Amazon Echo Dot

I resisted buying an iPad for a long time, because I wasn't sure how much we would use it. I'm quite certain we've gotten our moneys worth and more out of the iPad 2 over the years.

Likewise, I'm wondering if the Amazon Alexa voice activated personal assistant service would prove to be a good value over time. I really didn't want to pony up $180 for the Amazon Echo to try it out.

With the Amazon Echo Dot, I can dip my toes for only $50, so that makes it a little more tempting.

(If you wanted to really commit, you can buy 5 get 1 free or buy 10 and get 2 free with codes DOT6PACK or DOT12PACK.)

CAT Controlled Rigs

Isn't technology amazing?

CAT controlled rig. pic.twitter.com/mojSkyZTx9

— 2E0GQQ (@M6GQQ) September 13, 2016

Satellite GO

My family has taken to calling my sat activity, running down the street with antenna, phone, and HT "Satellite GO" ...gotta catch 'em all!😆

— Matthew KK4FEM (@kk4fem_radio) September 12, 2016

A Beowulf Cluster of TRS-80 Computers

Okay, not quite...

A table full of internet-connected TRS-80s…awesome! #VCFMW pic.twitter.com/zrBxqGCttC

— TRS-80 Trash Talk (@TRS80TrashTalk) September 10, 2016

Security Questions

Coincidentally, my first pet's name was 90 2e 04 70 1e 41 89 2b ad 53 96 86 99 d5 65 e5 83 5a 5b 51.

How to fill out security questions. pic.twitter.com/sOwxv9LgJO

— Chris Gilbert (@chriswithpants) August 30, 2016

A Little Fireworks Display

Give it ~20 seconds to get going...

Me: *watching* What the hell is the point of th- OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/DtcxGID0L6

— Tyrantasorus (@tyrantasorus) August 30, 2016

Internet of Things: Febreze Home

Control the scent (fan) from your phone, integrate Febreze Home with your Nest Thermostat, and use it as a smart night light. For real.

Oh god. It's happening. pic.twitter.com/tibDbAh8lK

— Internet of Shit (@internetofshit) July 15, 2016

TYT MD-380 Resources from KD5DLJ

KD5DLJ MD-380:

"As a fellow user of the Tytera MD-380, I felt it would be beneficial to create a web page for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the many features of this very versatile little handheld. 

Needless to say, I am a big fan, especially since the release of the reverse engineered firmware that has come out that opens up this little radio to many big features. Come back often for updates and helpful tips and instructions on how to make the most of your inexpensive DMR treasure. 

Denny - KD5DLJ - Omaha, Arkansas"

Baofeng Tech: Nagoya NA-320A Triband HT Antenna

Nagoya NA-320A Triband HT Antenna ($17.99):

• Certified Original Nagoya Antenna - with an exclusive manufacturing partnership with BTECH
• New Release - May Require a Rubber spacer (included) and has an extended antenna cover to protect your radio SMA male base from the elements
• Triband: 2m-1.25m-70cm; *Gain (relative): +2.15dBi; Watts: 10; Height: 17.7"; Connector: SMA Female; *Rated against typical stock HT antennas.
• Compatible with all BaoFeng, some Wouxun, and some Kenwood Radios

Looks like a good compliment to a Baofeng Tech UV-5X3!

Giant Vortex Cannon

Giant vortex cannon. pic.twitter.com/vDPegYIdQJ

— Alby (@Alby) September 6, 2016

Via @amyengineer

Wouxun KG-UV8T

Wouxun KG-UV8T at Powerwerx:

"KG-UV8T features Amateur Tri-Band operation (144/220/440 MHz), true dual simultaneous receive (V+V, U+U, V+U), now with Cross-band repeat function, 999 Channels, large LCD color display, CTCSS/DCS encode and decode, and 12.5/25.0 KHz wide/narrow bandwidth selection."

New Item: Wouxun KG-UV8T U.S. Version Tri-Band 999 Channel Amateur Handheld Radio https://t.co/9viE15T7En pic.twitter.com/OVLZbP8h1Z

— Powerwerx (@Powerwerx) September 6, 2016

Lady Ada and the TYT MD-380

From the PDF linked in the tweet below:

"Hey everyone! It's me, ladyada! I recently got my Amateur Radio License ('HAM ticket') and I wanted to start out with a radio that's both inexpensive, easy to use, and fun to hack! After seeing some videos from CCC about the MD-380, I thought this radio is the one for me to start with. 

Not only does this radio do FM analog on the 400MHz band, but it can also do DMR - digital encoded radio! This gives you the ability to use an Internet-backed voice network with no static and huge worldwide repeater reach. 

I'm just getting started on my HAM-venture but I thought I'd take some notes on the hacking and programming I've done! Some of it, like updating the Firmware and flashing User DB, is optional - but it's also the most fun!"

You and Your Tytera MD-380 DMRhttps://t.co/yUJNszlDqihttps://t.co/awRnuGfXr4

— F1MIJ PASCAL (@f1mij) September 3, 2016

For Air Cooling!

@Pogue "Daddy, why did they put holes in computers?"https://t.co/WsXKjTs4De

— Rob Wensing (@RobWensing) September 6, 2016

Internet of Things: Doorbells

Honeywell sent me an e-mail announcing their new doorbells. You can make a custom "ring tone" or define a silent period (so the deliveryman doesn't wake the baby, for example).

It doesn't mention it, but surely the pressing the doorbell will eventually ring your phone. Of course, it needs to integrate with your IoT lock and camera system.

TYT TH-UV8000SE: Tri-Band HT

Another tri-band HT via Nate:

TYT TH-UV8000SE

144/220/440 Tri Band VHF/UHF Handheld Transceiver
This radio doesn’t have cross band function
Feature:
1.    144/220/440 Tri band, dual display, dual standby
2.    100% Brand New & Special Edition!
3.    128 channels to store
4.    FM radio receiver and 25 channels
5.    Channel spacing selectable (25/12.5 KHz)
6.    Hand free VOX function
7.    CTCSS/DCS encoding and decoding
8.    Low battery alarm
9.    Emergency Alarm
10.  Shift repeater function
11.  ANI function
12.  DTMF function
13.  Reverse frequency function
14.  Tri-color background light selectable
15.  English and Chinese prompt
16.  MSK
17.  1750 Tone
18.  PC software programmable
19.  Channel scan function
20.  Busy channel lock-out (BCL)
21.  Monitor function
22.  Time-out timer (TOT)

Frequency range
VHF:136~174MHz up to 7 Watts
VHF:220~260MHz up to 10 Watts
UHF:400~520MHz up to 7 Watts
Frequency Stability
±2.5PPm
Operating voltage
DC 7.2V (Rechargeable Li-ion battery)
Channel NO.
128
Antenna impedance
50 ohm
Mode of operation
Simplex or semi-duplex
Battery capacity
3600mAh
Color
Black
Dimension(Exclude antenna)
13x6x3.5cm
Weight
291g

Receiver
RF Sensitivity
-122dBm(12dB SINAD)
Audio power
>0.5W
Audio distortion
<10 p="">Blocking
>=85dB
Intermediation
>=60dB, >=55dB
Selectivity
>=65dB, >=60dB
Spurious rejection
>=65dB

Transmitter
Output power
<=10w, >=5W
Modulation mode
F3E
Maximum deviation
<5khz p="" z="">Adjacent Ch. power
<=-65dB/ <=-60dB
Spurious radiation
<7 p="">Pre-emphasis characteristics
6dB
Current
<=2.8A(10W),<=1.8A(5W)
CTCSS/DCS deviation
0.55KHz±20.15KHz, 0.4KHz±20.1KHz
Intermediation sensitivity
8~12mV
Intermediation distortion
<5 p="">

We wondered about a tri-bander from TYT with the TH-UVF9. And, as is often the case, I don't see the TH-UV8000SE on the TYT site (but they do have the TH-UV8000D.

Available via Amazon ($75) or ebay ($75).

Sprinkling

Ha!

There was a small fire at the Methodist Church Sunday. The sprinklers went off.

Everyone was saved.

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) August 31, 2016

Almost Free Shipping

You can ship a lot of Baofengs for $600...

It now costs just $596 to ship a 40-foot container from Shanghai to the U.S west coast. Incredible. https://t.co/9SoAz6bqS4

— Chris Vernon (@clv101) September 1, 2016

All the Light We Cannot See

So not really about ham radio, but radios play a central role in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. The book is set in WWII and tracks a young French girl and German boy as their lives intersect thanks to the magic of radio. I just finished it and it is definitely one of my favorite reads in the past couple of year.

Speaker Mic for Your Phone

And the worst thing about it... it won't work with your iPhone 7 if the rumors are true and the headphone jack is going away.

And the "useless item of the century" award goes to... But maybe I'll give it a try with #Echolink. #hamr #hamradio pic.twitter.com/SvLKBQGTi9

— Christian Diemoz (@Chris_Diemoz) August 30, 2016

Baofeng Tech UV-5X3 Giveaway

Baofeng Tech is giving away a UV-5X3 tri-band HT (Amazon $64.89). Share their post and leave a comment on Facebook to be entered.