Guns and Radios

moleculo Almost all of the #hamradio people I know around me also own guns...I wonder if that's true across the U.S.? I hope so :)Mon, Mar 25 17:55:48 from TweetDeck

Not all gun owners are hams, but lots of hams are gun owners in my experience. Of course my data may be skewed given my location in Tennessee - and the Nets I listen to and hams I know from around these parts.

Apple Two-Factor Authentication

I've started the process to enable it on my account. If you have an Apple ID, you should consider it, too.

Apple ID: Frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID

I also don't keep a credit card on file with them. I get gift cards and just add them as I run out of money.

Baofeng UV-3R: Firmware Hacking

I'm way behind on this topic, but I am posting this in case you haven't see it at all. Lior is working on a custom firmware for the UV-3R. (He started with the UV-5R, but moved to the UV-3R when the project looked to be easier.)

If you have suggestions for features, he's started a thread on the UV-3R Yahoo Group.

Not Cheap Chinese Radios

If you get tired of the inexpensive Chinese radios, you could always try something like this.

Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream

When I was a kid, there were lots of ice cream stores. It seems like they are almost all gone and have been replaced by frozen yogurt shops. I guess this is the price of progress.

Just something I've noticed.

Import Communications: 20W HF Transciever

Ed of Import Communications sent the spec sheet for the Xiegu 20W HF Transceiver. (Again, like the X1M, I'm calling it the Xiegu for the moment.) He says that the specs could change before final production. Until he gets the samples to test, he can't say what suggestions for changes he might make.

New DX Contact

Via Lower Columbia Amateur Radio's Facebook Page

Xiegu X1M: Import Communications Update and More

Some more details about the 5W QRP HF radio that Ed at Import Communications will be selling...

The 5W HF radio is the X1M from The Valley Association Chongqing Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Thanks to Neil for pointing me in this direct.) The company URL as well as an image on their web page incorporates the word "Xiegu." YO9IRF calls the radio the Xiegu X1M, so I may go with that until someone corrects me. That's a lot better than The Valley Association Chongqing Science and Technology X1M or TVACST X1M for short.

Ed adds:

I have ordered 10 fully assembled and 2 in kit form. These have been shipped and should arrive soon. I have not seen the kits but believe them to only be a "hardware type" assembly. I won't suggest any modifications until after my units arrive and are tested.

A round-up of links about the radio - plenty of pics and videos:

X1M_QRP-Transceiver Yahoo Group
YO9IRF Blog
Sparky's Blog

Baofeng UV-5R: UV-5RAX 2M + 220

W2PDQ has a Baofeng UV-5RAX 144/220 Transceiver and shared the following in the comments on the original post:

"It works, with a few small issues. The radio was marked with a decal in the battery compartment as a 2m/440 radio. A call to Radio-Mart told me to check the antenna markings and power up, sure enough the little rubber attenuator is marked 2m/220 and using a charged battery from my 440 unit the display shows 220. When using the latest VIP programming it will allow me to place the 222 freqs in but chirp will not allow it (the chirp is a one month old nightly) 

Power on with holding the #3 key says BFB-296. Talked last night on the net with no issues. All the accessories such as the extended battery and car adaptor are also fine. Only distinguishing cosmetic is the front labelling with some reflective type as a dual band If you needed an extra battery for your 2/70 uv-5ra then this is only 35 bucks more for another radio with a 220 band. It was shipped rather quickly also. So far so good." 

"Need to get a sma to pl adaptor to check actual power."

Google Keep Retirement Date

Based on Google's history, it's brand new Evernote competitor, Google Keep, is expected to be retired in March 2017. That's why they didn't call it EverKeep. Ha!

Via Slashdog.org