Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Heard on the 940 Repeater

I like listening to the 146.940 WB4GBI repeater for the random bits of trivia, good natured ribbing, and general rag chewing.

For example, one unintended benefit of moving the squad car shotguns to the roof was that officers could no longer ash into the barrel.

Also, one ham has personal experience with Kevlar pants saving him from hospital visit when he tripped into a running chainsaw.

When a ham mentioned that he wasn't going to take a radio with him on a trip, he immediately was advised to at least throw an HT in the car. CTW said he always bragged to his wife that he could use his HF rig to contact Italy. Then she would point out that could reach across the globe, but he couldn't call the local AAA with it.

Baofeng UV-3R: Local Knowledge

My company has a manufacturing facility in China. I sent a message to the IT guy there and asked him if he knew anything about ham radio in general and Baofeng in particular. His response is below.
"I knew HAM from internet, and I use public-type walkie-talkie for spring outing sometime , but they don’t need license (so its power is lower to 0.5W).

In China, there is one official organization which is the radio association to manage China Radio users. Its website is: http://www.carms.org.cn/ (no English page on it now),

Wouxon and BaoFeng are two of popular brands in China Radio market. I saw HAM BBS has some articles to show its pictures and operations. I check Vero website, it seems Vero focus on foreign market (some of products is its logon, but produced by other OEMS(like BaoFeng did)). These radios equipments are easier to buy in electronic market (but once its power output is over 0.5.it needs license, it is illegal if use it without license, but no one will want to find you or publish you even though you use over 0.5 equipments except you activities are illegal to government).

And I remember that it is possible HAM users can connect even though they are away thousands of miles via relay station? Did you try this?

I check www.taobao.com (China B2C/C2C site), BaoFeng UV-3R, price range is from 200RMB ~ 300RMB, fyi"
I'm guessing that he uses GMRS-like radios when he is out hiking. For these low power radios, it doesn't sound like the rules are strictly enforced. Of course, strictly enforced may have a whole different meaning in China. Google says that the Chinese Radio Sports Association handles the licensing for amateur radio. So, I think he got the link wrong, but I can't confirm. I keep getting a website is forbidden error message. I wonder if you have to be in China to see that page. Strange.

He is familiar with Wouxun and Baofeng since they make other radios for the consumer market.

Lastly, he sees prices from $31 USD to $46 USD for the UV-3R which, on the high end, is what we can pay for them on ebay today (excluding shipping).

Skeet - Quick Report

As I mentioned, I was going to shoot skeet for the first time today. I had a lot of fun despite shooting 7 of 24 clays. I'll work up some more notes, but I wanted to post a pic of the gun that was loaned to me for the evening. It is just too pretty to wait for the full report.

It was a 20 gauge Beretta Silver Pigeon. (Insert wolf whistle here.)

I have a friend that says life is too short to shoot ugly guns. I know what he means.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Kel-Tec PF-9 Week: Day 2 - Hickok45

Hickok45 can really handle this little beast. On some of the shots, you would think he was shooting a .22 instead of a small, light, 9mm. He admits it jumps, but nothing like what it was doing to Nutnfancy (or even worse, me). He does complain that trigger bites his finger. It wears me out, too. Given how hard it is to shoot and how hard it is on fingers, it is no surprise that I don't want to practice with it a lot. He also mentions that problem with mag dropping. It happens to me, but I can't quite figure how I manage to hit the mag release.





Skeet

I am going skeet shooting tonight. It is the first time I will have tried skeet shooting. Oh, it will also be the first time I've fired a shotgun.

I expect it will go something like this:

Wouxun Price To Remain Flat

Maybe I spoke too soon about the Wouxun price increase, but Ed is a credible source. The problem is that the other Ed, also credible, says he will not be having a price increase. See the exchange below.
"Actually you're over by 40% in that example.
Wouxun.US will have no price increase for the foreseeable future.

73
Ed Griffin
www.Wouxun.US
Dayton, North Hall #175-176"
Followed by:
"Ed,

We'll see. I was quoted a price increase effective May 1st. I haven't reordered yet this month so we'll see when I do. I hope they don't shoot themselves in the foot by 1) a price increase or 2) more rumors (like the mobile).

Ed"

Monday, May 9, 2011

Kel-Tec PF-9 Week: Day 1 - Nutnfancy

These videos are what brought the Kel-Tec PF9 to my attention as a good value for an everyday concealed carry gun.





Baofeng UV-3R: USB Programming Cable

We knew one was coming, but I think we are one step closer to a USB programming cable for the Baofeng UV-3R. Minimum order quantity of 5.

Wouxun Price Increase?

One of the two Eds that sell Wouxun radios responded to a query about seeing a 40% price increase in the Wouxon HT's with this:
"Mine will go from $100 to $140ish and for a dual band radio like this that is not really unreasonable. We're just selfish and spoiled. They produced a great radio at a great price and now we will have a great radio at a good price. Prices go up. Salaries went up 30% in China. What does one expect? Look in your favorite retail store and TRY to find something made in the U.S. Now try NOT to find something made in China."
If you are thinking about getting one, you might want to do it now. Of course, if this happens, and they are considered too expensive, I would expect another Chinese manufacturer to take their place... perhaps a Baofeng?

Rebecca Black - It's Friday - Colbert Style

For TNJeff... the ultimate Rebecca Black fan!



In case you missed the original is below... parents spend a few thousand for teenager to do vanity video. Video goes viral and is universally criticized. As a result of the criticism, the video gets 135 million plus views and shoots up the charts on iTunes. Reports vary, but it she may have made some good money out of the deal.



And another amusing, but not kid friendly, re-mix.