Baofeng BF-F9: Black Inverse LCD Display

A comment on my original  BF-F9 post points to this "exclusive" offering of a version with a "black inverse LCD display" by TokoRadio.com.  If my conversion is correct, it is about $75 USD. I looked for the BF-F9, but did not find it on the Baofeng web site, but they do have the BF-F8+ that has the same screen as the one in the image below. (It looks like they are the same image with the exception of the label at the bottom with the model number.) We've been teased by some pretty screens that have and haven't show up (I'm looking at you TYT), but maybe this one will - the Indonesian site says it is available, but if I click BUY, it says a "color selection is required" and I can't see any way to pick a color.

Time for a New Car

I think it is time for a new car:

"Information about how to purchase these vehicles will be shared at a later date."

Twitter Funnies

LoneNutVolFan How does a person's life go so horribly wrong that they conclude "I really want to be an auditor for a living"?Thu, Feb 21 08:49:43 from Twitter for iPhone

Southrngirl77 Since Obama started pushing for a ban on guns, over 65 million have been sold. Maybe he should push for a ban on electric cars.Thu, Feb 21 09:05:50 from web retweeted by LoneNutVolFan

Kitten Wars All the Time

Don't steal this guy's wifi.

SMP SMP698: For Sale at Kight Radio

Kight Radio now has the SMP698 for sale for $349.95 (USD). He updated his original post with the following comments:

"This radio is available now. We found the price to be a little high however the quality seems to be above average. Retail price will be $349.00."

Anyone going to roll the dice?

Shanghai Motorola - SMP

I just posted about the SMP698 Dual Band Mobile. Here is a little more about SMP from their website.

"Motorola Solutions (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd. (“Shanghai Motorola”) is a global communications product provider powered by a passion to invent and an unceasing commitment to advancing the way the world connects. Shanghai Motorola was established in 1995. It is a joint venture between Motorola Inc. and China Putian Eastern Communications Company Limited. Shanghai Motorola is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

Shanghai Motorola designs, and produces various consumer and commercial telecommunication products. Current available products including Walkie Talkie FRS radio and SMP brand of two-way radios. Shanghai Motorola markets its products globally, and provides technical support and after sales service in the countries where it has business and operation. At the same time, Shanghai Motorola is actively developing advanced communication products that can promote the rapid growth of Internet of Thing (IOT), foster the new generation of economic and industrial network, and improve the communications in the new generation of network."

So we have Motorola Solutions (Shanghai) aka Shanghai Motorola aka SMP. I found this link to be a little more helpful in understanding the relationship with Motorola (emphasis mine):

"SMP or Shanghai Motorola Telecom Product Trading Company (“Shanghai Motorola”) is a global communications product provider powered by a passion to invent and an unceasing commitment to advancing the way the world connects. Shanghai Motorola was established in 1995. It is a joint venture between Motorola Inc. and China Putian Eastern Communications Company Limited. Shanghai Motorola is headquartered in Shanghai, China."

Best I can tell, China Putian Eastern Communications is a holding company.

SMP SMP968: Dual Band Mobile

Kight Radio stumbled across the SMP968 dual band mobile:

"It was a total surprise when I ran across this Dual Band Mobile today. I had no idea SMP was working on a mobile. The manual is in english and they made no Chinese manual for it. Perhaps their plan was to market it in the USA. I am trying to purchase some of these now, I will have more details soon."

He's got a picture at the link above. I found a PDF brochure at here. I didn't see anything about it at the SMP site.

HAVA Fundraiser and Giveaway

Linoge has kicked off his annual fundraising event. This year he is raising money for Honored American Veterans Afield:

"As the number of injured men and women returning from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan grew, members of the firearms industry initiated a non-profit partnership called HAVA to aid disabled soldiers as they transition to their lives back in the United States. The ultimate goal is to increase their confidence and hope for the future by reconnecting with their love of the outdoors and the American traditions of hunting and firearms."

As usual, in addition to knowing you are contributing to a worthy cause, you have the change to win stuff!!!

Click here to view the rules and prizes!

Ammo Availability

Speaking of buying ammo, a reader sent me this link to a simple app that checks the availability and pricing of ammo - http://www.gunbot.net/. You can search by caliber and it has a nice feature that gives you a pricing benchmark:

"Current climate "good deal" threshold (red text) = 60 cents per round"

Current climate being key there.

Praise God and Pass the Ammunition

So, I was splitting a case of 9mm with some of my buddies at church. Since I paid for the ammo and took delivery at church, it was literally "Praise God and Pass the Ammunition!"