First World Problem Solver

Funny... you got first world problems? We got answers.

COM Port Display

Not a bad idea for those with chronic problems, but I've never had much difficulty looking up what COM port is being used. Ed has an app that can help.

LA3ZA This solves a common problem for hams - want one! "USB to serial with COM port LCD display" dangerousprototypes.com/2012/12/26/usb…Wed, Dec 26 13:25:46 from TweetDeck

Worth Its Weight in Gold

Unfortunately, the average human brain only weighs about 3 pounds, so you may have a hard time stuffing it all in.

GriffinLamar 6 pounds of radio knowledge. :) #ham #radio #book #ARRL instagr.am/p/Tus7nqBMPX/Thu, Dec 27 01:24:56 from Instagram

Rare and Random

One review of the data suggests that 2012 was a really bad year and not (in statistical terms) a trend.

Mass shootings are rare and random. Does that make it better or worse? I don't know. It does suggest to me that focusing on the prevention of mass shootings might not be the best approach. As a society, we should look at using our resources to reduce overall violence.

Legos vs. AR-15 vs. Weed

Twitter has been hot with a) people tweeting about getting new AR-15 rifles for Christmas and b) those who are less than pleased with the gift of a gun.

In those posts, someone points out how horrible it is that more people got an AR than got Legos. But then again, more people got weed than rifles.

Zechariah 9:9-10 (New Living Translation)

Zion’s Coming King

⁹ Rejoice, O people of Zion!^[a]
    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
    He is righteous and victorious,^[b]
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.
¹⁰ I will remove the battle chariots from Israel^[c]
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem.
I will destroy all the weapons used in battle,
    and your king will bring peace to the nations.
His realm will stretch from sea to sea
    and from the Euphrates River^[d] to the ends of the earth.^[e]

Footnotes:

1. Zechariah 9:9 Hebrew O daughter of Zion!
2. Zechariah 9:9 Hebrew and is being vindicated.
3. Zechariah 9:10 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 9:13.
4. Zechariah 9:10 Hebrew the river.
5. Zechariah 9:10 Or the end of the land.

Baofeng BF-F9

Nate noticed that the 409Shop has a Baofeng BF-F9 for sale. Nothing in the specs jumped out at me, but it was a quick look. I don't see it listed on the Baofeng site.

BAOFENG BF-F9 136-174/400-480Mhz RADIO

BAOFENG BF-F9 The transceiver is a micro-miniature multiband
FM transceiver with extensive receive frequency coverage,
providing local-area two-way amateur communications along with unmatched monitoring capability

VHF/ UHF DUAL-BAND TWO WAY RADIO

• Frequency Range: 136-174 / 400-480MHz
• Dual-Band Display, Dual Freq. Display, Dual-Standby
• Output Power: 4 /1Watts
• 128 Channels
  50 CTCSS and 104 CDCSS
• Built-in VOX Function
• 1750Hz Brust Tone
• FM Radio (65.0MHz-108.0MHz)
• LED Flashlight
• Large LCD Display
• High/Low RF Power Switchable
• 25KHz/12.5KHz Switchable
• Emergency Alert
• Low Battery Alert
• Battery Saver
• Time-out Timer
• Keypad Lock
• Monitor Channel
• Channel Step: 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25KHz
• ROGER SET

BAOFENG BF-F9 Compare Products

■ Dual band, dual display, dual standby ■ A/B band independent operation ■ 128 groups channels storage ■ Shortcut menu operation mode ■ VFO & Memory channels scan ■ Emergency Alarm ■ Tri-color background light selectable ■ 0~9 grades VOX selectable ■ PTT & ANI ID ■ FM radio ■ Voice companding ■ 50 CTCSS/104 DCS ■ ■ PC programmable ■ Wide/Narrow Band(25kHz/12.5kHz) ■ Transmitter time-out timer(TOT) ■ High/Low TX power selectable ■ Busy channel lock-out(BCLO) ■ ■ ■ ■ 　 Specifications: Item number BF-F9 General Frequency Range 65-108MHz(FM Receive only) 136-174MHZ and 400-480HZ (TX/RX) Channel No. 128 Frequency Stability ±2.5ppm Antenna High gain DualBand antenna Antenna Impedance 50Ω Operating Voltage DC 7.4V Mode of operation Simple or semi-duplex Dimension（W x H x D） 100 x 52 x 32 mm Weight 250g（including battery, antenna） Transmitter Output power 4W / 1W (Max 5W) Modulation Mode 16kΦF3E / 11kΦF3E Maximum deviation ＜5kHz(Wide) / ＜2.5kHz(Narrow) Spurious Radiation ＜7μW Adjacent Ch. power ≤-65dB(Wide) / ≤-60dB(Narrow) Pre-emphasis characteristics 6dB Current ≤1.6A(5W) CTCSS/DCS deviation 0.5±0.1kHz(Wide) / 0.3±0.1kHz(Narrow) Intermediation sensitivity 8-12mv Intermediation distortion ＜10% 　 Earpiece / mic type : Kenwood Plug type Antenna : SMA -Female

New Samuel Font

Finally I can copy Morse code...

chrismatthieu New Samuel: a font derived from Morse code 2ality.com/2012/12/new-sa… #hamrMon, Dec 17 23:33:35 from Tweet Button retweeted by marksenk

Wouxun KG-UV920R: $280

moleculo The Wouxun KG-UV920R VHF/UHF mobile is now available at universal radio for $280. Wouxun must have backed off their stupid high price #hamrFri, Dec 21 17:23:56 from TweetDeck

S&W M&P9: Fashionably Late

I'm so cool that I waited until everyone else bought an M&P9 before I did. And by everyone, I mean everyone:

http://www.balloongoesup.com/
http://snarkybytes.com/
http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/
http://blog.robballen.com/
http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/
http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/
http://www.ma-rooned.com/
http://www.saysuncle.com/

And since you've probably never seen one, here is a picture.

Now I need to run out and get a nylon holster. I think it will look good hanging off my skinny weaved belt. When I started this blog I had been thinking about a Glock, but I changed my mind after some discussions/research and had been leaning toward the S&W for sometime. Since I bought it partially because of recent events, I guess I need to be lumped in with the all the other reactionary buyers. I had already gotten two lowers after the election and I ordered some PMAGs last weekend.

Hopefully, my magazine order was processed before the supply chain got slammed. I also noticed that my e-mails from Brownells and Palmetto State are suggesting that I buy things like gift cards and phone cases - perhaps they are all out of gun stuff. The local Academy store said they sold out of ARs on Tuesday night. Mad Ogre says that Basin Sports is out of ARs as well. Others are posting before and after pics of empty shelves at gun stores. However, Coal Creek Armory posted yesterday that they had some ARs and expected lots of Magpul stuff today. Apologies because I don't remember who posted it, but they said that there were almost 10,000 background checks completed last week-end.

Truth be told, I didn't just buy this because of current events or even because of the inevitable zombie apocalypse. I bought it because of my worst fear: ninjas. If it can happen to Unc, it can happen to anyone.


Brownells PMAG link via Sebastian