Bucket Cross-Band Repeater

A cross-band repeater in a bucket project:

"The “Bucket Repeater” is a battery powered cross-band VHF/UHF repeater in a weather proof enclosure that can operate unattended for a week or more, and be remotely activated or deactivated from miles away as needed."

He uses a Puxing PX-UV973 for the radio and has a complete parts list.

Via AR-15 Ham Radio Forum

Baofeng UV-5X: Happy New Year 2015!

Nate sent me a link to the "2015 Exclusive Sale" of the Baofeng UV-5X. You can run over it or drown it!

BAOFENG UV-5X UHF+VHF Dual Band/Dual Watch Two-Way Radio FM Function
Kindly reminder:
It is a thin layer of protective film on the screen, not scratches. To tear it off while using is not recommended,
as such layer protects the screen well.Features:
 1. Dual-band handheld transceiver with display function menu on the display “LCD”
 2. DTMF encoded
 3. Lithium-ion battery with high capacity
 4. Commercial FM radio receiver (65 MHz ~ 108MHz)
 5. Incorporates 105 codes “DCS” and 50 privacy codes “CTCSS” programmable
 6. Function “VOX” (voice operated transmission)
 8. Alarm function
 9. Up to 128 memory channels
10.Broadband (wide) / Narrowband (narrow), selectable
11.High power / low (5W/1W) selectable
12.Display illumination and programmable keyboard
13.Function “beep” on the keyboard
14.Dual watch/dual reception
15.Selectable frequency step 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25kHz
16.Function “OFFSET” (frequency offset for repeater access)
17.Battery saving function “SAVE”
18.Timer transmission “TOT” programmable
19.Selecting the Scan Mode
20.Function Busy Channel Lock “BCLO”
21.Built-in RX CTCSS/DCS scan
22.Built-in LED flashlight
23.Programmable by PC
24.Level threshold “Squelch” adjustable from 0 to 9
25.Crossband reception
26.Tone end of transmission
27.Built-in key lock
How to set the frequency you want?Have you see the button of VFO/MR? That's it! By this button you can switch the mode between frequency and channel.
- First turn on your tranceiver, press the VFO/MR, make sure it is on frequency mode;
- Second,press the numbers on keypad directly to enter the frequency, for instance: 5 2 0 0 0 0.
Congratulations, now the frequency of 520 is set well.


Specification:
General
- Frequency Range: VHF 136-174 MHz (Rx/Tx). UHF 400-520MHz (Rx/Tx);
                65MHz ~ 108MHz (Only commercial FM radio reception)
- Memory channels: Up to 128 channels
- Frequency stability: 2.5ppm
- Frequency step: 2.5KHz/5KHz/6.25KHz/10KHz/12.5KHz/25KHz
- Antenna impedance: 50Ω
- Operating temperature: -20°C to +60°C
- Supply voltage: Rechargeable Lithium-ion 7.4V/1800mAh
- Consumption in standby: ≤ 75mA
- Consumption in reception: 380mA
- Consumption in transmission: ≤ 1.4A
- Mode of Operation: Simple or semi-duplex
- Duty cycle: 03/03/54 min (Rx/Tx/Standby)
- Dimension: 110x58x33 mm
- Weight: 222g (included battery+ antenna)

Transmitter
- RF power: 4W/1W
- Type of modulation: FM
- Emission class: 16kΦF3E / 11kΦF3E (W/N)
- Maximum deviation: ≤ ±5kHz / ≤ ±2.5kHz(W/N)
- Spurious emissions: <-60db br="">
Receiver- Receiver sensitivity: 0.2uV(at 12dB SINAD)
- Intermodulation: 60dB
- Audio Output: 1000mW
- Adjacent channel selectivity: 65/60dB

Power Adapter
- Input: AC100-240V, 50-60Hz; Output: DC10V/500mA; Plug Type: US

Package contents:1x BAOFENG UV-5X FM Two-Way Radio Body (One 7.4V/1800mAh Battery included)
1x Antenna
1x Power Adapter
1x Belt Clip
1x Battery Charger
1x Earpiece
1x Hand Strap
1x User Manual

Pitch Perfect

I lost my man card long ago.

Pitch Perfect for $4 with free shipping at Target.

And the trailer for Pitch Perfect 2.

Picking the Perfect Running Shoe

Another running related infograph... this one for picking the best running shoe so you can run 26.2 miles more or less.


Source: Fix.com

And you should pick up two different pairs:

"The results of two studies, one published in British Journal of Sports Medicine and the other in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, suggest that runners who train in more than one pair of shoes were indeed at a reduced risk for injury. The researchers suggest that the parallel use of more than one pair of running shoes varies the load applied to the musculoskeletal system, which can help protect runners from injury."

So basically, I'm doing it wrong.

Intel Wireless AC 7260 Update

So I was having a problem with my Intel AC 7260 wireless card using the VHT (802.11ac) mode. I would get better performance by forcing it to HT (802.11n). We updated to AOS 6.3.1.13 on the controllers/access points and I am getting much better results on VHT now. I cannot say if the problem is with Intel or Aruba, but clearly the mix was limiting my performance.


New results with VHT

Client connecting to server, TCP port 5001

TCP window size:  512 KByte

------------------------------------------------------------

[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  35.2 MBytes   148 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  34.2 MBytes   144 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  34.6 MBytes   145 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  34.4 MBytes   144 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  34.8 MBytes   146 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   173 MBytes   145 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  32.6 MBytes   137 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  36.0 MBytes   151 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  36.0 MBytes   151 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  37.5 MBytes   157 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  34.0 MBytes   143 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   177 MBytes   148 Mbits/sec

Old results with VHT

Client connecting to server, TCP port 5001

TCP window size:  512 KByte

------------------------------------------------------------

[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  24.0 MBytes   101 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  24.1 MBytes   101 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  30.2 MBytes   127 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  30.8 MBytes   129 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  28.1 MBytes   118 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   137 MBytes   115 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  6.67 MBytes  28.0 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  6.87 MBytes  28.8 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  4.33 MBytes  18.2 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  6.17 MBytes  25.9 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  6.05 MBytes  25.4 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.1 sec  30.4 MBytes  25.2 Mbits/sec

Speettest.net results are better now, too.

Elecraft KX3 2M Transverter Install Pics

Because 2 meters or bust!

Elecraft KX3 2M Transverter Install Pics

B.A.R.N.

A Baofeng Facebook community... the Baofeng Amateur Radio Network (BARN).

And now for something completely different

No. It's not.

Emergency Antenna Platform System (EAPS)

I will see your Roomba and raise you an Emergency Antenna Platform System (EAPS):

"The Emergency Antenna Platform System was designed by Amateur Radio operators (Hams) to assist in providing emergency communications during times of need, specifically natural disasters that disrupt normal communications. During an emergency Hams can be called upon to setup an ad hoc communications post for a shelter or medical station, EAPS can be used to raise radio antennas to an optimal height using an available lamp post, flag pole, or most any vertical structure."

Yaesu FT-991: FCC

Out of my price range...

New Yaesu FT-991 HF/50Mhz, 144/440Mhz Portable Transceiver Approved by FCC http://t.co/fzdI4WWAYh via @worldwidedx #hamradio
— moleculo (@moleculo) November 25, 2014