Red Lightning... link here if the embed doesn't work.
Via Deadspin
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Shoes
If you find something you like, stick with it. Especially if you don't have a lot of money and can use an Amazon gift card to buy the out of production model for cheaper than anything at the local running stores.
The ASICS GT-2170 times three (pair). I don't know how many miles the oldest pair had (probably 400+), but the middle pair has 500+ miles. The newest pair has 3.01 miles.
The ASICS GT-2170 times three (pair). I don't know how many miles the oldest pair had (probably 400+), but the middle pair has 500+ miles. The newest pair has 3.01 miles.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Impact and Perception
I posted about the Wouxun problem.
Hans posted about the Wouxun problem.
Matt posted about the Wouxun problem.
David posted about the Wouxun problem.
It is making the rounds on the Yahoo Group.
It is making the rounds on the forums like eHam.net, QRZ, and AR-15, CalGuns.net.
[ EDIT TO ADD: ] The QRPer posted about the Wouxun problem.
That's in less than 24 hours. I know we don't represent a huge part of the total internet, but for the Chinese radios, we are what I like to call a non-trivial number. Wouxun had a huge lead on the other manufacturers. The KG-UV920R was a disappointment. Losing the guy that bought these radios to the US market is another step back. Culture issue? Poor management? Inability to manufacture? With alternatives like Baofeng, AnyTone, and a multitude of others, more problems or perceived problems* will make them go the way of AOL.
* Especially considering the price increases as they became more popular. My first Wouxun was less than $110.
Hans posted about the Wouxun problem.
Matt posted about the Wouxun problem.
David posted about the Wouxun problem.
It is making the rounds on the Yahoo Group.
It is making the rounds on the forums like eHam.net, QRZ, and AR-15, CalGuns.net.
[ EDIT TO ADD: ] The QRPer posted about the Wouxun problem.
That's in less than 24 hours. I know we don't represent a huge part of the total internet, but for the Chinese radios, we are what I like to call a non-trivial number. Wouxun had a huge lead on the other manufacturers. The KG-UV920R was a disappointment. Losing the guy that bought these radios to the US market is another step back. Culture issue? Poor management? Inability to manufacture? With alternatives like Baofeng, AnyTone, and a multitude of others, more problems or perceived problems* will make them go the way of AOL.
* Especially considering the price increases as they became more popular. My first Wouxun was less than $110.
Wouxun Defects
In addition to announcing the AT-3318UV-A and the end of his relationship with Wouxun, Ed takes some parting shots about the quality of the Wouxun radios, the warranties, and services:
- "flop" of a dual band mobile
- ordering difficulties
- lack of a real warranty, only repairs
- memory loss problem on all dual band radios
The last one has the most direct impact to owners. According to Ed, all dual bands have a chip that may go bad causing the radio to revert to Chinese, display the channel numbers, and sometimes erase the programmed channels. Reprogramming the radio might fix it - or only until the power is cycled again.
- "flop" of a dual band mobile
- ordering difficulties
- lack of a real warranty, only repairs
- memory loss problem on all dual band radios
The last one has the most direct impact to owners. According to Ed, all dual bands have a chip that may go bad causing the radio to revert to Chinese, display the channel numbers, and sometimes erase the programmed channels. Reprogramming the radio might fix it - or only until the power is cycled again.
Best and Worst of 2013
I was going to do a list, but I've been lazy busy. Lucky for me, Hans has updated his "China’s Best and Worst" list for 2013. He does his rankings based on the technical analysis.
Looks like I am going to do a list of sorts after all...
HTs
From a non-technical perspective, I would say looking at the GT-3 has been fun. I'd like to get a ZT-2R as its wide-receive might make it a better micro HT to have around than the UV-3R.
Mobiles
I got to play with the KG-UV950P and learned quite a bit during the testing process. (Thanks again to Buy Two Way Radios for the loaner.) I also was really excited about the VV-808 when it appeared as an inexpensive single band mobile.
HF
The Xiegu X1MKII has taken off - so much that I've not kept up with all the news/mods/firmwares/etc. And I wish that I'd see more about the HF-One MKII.
As for 2014, hopefully we will continue to see advances across the board including the digital radios that are starting to appear. (And hopefully I will get a job, too!)
Looks like I am going to do a list of sorts after all...
HTs
From a non-technical perspective, I would say looking at the GT-3 has been fun. I'd like to get a ZT-2R as its wide-receive might make it a better micro HT to have around than the UV-3R.
Mobiles
I got to play with the KG-UV950P and learned quite a bit during the testing process. (Thanks again to Buy Two Way Radios for the loaner.) I also was really excited about the VV-808 when it appeared as an inexpensive single band mobile.
HF
The Xiegu X1MKII has taken off - so much that I've not kept up with all the news/mods/firmwares/etc. And I wish that I'd see more about the HF-One MKII.
As for 2014, hopefully we will continue to see advances across the board including the digital radios that are starting to appear. (And hopefully I will get a job, too!)
Sunday, January 5, 2014
AnyTone AT-3318UV-A
I had not seen much from Ed at Import Communications. Now I know why. He is ending his relationship with Wouxun. He is selling off his current inventory of the Wouxun KG-UV6D for $109.95 (inc free AA Pack).
And for his next big announcement, he is introducing a line of AnyTone radios - the AT-3318UV. (Astute readers will recall that Buddy asked me what I knew about this radio in July. My answer was not much.) I suspect these will become more popular just because of the visibility that Ed will bring to it.
First off is the AT-3318UV-A for $99.95:
There is a Yahoo Group setup for the AT-3318UV.
I'll post more as I learn more.
And for his next big announcement, he is introducing a line of AnyTone radios - the AT-3318UV. (Astute readers will recall that Buddy asked me what I knew about this radio in July. My answer was not much.) I suspect these will become more popular just because of the visibility that Ed will bring to it.
First off is the AT-3318UV-A for $99.95:
- 6 Watts VHF
- 5 Watts UHF
- 136-174 MHz & 420-520 MHz & FM Broadcast
- Wide Band & Narrow Band
- 2.5 kHz tuning step for splinter frequencies
- 5/Tone encode and decode
- 199 Channels with Alpha Tags
- Squelch level adjustable for each channel
- Squelch tail elimination
- CTCSS that really works - when scanning channels, radio will stop ONLY when CTCSS tone is present
- VFO Scanning - frequency limits can be set for both VHF & UHF
- Channel Scanning - scanned channels can be ADDED or REMOVED via the keypad
- Frequency Reverse button - exchanges TX & RX frequencies
- Talk Around button - sets TX frequency to repeater's output frequency
- Programmable by computer
- EASY to manually program
- Keypad totally lockable to meet FCC Part 90 requirements
There is a Yahoo Group setup for the AT-3318UV.
I'll post more as I learn more.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Baofeng GT-3 and BF-E500S
I got a reply from the 409Shop regarding the BF-E500S and if it shared internals with the GT-3:
"sorry, since we haven't GT-3 and we don't know that"As a reminder, the response from Baofeng said:
"I am sorry that I do not know the radio in 409 shop is same or not with our GT-3. I think you should confirm this with them."To sum up... your guess is as good as theirs.
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