.

If you are okay with the default install location, click Next. Otherwise, use the Browse button to change the location.

Click next to use the default name for the Program Folder that will be visible under your Program Files.

Confirm your settings and click Next.

Once the file copies are complete, click Finish.

You get one more screen showing the version. Click OK to complete the install.

To launch the application, double-click the short-cut it created.

You can click Help then About to confirm the version you are running. If you've installed previous versions, this might be worth a couple of seconds to make sure you have launched the latest one.

Click Settings the Communication Port to make sure your configuration matches the COM Port the USB device is actually using and then you are off to the races!