Squelch Threshold Adjustments

Jim (KC9HI) writes on the Baofeng UV-5R Yahoo Group about making squelch threshold adjustments through a software change to the image file:

"This capability isn't available in CHIRP (yet).

I am working on it and wouldn't mind a few testers. 

The oldest radios must get the settings from firmware and can't be adjusted. My UV-5R with BFB231 firmware can't be adjusted. 

I first tried this out on a UV-82L with success. Then later on a GT-3. Earlier this week, I got to try it on my own UV-82 and BF-F8HP radios. The difference is amazing. I don't know why Baofeng ships these radios with the squelch so "broken"."

 And continues:

"Here is your .img file back with the updated squelch settings. Make sure you have a backup image before you get started. I now have a backup here. ;-) 

I believe that you will now find that Squelch 9 can really squelch out stronger stations and you will have to reduce squelch to 6 or maybe 5 for normal operation.

If you like these settings, don't upload any other image file into your radio or they will be reset to the values in that image file. If you don't like these settings, or that don't appear to do anything, then just upload your original image file and everything will be as is was before."

I'll be following this to see how it develops.

Buy VV-898, Get Free BF-F8+

Get a #free Baofeng BF-F8+ #amateurradio when you buy a Leixen VV-898 mobile! http://t.co/JHqtQDXxuM @amatradio @brickolore #hamradio #hamr
— BuyTwoWayRadios.com (@2wayradios) January 5, 2015

Westeros Transit System

From FencingNArchery comes the Westeros Transit System.

Via WinterIsComing.net

Iowahawk 2016

The campaign promises are starting already...

I would be horrible at managing the US economy. So I won't. #Iowahawk2016
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 4, 2015

Instead of worrying about what other countries think about us, I will make them worry about what we think of them. #Iowahawk2016
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 4, 2015

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms: the theme of my inauguration party. #Iowahawk2016
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 4, 2015

I promise to create an economic depression and confine it to a 40 mile radius of the US capitol. #Iowahawk2016
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 4, 2015

Li-Fi and NLOS Lightwaves

Tangentially related...

Near Line of Sight (NLOS) Lightwave experiments

And Li-Fi:

NoteSlate SHIRO

A new year, a new video and more...

"Thank you for your patience and amazing support. This video is for you. It's showing drawing and writing on actual Noteslate SHIRO prototype, monochrome paper alike 6.8inch tablet device with simple pencil interface, the first and the earliest available Noteslate device. Paper replacement. Pre-order will be launched on 15th January 2015. We'll keep you posted. Thank you!"

There seems to be a lag between the writing and the appearance of the lines. Does it look that way to you? It says this is a prototype, so I will cut it some slack, but it doesn't look like the elegant paper replacement solution for which I was hoping.

Red Rising

And speaking of books, I just finished Red Rising. It was a $2 Kindle book, so no worries on the taking up space front. I really enjoyed it... put Harry Tris Ender Katniss Stark on Mars and that's a good starting point. I'm being glib, but it did have elements from each. And good news for me, the second book, Golden Son, comes out in three days.

Books - Purge Mode On!

If it's not nailed down, it's at risk for getting tossed, sold, recycled, etc.

Books from these authors didn't make the cut:

David Baldacci
Gene Kranz
Ken Follett
Larry Correia
Matthew Pearl
Nelson DeMille
Stephen Hunter
Tom Clancy
Tom Wolfe
W.E.B. Griffin

I'm not saying I don't like the books, but I'm still keeping a ton and I don't see me re-reading these anytime soon. For a lot of these, I've got stacks by each author.

I'll do another list of the authors I did keep.

Cisco Policy-Based Routing (PBR)

Configuring an ACL, route-map, and IP policy:

Evil Bit

This is an old April Fool's joke, but I wanted write the post, so I could easily find it later.

The Security Flag in the IPv4 Header

Request for Comments: 3514

RFC 3514          The Security Flag in the IPv4 Header      1 April 2003


   The bit field is laid out as follows:

             0
            +-+
            |E|
            +-+

   Currently-assigned values are defined as follows:

   0x0  If the bit is set to 0, the packet has no evil intent.  Hosts,
        network elements, etc., SHOULD assume that the packet is
        harmless, and SHOULD NOT take any defensive measures.  (We note
        that this part of the spec is already implemented by many common
        desktop operating systems.)

   0x1  If the bit is set to 1, the packet has evil intent.  Secure
        systems SHOULD try to defend themselves against such packets.
        Insecure systems MAY chose to crash, be penetrated, etc.