Eat Mor Chickin

Some fun stuff on the message boards... "Got cow sound (background) when Tx and Rx Test !!!"

New Radios? Yaesu FT-898A and Icom ID-51

KD8BIG's got a picture, but no info yet on the Yaesu FT-898A. This site says it is a hoax and in their version of the picture, you can see the misspelled "reciever."

G4ILO has some information and a picture of Icom's new HT, the ID-51. Julian says "However it is nice to see a manufacturer breaking the mould for HT user interfaces which have changed little for the last 20 years."  I've not been a ham for anywhere near 20 years, but coming from the IT world, it does appear they are starting to adopt other technologies to extend the capabilities of new radios. USB connections and SD cards - oh my!

Also at RigPix, a close-up of the ID-51.

I guess I am going to have to start checking out the RigPix site on a more regular basis.

Rules and Labels

From the UV-5R Yahoo Group:

"I purchased a 3600 mAhr battery from a Chinese vendor.

Got an interesting note from them.
It said that due to fire hazard, the China Post was no longer accepting high
capacity Li-Ion batteries for air shipment.

So the note continued... when you receive the battery from China Post via air,
please remove the sticker from the battery that says "Ni-Mh Battery" that covers
the originial "Li-Ion" battery information.

Well, that's ONE way to handle it."

If only all hardware changes were as easy as removing a label.

Unwanted Invites

If you are on Facebook, get ready for a flood of unwanted invites - Farmville 2.

Vero Telecom UV-5E: Update - 520MHz

I got an e-mail from Vero Telecom regarding the UV-E5 Mark II. At first, I thought it was just a repeat of a previous e-mail, but showing the UV-5E in the usual color varieties. However, I quickly realized they were pointing out the range up to 520MHz. The note on the side also says "You Can Control The TX and RX Frequency Range By Yourself Via Software. The Vero Telecom website does not seem to have been updated yet with the new information.

Nanfone NF-369

So in addition to the Nanfone NF-769 Super Mini, I now see the Nanfone NF-369 as a VHF option. Well, I wanted VHF, but now I am going to say I wish this was a little smaller. Some people just can't be pleased.



Nanfone NF-369 VHF 136-174Mhz Professional FM Radio -$46.00

-Built-in FM radio
-Repeater Offset on/off
-Repeater offset direction setting
-RX TX CTCSS/DCS adjustable independence
-Dual-band standby
-BCLO
-VOX
-Emergency Alert
-Channel Scan
-101channel (1 Emergency Channel)
-Timer -out-Timer
-CTCSS 50/DCS 83
-Wide/Narrow Bandwidth
-Step: 5K/12.5K

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Frequency range: VHF 136-174MHz
Voltage: 3.7V
Channel: 100
Channel spacing: 12.5/25KHZ
Operating temperature range: -10℃～+55℃
Battery: 1200mAh Li-ion
Antenna Impedence: 50 ohm
Size: 81（W）×50(H) ×26mm(D)

TRANSMITTER
Power output: 0.5W/2W
Emission current: ≤0.35A
Modulate distortion: ≤5%
Repand radiation: -65dB
Maximum SNR: ≥42dB

RECEIVER
Reference sensitivity: -122dbm
Audio output: 500mW
Adjacent Channel selection: 65dB
Intermodulation rejection: 55dB

Each set PACKAGE CONTAIN
1x NANFONE NF-369 (VHF 136-174Mhz)
1x 3.7V 1200mah Li-ion Battery Pack
1x VHF Antenna.
1x Belt Clip.
1x ENG Manual

Don't Worry, Be Happy Science

Nanfone NF-769: UHF Super Mini

If the display-less "lucky stone" isn't for you, how about the Nanfone NF-769? (I still want VHF instead of UHF.)



NANFONE NF-769 UHF Super Mini Two Way Radio - $29.50

Specifications:

Dimension : 95*35*17mm
Frequency :25CH (448.7500-449.2625Mhz)
Output power :0.5w
25 channels
Channel selection
Volume adjustable
56 CTCSS Setting (67HZ ~260Hz)
Squelch ( 1-6)
Beeper On /Off
Roger set
Standard 3.5mm external jack for speaker and PTT

AnyTone AT-588UV: Import Communications

As part of his one, two punch, Ed may soon be selling the AnyTone AT-588UV mobile. He expressed his interest in the AT-588UV when the KG-UV920R came out with a whimper:

"Anytone Dual Band Mobile  -  AT-588UV

For the past two years, I have consulted with Anytone as they developed their dual band mobile radio.  Anytone send a non-working model of the radio for me to show at the Dayton Hamvention (Wouxun would not send anything).  Anytone is now sending a working model (for free!) and says full production will begin in early August.  Anytone has quoted a price that lets me know this radio will retail in the $250-$275 range.  It will be Part 90 Certified and will have some wide-band receive ranges, including AM aircraft.  I look forward to working with this company and expect their mobile to be a big seller."

So they missed the demo date by a smidget and they are at the top of the price range ($275), but he seems very high on it. Ed's listing is here.

September 1, 2012
We are testing our sample model now.  Results are GREAT so far.This could be the Chinese dual band mobile that takes the prize!

Features:

• Receive Range     (FM)  134-174, 200-260, 350-400, 400-520 MHz  &  FM Broadcast
                              (AM)  118-134 MHz (Air Band)
• Transmit Range   (FM)  134-174, 400-490 MHz
• Output Power       50, 35, 10 & 5 Watts
• Bandwidth            Wide (25 kHz)  &  Narrow (12.5 kHz)
• Tuning Step          2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25 & 50 kHz
• True Dual Receive - receive two signals at the same time or second side can be muted while transmitting
• Separate Tuning Knob and Volume Control, each side
• Separate Function Buttons, each side
• Either side can be VHF or UHF at any time  -  VU, UV, UU, VV
• Cross-Band Repeat (that works!)
• Alphanumeric Display
• 4 x 256 Memory Channels
• CTCSS, DCS, DTMF, ANI, PTT ID, 2Tone/5Tone Encode & Decode
• Scrambler Option
• DTMF Microphone
• Detachable Control Head (CAT5 separation cable)
• Computer Programmable
• FCC Part 90 Certified

Thanks to Nate for pointing out the updates on Ed's site.

Wouxun KG-UV920R: Import Communications May Not Sell the KG-UV920R

ImportCommunications.com:

"Due to the disappointing performance and excessive costs of the sample models,we are unsure if we will carry this Wouxun model in the future."