Kight Radio: Frequent Flyer Program

Not many details yet, but Kight Radio is developing a points-based customer loyalty program. Cool.

Magic Smoke

I always wondered where the magic smoke was stored and how you documented that in a diagram. Now I know.

Yahoo Group Numbers

The Yahoo Group for the Baofeng UV-5R is insane.

Since it started nine months ago, there have been over 11,000 messages - averaging almost 1,250 per month. September and October will both be over 2,000 each. At this point, it is almost unusable for me. I don't have the time to wade through that many messages - especially when they are mostly repeat issues. Most of which could be solved by searching the group or visiting sites like http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/.

A couple of points of reference...

The UV-3R group had about 3,000 messages over the same nine months. It broke 1,000 messages in a month once (Sept.). The Wouxun group had just over 2,000 for the same period and has never had more than 1,000 messages in a month going back to its start in 2009.

App vs Service

I like this definition...

asymco I have a simple rule to distinguish between an app and a service. If you have to supply a username and password to an app, it’s a service.Tue, Oct 16 12:32:52 from Twitter for Mac

TYT TH-9800: Quad Band Mobile in November

Dale reports that TYT has formally changed the label to a "Quad Band Mobile." He also says that production should start this month for a batch of test radios. He hopes to have the radios available in early November.

Anytone AT-588UV: Opinions

So, on the one hand, we have VA3ISP doing a hands on review of an early version of the AT-588UV. He makes several notes on his third day with the radio and says, "I am sorta bashing this radio at the moment but I haven’t really done much real world testing yet." He then provides his final analysis on the pre-release version - "Pure Garbage!" He lists the major faults as:

- RX audio is terrible. Constant static in the background even with transmitter in close proximity.
- Front end of radio is wide open like a barn door. I hear pager blasts from almost 1Mhz up the dial.
- Cannot store PL/CTCSS tones into memory from front panel.
- TX audio has an AGC problem. Audio volume goes up and down/
- No remote head bracket. It wasn't even in the making when I first spoke to them. They are now adding a bracket so you can remotely mount the head. ( What’s the use of a detachable face…. it’s not a car stereo )
- Beep when setting options is obnoxiously loud. Doesn't seem to be controllable with volume.

Contrast that with the comments from Ed and Dale.

Ed: "By the way, several dual band mobiles are being released, but the Anytone is far and away the best I've seen so far."

Dale: "AT-588UV is due out they say at the end of this month. We have tested the radios and everything checks out perfect."

They are talking about later versions, but there is a wide gap between garbage and best/perfect.

TYT TH-UV3R: $44.95 Sale at Kight Radio

A three day sale at Kight Radio Electronics on the TYT TH-UV3R for $44.95 USD. (Total cost with shipping and insurance is $52.34 USD.)

KG-UV920R: CheapHam.com

CheapHam.com says they will have a new version of the KG-UV920R on (or around) Monday, Oct 29. (The link says 26th, but text on the page says 29th.) This version will have 2.5K steps. I wonder if there will be other improvements. And, oh, they are pricing it at $289 USD.

The $29 in the iPad Mini

Ha! It all makes sense now.

dmoren I just assume the extra $29 in the iPad mini’s price accounts for the Lightning cable they include.Tue, Oct 23 19:42:36 from Tweetbot for Mac retweeted by asymco

Quote of the Day

"Remember – The Constitution does not grant rights.

SysAdmins, on the other hand…"