Let the Wikipedia Games Begin!

Wikiwars... I thought it was going to be about making battling updates to controversial wiki. Instead, you start on a random page then navigate as quickly as possible to another randomly chosen page. You can only navigate by clicking the links within the current wiki - no searching or using the menu bars. Generally you race head to head with someone using the same start and destination pages, but I just played around in a solo match. I couldn't (easily) get from the start to the destination page, but I tried going the other way and was successful in a relatively few clicks.

The Weiner’s Circle

Rude, crude, but oh so funny. Actually, for me, some of the funniest parts are rude, but not crude.

NSFW - R Rated - etc.

Wouxun KG-UV920R: July

So in addition to the stirring of the pot on June 12, this old thread got going again, too.

Thanks to Christopher for pointing out the update on Ed's site:

.......June 15, 2012   Update......

Wouxun has informed me that the mobile radio will be available in July.

Ed also posted to the Yahoo group saying it would be out in July, but no pricing yet.

I just checked the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) page and there are no new listings for Wouxun (WVT). This doesn't mean a lot - we've see radios (UV-5R) hit the street long before they get blessed by the FCC.

Vero Telecom UV-E5

I got an e-mail from Vero Telecom this morning. PDF brochure here. Product page here.

Looks familiar.

DUAL BAND TWO WAY RADIO UV-E5
High output power,1800mAh Li-ion Battery Capacity,128 memory channels,rugged construcion, rich in analog features-the UV-E5 offers practical 2m/70cm dual band operation anthed ruggedness ,updated for today's ham radio enthusiasts.

Our UV-E5 with some attractive features.For European customers,1750Hz Burst tone is a impressive function.And the dual-band,dual frequency,dual-standby are also the big selling ponit for this radio.

There are other common features of this radio,such as high/low power switchable, 25kHz/12.5kHz switchable, emergency alert,CTCSS/CDCSS,low battery alert,battery saver,time-out timer,keypad lock etc.

Our UV-E5 has got the CE,FCC and ROHS approvals.

Our UV-E5 with a bottom-line price.We are willing to receive your specific enquiry at an early date!

	Dual-Band ,Dual Frequency,Dual Standby
	136-174 & 400-470 MHz (TX/RX) 65-108MHz (FM Radio )

	Wideband Coverage
	Two bandwidth versions (400–470MHz& 136-174MHz) all have switchable 12.5/25kHz width by channel, and 5/6.25kHz frequency pitch making all the new UHF&VHF channels available for trunking.

	Channel steps (2.5/5K/6.25K/10K/12.5K/25K)
	Different channel steps 2.5/ 5K/6.25K/10K/12.5K/25K is optional to confirm with the different need.

	Scan Function
	The UV-E5 allows CTCSS/DCS Tone scan,FM Radio frequency scan,VFO scan.

	500mW Loud Audio
	The 36mm large speaker delivers 500mW of loud and intelligible audio even in noisy environments

	Wideband Coverage
	Two bandwidth versions (400–470MHz&136-174MHz) all have switchable 12.5/25kHz width by channel, and 5/6.25kHz frequency pitch making all the new UHF&VHF channels available for trunking.

	Dual-band ,Dual display,Dual Watch
	UV-E5 work in two bands,Display two bands on the screen and with dual watch function

	Powerful 5W of Output Power
	The UV-E5 offers a just-right mix of power and size 5 watts of high power which will work to get your message through. Get up to 19 hours* of operating time with the Li-ion battery pack (BP-1805L) . All that power comes is an easy to hold and use size – not too big, not too small. * Typical operation. 5:5:90 duty cycle with power save on.

	Channel Name Editing
	You can edit the channel name by yourself,it is very useful for the user.

	Internal VOX function
	The UV-E5 has an internal VOX (Voice Operated Transmission) function for convenient hands-free operation when used with a compatible optional headset and adapter cable. Also, the VOX level and VOX delay time are adjustable.

	Built-in CTCSS/DCS
	CTCSS and DTCS tone codes provide quiet stand-by and allow you to use tone-access repeaters. Pocket beep alerts you when a matching tone frequency is received. Tone scan detects the subaudible tone that is used for repeater access.

	128 Memory Channels
	Up to 128 regular memory channels can be stored with a 6-character channel names, tone and duplex settings.

	Wide/Narrow Bandwidth Selectable
	Different channel spacing 25KHz/12.5KHz are optional to confirm with the regulations of different countries.

	Scan Features
	The UV-E5 allows CTCSS/DCS Tone scan,FM Radio frequency scan,VFO scan.

Technical Specification   Model UV-E5   Frequency Range 136-174 & 400-470 MHz (TX/RX)   Channel Number 128   Channel Spacing 2.5/5/6.25/25/12.5KHz   Frequency Stability 2.5ppm   Operating Voltage 7.4V   Battery Type 1800 mAh (Lithium Battery)   Operating Temperature -30?C-+60?C   Standby Current 50mA   Antenna Impedance 50O   Dimension(without antenna&battery 58*110*32 mm   Weight 205 g (with antenna&battery) Transmitter   Power Output 5 Watts/1 Watts   Modulation 16K?F3E /8K?F3E   Spurious and Harmonious -36dBm<1GHz -30dBm>1GHz   FM Noise 45dB(N)/42dB(W)   Adjacent Channel Power 60dB   Audio Distortion =5% Receiver   Sensitivity (12dB SINAD) 0.2uV   Squelch Selectivity 0.15uV   Adjacent Channel Selectivity =65dB   Spurious Response Rejection -60dB   Audio Power Output 500mW   Audio Distortion =10%

Samsung Galaxy S III

A review of the Samsung Galaxy S III... it is huge, but has some innovative features including:

"Smart Stay. The phone’s front-facing camera looks for your eyes. When you look away, the screen dims to save power; it brightens back up when you return your gaze."

"Buddy Shot. The Galaxy’s face recognition software knows whose face is in the scene. The first time you take a photo of someone, you can type in the subject’s name — your mom, for example. Thereafter, whenever you take her photo, one tap sends it to her without your having to fuss with entering an address."

"Direct Call. If a texting conversation is getting too complicated, just lift the phone to your ear. It calls your texting partner, no taps needed."

"Tap to top. Swat the top edge of the phone to jump to the top of a list."

"Instant muting. Mute audio and video playback by covering the screen with your hand, as though to say, “Shhhh!” Mute incoming rings and notifications by turning the phone face down on the table — in a meeting, for example."

"Palm swipe capture. Save an image of the screen by wiping the edge of your hand across it, as though you’re the scanner of a photocopying machine."

And my favorite:

"There’s another crazy-great idea in TecTiles: small, embedded-circuit stickers ($15 for five). When your phone gets near a sticker, it activates some task that you’ve selected from a list of dozens in the free TecTiles app: make a call, send a text, adjust a phone setting and so on. "

I'd put one in my usual pew at church to automatically silence my phone.

Hawaii Radio Sales

Hawaii Radio Sales (NH7QH Radio Supplies) has updated their website with a lot of new items including the Baofeng UV-5R and the Baofeng UV-3R+ Plus. He's now carrying the UV-5R since it got the nod from the FCC.

Swiss Defense

Very interesting... A book about the Swiss infrastructure and their plans to destroy bridges and close tunnels as a component of national defense. Comments on the BLDG Blog and on Bruce Schneier's blog indicate that some of the information is dated, but I still find the concept fascinating. I also learned that one of my favorite treats can also be used to stop tank invasions.



Via Bruce Schneier

Feelings

You can use this chart of median net worth by age to a) feel good about where you fall, b) feel bad about where you fall, or c) feel bad about the overall state of things.

Technology, Ethics, and Music

Hippies are evil. Big business is evil. And I'm stuck in the middle. Makes me glad I don't buy a lot of music... a few iTunes downloads and whatever is on the radio meets my needs.

"I've only bought 15 CDs in my lifetime. Yet, my entire iTunes library exceeds 11,000 songs."

And the response:

"I applaud your courage in admitting you do not pay for music, and that you do not want to but you are grappling with the moral implications. I just think that you have been presented with some false choices by what sounds a lot like what we hear from the 'Free Culture' adherents."

Deal Alert: Antenna for $3.71

From Hans (PD0AC):

"This seems totally wrong: a replacement antenna (SMA Female) for the Wouxun, Quansheng or UV-5R for a price that won’t buy you a decent burger."

He's not had it in his hand, but thinks it is worth the risk.