Baofeng UV-5R: Manual

Ed (ImportCommunications) published a copy of the UV-5R Manual. I've not had a chance to read through it to see if there are any interesting bits.
UV-5R User Manual

Yaesu FT-818

Time to play "Is it real or is it fake?" But, this time it is with a Japansese radio... a Yaesu FT-818? Looks like a photoshop job to me.

The Future of Ham Radios

This comment and the radio mentioned here got me thinking about the future of ham radios.

The variety of these Chinese radios amazes me. I've only been a ham for a short time. After listening to others and seeing the relatively few models that ICOM, Yaesu, etc. put out, I could see how one could become familiar with most of the ham radios.

That was until now... With the Chinese radios coming so fast and furious, it may be a game changer. Ten-Tec may be done with radios in 10-20 years as the original founders leave. Yaesu has spun off the amateur side of the business. In a few years, will we have a market dominated by the Chinese rigs?"

Baofeng UV-5R: First Look Video

Baofeng UV-5R: Menu Options and Language

Interesting comments from Ed via the Wouxun Yahoo Group about the UV-5R:

"This radio appears to be a replica of an HT that TYT is preparing to market. TYT is testing it now. The only visible difference is that the TYT does not have a flashlight (at least at this time it doesn't).

This radio has 43 menu options, but beware of buying one of these unless you speak Chinese. The ones for sale in Guangzhou only speak Chinese and they say English versions are not available yet. So inquire what language it speaks before ordering."

The 409Shop product page does list the manual as being in English. As with many new products, earlier adopters may be in for a quirks.

Fast

I am running a lot right now. At least for me it is a lot. I'm in better shape than I have been in a long, long time. I have no doubt that I would be slower than a 5 second 40 yard run. I do wonder how close I would have been in high school when I was playing/practicing soccer 5 days/week and was about 40 pounds lighter than I am today.

Now I Am Confused

A TYT TH-UV3R... if they could have just thrown a little Wouxun in there, we would have had a trifecta.

Motion Induced Blindness

It came out of no where! A demo of motion induced blindness here.

Poor Worf

Fifteen minutes of Lt. Worf getting his ideas photon torpedoed.



Via Wired Insider

K0NR Says Bye to BNC

Bob (K0NR) surveys the current market and finds that the BNC connector is going the way of the dinosaurs. Much like PS2 and parallel ports are disappearing in the computer world.