Weierwei VEV-789 and VEV-889: Pricing

I got an e-mail back from the folks at Weierwei Radios with pricing for single units of the VEV-789 and VEV-889.

VEV-789VHF and 898UHF = $163

Also, the VEV-768 is $146. I just noticed the model on the site is actually listed as a VEV-768+. I don't know if that changed or I missed it.

Updates from Hans

KSUN KS-8R
What's different from all the others? Two memory banks with 128 spots each.

Quansheng TG-620
What's different from all the others? 245 MHz for Thailand or somewhere similar. I thought they had to be red, too.

Tesunho/EDCGear TH-UV7R
What's different from all the others? Colors for the operator who operates in operations. I want to build one of my AR-15 lowers in FDE, so maybe I need one of these to match.

Monoprice and Amazon Basics

I've bought my share of inexpensive electronics. If I need some cables, adapters, or other miscellaneous small electronics and I am wanting to save money, but avoid some risk, I usually check two places.

Monoprice (Coupon "xmasinjuly" good for 5% off today and tomorrow.) - I've bought a ton of network patch cables from them along with other cables.

- or -

Amazon Basics - These are Amazon store brand electronics. I've had bad luck with iPhone chargers and the like from overseas. Amazon's stuff is higher quality without paying a premium.

I fixed something.

My iPhone 5 thought the headphones were plugged in - even though they weren't. This meant no sound was coming out of the handset speaker.

I tried the fixes here, but what actually worked for me was removing almost all of the cotton from one end of a Q-tip. I gave it a little twist in the headphone jack cavity and pulled something out. That little black spec was the cause of all my problems. I was expecting a little metal shaving of some sort, but it looked more like lent.

Tower Build

That's a big hole.

Powerwerx DB-750X Dual Band Mobile Radio

I saw this advertised in the latest QST: Powerwerx DB-750X Dual Band VHF/UHF 750 Channel Commercial Mobile Radio - on sale for $299.99.

The manual is here (PDF). I've yanked the whole description from the Powerwerx page:

All of the features you want at an affordable price. The newest mobile added to the Powerwerx lineup features Narrow band transmit (2.5 KHz) except on the Amateur bands (selectable Wide or Narrow RX), true dual-band receive (V+V, U+U, V+U, U+V), Wide RX/TX 136-174/400-490 MHz, AM aircraft Receive 108-136 MHz and user selectable multi-colored LCD display. Since this is a Commercial Land Mobile Multi-band radio, the DB-750X ships keyboard locked. The RPS-DB750X-USB programming software kit is required to initially unlock and program this radio before use.

Ideal for Fire, Police, FEMA, CAP, security patrols, business communications, schools, construction crews, universities, and other organizations that have FCC licensed frequencies. Includes 2.5 KHz channel step for FCC 2013 narrowband compliance.

DB-750X Model Features

• 2.5 step for FCC 2013 narrowband compliance ^New!
• 750 memory channels
• 10 Memory Banks (with bank linking)
• 7 Character Alpha-Numeric Display
• Dual Receive Operation w/ separate Volume Controls
• Narrow band (2.5 KHz) operation for Land Mobile frequencies (FCC Part 90)
• Wide band (5.0 KHz) operation for Amateur frequencies
• Optional Base Station Configuration

FCC Approval

The DB-750X is Part 90 certified for commercial use. CE & FCC Part 90 certified.

Powerwerx Warranty Policy

• 12 month limited warranty on the radio against defects in materials and workmanship
• For complete warranty information please read the Powerwerx Limited Warranty Policy (PDF)

Standard Accessories Included with Every Radio

• Dual band transceiver w/ removable control head
• DTMF Microphone
• DC Power Cable
• Mobile Mounting Bracket (w/ mounting screws)
• English user manual

Features

True Dual band Receive (VHF+UHF, VHF+VHF, UHF+UHF) 7 Character Dual alpha numeric, backlit display 4 Selectable high/low power settings per band (VHF: 50/20/10/5W) (UHF: 40/25/10/5W) Single or Dual Receive/Display Modes User selectable multi-colored LCD display 750 Memory Channels w/ 10 Banks

FCC 2013 Narrowband compliant (2.5 kHz) Power on display: show battery voltage Built-in CTCSS / DCS per channel Programmable Time Out Timer (TOT) Selectable step sizes of 2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 25 kHz Multiple scan modes including priority scan

Specifications DB-750X

Frequency Receive Range
VHF: 108-136 MHz (AM)
VHF: 136-174 MHz (FM Wide or Narrow)
VHF: 220-260 MHz (FM Wide or Narrow)
UHF: 350-490 MHz (FM Wide or Narrow)

Frequency Transmit Range

VHF: 136-143.995 MHz (FM Narrow)
VHF: 144-147.995 (FM Wide or Narrow)
VHF: 148-174 MHz (FM Narrow)
UHF: 400-429.995 MHz (FM Narrow)
UHF: 430-449.995 MHz (FM Wide or Narrow)
UHF: 450-469.995 MHz (FM Narrow)
UHF: 470-490 MHz (FM Wide or Narrow)

Memory Channels 750 channels
Operating Voltage 13.8 VDC
Operating Temperature -22°F to 140°F (-30°C to +60°C)
Dimensions (W x H x D) 5.5 x 1.6 x 8.4 inches (140 x 42 x 211mm)
Weight 40.9 ounces (1159.5 grams)
RF Carrier Power VHF: 50/20/10/5W, UHF: 40/25/10/5W

Chromecast Teardown

Chromecast Teardown

(So this is how you take something apart without trashing it.)

Kirisun S780: Update

Some more info on the Kirisun S780.

I watched the following video at Han's place.



I also found (surprise!) a Yahoo Group for the S780.

Which then lead me to this most excellent blog - http://radiosification.blogspot.com:

"This blog will be closely linked with my YouTube account and will feature similar themes. I aim to cover topics to do with radio including the use of scanners; software defined radio; PMR446; UHF and VHF radio; amateur radio; shortwave listening; digital modes such as DMR, dPMR, NXDN, TETRA, maybe even D-STAR, and decoding some of these modes."

Which, of course, turns out to be the same person that did the video. He's got a lot of good info on the S780. I've added him to my RSS feed.

Watching and reading all the stuff above has me even more interested in the S780 - despite it being outside my normal price range.

Chromecast

Chromecast - a $35 (plus shipping/tax) HDMI dongle for streaming video to your TV. It will stream from Chrome, Youtube, and Netflix. They same more to come - Amazon maybe? You can control it from a PC or tablet. Buy now and you get 3 months of Netflix free. I have a Wii for Netflix in our living room, but the TV in our bedroom isn't connected at all.

I'm in for one.

harrymccracken Now Google’s unveiling Chromecast, a tiny HD-streaming gizmo you plug into a TV’s HDMI. Yup, another Google approach to Net-enabling TVs. Wed, Jul 24 12:51:50 from Tweetbot for iOS

Word of the Day

Malaise.