Thursday, December 29, 2011
Occupy Building Their Own Social Network
The Occupy folks are talking about building their own social network. It would be called Federated General Assembly (FGA). Some interesting quotes:
“We don’t want to trust Facebook with private messages among activists,” he said.
“You have to know someone in real life who sponsors you,” said Knutson.
"And he sees no reason against spinning off the tech to businesses."
American Tested, Rapper Approved - The Glock
Uncrate is pimping the new book Glock: The Rise of America's Gun.
What I find funny is their description of the book that:
What I find funny is their description of the book that:"tells that story from its early 1980's origins in Austria through its rise as the preferred handgun of a huge number of rappers and Americans."
Yaesu Musen
KB6NU posts the new logo for Yaesu Musen and K0NR points out that at the same time Yaesu is showing additional commitment to the amateur world with this article on digital enhancements. The full annoucement can be found at KDSanders' site (PDF).
Baofeng UV-3R: Expanded Frequencies
In addition to the old trick of opening up the ability to store alpha tags in the Baofeng UV-3R, Frank Fort notes in the comments that he's opened up the frequencies available to his radio via the software:
"Baofeng Uv-3r Mark 11 is now with a 115Mhz to 530Mhz TX and RX modification, with the modded program...
[setup]com=2searchcom=1name=1
- Close the UV-3R Mark 11 software if you have it running.
- Browse to folder where the software is installed. (The default is C:\Program Files\UV3R.)
- Double-click the "setting.ini" file.
- I tried copy and paste but didn't worked for me so i just changed manually for this.
language=english
[ModelInfo]
Freq0=[136-174/400-470]
data0=6013401700400047
Freq1=[115-400/400-529]
data1=5011993900409952
- Close the file and save the changes.
- Run the UV-3R Mark 11 software.
The (Name) option will work in the program only,not on the Baofeng but you can take notes.
So now you have now 3 frequencies choices in the menu up left in the program window. Now that's fun...I have a Baofeng Mark 11 with 19 menu options and work very well..."Anyone else try it and have any luck? I know with the Wouxon that you can open it up and receive, but that the radio isn't designed to transmit outside the original frequencies.
Gun Sales Up
You've probably seen on other sites about the brisk sales of guns on Black Friday and just before Christmas, but I found this to be an interesting data point:
"January is typically a slow month for retailers, but it's the opposite in for gun stores. In fact, Coal Creek said January is their busiest month."Via WBIR
ARES vs. RACES
"ARES vs RACES the truth about what each can do !!
ARES is a private sector volunteer organization, while RACES is a government organization. ARES is outlined and promoted by the ARRL, while RACES is outlined in Federal law and promoted by FEMA. ARES can be used for any event by any government agency or non-profit group. RACES can only be used by a local civil defense organization during a declared emergency. In the event of a war powers act all Amateur Radio could be silenced. In this event only RACES to RACES communications would be allowed. ARRL promotes that local ARES groups become hybrids meaning that they are concurrently registered as RACES members. This was the fundamental element on how and why ARESHMB was established. It was established as a partnership between the local amateur radio community and local government.
What Is RACES?
Founded in 1952, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) communications group within government agencies in times of extraordinary need. During periods of RACES activation, certified unpaid personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the government agencies they serve. Although the exact nature of each activation will be different, the common thread is communications.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides planning guidance and technical assistance for establishing a RACES organization at the state and local government level.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for the regulation of RACES operations. RACES is administrated by a local, county, or state civil defense agency responsible for disaster services. This civil defense agency is typically an emergency services or emergency management organization, sometimes within another agency such as police or fire. RACES is a function of the agency's Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS), sometimes known as DCS (Disaster Communications Service), ECS (Emergency Communications Service), ARPSC (Amateur Radio Public Service Corps), etc. Many ACS units identify themselves solely as RACES organizations, even though their communications functions and activities typically go beyond the restrictions of RACES operations. Other ACS units combine government RACES and non-government ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) activities and identify themselves as ARES/RACES organizations. Yet other ACS units who use amateur radio for emergency government communications identify themselves solely as ARES organizations, whether or not they activate under FCC RACES Rules.
The Amateur Radio Regulations, Part 97, Subpart E, §97.407, were created by the FCC to describe RACES operations in detail. Although no longer issued or renewable, RACES station licenses were issued in the past by the FCC to government agencies for RACES operations. The agencies may continue to conduct RACES operations without these licenses, using primary or club call signs.
ACS, in its RACES and other reserve emergency communications functions, provides a pool of emergency communications personnel that can be called upon in time of need. ACS/RACES units across the country prepare themselves for the inevitable day when they will be called upon. When a local, county, or state government agency activates its ACS unit, that unit will use its communications resources (RACES, if necessary) to meet whatever need that agency has.
Traditional RACES operations involve emergency message handling on Amateur Radio Service frequencies. These operations typically involve messages between critical locations such as hospitals, emergency services, emergency shelters, and any other locations where communication is needed. These communications are handled in any mode available, with 2 meters FM being the most prevalent. During time of war, when the President exercises his War Emergency Powers, RACES might become the only communications allowed via amateur radio. Activating under the FCC's restrictive RACES Rules is not always necessary when using Amateur Radio Service frequencies for emergency communications. For example, ACS communicators may need to communicate with ARES or other radio amateurs who are not government-certified to operate in a RACES net. ACS personnel also might become involved in non-amateur public-safety or other government communications, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staffing, and emergency equipment repair.
Whatever need arises, trained ACS personnel are ready and prepared to help, via RACES or other means. ACS/RACES groups develop and maintain their communications ability by training throughout the year with special exercises and public-service events. When that fateful day occurs, ACS/RACES will be there to meet the challenge.
If you want to become an ACS or RACES member and to be able to participate in RACES and other government emergency communications activities, contact your local, county, or state ACS Officer or RACES Radio Officer or Coordinator.
For those in the Sevier County area if you are interested in RACES you can contact Darrell Sperry KA4TAR who is the RACES officer for the county or myself, RACES requirements for being a RACES member would include ICS100a, 200a,700a and 800b."I'm not sure if this is original content from the 470 ARG site or if it was copied. If I find out it, I will post the source.
Stratfor Hacked
I occasionally see some of the Stratfor articles - thanks to a friend. They provide a good analysis of what is going on in the world and draw conclusions for what this might mean. Apparently, anonymous decided that meant they were the "bad guys" and therefore hacked the Stratfor site - including e-mails, a list of clients, and credit card information.
What I found very interesting was the response to the hacking on Slashdot. Generally, Slashdot has a liberal lean with a good measure of conspiracy theory tossed in along with an air of superiority stemming for the users' mad computer skillz. I was surprised how they (for the most part) vilified anonymous while defending Stratfor. There may be hope for humanity yet.
What I found very interesting was the response to the hacking on Slashdot. Generally, Slashdot has a liberal lean with a good measure of conspiracy theory tossed in along with an air of superiority stemming for the users' mad computer skillz. I was surprised how they (for the most part) vilified anonymous while defending Stratfor. There may be hope for humanity yet.
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