Homebrew Uniden Scanner Enhancement

Mike's got a new project:

"Richk107 and myself have come up with another great hardware design. It will fill the gap for a needed piece of hardware left out in all Uniden scanners.

We all know our past endeavor called "Uniden homebrew remote head" was a real success and without Rich it would not be possible.

This new device will be totally open source. The schematics, The code & all the needed hardware will all be posted here. This new hardware design will cost you no more then $20-$25 depending on how your source your parts which i will also list. 

Hopefully Uniden will wake up and start adding this to all of its future radios...Stay tuned"

Xiegu X108: Future II

So the X108 is not going away after all:

"I have just received some further info on the production of the X108 from a reliable source. Xiegu are continuing the production of the X108 and theirs no plans to stop doing so...I have asked if both versions will be produced ie standard and deluxe versions..I am awaiting an update on this so will keep you all posted with any further developments on this..

Wayne 2e0bvj"

(Last Thursday's post about the X108's possible demise.)

Shatner Stole Nimoy's Bike

A great story...


Via IJReview.

Spark Electron

The Spark Electron:

"The Electron is a tiny development kit for creating cellular-connected electronics projects and products. It comes with a SIM card and an affordable data plan for low-bandwidth things. 

Imagine a cellular-connected Arduino, but with a more powerful processor and a SIM card. It also comes with Spark's development tools and cloud platform for managing and interacting with your new connected hardware."

Specs:

- STM32F205 ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller
- 1MB Flash, 128K RAM
- Cellular modem: U-Blox SARA U-series (3G) or G-series (2G)
- 36 pins total: 28 GPIOs (D0-D13, A0-A13), plus TX/RX, 2 GNDs, VIN, VBAT, WKP, 3V3, RST
- Board dimensions: 2.0" x 0.8" x 0.3" (0.5" including headers)

Data plan:

"You don't need 4GB of data for a connected product, and you also don't need to spend $40/mo. We've negotiated global low-cost data plans for low-bandwidth products. Here's the story:
- $2.99/month for 1MB (approx. 20,000 messages per month)
- $0.99/each additional MB
- No contracts"

AnyTone Tech: TERMN-8R and OBLTR-8R Video

A quick video from AnyTone Tech...

Kight Radio

I don't know what made me think to go check out the Kight Radio site. I had not visited it for a long time. I was greeted with this message:

OPEN AGAIN SOON

The store was previously sold and run by a Chinese Company.

 

The store has now been taken back over by the original owner

Watch for all new and exciting products

The site was still intact on May 17, 2014. By December 17, 2014, it had the message above.

He's dead, Jim.

Leonard Nimoy dead at 83. (Auto-run video warning.)

LLAP.

K7AGE builds KB3VZL's Field Strength Meter

A neat little project...

Summary:

"I follow Richard's, KB3VZL, February 2015 QST (page 71) article about building a field strength meter into a DVM. He built the circuit to fit inside a Harbor Freight digital volt meter. You can get these free at Harbor Freight if you have the right coupons.

I also use my new ISO-TIP battery powered soldering iron.
http://www.iso-tip.com 

Three capacitors, two diodes and a pot is all that is needed. Build this on a small perf board and it fits easily inside the meter. 

Parts:
0.05 uF Cap
470 pF Cap
0.01 Cap
1N34 Diodes, you need 2
50K trim pot
hunk of perf board
switch
connector for antenna"

Xiegu X108: Future

I've not heard this anywhere else, but I saw this on the X108 Yahoo Group: 

"Well guys my suspicions have been confirmed and its looking like the Xiegu X108 is going out of production.. 

I am greatfull to a member who sent me some information he had back from Xiegu them selves kind of confirming that unless customer demand is higher they are going to stop production..

They only have deluxe models available at present and no standard versions are in the pipe line.. 

Great news looks like we have all been guinea pigs for Xiegu and the X108..
Im sure over the coming days now more info may come to light as to its future if any..
If any body can get more info regarding this then i'm sure the group will be gratefull.
Positive news would be good but im not holding my breath on this one.. 

Wayne 2e0bvj"

Anyone else got any info on this?

AnyTone Tech Hardware

Sounds like the radios should be available soon... and it would follow that we get to know pricing.

Is anyone else #excited? There was a plane that just landed in the USA - that has something on it... Hint Hint
— AnyTone Tech (@AnyToneTech) February 25, 2015