Saturday, May 31, 2014

The Most Powerful OS

Simple Tools II

In addition to the calendar, I also love having a big whiteboard. Networks diagrams, workflow, ad hoc WBS - there are a million things to prove the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

It became a bit of a running joke that I couldn't work with the team on a project or issue without being at the whiteboard.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Least Favorite Software

Are there certain software tools you hate? I hate Taleo. It may be great for HR professionals and hiring managers, but as someone looking for a job and encountering it frequently, it leaves me frustrated.

First, when you create a scrolling frame inside a web page, you start at minus one.

Then the errors start.

Error - job title too long. (You asked, I told you. 25 characters? That's it?)

Error - certification not valid. (So you have a predefined list of certifications? Therefor any certification I have that isn't on your list, I cannot add at all. Oh, you have one that is close, but not exactly the same. Should I pick that? If I do, can I attest that I have answered all the questions accurately?)

For the field that is often promoting diversity, they sure aren't building the ability to support it into their tools.

Maybe I want a job writing this software, because those people must have great job security as it is impossible that they've ever had to use their own system to apply for a job. I exaggerate but UI is really bad.

Friday Funny

Via W2LJ

Radio Features: Memories

An interesting discussion about memory features that someone would like to see in future radios.

Probably the biggest hurdle in doing this is cost - particularly hard to demand some of these features when chasing the rock bottom cost on the Chinese radios. I suspect as Moore's law continues, we'll see these options and plenty more.

Wouxun KG-UV8D: How to check version

Via Miklor on the KG-UV8D Facebook page:
UV8D Keypad/Display...
By pressing and holding the 3 Key while doing a PowerON,the UV8D will display the Model, Version and Date.



Thursday, May 29, 2014

TYT TH-UV818

From Nate:

"I was wondering when they'll imitate the body design of the Yaesu/Standard/Horizon VX-7R/HX470/VXA-710."

Which reminds of where this all started for me - the Baofeng UV-3R copying the Yaesu VX-3R. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The TYT-TH-UV818...

http://www.tyt888.com/UploadPIC/2014426144833940.jpg

Horizon HX470 (silver and black)
Yaesu/Vertex VX-7R (silver and black)
Yaesu/Vertex VXA-710
Yaesu FTA-720


http://www.yaesu.com/jp/en/products/marine_img/hx470s.jpg
VX-7http://www.yaesu.com/jp/amateur_index/products_img/vx7b.jpg
http://www.dfwcomm.com/img/product_pics/mids/vxa710v1.png
http://alpha-com.ru/wa-data/public/shop/products/36/54/5436/images/6402/5414.400.jpg



Simple Tools

When I do finally get back to work, I'll want to get one of these giant wall calendars. It is decidedly low-tech, but I loved being able to see the year all at once. I would track:

- month-ends (when we were on a 4-4-5 fiscal calendar), so I could make sure we didn't try to schedule downtime/maintenance during that critical period
- holidays for each of the plants (US, China, Mexico)
- vacations for my staff
- off-site training for my staff

You can use dry erase markers, but I prefer using permanent Sharpies. (You already knew I was a fan of Sharpies for the ham shack.) If something was in flux, I would make a note on a Post-It that I could move around until the date was finalized. Bright colors are a must!




XLT Painless Programming Cable for Baofeng, Kenwood, and Wouxun

$20 for a genuine FTDI chip is probably a bargain for most considering the amount of time some have invested in trying to get a knock-off to work with their radio. Heck, if everyone had one of these, the number of posts to the various Yahoo Groups would drop exponentially.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

TYT TH-9000D: At 446Shop

I was looking at some of the stuff Nate sent me and I just happened to notice that the 446Shop has a listing for the TYT TH-9000D. Pictures at the link.