Lovelace and Babbage

@Raspberry_Pi please help celebrate my 200th b'day & RT/vote for this LEGO RPi project https://t.co/R9CQyVlPGD #STEM pic.twitter.com/HJMR4bUOay

— Ada 'LEGO' Lovelace (@LegoLovelace) December 10, 2015

Network Training

I did some on-line network training and learned about a very powerful tool.

Training

"If you are reading this and can't put your hand on your defensive firearm, your training has been wasted." ~ Col. Jeff Cooper

— Sheriff Jim Wilson (@sheriffjim) December 9, 2015

Advanced Tin Foil Hat

Shield: The World`s First Signal Proof Headwear
Stylish & Comfortable Signal Proof Hats That Incredibly Fit And Reflect Electromagnetic Waves.

Luke

pic.twitter.com/Pq02ssq2FZ

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 9, 2015

Health Sensors

I like data, but I'm not quite ready for this kit.

RatTail

I never had a rat tail, but my high school coach did ask me if my mother knew my hair was getting so long. Maybe it's time I got a RatTail.

#Emergency #VHF #radio communication 2X range with Rattail Antenna Booster #ham Amazing Video https://t.co/z6vRkqVb1o #aircraft #coastguard

— Ian Soutar (@SchoolElectric) December 8, 2015

The End of Amateur Licensing?

A question was asked about the future of amateur radio licensing.

I don't think it would go away - frequencies with privileges might change, cost might go up, etc. Even a simple test and a few dollars make for a non-trivial hurtle to ensure someone is really interested. It also gives more teeth to enforcement.

Wouxun KG-D901: 2016 Release

Wouxun says the KG-D901 will be released next year. They also say there will be a KG-D900 - it will not have a keypad like the D901. So, it is real, but no firm date for it to be in someone's hands.

Beartooth

Speaking of VHF/UHF radios that work with your smartphone http:https://t.co/rjRiD8lHqT

— BobW (@K0NR) December 4, 2015

Along the lines of the goTenna... the Beartooth:

"Beartooth is a software defined radio peer to peer communication platform that encases your phone and doubles your battery life. Our proprietary software defined radio allows your smartphone to communicate even without cellular or wifi service. We allow for Push to Talk "PTT" voice communication, text messaging, and geolocation sharing on our offline maps."

And:

"Our product will require FCC approval. We are currently working with attorneys and technical advisors who specialize in FCC approval. Our products are designed to meet the technical and legal requirements of the FCC, and we anticipate a favorable part outcome."

The audio on this video is spotty and you still only get high level info, but they do mentions amateur radio as a target market (along with consumers.)

Order is Important

BuyTwoRadios.com Giveaway

TWRS #podcast 100 episode #drawing! Enter to #win a weather radio or BTWR swag bag! https://t.co/6zVkQNkHAc @amatradio @brickolore @blubrry

— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) December 7, 2015

Wouxun KG-D901: DMR HT

Is it real? Will it be real? I had seen the image before. The BuyTwoWayRadios guys discuss what we know - which is basically only what you can see in the picture below. Wouxun won't confirm or deny the existence of the DMR radio.

Image via Simon The Wizard

Sergeant Major Daniel A. Dailey on Leadership

A top ten list:

"No. 10. Never forget that you're just a soldier. 

That’s all you are. No better than any other, but just one of them.
You may get paid a little more, but when the time comes, your job is to treat them all fair, take care of them as if they were your own children, and expect no more from them of that of which you expect from yourself."

Surface > iPad?

Maybe, sorta, a little bit.

Leixen VV-898: What's it good for?

The right tool for the right job...

A closer look at the Leixen VV-898 - what can it do? https://t.co/Ohc5YtPsWK @amatradio #hamradio #amateurradio #hamr

— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) December 4, 2015

"The Leixen VV-898 seems like a plain, low power unimpressive little radio, but it really does have a lot to offer. Is it a 125W PEP powerhouse Icom mobile or a feature rich Wouxun KG-UV920P-A? Of course not! Considering its small size, weight and unassuming looks, when you take a closer look at the Leixen VV-898, in some ways it seems even better."

May May

It's funny to hear, but I saw the word "meme" long before I ever knew how to say it.

Pi Zero

Pi Zero - or as I like to call it... another option for projects I'm never gonna get around to doing.


Introducing PIZERO from Raspberry Pi Foundation on Vimeo.

Li-Fi

So, I'm gonna have chips for bluetooth, wi-fi, NFC, and Li-Fi in my devices?

"So, will Li-Fi be a competitor to Wi-Fi in the future? 

I highly doubt they will be competing technologies and will most likely be complementary if anything. For instance, you could have a situation where you have Li-Fi overlaid on top of a Wi-Fi network in high density environments such as a conference hall. The Li-Fi can support the dense number of users and wouldn’t interfere with the Wi-Fi network. In terms of home uses, it is unlikely to become commonplace as you would need to have an Ethernet connection to each light and the lights must remain on for communications. Most home users like the ability to use the internet in the dark and that is not possible with Li-Fi."

Li-Fi
1 kbps (infrared light)
1 Gbps (visible light)
224 Gbps theoretical

Wi-Fi
1.3 Gbps (802.11ac, 3 spatial streams, 80 MHz channel, SGI)
10 Gbps theoretical
(802.11ax research in 5 GHz band)

Ten-Tec: The Saga Continues

Ten-Tec has been sold again. Click the link, but some highlights from John Henry (KI4JPL) below:

"I had a discussion with the new owner last night, and I wanted to relay
some information. 

He is now officially the new owner of TEN-TEC.

He is planning the rigs and amplifiers and other accessory products to
engineer and to manufacture for the coming year to cover the purchase and
expenses for the year, working on the details of the various plans for
service, sales, and marketing, etc."

 Plans...

"Planning on having the OMNI-VII back in production in 1st quarter 2016,hoping to ship in 2nd quarter 2016. 

Dayton, He will be there, going to try to get the same TEN-TEC booth/booths
as possible. Showcasing the existing products, and possibly something new
based on the existing products, time will tell. 

He did say that he will either bring back the Orion II or have an Orion
III. Time frame is tbd. could be as early as end of 2016 or Dayton 2017???? 

There might be improvements/changes to certain rigs, e.g. maybe there will
be an OMNI-VII+ maybe an OMNI-VIII in a year??? 

The Eagle will go back into production some time after the 1st OMNI-VII run. 

Prices will return to the original pre liquidation sale prices when the new
website is up so that each will be at a point that will make enough profit
to make the company viable. Other features will get added where possible."

And ouch...!

"TEN-TEC was actually shipping a $200 bill with every one of a specific
model that it sold this last year."

Raising capital...

"There might be a need in the future to try to raise some
more capital if certain plans come to fruition with commercial and fema
customers, if those work out, may need to raise some cash to buy the parts,
so there might be a gofundme funding campaign set up, where amateur
customers can help donate to purchase the parts, and then part of or all of
or x times the amount of the donation is taken off of their next order of a
TEN-TEC product > a certain dollar amount."

"To do this first class, we need a 200K capital infusion for a new factory building and
some new equipment to replace what was liquidated if anyone cares to step
up and accelerate our success. 400K would give us the facility, equipment
and capitol to put everything back in production to a stocking basis and
allow us to complete the Orion III. If 400 people will give us 1K each, we
will commit to the Orion III of your dreams in 18-24 months and give you 2K
off the target price of 5K as well as engrave your name and call on a
plaque on the new building that says you helped build it and save TEN TEC."

Via Sparky's