Wouxun - Baofeng HT Coaxial Pigtail Giveaway

3-Foot Wouxun - Baofeng HT Coaxial Pigtail giveaway at American Radio Supply. Enter by liking the page and leaving your call sign by March 2.

Anytone AT-5888UV: INTEK HR-2040

A little information and a minor rant...
A post in the Anytone AT-588 Yahoo Group (that was deleted) pointed out the AT-5888UV is being sold as the INTEK HR-2040 at MoonRaker for £200 (GBP). INTEK has the radio listed on their site as well.

Now for the rant...

The owner of the Anytone AT-588 Yahoo Group closed the topic saying that it wasn't "a place to advertise other radios."

He goes on to say:

"And it could be a counterfeit which is not uncommon. I know there are counterfeit Wouxun handhelds out their that look and feel like the real thing. Anyway the less chatter about other brands in here the better."

And:

"Certainly looks like the AT5888UV. Start your own Yahoo group called Intek_HR2040 and go talk about it there."

To me this is all a little heavy handed. Based on his other posts, he has a relationship with Anytone and I suspect that he does not want to jeopardize that - thus the "advertise other radios" remark. However, I think it is of interest to owners (and potential owners) of this radio what versions of the unit are floating around out there. If the HR-2040 is actually a re-branded AT-588(8)UV, then Anytone should be happy for any sales of the radios. If they are completely different radios internally and are only cosmetically similar, that's important, too. We've already seen different versions of the 588(8), so I think is reasonable to want to know how the HR-2040 compares. If we discover it is a horrible counterfeit, it would be a great service to make that information known.

Chromebook Pixel

Sexy, probably impractical for what I do, expensive, but I'd love to play with one.

googlechrome Introducing the #Chromebook Pixel: goo.gl/9Tc2L Thu, Feb 21 14:05:54 from web retweeted by google

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.