TTI TCB-881N @ Thunderpole

News today is that Thunderpole have the new TTI TCB-881N in stock. This radio is an updated version of the TCB-881 and is slightly smaller than it's predecessor.


Price is £114.99

Lick to the Thunderpole website: CLICK HERE

EXCLUSIVE - President Walker II Display Colours Animation

Here we have an animated image showing the 7 display colours on the new President Walker II CB Radio.

I must say that the actual radio looks much better than the previous 'mock-up' provided by President when they announced the radio back in May of this year. However I am still of the opinion that they are releasing far too many AM/FM radios. I would have thought that one small, one medium and one larger sized radio would be enough.

One thing I do find interesting about this radio is the RF POWER adjustment.... Could this suggest that the radio has some hidden goodies inside?

- 40 channels AM / FM 
- Channel rotary switch
- Volume adjustment and ON/OFF
- Manual squelch and ASC
- Multi-functions LCD display
- Frequencies display
- S/RF vu-meter
- Public Address
- Scan
- Talkback
- Beep Function
- Roger Beep
- Tone
- ANL filter, NB 
- RF Gain / Mike gain 
- RF Power
- Mic type electret / dynamic
- F function key
- VOX
- Mode switch AM / FM
- Preset emergency (EMG 1/2)
- SWR (Power Reading /SWR)
- Front microphone plug
- External loudspeaker jack
- USB 5V 2.1A

And here are the full sized high resolution images (Click to enlarge)

NEW President Martin Blah Blah Blah!

Yes folks its Groundhog Day once again as President have announced YET ANOTHER AM/FM ONLY CB radio....

The President Martin (Soon to followed by the Sonia, the Bianca and the Tiffany... not really!)

40 channels AM / FM

12 / 24 V

Manual squelch and ASC

LCD display

S-meter

ANL filter

Scan

RF Gain

VOX

Key beep

Roger beep

TOT (Time out timer)

Front microphone plug

External loudspeaker jack

USB 5V 2.1A

Seven Colour Display

Just how many AM/FM radios do we need I wonder?

YAWN, Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!

So far this year....

JAN - President Ronald - AM/FM

FEB - President Bill - AM/FM

MAR - President Richard - AM/FM

APR - President Jimmy III - AM/FM

MAY - President Walker II - AM/FM

JUN - President Taylor IV - AM/FM

JUL - President Truman II - AM/FM

AUG - President McKinley AM/FM/SSB

SEP - President Martin AM/FM

Don't Forget The Forums!

In this modern age of social media it's easy to forget about simpler times when all our discussions took place on radio forums and it's important to remember that these forums still have a big place in promoting our hobby and providing help and information to those who need it.

So here we have three UK based forums which I strongly suggest that you visit/join if you are not doing so already....

The Charlie Tango Forum - CLICK HERE

The Transmission1 Forum - CLICK HERE

The Thunderpole Forum - CLICK HERE

Please note other forums are available, a quick Google search will come up with loads of radio related forums. 

UK Petition - Amateur/CB Antennas

Reported on the QRZ forums is news of a petition to exempt Amateur Radio and CB antennas from planning permission which you may want to sign.

Personally I'm all for RELAXING planning laws in relation to antennas but I'm not sure that antennas could or should be made completely exempt.... after all there would always be some that would abuse the situation with massive antennas which are totally unsuitable for built up areas. 

Anyway here's the link to the petition if you'd like to take a look and sign: CLICK HERE

...and a link to the discussion on the QRZ forums: CLICK HERE

Yaesu FTDX-101D More Details Announced

Yaesu have announced further details of their upcoming radio the FTDX-101D and it's higher powered brother the FTFX-101D MP.....

ANNOUNCEMENT - August 24th, 2018: FTDX-101D & FTDX-101D MP

We are pleased to announce more detailed information about the FTDX101 seriesHF+6m transceivers–the FTDX101MP for 200W output power and the FTDX101D with 100W output power.

The latest samples that introduce new high performance technology to Amateur Radio enthusiasts around the world will be displayed at Tokyo Ham Fair 2018.

Both transceivers share the same core features utilizing the latest SDR Technology. A few of the extraordinary features are :

- Superb and Astonishing Close-in Dynamic Range Performance even in today’s crowded bands situations

- 9MHz IF Roofing Filter Producing Excellent Shape Factor

- 400MHz HRDDS (High Resolution Direct Digital Synthesizer)

- Hybrid SDR: Direct Sampling & NBW (Narrow Bandwidth) SDR

- Completely Independent Dual Receivers

- High-Q VC Tuning Front-End

- YAESU Renowned Interference Reduction System

- Large Touch-Panel Precision Colour Display

- 3DSS (Three Dimension Spectrum Stream) Waterfall Display

- Active Band Indicator with LED illumination of the operating band, enables rapid band changes

- MPVD (Multi-Purpose VFO Outer Dial) provides Sub VFO dial, Clarifier operation, VC-TUNE adjustment, VFO fine tuning or a CS (custom selection) function

(From the Yaesu Facebook Page)

Price is still to be announced!!!!

NEW Radioddity GD-77BB - With Inverted Display

Radioddity have announced a new version of their popular dual band DMR handset... The Radioddity GD-77BB

With specifications exactly the same as its predecessor (The Radioddity GD-77) apart from a new inverted display...

And here we have an unboxing video (In French):

Video:YouTube/PMR 446 DMR

NEW Alinco DJ-MD5 DMR Handheld

The latest addition to the ever growing crop of dual band DMR radios... 

Alinco DJ-MD5T VHF/UHF 5W DMR Dual Mode Tier I/II HT

Features:

• DMR Tier I and Tier II
• 1.77 inch TFT colour LCD
• VFO/MR Switch
• Output Power Selection (5W / 2.5W / 1W / 0.2W)
• 4000 channel memory
• SMS (Digital Mode)
• Communication recording (Digital mode)
• Individual / Group / All Call (Digital mode)
• CTCSS / DCS / DTMF / 2Tone / 5Tone encode and decode (Analogue mode)
• Selectable battery-save
• 1700mAh Li-ion battery

Specifications:

• Frequency Range: 136-174MHz / 400-480MHz
• Channel Capacity: 4000ch
• Channel Spacing: 25KHz (analogue) / 12.5KHz (digital/analogue)
• Operating Voltage: DC 7.4V
• Frequency Stability: +-2.5ppm
• Weight: 256G (with battery pack and antenna)
• Power Output: 5W / 2.5W / 1W / 0.2W
• Modulation (Digital): 7K60FXD / 7K60FXE
• Modulation (Analog): 16K0F3E / 11K0F3E

(As always.... Click Images To Enlarge)

Price: TBA (But seen on a US site for $169)

Release Date: Summer 2018 (!)

French CB Radio Event 17th -19th August

Listen out on channel 27 (Mid Band) - 27.275 for a national CB event taking place in France this weekend. 

Google Translation from French to English: 

Hey. Friday 17 Saturday 18 21 pm Sunday 19 August 2018 10 pm National Channel 27.

Good qso. ;)

The great national qso of channel 27 (27,275 Mhz) of Friday night, Saturday night & Sunday morning is at the initiative of the various regions to promote local qsos. In FM, am or USB & lsb depending on who's remoteness with a possible qsy depending on the modulation that could be there. All of us, therefore, are making calls on this channel. In am, Blu or fm and this from 21 pm (for Fridays and Saturdays). And from 10 am to about 12 pm (for Sunday morning) ;)

For more info: http://la-planete-cibi-fr.forumactif.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/716653571698482/

I'm not sure about about having all modes on one calling frequency as this will no doubt cause a lot of interference but it's still worth a try I guess.....

10m Band - UK to USA on 10 watts

Video:YouTube/AMATEUR & 11M RADIO TIM

Congratulations to Tim who shows that even at this low point in the solar cycle it is possible to make QRP contacts across the pond.... 

FCC Says NO to FM CB Radio and Increases Power Output on FRS

The FCC has published an update to it's Part 95 rules which mainly concern personal radio services such as the Family Radio Service (FRS), the US equivalent to the EU's PMR446, and the main headline is that FM (Frequency Modulation) will NOT be coming to the CB Radio service in the US.

(Click to enlarge)

Ailunce HD1 Firmware Update (August 2018)

Ailunce HD1 Software v1.98 and Firmware V1.53

1. Radio screen can display below 4 modes.

Display VFO-A | VFO-B

Display VFO-A | CH-B

Display CH-A | VFO-B

Display CH-A | CH-B

2. Add Mic Gain setting on the radio.

3. Add Mic gain internal value and internal protection

4. Add Talk permit tone, Channel free tone, Repeater connect tone, repeater fails tone.

5. Add permit tone select on-off for analogue and digital

6. Repeater tone is free from beep restrictions.

7. Set the GPS report contacts on the radio.

8. Show TS1 or TS2 on the radio main screen.

9. Add “No RX Info when operating Menu”, Radio can check if you are in the menu to judge display the RX info or not.

10. Add functions for Side key setting

Zone Plus

Zone Minus

DMR Slot

Promiscuous

Manual Dial

Ch-Mode.

11.Improve the squelch function

12. Address when setting the CTCSS, after the first time receives, there will no audio when a signal is coming, unless you press PTT again.

13. An issued problem when a Channel Alias in only imported if it’s numbers. If it is text then the imported field is just blank.

14. The new software and firmware are more stable with a connection to the computer.

Software/Firmware can be downloaded from http://www.retevis.com/hd1-resources/

Baofeng UV-5R Radios Illegal? The Real Story

Video:YouTube/KB9VBR Antennas

With the FCC in the US recently causing a bit of a stir by effectively banning the Baofeng UV-5R from sale, Micheal Martens of KB9VBR Antennas takes a closer look as to what this means for the radio and those operators who use the radio in the US....

Satcom Scan 40F CB Radio

A 'blast from the past' with a look at my Satcom Scan 40F CB Radio, bought way back in 1987 for the sum of £165, seen here receiving some skip today.

Boasting 40 channels on the mid-band, FM ONLY!

It's actually a really nice radio with features that were way ahead of it's time... SQUELCH FIX, SCAN, SEL-CALL, MIC COMPRESSOR etc. 

I spent many a happy hour chatting on this one I can tell you.

Baofeng BANNED?

Documents which have appeared on the FCC website appear to suggest that sales of the popular budget handheld radio, the Baofeng UV-5R may be BANNED in the US.... at least in relation to one supplier.....

(Click Images To Enlarge)

Apparently the FCC have taken the view that the radios do not conform to the relevant rules and  regulations due to the fact that they can transmit on 'restricted frequencies'.

The radios will apparently not be allowed for sale by the company in question until they have been modified to comply with the relevant rules.

In the world of CB radio it is known that the FCC takes a firm stance when it comes to the sale and marketing of radios which can transmit out of the allowed bands. It is unclear as to how this will affect other suppliers at this time as the ruling appears to be as much about the way the radios are marketed as the actual operation of the radios themselves.

Might be a good time to stock up on these little radios if you haven't got some already!

Link to full document: CLICK HERE

President Lincoln 2+ Tune Up

Video:YouTube/Smokin Joe's Electronics Pure Power RF Labs