Starbucks Verismo

It mentions being able to do lattes instead of just a regular cup of joe. That might be worth the extra expense to me.

WIREDInsider Starbucks to launch a single-serve coffee maker: bit.ly/xbCyHnFri, Mar 09 14:33:24 from SocialOomph

Wouxun KG-UV920R: Digital Insanity Images

So I just posted about a summary of the Chinese mobiles, but I wanted to point out one link to Locura Digital (Digital Insanity) and their images of the KG-UV920R.

I've said it before, if they don't hurry, we'll all be buying Baofeng mobiles!

Chinese Mobiles

Here is a great overview of the current/future (can you say KG-UV920R?) Chinese mobiles. There is info on the following radios:

Wouxun KG-UV920R
Vero VR-6600
Baojie BJ-UV55
TYT TH-9800
Qixiang Science & Technology AT-588UV

Baofeng UV-5R: eHam.net Reviews

And the eHam.net reviews have started for the UV-5R.

Battle: .COM vs .GOV

No wonder I think private industry trumps government in most arenas... Whitehouse e-mail down 23% of the time in a 40 day period.

Via Slashdot.org

Glory Days

Add a little DMB and it would be just like college.

Baofeng UV-5R: Ship Times

I ordered my UV-5R the night I heard it was available. It took longer than other shipments from 409Shop. I much prefer ordering from the US suppliers just because of the shipping uncertainty alone when coming direct from China. I would have done it again, but I was anxious to try the UV-5R out. I can't believe it took nine days to get to Knoxville from New York.

2012-02-22 Ordered
2012-02-28 Order Confirm with tracking - indicated that it shipped on 2/29
2012-03-02 Processed at sort facility in Hong Kong
2012-03-03 Processed at sort facility in New York
2012-03-12 Delivered to Knoxville

Baofeng UV-5R: Stock Antenna

I had only been listening to my UV-5R sporadically and, for the most part, I just left it on the desk. This afternoon I was showing it to a fellow ham and was holding it in my hand. There was an awful lot of noise/interference that I hadn't noticed earlier. I quickly realized that the problem only occurred while I was holding the radio. If I set it down, the problem went away. I don't get the best signal on any of my HTs inside my office, so I went outside and the problem still existed if I had it in my hand.

I was extremely disappointed by this discovery. What good is a handy talkie if you can't hold it?

I was comparing it to my Wouxun and my buddy suggested trying the antenna from the KG-UVD1P. Voila! Using the Wouxun antenna solved the problem. Even without any fancy equipment and testing, I'm thinking I may look for a replacement for the stock radio based on this problem alone.

Wouxun KG-UVD1P: Alternative Manual

For a streamlined KG-UVD1P manual, click here.

Baofeng UV-5R: Size Comparison

On the left is my Baofeng UV-3R. In the middle is the Baofeng UV-5R. On the right is a Wouxun KG-UVD1P.