uBITX Ham Radio Transceiver

Ashhar Farhan VU2ESE has published the design of the uBITX 10 watt SSB HF transceiver covering the 3.5-30 MHz amateur radio bands 

The uBITX is based on an Arduino controller and one Si5351 for all the local oscillators. The Double conversion, superhet architecture transceiver can be built for less than $50 and a modest stocked junk box.

Article and Video - http://www.phonestack.com/farhan/ubitx/ubitx.html

Motorola Sues Hytera

Motorola have submitted a complaint to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Hytera Communications Corporation Limited claiming that Hytera’s two-way radios, base stations, repeaters and dispatch systems, as well as its related commercialization and sales activities, are infringing patents owned by Motorola Solutions and utilizing stolen Motorola Solutions trade secrets.

Motorola Solutions believes that Hytera is intentionally infringing its intellectual property and misappropriating its trade secrets, which has enabled Hytera to compete unfairly by bypassing investment in innovation.

Recently, three Motorola engineers resigned from the company and joined Hytera. It is claimed that the ex-employees had key roles in developing products for their new employer that infringed intellectual property using in excess of 7,000 highly confidential files covering all aspects of the Motorola business.

Motorola Press Release - https://newsroom.motorolasolutions.com/news/motorola-solutions-files-patent-infringement-and-trade-secret-misappropriation-complaints-against-hytera-communications.htm

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