So, I'm all in on the Alexa/Google enabled home as you can tell. I'm enjoying playing with the various plugs, switches, etc. I even got one of the Eufy Smart Bulbs ($12) for Christmas despite my uncertainty about the benefit of going the smart bulb route.
It works just fine from the app or using Alexa voice-control, but:
1. Bulbs eventually go bad.
2. There is no button on it, so I can't turn it on if the internet is down.
Still, $12 isn't a lot for a little experimentation.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Cryptocurrency Summary
Cryptocurrencies in 4 words or less:
Name | Sym. | Description ----------------|-------|------------------------------------------ Bitcoin | BTC | Digital gold Ethereum | ETH | Programmable contracts and money Bitcoin Cash | BCH | Bitcoin clone Ripple | XRP | Enterprise payment settlement network Litecoin | LTC | Faster Bitcoin Dash | DASH | Privacy-focused Bitcoin clone NEO | NEO | Chinese-market Ethereum NEM | XEM | Batteries-included digital assets Monero | XMR | Private digital cash Ethereum Classic| ETC | Ethereum clone IOTA | MIOTA | Internet-of-things payments Qtum | QTUM | Ethereum contracts on Bitcoin OmiseGO | OMG | Banking, remittance, and exchange Zcash | ZEC | Private digital cash BitConnect | BCC | Madoff-like investment fund Lisk | LSK | Decentralized applications in JavaScript Cardano | ADA | Layered currency and contracts Tether | USDT | Price = 1 USD Stellar Lumens | XLM | Digital IOUs EOS | EOS | Decentralized applications on WebAssembly Hshare | HSR | Blockchain switchboard Waves | WAVES | Decentralized exchange and crowdfunding Stratis | STRAT | Decentralized applications in C# Komodo | KMD | Decentralized ICOs Ark | ARK | Blockchain switchboard Electroneum | ETN | Monero clone Bytecoin | BCN | Privacy-focused cryptocurrency Steem | STEEM | Reddit with money voting Ardor | ARDR | Blockchain for spawning blockchains Binance Coin | BNB | Pay Binance exchange fees Augur | REP | Decentralized prediction market Populous | PPT | Invoice trading futures Decred | DCR | Bitcoin with alternative governance TenX | PAY | Cryptocurrency credit card MaidSafeCoin | MAID | Rent disk space BitcoinDark | BTCD | Zcoin close BitShares | BTS | Decentralized exchange Golem | GNT | Rent other people's computers PIVX | PIVX | Inflationary Dash clone Gas | GAS | Pay fees on Neo TRON | TRX | In-app-purchases Vertcoin | VTC | Bitcoin clone MonaCoin | MONA | Japanese Dogecoin Factom | FCT | Decentralized record keeping Basic Attention | BAT | Decentralized ad network SALT | SALT | Cryptocurrency-backed loans Kyber Network | KNC | Decentralized exchange Dogecoin | DOGE | Serious meme bitcoin clone DigixDAO | DGD | Organisation manages tokenized gold Veritaseum | VERI | Vaporware Walton | WTC | IoT Blockchain SingularDTV | SNGLS | Decentralized Netflix Bytom | BTM | Physical assets as tokens Byteball Bytes | GBYTE | Decentralized database and currency GameCredits | GAME | Video game currency Metaverse ETP | ETP | Chinese Ethereum plus identity GXShares | GXS | Decentralized Chinese Equifax Syscoin | SYS | Decentralized marketplace Siacoin | SC | Rent disk space Status | SNT | Decentralized application browser 0x | ZRX | Decentralized exchange Verge | XVG | Privacy Dogecoin Lykke | LKK | Digital asset exchange Civic | CVC | Identity and Authentication App Blocknet | BLOCK | Decentralized exchange Metal | MTL | Payments with rewards program Iconomi | ICN | Digital asset investment funds Aeternity | AE | Decentralized apps (prototype) DigiByte | DGB | Faster Bitcoin Bancor | BNT | Token Index Funds Ripio Credit | RCN | Co-signed Cryptocurrency Loans ATMChain | ATM | Advertising network Gnosis | GNO | Decentralized prediction market VeChain | VEN | Supply chain item IDs Pura | PURA | Cryptocurrency Particl | PART | Privacy marketplace and chat KuCoin Shares | KCS | Profit-sharing exchange fees Bitquence | BQX | Mint for cryptocurrency investments FunFair | FUN | Decentralized casino ChainLink | LINK | External data for contracts Power Ledger | POWR | Airbnb for electricity Nxt | NXT | Cryptocurrency and marketplace Monaco | MCO | Cryptocurrency credit card Cryptonex | CNX | Zerocoin clone MCAP | MCAP | Mining investment fund Storj | STORJ | Rent disk space ZenCash | ZEN | Privacy-focused Bitcoin clone Nexus | NXS | Bitcoin clone Neblio | NEBL | Decentralized application platform Zeusshield | ZSC | Decentralized insurance Streamr DATAcoin| DATA | Real-time data marketplace ZCoin | XZC | Private digital cash NAV Coin | NAV | Bitcoin with private transactions AdEx | ADX | Advertising exchange Open Trading | OTN | Decentralized exchange SmartCash | SMART | Zcoin clone with rewards Bitdeal | BDL | Bitcoin clone Loopring | LRC | Decentralized exchange Edgeless | EDG | Decentralized casino FairCoin | FAIR | Bitcoin that rewards savers
Eufy Genie (Amazon Echo Dot Clone) - Follow-up
I bought a couple of the Eufy Genie devices - one for $29 and one for $19. They are basically clones of the Amazon Echo Dot. They seemed like a good deal at $29, but then the Dot was reduced to $29. If I had know that was coming, I would have stuck with the official product for the same price.
My decision seemed to be really bad when I got them out of the box and started using them. I felt like I could time the responses from Alexa with a calendar. The good news is that, after some automatic firmware updates, I can say its performance is on par with the Echo Dot. If you can catch one for $19, it's definitely the way to go.
My decision seemed to be really bad when I got them out of the box and started using them. I felt like I could time the responses from Alexa with a calendar. The good news is that, after some automatic firmware updates, I can say its performance is on par with the Echo Dot. If you can catch one for $19, it's definitely the way to go.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Friday, December 15, 2017
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.
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 |
Monday, November 20, 2017
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.
Edit: This deal may be for everyone, but shipping charges might apply for non-Prime folk.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Voice Control Security
I love my Echo, but the attack vectors are scary...
Via @JruysTurns 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
Monday, September 11, 2017
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
Sunday, September 10, 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.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Soldering Irons
The Wirecutter reviews soldering irons and recommends the X-Tronic Model #3020-XTS. The venerable Weller WLC100 comes in second.
Friday, September 8, 2017
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.I'll have to recruit the help of my crack team to help me test these MURS radios out.
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."
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Alexa and Cortana
The new Laverne and Shirley...
"Available later this year, this collaboration will allow you to access Alexa via Cortana on Windows 10 PCs, followed by Android and iOS in the future. Conversely, you’ll be able to access Cortana on Alexa-enabled devices like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Show."Which leads to interesting questions...
I assume this will work with my new $29 Eufy Genie Echo Dot clone.What happens if Amazon does a deal with Apple but Microsoft doesn't? "Cortana, ask Alexa to tell Siri to call mum"?— Tim Bradshaw (@tim) August 30, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Eufy Genie (Amazon Echo Dot Clone)
I've been thinking about getting another Amazon Echo Dot for a while now. I was especially tempted when they were available as refurbs for $40.
So, it should be no surprise, that I bought the Eufy Genie for $29. Eufy is a division of Anker - which has a good reputation for the quality of all their phone accessories.
The Eufy Genie is very similar to the Echo Dot, but is missing a few features like Bluetooth and the ability to complete calls between Alexa devices. I've never used the Bluetooth, so that's a non-issue for me and Eufy says additional features will be added via firmware updates. I read a few reviews and folks were split on saving a few dollars vs. getting the actual Echo Dot. For me, I think I'll be happy with it even if it isn't perfect. We have one Echo Dot today and I wouldn't mind having several more. If this works well then I can save some money, but otherwise it might go in a less used location.
Monday, August 28, 2017
TYT MD-9600: Firmware Update
TYT MD-9600 Firmware Update Available https://t.co/vleEhgJA0Y #dmrradio @HamRadioDMR #hamradio @brickolore #hamr— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) August 28, 2017
"Some of the TYT MD-9600 owners reported an issue loading channels into their radio using the programming software. The software was reporting that the data was being written successfully, but some or all channels were not accessible on the radio.
To address this issue, TYT released an updated firmware version (3.28) and an updated version of the programming software (1.18)."
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
TYT MD-2017: Weak SMA Connector?
Attention :: the SMA connector of the TYT MD-2017 is fragile like a crystal - warning. pic.twitter.com/4ENoAQt4WE— DMR-Marc Canada Net (@DMRNETcanada) August 15, 2017
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Wireless - Truth
I am a Comcast customer, so I have installed their certificate that lets me easily connect to their hot spots that are almost ubiquitous. The downside is the marginal associations to a network that aren't actually usable.
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