Two Factor

Doing a little house cleaning and just added two-factor authentication to Facebook and Twitter. I had already done it with Google and Dropbox.

Better than nothing even if it won't keep everyone out of my business.

Gestures or Voice

WiSee - an interesting concept, but I think voice would be a more likely method for interacting with controls in the future. Having to memorize sequences of gestures doesn't seem very user friendly.

Retail Therapy

I just bought one of these... and that's the cheapest of my three recent purchases. More on the other two later.

Kirisun S780: Digital UHF HT

A while back the 409Shop posted a teaser for a V689U digital radio and some folks pointed out that it might be a Kirisun radio.

This morning I saw that the 409Shop is featuring the Kirisun S780 Digital UHF (400 - 470) handheld transceiver for $128 USD:

"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."

Number 17 is a good sign - firmware updates!

Product Features:

Excellent noise suppression, digital voice clarity

Digital / analog compatible analog devices to ensure a smooth transition

Ten million sets of figures key voice encryption, safe and secure

Digital intelligent signaling, richer management scheduling function

Function Description:

1, FDMA frequency division multiple access technology, spectrum efficiency improved several times;

2, support digital mode, analog mode

3, the digital voice encryption

4, a variety of call mode, all call, group call, a call, emergency call

5, PTT default contact (group) call

6, the emergency alarm (single, joint) 3 × 4 modes

7, Stun, activate

8, the working status query

9, the digital power saving mode

10, 1.8-inch large LCD display, support icon display for easy SMS messages, call records read;

11, low power, signal strength, battery capacity display, real-time understanding work status

12, call history, call records can be displayed 20;

13, address book function, support 50 contacts;

14, you can edit SMS function, the default shortcut short message

15, manual dialing

16, calls and SMS ringing Tips

17, firmware programming mode (software upgrades);

General features:

1, in English operation interface

2, the emission of high and low power selectable

3, three-color LED indicates sending, receiving, scanning and other state

4, channel lock, keypad lock function

5, whisper function

6, sub audio / digital tone

7, the end eliminate

8, the monitoring function

9, mixed scanning

10, TOT emission limit protection

11, the calculator

Technical parameters	S780U
General Specifications
Frequency	400—470MHz
Number of channels	256
Channel spacing	12.5kHz
Operating Temperature	-25℃~+55℃
Antenna Impedance	50Ω
Microphone impedance	2.2kΩ
Frequency Stability	±2.5ppm
Battery (standard configuration)	Model: KB-760, lithium battery DC 7.5V ± 20% 1500mAh
Volume (length × width × thickness)	116 mm x54 mm x30 mm
Weight	136 g (main unit only) / 240 g (with battery and antenna host)
Receiving part
Sensitivity	≤-121dBm
Adjacent Channel Selectivity	≥60
Intermodulation Immunity	≥60dB
Spurious response	≥60dB
Audio output power	≥ 1000mW (distortion is less than 5%, 16Ω load)
Audio response	Analog: +2 / -6 dB
Transmitting section
RF Power	4W (High) / 1W (low)
Modulation	Digital: 4FSK Analog: 11KΦF3E
Clutter and harmonic	≤-70dBm
SNR	Analog:> 35 dB
Audio Distortion (300-3000Hz)	≤5%
Modulation limit	Digital: ± 2.5kHz
Modulation characteristics	Analog: +2 / -6 dB

Security

From an unsolicited commercial e-mail...

"Are you concerned with the recent hacking of City Databases"

Yes. So concerned in fact, that I am willing to jump into the arms of the first company that e-mails me with a solution. It doesn't matter the cost. It doesn't matter that I've never heard of you before today. And it doesn't matter that your lack of punctuation and odd capitalization is off putting.

Okay, maybe I am not that concerned after all.

Leixen VV-808: F4FWH

(Once again Google Translate in Chrome to the rescue... even though I took 4 years of French, I never used it, so it is gone. Even with the translation, I'm a little fuzzy.)

F4FWH's initial impressions and pictures are here. Some (translated) notes...

"After it turns out that the package contains what is advertised by the merchant, except for the microphone which is a DTMF microphone, but do not like the microphone Kenwood photos on this description."

Wish I understood this one:

"After a first handling it seems that this knob on the hook frontage has some places, but did not test other TX, it is possible that this problem is only present on my model."

And this one:

"After the initial startup, or the TX is set to off amateur frequency bands, I threw an eye on the record, that as the seller had told me is only in Chinese and this is why he advised me to take the programming cable."

A good bit of information to have - the username and password for the software:

Client Code: ham
Password: 12345123

And after the first QSO on a repeater:

"and tells me that my serious lack of modulation."

New and Catching Up with Hamgear

Hans has come across some new radios/brands.

Chicom CH-UVQ9 - dual band HT (2M/220)
Chicom CH-3300H - 65 watt VHF mobile with all the controls on the speaker/mic.

Luiton LT-333 - another HT, but with the reverse LCD.

And one I should have posted about a long time ago...

Boafeng BF-666S / BF-777S / BF-888S - cheap mono band professional (channelized) HT.

(Oh wait, I did post about the BF-666S once.)

USA! USA! USA!

I, for one, say that this change is long overdue: OTM Executive Order regarding band identifiers.

Running Form

I made the comment that my daughter had better running form than I did...

My "friend" found examples of other people with better running form...

Leixen VV-808: First Hands On Review

m42duster took the plunge and ordered a VV-808. After playing with it for a few hours, his impression is quite favorable. Some highlights:

• Easy to program manually
• Front 4 buttons are programmable (short and long press)
• Main knob is multi-function
• Internal speaker is loud and has good tonal quality
• Transmit audio received good reports
• Display is easily readable

"So far, this little rig is pretty cool and should fit my intended use perfectly. I find it to be worth the money I paid." 

Click here for the full review.