DMR Radio Comparison

A nice chart comparing the various DMR radios from Baofeng, TYT, Anytone, etc.

Ham Licenses

Ham licenses chart.

Up: Extra, General, Tech, and Total
This is a high water mark for all three classes and overall licenses.

Down: Advanced and Novice
Advanced and Novice will only go down since no new licenses are being issued for these classes.

Month	Extra	Advanced	General	Technician	Novice	ARS Total
Nov-17	144,985	42,208	174,162	377,507	9,132	747,994
Oct-17	144,666	42,479	173,694	375,597	9,192	745,628
Sep-17	144,672	42,838	173,601	374,833	9,257	745,201
Aug-17	144,654	43,070	173,471	374,378	9,309	744,882
Jul-17	144,387	43,240	173,170	373,653	9,373	743,823

Anker Echo Dot Clone - $19.99 via Amazon Prime Today Only

I paid $29 for my Anker Echo Dot clone... so I'm in for another one since it is only $19.99 today only for Amazon Prime members.


Edit: This deal may be for everyone, but shipping charges might apply for non-Prime folk.

Anniversary

The blog is 7 years old today. Funny how it gets older despite my lack of posting.

TYT MD-9600: KG4VDZ Video Review

KG4VDZ:

Voice Control Security

I love my Echo, but the attack vectors are scary...

Turns out hackers can take control of Siri and Alexa by "whispering" to them in frequencies humans can’t hear. https://t.co/TMTw1BjGLB

— Fast Company (@FastCompany) September 6, 2017

Via @Jruys

Etymology of Ham Radio

Good info for the next time someone asks about the origin of the term "ham radio" https://t.co/i8O65uEfTr #hamradio

— BobW (@K0NR) September 7, 2017

Zello

Business Insider:

"A walkie-talkie app called Zello is No. 1 in the App Store because of Hurricane Irma"

Definitely better than nothing, but nothing like having some real radio options.

Soldering Irons

The Wirecutter reviews soldering irons and recommends the X-Tronic Model #3020-XTS. The venerable Weller WLC100 comes in second.

Baofeng Tech: MURS-V1

The kind folks at Baofeng Tech sent me a couple of their new BTECH MURS-V1 radios. They introduce the MURS-V1 this way:

"MURS is a two-way, VHF short-distance voice or data communications service for personal or business activities of the general public.

The MURS-V1 is a great introduction to two-way radios as a step-up from common walkie talkies. The MURS-V1 introduces users to common PL (Private Line) tones and terminology. Standard CTCSS and DCS terminology is used without abstract Menu terms (such as "Tone 12") used by bubble-pack radios."

I'll have to recruit the help of my crack team to help me test these MURS radios out.