Baofeng Competition

/

For a while, Baofeng radios have been a popular choice for Amateur Radio enthusiasts either looking for a low-cost option, a spare second radio or as an introduction device for a young new licenced hobbyist.

It may now appear that Baofeng has competition, as the world's third largest Smartphone maker - XIAOMI are entering the amateur/ham radio market with a visually pleasing radio capable of accessing both UHF and VHF bands.

Specification

Transmitting Power: 0.5W / 2W
Band: public frequency band ( 0.5W ), U / V band
Power Interface: Micro USB
Input Parameters: 5.0V, 1A
Rated Voltage: 3.7V
Wireless Connection: Bluetooth 4.0
BLE Modulation Type: F3E
Spurious Radiation:7.5uW and less
Sensitivity ( Transmitting, Receiving ): -122dBm ( 12dB SINAD ) 
Battery Type: 18650 lithium-ion battery ( included in product ) 
Battery Capacity: 2600mAh ( 9.6Wh ) 
Battery Charging Time: about 3h
Battery Standby: about 200h ( 8 days ) 
Battery Use: about 17h ( transmitter, receiver, standby time ratio of 5: 5: 90 ) 
Audio Rated Power: 1W
LCD Module: 160 x 100 resolution LCD black and white LCD screen
Public Channel: 409MHz - 410MHz ( 20 frequency ) 
Call Distance: about 10km in sea level environment, about 6km in urban area
Operating Temperature: -20 - 60 Deg.C
Charging Temperature: 0 - 40 Deg.C

Product weight: 0.2000 kg
Package weight: 0.3400 kg
Product Dimension: 5.45 x 2.40 x 20.00 cm / 2.15 x 0.94 x 7.87 inches
Package Dimension: 10.00 x 5.00 x 21.00 cm / 3.94 x 1.97 x 8.27 inches

Package includes

1 x XIAOMI Mijia Radio Walkie Talkie
1 x Antenna
1 x USB Cable

The product still appears to be "coming soon", and online pricing appears to be inflated from the suggetsed $35 to $88 due to demand to get hold of one of the first production devices.

Online retailer - http://www.banggood.com/XIAOMI-MIJIA-UHF-VHF-Dual-Band-Handheld-Walkie-Talkie-Bluetooth-4_0-Walkie-Talkie-with-FM-Radio-p-1130491.html

New SOTABeam Filer

/

SOTABEAMS has introduced a low pass filter kit to complement their popular WSPRlite antenna analysis system. The kit provides selectable 7 element filters for 160m, 80m and 40m on a single PCB. SMA connectors are used to make it easy to interface to the WSPRlite.

The kit is rated at 20 Watts and thus may be useful for other applications where a good quality low-pass filter is needed.

Details - http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/low-pass-filter-kit/

FCC Rejects Amplifier Waiver Request

/

FCC has denied a request from Expert Linears for an exception waiver of 15 dB gain restriction on linear amplifiers 

The waiver request, filed in June 2016, would have allowed Expert Linears to import an amplifier capable of exceeding the current 15 dB gain limitation as it awaits FCC action on its April petition (RM-11767) to revise the same Amateur Service rules. That petition remains pending.

““In light of the conflicting comments regarding the desirability of eliminating the 15 dB limitation, we conclude that waiving the limitation at this stage of the rulemaking proceeding would prejudice the rulemaking proceeding and prematurely dispose of commenters’ concerns. Moreover, we agree with FlexRadio that granting Expert’s waiver request while the rulemaking petition remains pending would provide an unfair market advantage for one equipment model over other manufacturers’ RF power amplifiers that would still be limited by [the existing rules].””
— FCC