iPad Mini

Here is the best review of the iPad Mini I have seen so far:

"Still, by staying out of the $199-tablet fray, Apple avoided the sort of market-eradicating scenario that might have instantly rendered the Android contenders irrelevant. If you’ve got around $200 to spend on a tablet, they remain well worth considering. 

If your budget’s got more wiggle room, the iPad Mini is the best compact-size tablet on the market. Apple didn’t build yet another bargain-basement special; it squeezed all of the big iPad’s industrial-design panache, software polish and third-party apps, and most of its technology, into a smaller thinner, lighter, lower-priced model. The result may be a product in a category of one — but I have a hunch it’s going to be an awfully popular category."

Chierda CD-UV55

Kight Radio has a new HT on his site - the Chierda CD-UV55 dual band:

"We were impressed with the quality and operation of this new handheld. Very easy to program by hand without reading the manual. Solid feel, 7 color LCD Readout. I like it ! A step up in quality from most Chinese Handhelds on the market. I couldn't stay away from this radio so I bought several. This is a good replacement for the Wouxun."

The radio is $99.95 USD.

Frequency Range	136~174MHz (receive/transmit), 350~390MHz (only receive), 400~470MHz (receive/transmit)
Power	VHF: 5W, UHF: 4W W
Channel	128
Working Voltage	7.4V V
Encryption	CTCSS,DCSS
Battery Capacity	1500 mAh
Standby Time	About 72 hours hour
Working Time	About 24 hours hour
Features	1.6" LCD display; FM:76~108MHz; Dual-band display, dual-standby
Packing List	1 x Walkie talkie
	1 x Battery
	1 x Antenna
	1 x Bracket
	1 x Strap
	1 x DC 10V charging station
	1  x Englich Manual

Anytone AT-588UV: Availability Update from Ed

Via the AT-588UV Yahoo Group:

"Anytone will produce a test run of 50 radios this week. I will receive a large number of these and will offer them for sale. Those that have requested notification on my web site will receive details by email.

A few of these first units have been promised to some of my dealers. The others will be offered for sale via my web site. First come first served.

Anytone has sought FCC certification for this model and is waiting for approval. These first 50 sold will NOT have the FCC certification sticker. The sticker will be provided after the sale. The first 50 sold will have the original microphone. The improved microphone, with built-in speaker will come with later production. I will furnish the improved microphone to the first customers, either free or at my costs.

Full production of this radio is scheduled for Nov 20. I will take pre-production orders right away, for delivery about Dec 1.

To receive information by email when all this is available, (plus prices, shipping, schedule, etc.) please click the "Request re-stock notice?" button on this web page....

If your name is already on this list, you do not need to enter it again.

Regards,Ed GriffinWouxun.US / Import Communicationswww.AT-588UV.com"

Kight Radio: Frequent Flyer Program

Not many details yet, but Kight Radio is developing a points-based customer loyalty program. Cool.

Magic Smoke

I always wondered where the magic smoke was stored and how you documented that in a diagram. Now I know.

Yahoo Group Numbers

The Yahoo Group for the Baofeng UV-5R is insane.

Since it started nine months ago, there have been over 11,000 messages - averaging almost 1,250 per month. September and October will both be over 2,000 each. At this point, it is almost unusable for me. I don't have the time to wade through that many messages - especially when they are mostly repeat issues. Most of which could be solved by searching the group or visiting sites like http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/.

A couple of points of reference...

The UV-3R group had about 3,000 messages over the same nine months. It broke 1,000 messages in a month once (Sept.). The Wouxun group had just over 2,000 for the same period and has never had more than 1,000 messages in a month going back to its start in 2009.

App vs Service

I like this definition...

asymco I have a simple rule to distinguish between an app and a service. If you have to supply a username and password to an app, it’s a service.Tue, Oct 16 12:32:52 from Twitter for Mac

TYT TH-9800: Quad Band Mobile in November

Dale reports that TYT has formally changed the label to a "Quad Band Mobile." He also says that production should start this month for a batch of test radios. He hopes to have the radios available in early November.

Anytone AT-588UV: Opinions

So, on the one hand, we have VA3ISP doing a hands on review of an early version of the AT-588UV. He makes several notes on his third day with the radio and says, "I am sorta bashing this radio at the moment but I haven’t really done much real world testing yet." He then provides his final analysis on the pre-release version - "Pure Garbage!" He lists the major faults as:

- RX audio is terrible. Constant static in the background even with transmitter in close proximity.
- Front end of radio is wide open like a barn door. I hear pager blasts from almost 1Mhz up the dial.
- Cannot store PL/CTCSS tones into memory from front panel.
- TX audio has an AGC problem. Audio volume goes up and down/
- No remote head bracket. It wasn't even in the making when I first spoke to them. They are now adding a bracket so you can remotely mount the head. ( What’s the use of a detachable face…. it’s not a car stereo )
- Beep when setting options is obnoxiously loud. Doesn't seem to be controllable with volume.

Contrast that with the comments from Ed and Dale.

Ed: "By the way, several dual band mobiles are being released, but the Anytone is far and away the best I've seen so far."

Dale: "AT-588UV is due out they say at the end of this month. We have tested the radios and everything checks out perfect."

They are talking about later versions, but there is a wide gap between garbage and best/perfect.

TYT TH-UV3R: $44.95 Sale at Kight Radio

A three day sale at Kight Radio Electronics on the TYT TH-UV3R for $44.95 USD. (Total cost with shipping and insurance is $52.34 USD.)