Baofeng UV-3R: Firmware

I e-mailed Vero Telecom and asked if the end user would be able to update the firmware on the Baofeng UV-3R. Good news - I received a very quick response. Bad news is that it sounds like you are stuck with whatever version was on the radio when you got it.

"Dear Brick,

Have a nice day ! Many thanks for your kindly email.

Unfortunately, now we can not provide the downloadable firmware updates, can not upgradeable by the user. If you want to upgrade the UV-3R radio, you must refund us the radio, and then our engineers will be do.

Any questions please kindly let us know.

Thanks and Best regards
Tina Van
VERO Global Communication Co.,LTD.-- Sales Dept.
3rd floor, No.3 Chongxiang St, Quanzhou, Fujian, P.R.C 362006
T: 86-595-2249 6660 | F: 86-595-8676 1912
W: http://www.verotelecom.com"

I don't think this is the end of the world. It would have been one more selling point if people with older radios could have gotten the new features or fixes.

Game of Thrones: George RR Martin Interviews

Droid Data Usage

According to the Verizon usage monitoring app, I have used over 750 meg of data this month from my Droid Pro. Maybe I shouldn't be posting this from my phone.

Repeater Finder - Android App

I saw this article about a Repeater Finder Android App and got pretty excited. This would be nice for my beach trip that is coming up. Then I saw it was $4.99. I'm a real cheap skate when it comes to software that I'm not sure I really need - even for such a small amount. I should just do my homework before I go and, if I decide I must have it, I can always buy/download it on the fly. It does look pretty slick.

Download RFinder - Worldwide Repeater Directory for Android.

The New DXer's Handbook

A nice introduction to long distance(dx) communication...

The New DXer's Handbook by Bryce K. Anderson, K7UA [PDF]

RACK Hamfest - Saturday, June 11

Since I'm new to the hobby, I haven't attended any of the previous 44 hamfests sponsored by the Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville (RACK). I plan on attending this year.

There will be the usual dealers, clubs, tailgating, exams, and demos. They are giving away a Kenwood TS480SAT as a door price. That's about a $1000 rig!

The details:
Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville
45th Annual Hamfest
Kerbela Temple
315 MimosaAve, Knoxville
Saturday, June 11, 2011
8:30am — 4pm

Britain's Got Talent

I see your cool Britain's Got Talent video and raise you a Britain's Got Talent Video with Michael Jackson.

Geeking Out!

I picked up my iPad today from the FedEx office today. I had to get it since I missed the delivery on Friday. Had. To. Get. It. I think my two year old was as excited as I was. She kept saying iPad and even over came her usual shyness to tell the FedEx lady that we wanted to pick up our iPad.

I really geeked out on the way to my parent's house. I had the Garmin GPS going, my Droid Pro acting as a hotspot for the family to watch YouTube on the iPad in the backseat, and I was listening to 2M on my ham radio. Winning.

Published from my iPad while sitting in bed.

Baofeng UV-3R: Unboxing Video

You might want to mute your sound - nothing to hear.

KG-UV Commander 0.1.1 Beta

Jim, KC8UNJ, announced that a new version of the KG-UV Commander (0.1.1 Beta) is now availbale for download from his web site. Original post here.

He lists the changes:

- Fixed crash when using TAB key on Config/VFO/FM tabs
- Fixed crash when deleting RX frequency
- Fixed crash when deleting VFO frequency
- Fixed crash when pasting blank line over blank TX frequency
- Fixed CSV import crash bug where it didn't properly handle blank TX field
- Fixed CSV import when CSV file contains no line feeds
- CSV import no longer requires placeholders for all fields
- CSV import now converts imported fields to uppercase characters
- Updated TPE import based on provided files
- Tweak for cut-off line on some printers in Landscape mode
- Fixed bug where mouse scroll wheel did not scroll to channel 1
- Fixed bug where multi-select didn't work for Cut operations
- Changed communication to continue if radio responds to HiWouxun with ID
- Workaround to try and get writing to work without error in WINE
- Small tweaks to communication