Stay QRO My Friend!

UlisK3LU Stay QRO My Friend! #hamradio #hamr pic.twitter.com/F6RJBfoUpT Tue, Jul 09 10:19:06 from Photos on iOS retweeted by 73s

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Name: Ulis K3LU

Location: Anne Arundel Co., Maryland USA

Web:

Bio: All Things Radio (amateur radio & broadcast), Global News, Politics, History and Geography. Seeker of truth. ¡Liberty-Libertad-Liberté-Liberdade!

Following: 701 Followers: 344 Updates: 766

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Radio Disassembly Tool

Mike got a new radio and I've offered to help him test it. For fine, detailed work like taking apart radios, you need the right tool. Not available at the 409Shop yet.

Retro Game of Thrones

Bronn may be my favorite.

Quansheng TG-K4AT (UV)

Nate has been following up on the Quansheng TG-K4ATUV that he first talked about here. (Following is Nate's research with some edits from me - so assume any mistakes are mine.)

This is a radio I've sent you the link for, a long time ago, but there wasn't much discussion about it. Now there is a short video:



And a 26 minute full un-boxing, comparison and demo video in Russian:



Can't speak Russian, but minor things like language barriers didn't stop me before:

Highlights:

- Seems like he is happy with the quality of the plastic.
- The battery label reads: 7.4V 2000mV
- The radio is slightly larger than the Baofang UV-5R (slightly taller and wider, roughly the same thickness), including the display, which will be easier to handle for all those who say that the UV-5R was too small. I think the display is clearer/easier to read too (nice side by side picture at 07:50).

* Note that in the video he is also comparing the radio to the TG-K4A - a mono-band radio that, ahmm, 'resembles' the Yaesu FT-50.

- The charger he got (European plug) had the AC plug going directly to the charger's base (no wall wart like the UV-5R).
- The charger has an indentation at the bottom that enables you to charge the battery without the radio (very useful if you use multiple batteries).
- He is talking about the layout of the keypad which is 0 at the button, "like in a telephone'.
- The rubber that protects the accessories jacks has a hinge, it doesn't hang on a band like the one in the UV-5R.
- All in all the quality of the build seems very similar.
- Has both 2.5KHz and 6.25KHz steps.
- Keypad operation is the same as the Baofeng UV-5R.
- A/B operation, if I understand correctly, if you started in A, and a signal made the radio go to B, it will eventually go back to A after 3 seconds of inactivity (I think the A/B on the UV-5R stays where the last signal came from).
- The flash light LED can light up as usual, but it can also be in flashing mode (like the UV-82).

Baofeng UV-82 and UV-5R: Fight!

John (K3NXU) and Hans (PD0AC) both take a look at the UV-82 and the inevitable comparisons to the UV-5R are made.

Hans starts off with this:

"If you hate lengthy reviews: this is mainly a Baofeng UV-5R in disguise. If this is all you wanted to know you can leave now."

There is a lot more detail, so check it out.

The review did prompt me to ask:

"So what is your current favorite Baofeng if you were buying new without owning anything? What is your current favorite Chinese HT overall?"

And his answer was:

"For ham radio use the UV-B5 / UV-B6. While boring in appearance and lacking fancy options, these radios deliver. When price is less important, Wouxun is still the way to go (or maybe the Quansheng TG-UV2 if you don’t need DTMF)."

So, I still feel that the UV-B5/UV-B6 continues to fly under the radar. That's despite the love it has been getting on the AR-15 site. BTW - that thread alone has created about 30 new licensed hams.

Leixen N8 Frequency Counter

Eileen of Leixen asked me if I was interested in the their N8 Frequency Counter. The specs and details are below - including a video demonstrating its use. I see a lot about Chinese radios, but I don't see much about tools like this. Is anyone using anything like this?

[ UPDATE ] I should have included the link to buy ($25 plus shipping) at AliExpress.

Description
N8 handheld frequency counter using dot-matrix LCD, it mainly used to measure the frequency, CTCSS and DCS of radio.

The counter adopts the inductive measurement without the use of feeders, which make the measurement convenient and quick.

The counter can also used as a torch for it has a bright LED lamp.

Specs
Measure range: Frequency 1MHz ~ 1000MHz, all CTCSS, all DCS.
Operating Current: 46mA current measurement
Torch current: 20mA
Battery: 3 1.5V AAA alkaline batteries
Auto power off: 60 seconds

   

Okra

We have a few okra plants and I made our first harvest this week. I let them get too big, so they were a little tough. My secret recipe - straight off the internet a while back:

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2

Trim the ends off 1 lb. of okra pods and cut the pods into 1/2-inch slices. Rinse the slices thoroughly under cool water to eliminate some of the liquid from the okra.

Step 3

Place the okra in the baking dish and drizzle olive oil over the okra. Stir the okra slices to coat them with the oil.

Step 4

Add cumin, coriander, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and salt and stir to coat the sliced okra.

Step 5

Place the baking pan in the oven and bake the sliced okra for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the okra is crispy.

Baofeng UV-82: Software

Interesting work by Jim (KC9HI):

"I don't have a UV-82, but having an interest in one, I downloaded the software and installed it to see what I could learn from it. The software that I installed for the UV-82 is v13.01.12. 

The software I am testing has an identical layout to the v12.05.06 CPS software for the UV-5R. With both Optional Features menus set to the same values, there is no difference that can be seen when switching between both programs. 

So how did it get all of the settings to be the same. Easy... I just loaded the .dat file from my UV-5R. It read it right in. Every channel and every setting is there."

409Shop

The 409Shop has been a mainstay for Chinese radios, but they keep expanding their offerings.

Electronic parts...

Camera Accessories...

 Car Accessories...

 Travel Products...

Bicycle Parts...

Fishing Supplies... (Wait. What?)

Baofeng UV-82: Charging Problem

Hans had a problem charging his new UV-82 battery. He took apart the charger and thinks he found the problem. I think if he looks more closely at the battery, he will see he just wasn't patient enough.