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Two of the big names in radio programming are CHIRP and RT Systems. But which one should you choose?

CHIRP is free, open source software that’s used with a third-party programming cable. RT Systems makes commercial programming kits which include both  software and a radio-specific cable.

CHIRP supports a large number of radios including:

• Anytone
  AT-5888UV
• Baofeng/Pofung
  F-11, UV-3R, UV-5R and variants, UV-6, UV-82/82L/82X, GT-5, UV-82C, UV-B5/B6, BF-666S/777S/888S, GT-1, BF-F8HP
• Icom
  IC-80AD, IC-2820H, ID-800H, ID-880H, IC-208H, IC-2200H, IC-91/92AD, IC-V/U82, ID-RPx000V/RP2x, IC-2100H, IC-2720H, IC-T70, IC-T7H, IC-T8A, IC-Q7A, IC-W32A, IC-746, IC-7200, IC-7000, ID-31A, ID-51A
• Kenwood
  TH-D7A/G, TH-D72, TH-F6A, TH-F7E, TH-G71A, TH-K2, TK-7102/8102/7108/8108, TM-271A, TM-281A, TM-D700, TM-D710, TM-G707, TM-V7A, TM-V71A
• Yaesu
  FT-1D, FT-60R, FT-90R, FT-817/ND, FT-857/D, FT-897, FT-1802M, FT-2800M, FT-1900R/2900M, FT-7800R/7900R, FT-8800R, FT-8900R, FTM-350R, VX-170, VX-2R, VX-3R, VX-5R, VX-6R, VX-7R, VX-8R
• Wouxun
  KG-UVD1P, KG-UV2D, KG-UV3D, KG-UV6D, KG-UV6X, KG-UV8D

The RT Systems software supports a much larger array of radios:

• Alinco
  DJ-A10, DJ-A40, DJ-100, DJ-175, DJ-G7, DJ-G29, DJ-V17, DJ-V27, DJ-V47, DJ-V57, DR-03, DR-06, DR-135, DR-138, DR-235, DR-435, DR-635, DR-638, DX-SR8
• Anytone
  AT-398, AT-518UV, AT-588, AT-3208, AT-3318UV-A, AT-3318UV-C, AT-3318UV-D, AT-3318UV-E, AT-5189, AT-5888UV, ANILE-8R, NSTIG-8R, OBLTR-8R, TERMN-8R
• Baofeng/Pofung
  997-S, BF-F8, BF-F9, BF-388A, BF-530, BF-888, GT-1, GT-3, GT-5, UV-B5/B6, UV-5R, UV-E5, UV-8HX, UV-F11, UV-66, UV-82, UV-89, UV-920, UV-TEN4
• Icom
  IC-R2, IC-T2, IC-R6, IC-Q7, IC-T7, IC-T8, IC-V8, IC-R10, IC-R20, IC-W32, IC-T70, IC-80, IC-V80, IC-T81, IC-U82, IC-V82, IC-V85, IC-T90, IC-91, IC-92, IC-208, IC-746, IC-756 PRO, IC-2100, IC-2200, IC-2300, IC-2720, IC-2730, IC-2820, IC-7000, IC-7100, IC-7200, IC-7410, IC-V8000, IC-9100, ID-31, ID-51, ID-51+, ID-800, ID-880, ID-5100
• Kenwood
  TH-K2, TH-F6/F7, TH-D7G, TH-K20, TH-D72, TM-V7A, TM-V71, TM-271/281, TM-471, TM-D700, TM-G707, TM-D710, TM-D710G, TS-480, TS-590, TS-590G, TS-2000
• TYT
  TH-UVF1, TH-UV3R, TH-UV6R, TH-UV8R, TH-UVF9, TH-UVF9D, TH-UVF8000D, TH-9000,  TH-9800
• Wouxun
  KG-UV23, KG-UV1DP, KG-UV5D, KG-UV6, KG-UV8D, KG-UV899, KG-UV920P, KG-UV950P
• Yaesu
  FT-1D, FT-50, FT-60, FT-90, FT-250, FT-270, FT-277, FT-450, FT-817/D, FT-847, FT-857/897/D, FT-950, FT-991, FT-1500, FT-1802, FT-1807, FT-1900, FT-1907, FT-2600, FT-2800, FT-2900, FT-3000, FT-7100, FT-7800, FT-7900, FT-8000, FT-8100, FT-8500, FT-8800, FT-8900, FT-DX3000, FT-DX1200, FTM-350, FTM-400, VR-160, VR-500, VX-1, VX-2, VX-3, VX-5, VX-6, VX-7, VX-8/D, VX-8G, VX-110/150, VX-120/170, VX-127/177

Both CHIRP and RT Systems support several other less popular radios not listed above.

Here are my questions:

Have you used CHIRP or RT Systems programming software? What are your thoughts?

If you’ve used both, is it worth spending $49 on the RT Systems programming kit if your radio is supported by CHIRP?

Leave your answer as a comment!

My 99-cent Amazon Dash Button arrived today and I was excited to get a look at it. The little device feels very sturdy. Unfortunately, my wife told me she had no interest in ordering laundry detergent by pressing a button, so I had to figure out what to do with it.

I decided to open it up and do a teardown. For science, of course.

The FCC ID is 2ACBE-0610. Documents in the FCC filing appears to confirm that this is indeed an 802.11b/g/n device (not Bluetooth, as initially thought).

It has a large white button with a red/green LED.

FCC ID: 2ACBE-610 / Model JK76PL

Removing the back of the case reveals a Li-ion AAA battery

Can anyone identify the wireless radio chip?
Other interesting components?

Whether or not you find it useful to order your laundry detergent at the touch of a button, this has to be one of the least expensive 802.11 devices ever produced.

I wonder what the actual component costs are? I think it’s safe to say more than the 99 cents that I paid for it.

Update 5/12/15:

It looks like Matthew Witheiler @ Bit of Cents has figured it out:

At the heart of the Dash is a USI (Avnet) 850101. The 850101 is a combination wireless module (Broadcom BCM43362) and micro controller (ST Microelectronics STM32F205). This makes the Dash capable of connecting to 802.11 b/g/n networks with its 120MHz ARM Cortex-M3 processor. It also happens to be exactly the same chip used inside the $19 Spark Photon.

Amazon announced a new product today called a Dash Button. Amazon sends you a little self-stick wireless pushbutton. When you run out of a product, you just push the button and it sends a wireless signal which triggers your phone to send an order for the product.

With a little creativity, could you “re-purpose” one of these to be a wi-fi doorbell or some other kind of signaling device? A push-button wi-fi panic alarm? I’m sure it would be against the terms of service to open one up and modify it, but geeks like me wonder just what’s inside one of these little buttons.

A lot of the media are reporting that it’s a wi-fi button, but I wonder if it actually uses Bluetooth communication. Basically you press a button and the signal goes to your phone via bluebooth, and then you’re phone places an order via the Amazon app.

I wonder what it contains for a microcontroller? I expect there will be plenty more info to come once these start getting in the hands of consumers. According to their website, Amazon Prime members will be eligible receive three of them at no charge. At the moment it’s by invitation only.

What uses could you think of for a cute little wi-fi push-button transmitter?

5/11/15 Update:
http://www.amateurradio.com/inside-the-802-11bgn-amazon-dash-button/

Courtesy of Wireless Telecom Group, Inc.

Have you ever seen “IP55” or something similar written on the specs of a mobile or handheld radio? Do you know what it means?

“IP” stands for “Ingress Protection” and is a standard promulgated by the International Electrotechnical Commission. It allows you to quantify somewhat nebulous marketing terms like “waterproof,” “water resistant,” “dust resistant,” etc.

The chart above shows how to easily read an IP rating code. The first number denotes the protection against solid objects (think a finger, paperclip through a ventilation hole, or even dust). The second number denotes the liquid protection which can include direct sprays under pressure or even total immersion.

One of the more common ratings we see in portable radios is “IP55” which means that it’s protected against “dust…” and “low pressure jets of water….” Some models like the Wouxun KG-UV3D, KG-UV6D, and KG-UV8D all claim this rating. Other models such as the new AnyTone Tech TERMN-8R claim an “IP53” rating which provides equal dust protection but slightly less water protection. For other radios it’s hard to find an IP rating at all. For example, the Baofeng UV-5R is listed as “IP54” on some Chinese websites but the reliability of that is unknown.

Some uses such as firefighting or military require higher standards because of more extreme environments. For example, Kenwood and Motorola both offer fully submersible models with a rating of “IP67” (dust-tight and immersion to 1m). Ed at Import Communications just announced an upcoming release of the Anytone AT-3140UV which also claims a rating of “IP67.”

Keep in mind that some manufacturers “self-certify” their products rather than submitting them to an outside testing firm. You’ll see specs like “meets IP55 rating” which doesn’t tell you anything about who really did the testing — or whether it actually meets the rating. Caveat emptor!

AnyTone Tech announced that their new lineup of HTs is now available via Amazon.

Here is the price list (includes free shipping in the US):

• AnyTone Tech TERMN-8R – $138.89
• AnyTone Tech OBLTR-8R – $98.89
• AnyTone Tech NSTIG-8R – $68.89
• AnyTone Tech ANILE-8R – $46.89

Here is sales copy from their flagship radio, the TERMN-8R:

The First Licensed Radio for Amateur, Commercial, and Public Use
The most versatile two way radio on the market, certified for use for commercial, public, and amateur frequencies. The TERMN-8R includes built-in modes with 23 GMRS channels and 5 MURS Channels. The TERMN-8R is FCC Certified for Part 90 and Part 95 usage.

Receive Transmissions on Six Different Bands

Customize Your Operation with Channels, Programmable Buttons, and more!
You can program your TERMN-8R exactly how you want it. There are 200 programmable memory channels. The side keys are programmable to multiple options. You can give channels alphanumeric names, without using a computer. The TERMN-8R has 2 VFO banks, and allows you to be in both VFO and channel modes at the same time. You can easily program from a PC to set-up the radio to operate exactly as needed.

What’s In the Box?
TERMN-8R Radio Body
2200mAh Battery
High Gain Antenna
Earpiece with Remote Mic
Desktop Charger
120v AC Adapter
Belt Clip
Wrist Strap

TERMN-8R SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency range:
[TX] 136 – 174MHz, 400 – 520MHz
[RX] 136 – 174MHz, 400 – 520MHz, 520-1710kHz (AM Broadcast), 2.3-30MHz (Shortwave), 68-108MHz (FM Broadcast), 108-136MHz (Aviation Band)
Channel Capacity: 200 Channels
Channel Spacing: 25KHz (wide band)12.5KHz (narrow band)
Sensitivity: ≤0.25μV (wide band)  ≤0.3μV (narrow band)
Operation Voltage: 7.4V DC ±20%
Battery: 2200mAh
Antenna Connector: SMA-Female / Antenna Impedance: 50Ω
Accessory Connector: Kenwood 2 Pin Standard
Stability: ±2.5ppm
Output power: 5W / 2W / 1W (Max 6W)
Audio Power Output: 1000mW/10% (1 WATT)

When someone gets a chance to try one out, please comment here so we can get an idea of how well they perform. I haven’t used any of them personally.

In addition to being marketed for amateur radio user, I think it’s interesting that the radio is both Part 90 (commercial/public safety) and Part 95 certified (MURS/GMRS). It appears to share its Part 90 grant with Anytone’s AT-3318UV-A/E.

Are the features worth the price? What are your thoughts?

Texas amateur radio equipment distributor Austin Amateur Radio Supply has closed its doors.

Started by Johnny Paul, WA5BGO, SK, over 35 years ago, Austin Amateur Radio Supply had been a regular advertiser in the major ham publications. After Paul’s death in late 2013, Austin Amateur Radio continued operation for well over a year.

I bought my first HT from Austin Amateur Radio Supply 25 years ago. It’s always sad to see another small retailer close their doors.

Thank you to the Paul family for 35 years of service to our community. You are missed already.