Vivosmart HR Plus GPS

Timing...

So, I just bought the Vivosmart HR and today they announce the Vivosmart HR+ - basically the same fitness tracker, but now with a built-in GPS. I'm not sure if I would want to spend the extra $100 to get the GPS functionality. I'd have to think about it, but, shooting from the hip, I'd save that money to spend on the Forerunner 235.

If you want the Vivosmart HR+, you can pre-order it at Amazon.

DV4mobile

In a similar vein as the NEW RADIO post earlier... DV4mobile:

"DV4mobile - first all mode digital tri band transceiver plus LTE with GPS

- The DV4mobile supports all digital modes: no need for multiple radios, saving space and money.
- It is programmed from the cloud: no need for programming and updating code plugs.
- It is a software defined radio: future modes are just an update away.

The DV4mobile is another member of the successful family of DV4 products. 

It operates in the 2 meter band, at 222 MHz and the 70cm band. 

All modes are supported: C4FM, D-Star, DMRplus, dPMR, P25 (NXDN later via software update)Voice over LTE and of course, FM! 

C4FM both narrow and wide band modes 

D-Star (DCS,CCS,REF,XRF,XLX) 

DMRplus (TS1 all / TS2 Reflectors or talkgroups) 

dPMR(All Systems and codecs transparent mode) 

P25(Phase 1 Only and all NAC transparent mode) 

FM with PL and DCS tones and RDS for call sign transmission in the background 

DV4LTE is a new voice over LTE mode that connects the radio to the reflector using an LTE connection. 

The LTE modem connects to the CCS7 reflector system supplying codeplugs in the cloud, there is no need to program codeplugs any more. Any changes in the network, be it on the reflector, repeater or user side are instantly updated. Private settings such as local channels can be maintained on the web.

When no repeaters are in range, the radio can revert to LTE (DV4LTE) for reflector connection (i.e. between metropolitan areas) 

The GPS module provides location data for APRS and automatic display of repeaters in range. When a repeater is selected, frequency and mode is already in the radio, no programming!

The DV4mobile can also be used as a dual band, dual mode simplex repeater.
For example you can use it as a D-Star repeater on 2m and simultaneously as a DMR repeater on 70cm while conducting FM QSO on 222 MHz (USA version only)"

Specs:

Frequency range (USA)	144-148 MHz, 222-225 MHz, 420-450 MHz
Output power	2 x 20W simultaneously
Modes	FM, D-Star, C4FM, DMR+,,dPMR,P25*,NXDN*, DV4LTE
Microphone	DTMF, Electret with modular connector
Antenna	N
Speaker	3.5 mm, stereo 2 x 4W at 8 Ohms
Connectors via adapter cable and 2 x 12 pin connectors:
Ethernet	RJ-45 via adapter 10/100 MBit/s
serial	USB
External Monitor	HDMI
Internal display	240 x 320 pixel, 262k color
Power	10.5-15V, 5A
GPS	Antenna combined into main antenna
Temperature range:	-40C - + 85C

AWS IoT Button

Amazon is selling an IoT Dash-like button:

The AWS IoT Button is a programmable button based on the Amazon Dash Button hardware. This simple Wi-Fi device is easy to configure and designed for developers to get started with AWS IoT, AWS Lambda, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon SNS, and many other Amazon Web Services without writing device-specific code.

A tear-down of the Dash:



Via @kfalconspb

And perhaps a fitting comic to accompany the above:

We are barely scratching the surface of new shopping models 😏
Via @NewYorker pic.twitter.com/8wUY48fNGe

— Subrahmanyam KVJ (@SuB8u) May 15, 2016

NEW RADIO

What a terrible name... NEW RADIO - a dual-band, multi-mode radio to support DMR, D-STAR and C4FM:

"a new dual-band, multi-mode mobile radio called the “NEW RADIO” that will operate on the 2m & 70cm bands and support the most common ham digital modes, including DMR, D-STAR and C4FM (System Fusion), plus analog FM. As reported in the article, the NEW RADIO has been created by hams for the ham radio community will feature a colour touch screen display, 50W of power output, a 1.8 GHz processor, a Linux operating system, plus dual AMBE+ vocoders, allowing for full-duplex, cross-band operation. Also, one of the biggest features of the NEW RADIO is that it will include a built-in LTE wireless modem and SIM card allowing it to be Internet connected while on the go."

And maybe an HT version.

I'm putting this all on the wait and see list.

Via the CS7000 Yahoo Group

Workouts

After my last post, many* of you asked about my workouts. Here are a couple of examples:

Finish off the morning workout with high knee incline runs at 19.5mph . @robert_paulele

A video posted by Jalen Hurd (@jayhurd1) on May 2, 2016 at 9:36am PDT

* Many = none

Fitness Friday

Lots of things in the fitness arena converging today...

Running
Bad news for us older folks... the data shows a strong correlation between age and decline in speed:

By age 35, the rates of decline are so predictably linear that this calculator by a Yale economics professor maps out just how slowly you can expect to run the same distance as the years run by.

https://fairmodel.econ.yale.edu/aging/runoth.htm

The good news is that I don't think I've hit my peak yet, so I hope to keep seeing improvements for some years yet.

Cross Training
I've built a fairly large collection of dumbbells that my wife and I use to workout at home. I think something like these Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells would be a good supplement to our home gym. It would keep us from replicating all the weights and definitely would save space. (Our family room is also our gym.)

Fitness Tracker
I bit the bullet and after a small USPS delay, I have a Garmin Vivosmart HR fitness tracker. It monitors the usual steps and stairs, but I bought it for the heart rate monitor and sleep tracker. In addition to tracking my heart rate throughout the day, it will link to my Garmin GPS watch and share the heart rate information. I've only done that once - it's a little more awkward wearing the two devices than I expected.

The sleep monitoring is cool. I feel like I don't get a lot of quality sleep and I know I get up a lot. I'll have the data to back that up now.

The Other Chirp

Google's alternative to the Amazon Echo is code-named Chirp. I'm pretty excited for competition in this space. Tools like these should drive some innovation in the integration of all my IoT devices. And, yes, I'm sure everything will be designed with security at a priority.

Ham Radio 360 Complete Podcast List

I'm a simple man, so I like simple lists like all of the Ham Radio 360 podcasts in one place.

Count to 1023 on Your Fingers

Count up to 1023 with just your 10 fingers :) ! #binary #math pic.twitter.com/1ZHD6iBiza

— Binary Ground (@BinaryGround) May 9, 2016

Via @kfalconspb

WB4GBI Repeater Problems

Not really repeater problems, but people problems:

"I'm sure most of you know by now that the repeater has been off the air since early Friday Morning. I was on vacation last week, and some incidents that happened while I was away left me choice but to ask my control operators to shut it down until I returned.

I do not like to leave the repeater off. I do not like to "punish" the vast majority of great amateur radio operators that use and enjoy my repeaters the way I wanted my "labor of love" to be used and enjoyed. However, as I have mentioned before, this is my license and my investment of time and dollars that are on the line. In order for that investment to be preserved, and enjoyed properly, I am in the final process of publishing an "Acceptable Use Policy" (AUP). This document, which will be published on my website (www.wb4gbi.com), will specifically detail what is permissible and what is not when using any of my 14 repeaters. I regret having to resort to this method, but everyone will be able to read, understand, and know the policies of being a "guest in my house actually means." Think of it as what would be expected of you if you were a long-term guest in someone else's residence. In essence, when you use someone else's repeater, that is exactly what you are doing.

Until this document is published, the repeater will remain off the air. The final version of the AUP document is being edited and revised by several parties. I expect to have it ready to publish in the next few days. There will be a downloadable PDF file available as well. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me personally.

73 de Tim WB4GBI"