Powerwerx DB-750X: Polmar DB-50M

And while you are waiting on my report on the KG-UV950P, Hans has some more on the Polmar DB-50M / Powerwerx DB-750X. In short, he concludes:

"The Polmar DB-50M was a pleasant surprise. No major bugs or flaws; it’s a transceiver I might buy to replace my Kenwood TMV-71."

Hit the link above for the full analysis including a microphone mod to resolve the out-of-the-box TX audio issue.

He also has an image that lists the various models you could see for this radio. These cover the Powerwerx, Anytone, Intek, and Polmar brands.

5888UV
5889UV
5888UV1
5888UV2
5888UV3
5888UV4
5888UV5
5888UV6
5888UV7
5888UV8
5888UV9
588UV
DB-750X
HR-2040
DB-50M

For the Toolbox

I've got a Black & Decker screwdriver that I really love. It is amazing the torque it provides. (They are very handy for taking radios apart. Ha!)

This Skil version (Amazon $50) looks neat for two reasons. First, it charges via USB. I can't decide if I think that is useful or just a gimmick. I leave my B&D driver on the charging station all the time, so I don't know if USB would be any benefit or not. Secondly, it has a built-in magazine to hold 12 bits. That sounds like a handy way to store and access them - more elegant than just having them all jumbled up in the grip or in a separate box.

Via Cool Tools

Wouxun KG-UV950P: Pics and QSO

I got the KV-UV950P settled in the shack and took a couple of pics while I was talking on some of the local 2 M repeaters. Audio reports were good. Thanks again to BuyTwoWayRadios.com for letting play with the 950 with absolutely no strings or pressure. More to come...

Job Market

My recent experience has been similar...

KevinFarzad ENTRY-LEVEL JOB OPENING: Minimum 4 years experience required. Must speak 6 languages, be an astronaut, and have the cure for cancer.
Thu, Oct 17 19:01:38 from web
retweeted by bbrannan

Wouxun KG-UV950P: Time to Play

Thanks to the kind folks at BuyTwoWayRadios.com, I have a KG-UV950P to play with for a few days. I don't have a sophisticated bench to do a lot of in depth analysis, but put your requests and questions in the comments if you want me to look at something specifically.

Face Lick

Game of Thrones Bad Lip Reading Parody...

$19 Police Scanner

Definitely about the fun of putting one together, since you can just download an app to your fun - and price should not be a barrier here for most.
73s w00t! RT @chrismatthieu: How to Make a $19 Police Scanner ift.tt/ZS0by2 #hamradio #sdr #maker

Pirates

Aaargh, CQ, CQ, CQ.

QRPerDotCom Thanks to US shutdown, pirate radio activity reaches an all-time high swling.com/blog/2013/10/t…
Tue, Oct 15 12:58:32 from Tweet Button
retweeted by LA3ZA

Time for a new Watch

Hans uses a bunch of bulky, old school equipment on his bench. How long till he just starts wearing his test lab around? (The probes are separate, so one needs to be prepared to answer the question: is that a set of probes in your pocket or are you just glad to see my wave form?)

 

For Star Wars Geeks

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\brick>tracert 216.81.59.173

Tracing route to read.more.at.beaglenetworks.net [216.81.59.173]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  6    29 ms    22 ms    24 ms  10gigabitethernet1-3.core1.atl1.he.net [198.32.132.75]
  7    20 ms    18 ms    17 ms  216.66.0.26
  8    59 ms    55 ms    57 ms  10.26.26.22
  9   709 ms    57 ms    63 ms  Episode.IV [206.214.251.1]
 10    59 ms   261 ms    63 ms  A.NEW.HOPE [206.214.251.6]
 11    56 ms    56 ms    57 ms  It.is.a.period.of.civil.war [206.214.251.9]
 12    60 ms    59 ms    56 ms  Rebel.spaceships [206.214.251.14]
 13    59 ms    59 ms    56 ms  striking.from.a.hidden.base [206.214.251.17]
 14    59 ms    56 ms    57 ms  have.won.their.first.victory [206.214.251.22]
 15    57 ms    57 ms    59 ms  against.the.evil.Galactic.Empire [206.214.251.25]
 16    57 ms    56 ms    57 ms  During.the.battle [206.214.251.30]
 17    62 ms    58 ms    59 ms  Rebel.spies.managed [206.214.251.33]
 18    58 ms    57 ms    58 ms  to.steal.secret.plans [206.214.251.38]
 19    59 ms    59 ms    58 ms  to.the.Empires.ultimate.weapon [206.214.251.41]
 20    59 ms    58 ms    59 ms  the.DEATH.STAR [206.214.251.46]
 21    59 ms    56 ms    58 ms  an.armored.space.station [206.214.251.49]
 22    58 ms    56 ms    56 ms  with.enough.power.to [206.214.251.54]
 23    61 ms    58 ms    56 ms  destroy.an.entire.planet [206.214.251.57]
 24    61 ms    61 ms    58 ms  Pursued.by.the.Empires [206.214.251.62]
 25    58 ms    60 ms    60 ms  sinister.agents [206.214.251.65]
 26    59 ms    60 ms    60 ms  Princess.Leia.races.home [206.214.251.70]
 27    64 ms    59 ms    60 ms  aboard.her.starship [206.214.251.73]
 28    59 ms    64 ms    58 ms  custodian.of.the.stolen.plans [206.214.251.78]
 29    61 ms    58 ms    59 ms  that.can.save.her [206.214.251.81]
 30    58 ms    61 ms    59 ms  people.and.restore [206.214.251.86]

Trace complete.