New Mini Toy

My Android Nook Color experiment was not a failure (1) (2), but it never really turned into my "go to" device. I've really enjoyed my iPhone, so I decided to try the iPad Mini. So far, I love it. I've used it at home, work, and church. Mail, Calendar, Chrome, Gmail, Notes, Seven Little Words (game), YouVersion Bible, Kindle, Twitter, QST, and Dropbox are just a few of the apps I use on it. While a little awkward, it will fit in the front pocket of my slacks. Yet, it is big enough that I can type (in landscape mode) fairly well. I think the real test will be to see how much blogging I do from it.

On a side note, our neighbors got a new Mini for their daughter. Here my daughter is taking it for a test drive.

Root Cause

Maybe we didn't break my radio after all...


Via:

ham_lv China Air-Freight Handlers at Guangzhou Airport - No Care Policy?: youtu.be/tPzRPga6uDg via @youtubeFri, Jun 21 11:17:16 from Tweet Button

Name: YL3AIM

Location: KO26BX

Web: http://t.co/WeraAbUXKL

Bio: Latvian Amateur Radio Station

Following: 979 Followers: 461 Updates: 112

Xiegu X1M Platinum Edition

The X1M Platinum Edition information via Google translate from here.

First:

"X1M Platinum Edition is a domestic version of the X1M based on the customer's requirements made some optimized version of a X1M not X1N. X1N program temporarily not used"

Second, I'm a little confused about the Gold and Platinum references. I'm reading it as an on-going evolution:

"X1M Platinum Edition, export-oriented customized version, there is a small amount of domestic sales, like friends can contact me.
X1M platinum Moderators do the following improvements:
1, to reduce the application of discrete devices, SMD electrolytic capacitors changed;
2, part of the circuit made ​​small adjustments;
3, with X1M Gold Edition, the use of custom shielding shell;
4, with the X1M Gold Edition, uses RD06HVF1 power tube;
5, firing from the plug-in LPF capacitor SMD ceramic capacitors replaced by COG capacitors;
6, a small OLED solid state switching liquid crystal display;
7, key switch to silicone keys.
Domestic price: 1150 yuan / Taiwan"

And:

"X1M Platinum Edition officially accepted reservations. The batch for export customized X1M, in order to meet the European Union and other regions of regulations on the part of the circuit is optimized adjustment. Display and buttons made ​​major changes, currently using dot matrix OLED screen and silicone keypad, display and keys feel are significantly improved. In particular an increase machine measures a large area of ground, machine stability can be improved.

Set aside a small number of machines for the domestic needs of friends, to a treasure like you can take: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.w4023-1270480260.4.VpJCbG&id=25055848349 mass production type Keys have to make adjustments at a suitable height, feel good. The picture is the prototype, the front panel without making table place. Mass production is still black panel-type machines, laser engraving, rigid PVC screen cover."

Video below:

And lastly, all future radios MUST have this feature.

TYT Factory

I ordered a new radio - plus a few spares in case I broke anything. Actually, this is just one picture from a series posted by TYT of their assembly operations.

News Flash!

Someone broke a radio - and it wasn't me!

Life in the Fast Lane

"It is, unfortunately, one of the chief characteristics of modern business to be always in a hurry."

Leixen VV-808: Menus

Between my broken dial, display, and a manual in Chinese - this may not be 100% accurate. I figure it is a start. Corrections, additions, clarifications, and general insults are all welcome.

1	APO	OFF, 10M, 20M, … , 80M, 90M, 2H, 4H, ... , 14H, 16H
2	APRO
3	BC Lock	ON/OFF
4	Beep	ON/OFF
5	CHASave
6	DTMF	ON/OFF
7	DW	ON/OFF
8	DecType
9	DecCode
10	EncType
11	EncCode
12	FM	Switch to Broadcast FM
13	FM Scan
14	FM SQL
15	FM DW
16	Font	SMALL/BIG
17	KeyLock	K+S/PTT/KEY/ALL
18	Keypad	ON/OFF
19	Lamp	CONT/OFF/KEY
20	NameSYS	ON/OFF
21	NameCHA	ON/OFF
22	NamEdit
23	OpenDIS	User Defined/All/Lease Time/Leixen
24	P1 Long	Programmable Key P1 - Long Press
25	P1Short	Programmable Key P1 - Short Press
26	P2 Long	Programmable Key P2 - Long Press
27	P2Short	Programmable Key P2 - Short Press
28	P3 Long	Programmable Key P3 - Long Press
29	P3Short	Programmable Key P3 - Short Press
30	Power	HIGH/LOW
31	PTT ID	ON/OFF
32	Roger	ON/OFF
33	Reverse
34	RPT SET
35	RPTType
36	SaveBat	ON/OFF
37	SCAN	Starts scan, Menu button will stop
38	SCNMode	TO/CO
39	SCANADD	ON/OFF
40	SQL	0-9
41	Step	2.5KHz
42	Tail	ON/OFF
43	Talk
44	TOT	OFF, 10, 20, … , 110, 120 (seconds)
45	TxStop	ON/OFF
46	Vox	ON/OFF
47	Vox D	15, 25, 35, 45
48	Vox S	0-8
49	VXB	ON/OFF
50	WIDNAR	NARROW/WIDE

Leixen VV-808: More Popping

So it isn't just me and this is a UHF version. Thanks to SA0CEO for sharing the video! Also, I will add that when the radio is scanning, it is almost continuous popping on mine.

Leixen VV-808: Short QSO Sample

Another fancy iPhone video, but for giving you a small taste, I think it works.

Funny Thing

If you break the rotary encoder and can only use the keypad on the microphone to cycle through the settings (in an effort to document all the menu options), don't toggle the MENU Item 18 - Keypad to "OFF".

It makes things exciting while you plug the programming cable in and hope you can turn the keypad back on. Good news - it worked.

I'm going to change the my tag line to "Brick O'Lore - breaking radios in more ways than you could ever image."