Jeff Davis (KE9V) - Google+ Public Posts
///////////////////////////////////////////
ASTRO PI: MISSION UPDATE 6 - PAYLOAD HANDOVER
Posted: 09 Oct 2015 04:37 PM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KE9V-...bc/hbKVLRWTYaL
ASTRO PI: MISSION UPDATE 6 – PAYLOAD HANDOVER
Two specially augmented Raspberry Pis (called Astro Pis) are being launched
to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of British ESA Astronaut
Tim Peake’s mission starting in December. The launch date is December the
15th.
#raspberrypi Â*
Astro Pi: Mission Update 6 - Payload Handover - Raspberry Pi
///////////////////////////////////////////
New Nexus 6p at 240 FPS
Posted: 09 Oct 2015 04:29 PM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KE9V-...Dw/FBXjpLLtp5b
New Nexus 6p at 240 FPS
Getting excited? I am!
#google Â* #nexus Â*
Nexus 6P captures mesmerizing footage of a hummingbird at 240 frames per
second
///////////////////////////////////////////
The New Heathkit
Posted: 09 Oct 2015 04:25 PM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KE9V-...x8/NYhSnv5k8Nm
The New Heathkit
Some years ago a mystery group claimed to have bought the rights to the old
Heathkit name and promised they would be bringing the company back to its
former glory. Ham radio hearts began to beat faster and there was much
celebration in Whoville.
Fast forward several years and that promise was getting stale. But like a
cat, this enterprise seems to have many lives and they’ve suddenly bubbled
to the surface of ham radio news this week because, glory be, they’ve
finally got something to sell!
It’s an AM broadcast receiver kit. The Explorer Junior is a solid state,
TRF — Tuned Radio Frequency design available in six different accent
colors. It’s actually quite good looking although I’m not so sure everyone
will be crazy about the lack of a built-in speaker — you have to use
headphones with this one.
https://goo.gl/bpk2qy
They do provide two headphone jacks and suggest that users “share the magic
with a friend�.
I like the way they’ve pitched this thing, at least the verbiage used on
their Web site as they make the case for an AM broadcast band radio:
"Everywhere you go today, Internet and phone companies are following you.
Your cell phone, GPS, the WiFi networks you connect to, and cell towers
track your every step as you walk, drive, or sit at home. Your Internet
browser is fed a constant stream of tracking cookies, Flash supercookies,
passive-profiling target requests, and more. Search engines? Streaming
music services? Internet TV and video? Of course they do the same. And not
just you —all your family members are monitored and collated and indexed
too; these “services� make no distinction between adults and children".
"But when you tune around on an Explorer radio, no one is monitoring you.
Instead, you’re monitoring them. You choose what to listen to. When your
child (or grandchild) builds and listens to this radio, no electronics is
tracking and recording their every move. Privacy is restored".
Sounds downright yummy, doesn’t it?
You might think this first-step back into the world of making electronic
kits would be met by hordes of happy hams. Think again. Radio hams are
rarely happy and are notoriously grumpy and it seems the NEW Heathkit is
guilty of tugging on Superman’s cape.
Lot’s of sniping in the blogosphere about the price, the product, and one
dude is even complaining that the new kit doesn’t have vacuum tubes.
Does anyone honestly think that Heathkit was going to return to offering
the HW-101 circa 1975 — in the 21st century?
And about the price ($149.95) — it’s really not outrageous considering the
custom cabinet and when compared with other designer broadcast receivers it
seems almost reasonable.
http://goo.gl/veUyzB
Mind you, I’m not in the market. I’ve owned a lot of Heathkit equipment
through the years and suffered enough with the Benton Harbor Green Virus
for one lifetime.
I think the biggest mistake the new company might have made is assuming
that the ham radio market is a viable one for their new venture. Radio
amateur’s are cheap and anyone pitching a new product to them is either
completely nuts — or is holding an ace they’re not showing.
Maybe it’s the latter?
#hamradio Â*
Explorer Jr: TRF AM radio receiver kit - black case - GR-150-BK
///////////////////////////////////////////
Fox-1A is Now AO-85, Transponder Temporarily Active!
Posted: 09 Oct 2015 10:11 AM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KE9V-...po/VC4zoVFnLK9
Fox-1A is Now AO-85, Transponder Temporarily Active!
In what might have been record speed, AMSAT’s new Fox-1A satellite received
its OSCAR designation on the day of its launch, and its FM transponder has
been activated temporarily until 0000 UTC on October 10. AMSAT OSCAR Number
Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO, early today announced that Fox-1A is now
AO-85.
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/fox-1a...orarily-active
#hamradio Â* #satellite Â* #arrl Â* #amsat Â*
View full size
(554x462)
///////////////////////////////////////////
Exzavier Clubb and Justin Foran are operating the ham radio equipment
they've set up at Kingman...
Posted: 09 Oct 2015 10:07 AM PDT
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/KE9V-...4g/NpZ64gL8FiR
Exzavier Clubb and Justin Foran are operating the ham radio equipment
theyve set up at Kingman Middle School, part of student enrichment
activities offered last week while the school was on intercession break.
#hamradio Â*
Ham it up - in an educational way, of course - Kingman Daily Miner