NEW: Baofeng DMR-82UV Tier 2 DMR Radio

According to Passion Radio it would appear that Baofeng are about to release a dual band Tier 2 DMR handheld radio.

Hot on the heels of the DM-5R (Tier 1, upgradeable to Tier 2) this radio is expected to be very popular with a price tag expected to be 'well below 100 Euros'.

Frequencies - VH-UHF Dual band	UHF 400-520MHz  VHF 136-174MHz
Number of Channels	128
Number of zones	50
channel spacing	12.5KHz / 25KHz
Operating Current	DC 7.4V (± 20%)
Battery capacity	1800 mAh (Li-ion)
Autonomy (5/5/90)	Digital 20 hours - 14 hours Analog
Frequency stability	± 1.5ppm
Operating temperature	- 20 ℃ / + 60 ℃
Impedance of the antenna	50Ω
Transmitter
RF power	5W / 4W / 1W
FM modulation	12.5 kHz: 8K50F3E 25 kHz: 16KΦF3E;
4FSK modulation (DMR)	12.5kHz (only data): 7K60FXD 12.5kHz (data and voice): 7K60FXE
modulation Limiting	@ 12.5kHz +/- 2.5kHz +/- 5 kHz @ 25kHz
Conducted Emission	DBm≤1GHz -36 / -30 dBm≥1GHz
Adjacent Channel Power	≤ -60dB
Noise FM	-40dB
Audio distortion	3%
Audio response	+ 1 / -3 dB
Digital Voice coding	AMBE + 2 ™
Receiver
Digital Sensitivity	5% BER: 0.25 uV
Analog Sensitivity	0.25 uV (12dB SINAD)
intermodulation	≧ 60dB
Adjacent channel selectivity	≧ 60dB
Spurious Response Rejection	≧ 60dB
Noise FM	-40dB
Audio response	+ 1 / -3 dB
Loudspeaker audio power	1W
Audio distortion	3%
Conducted Spurious Emission	-57dBm

Link to Google Translated Webpage: CLICK HERE

Baofeng DM-5R - Dual Band DMR Handheld?????

Reported on QRZNOW.COM - But surely this cannot be real????

A dual band DMR handset from Baofeng with a price of only $69.99!!!!

Not only does the price seem extremely cheap but the images used are just images of the existing UV-5R range with the lettering changed at the bottom of the radio.

REAL or FAKE - You decide!!!!

Yaesu FT-891 UK Price Revealed!

In their latest advert in RadCom this month, Martin Lynch & Sons have revealed the UK price of the new Yaesu FT-891:

£599.95

So is that a good price? - I'm not sure, you can get an FT-857 for about the same price and that has 2m and 70cm (Missing from the FT-891) or you could pay little extra and get the FT-991 which currently has £80 cashback and effectively costs you only £819.95.

I think that this price may well drop a little over the next few months.....

NEW: Baofeng UV-50X3 Tri-Band Radio

Baofeng have announced their new Tri-Band mobile radio - The UV50X3

(Click images to enlarge)

"The BTECH UV-50X3 is a tri-band radio with Full Duplex capabilities (which enables simultaneous TX/RX within VHF/1.25M/UHF) - as well as dual V/V and U/U receiver capabilities. The UV-50X3 operates on 136-174MHz, 222-225MHz, and 400-480MHz

The UV-50X3 is more than just a radio - it can also act as a full cross-band repeater! Allowing you to connect or extend the range of your repeaters, handhelds, and mobiles. The Cross Band repeater works in between VHF and UHF frequencies.

The UV-50X3 will transmit at 50 watts on both UHF and VHF; and it will transmit at 5 watts on 222-225MHz.

AIRBAND (AVIATION AM) AND WIDE RECEIVER RECEPTION

The UV-50X3 was includes a wide receiver that can receive beyond the transmitting frequencies on VHF/1.25M/UHF.

The UV-50X3 can also receive:

.5-1.71MHz (AM Radio)

76-108MHz (FM Radio)

108-135.995MHz (Air Band (AM))

136-250MHz

300-399.995MHz

400-520MHz

INDEPENTENT - VFO, AUDIO LEVELS, AND SQUELCH

The UV-50X3 includes separate volume adjustments for the independent VFOs. The UV-50X3 has dual speakers in the LCD panel - allowing stereo audio when one station is being received, but separate monaural speakers when both VFOs are active - which are controlled by the separate volume knobs. A third speaker is located on the radio body - which can be set as the only speaker, simultaneously be used with the panel speakers, or can be unused as well.

The UV-50X3 has both line-in and line-out jacks that allow you to output the radio audio to your own speaker system. The UV-50X3 allows you to listen to a line-in source while still monitoring your local nets.

The squelch is adjustable on each side of the display. Separate wide and narrow ceramic filters enable true narrow band operation.

1000 MEMORY CHANNELS

The UV-50X3 has 1000 memory channels and 2 separate memory banks (The Right VFO has 500 channels, the left VFO has 500 channels). You can program both active (TX/RX Channels) and passive (RX Only) channels into the same Memory bank.

SEPERATE, CUSTOMIZABLE FRONT LCD PANEL AND DTMF MICROPHONE

The UV-50X3 has a front panel that is separated from the main radio body. The panel is connected with standard Ethernet cable (15' included) allowing the radio body to be remotely (or trunk) mounted. The Front Panel includes several mounting accessories including a suction cup mount. You can set the LCD Panel to 8 different colors.

The Front Panel has a built-in microphone which allows you to either use either the included DTMF Microphone or Panel Microphone. The Separate DTMF microphone can also be plugged directly into the Main Radio Body.

PROGRAMMABLE AND CUSTOMIZABLE

The UV-50X3 can be completely programmed without a computer (including Channel Alpha-numeric names). 

The UV-50X3 is FULLY supported through the free CHIRP programming software (requires the PC05 Programming Cable). The UV-50X3 is the first radio to exclusively only use CHIRP software for programming. CHIRP is compatible on Windows, Linux and OSX (macOS).

GROUP TONES SUPPORTED

The UV-50X3 supports the most common Analog Tones. It supports CTCSS, DCS, and DTMF calling methods. Set-up your calling methods to call by group tones. Tone calling (private line) is required by most repeater applications and the UV-50X3 supports the latest standards.

The UV-50X3 can send DTMF tones. This allows for sending ANI (Caller ID) or remote commands that require DTMF tones.

THOROUGH QUALITY CONTROL

Each UV-50X3 is individually tested during extreme temperatures (-22 F) to ensure every radio can meet advertised performance requirements. 

The UV-50X3 can endure harsh environments and still perform in the most extreme situations."

Price: Starting at $339

2m Propagation 05/06/2016 (Wouxun KG-UV9D)

DV4Mobile - All Digital Modes In One Radio!!!!

 

Coming late 2016 the DV4Mobile radio could just be what digi-mode users have been waiting for!

The first radio to have ALL the major digital modes - C4FM, D-Star, DMRplus, dPMR, P25 (NXDN later via software update) Voice over LTE and of course, FM!

No need to have separate radios to talk to your friends using different digital systems!
 

Specifications:

Frequency range	144-148 MHz, 222-225 MHz(USA), 420-450 MHz
Output power	2 x 20W simultaneously
Modes	FM, D-Star, C4FM, DMR+,,dPMR,P25*,NXDN*, DV4LTE
Microphone	DTMF, Electret with modular connector
Antenna	N
Speaker	3.5 mm, stereo 2 x 4W at 8 Ohms
Connectors via adapter cable and 2 x 12 pin connectors:
Ethernet	RJ-45 via adapter 10/100 MBit/s
serial	USB
External Monitor	HDMI
Internal display	240 x 320 pixel, 262k color
Power	10.5-15V, 5A
GPS	Antenna combined into main antenna
Temperature range:	-40C - + 85C

More information can be found here: LINK

A Bobtail Antenna For 432 MHz

Video: YouTube/VK3YE

An interesting and easy to build antenna for 70cm.

Wouxun KG-UV9D 70cm Receive

Wouxun KG-UV9D Now In Stock @ MLS

Just a heads-up for those of you who like myself have been waiting for some time to get their hands on this handheld, Martin Lynch & Sons now have them in stock.

Priced at £109.99 for the standard handset or £149.95 for the PROPACK which includes a load of accessories.

Radio: LINK
Propack: LINK

Baojie TM-218 VHF/UHF Mobile Radio

 

Another interesting item spotted on eBay, the Baojie TM-218. A tiny little radio that should fit perfectly into any vehicle, with up to 25 watts of output power and the all important 6.25Khz step!

Price is around £65

Feature:

• Dual display, dual standby & Dual Track
• Frequency adjusting
• Working mode selecting
• Scrambling encryption function
• Voice companding function
• Frequency/Channel scan function
• Reverse frequency setting
• Busy channel lock-out (BCL)
• Time-out timer (TOT)
• High/low power selectable
• CTCSS/DCS encoding and decoding
• Broadband (Wide)/Narrow band (Narrow) selectable
• Frequency Step Selectable 2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/25/50KHz
• Level Threshold “Squelch” adjustable from 0 to 9
• Tri-color background light selectable
• PC software programmable
• FM radio function
• Operation for manual channel memory and delete
• Automatic lock-out
• DTMF signal setting
• DTMF signal
• PTT ID Setting
• Remote control function
• Remote monitoring
• Remote stun
• Remote kill/shaking
• Remote reliving
• Alarm function
• Group calling function
• Team calling function
• Selected calling function
• Function key guide voice(BEEP)
• SFT/Slip frequency direction
• OFFSET/Slip frequency
• 1000Hz/1450Hz/1750Hz/2100Hz selecting

Specification:

All of our item are brand News
Model	TM-218
Color	Black
Frequency Range	UHF:400-480MHz&VHF:136-174MHz
System	F3E(FM)
Channel capacity	256
Input voltage	DC13.8V(±15%), negative grounding
Output power	H:25W, M:10W, L:5W
Channel Spacing	12.5KHz/25KHz
Frequency Spacing	2.5/5/6.25/10/12.5/15/25/50KHz
Squelch way	CTCSS/DCS/DTMF
Antenna impedance	50 ohm
Frequency stability	±2.5ppm @ -10°C~+60°C
Working temperature	-20°C~+60°C(-4°F~+140°F)
Max. Frequency deviation	±5KHz
Noise radiation	<=-60dB
Flexibility	<=0.2Uv(12dB SINAD)
Max. Audio output	2W @ 8 ohm 5% distortion
Working current	Receive	0.3A(SQL)
	Transmit	5A(Max.)
Dimension	105*30*106mm(width*hight*depth not including the outparts)
Weight	About 0.5kg

Package Includes

• 1 x New Black TM-218 Machine
• 1X Handheld Microphone
• 1X Mounting bracket
• 1X Power cable
• 1XUser's manual

eBay link: Click HERE

 

New Radio - Alinco DR-735E

Seen on Nevada's website (LINK)

New Dual Band VHF/UHF Mobile with remote head facility - arriving end of April

Full Duplex

Cross Band repeater function

Extended RX 108 - 174 MHz, 400 - 479 MHz 

Large Display with "rainbow" of colour options

1,000 Memories

Scan facility

Power 50/20/5w output

Computer programmable with free downloadable software

Internal duplexer allows single antenna socket for Dual Band antennas

lots lots more!

PRICE: £269.95

PMR446/UHF CB Radio Changes

Ofcom/CEPT proposals in relation to changes to the PMR446 (UHF CB) band could soon result in a 16 channel analogue and up to 32 channel digital UHF allocation. The output power will remain at 500mw and radios will be required to have a fixed antenna. 

Currently 446.000 - 446.100Mhz is allocated to 8 analogue channels with 446.100 - 446.200Mhz allocated to either 8 or 16 digital channels depending on the channel spacing.

The new proposals will allow analogue and digital systems to use the complete allocation of 446.000 - 446.200Mhz.

More Information on the OFCOM website: CLICK HERE

Below you can see the proposed bandplans (Click Images To Enlarge):

 

Tim Peake's Next School Amateur Radio Contact Confirmed

Tim Peake's Next School Amateur Radio Contact Confirmed

Following on from Tim's recent Amateur Radio contact with Sandringham School in St.Albans it has been announced that the next such contact will be with The Royal Masonic School For Girls in Rickmansworth on 11th February 2016 at 18:11 hours GMT.

Furthermore another 8 schools will hopefully get the chance to speak to Tim on board the International Space Station. 

"After the original competition to find schools that could demonstrate a commitment to Space, STEM and outreach was launched by ARISS in the UK and the UK Space Agency, we announced that ten schools had been shortlisted but that not all of those school would have an opportunity to talk to Tim Peake on the ISS.  In fact Tim himself announced at the UK Space Conference in July 2015 that there would be at least three such contacts and that he was hopeful of more.

The ARISS UK team, working with the ARISS International community, are now pleased to announce that after a number of discussions, all ten schools selected for the UK shortlist have now been scheduled. The proposed scheduled is as follows:-

Feb 11 @1811GMT : Royal Masonic School for Girls, Rickmansworth
Feb 15 – Feb 21 : Oasis Academy Brightstowe, Bristol
Feb 22 – Feb 28 : Central Norwich Schools, Norwich
Feb 29 – Mar 06 : Powys Combined Schools, Powys, Wales
Apr 18 – Apr 24 : St Richards Catholic College, Bexhill on Sea
Apr 18 – Apr 24 : Wellesley House Schools, Broadstairs,  Kent
Apr 25 – May 01 : The Derby High School, Bury Lancashire
May 02 – May 08 : Ashfield Primary School, Otley, West Yorkshire
May 09 – May 15 : The Kings School, Ottery St Mary, Devon

These dates correspond to the predicted orbits of the International Space Station visible during the school day (typically 08:00 – 18:00hrs) and when it is orbiting over the UK.  A significant amount of planning remains to be carried out to turn these proposals into confirmed events – Tim’s on-orbit work schedule also has to be such that he is able to carry out the contact at the same time as the ISS is orbiting over the UK and the schools are available to make the call.  Not a simple task!

We will update this site with more information as it becomes available so make sure you keep checking here, on Twitter (@m0xtd) or on the UK Space Agency website.

In the meantime, make sure you join us for the next ARISS Contact at the Royal Masonic School for Girls on Feb 11th at 1811UTC.

73s
Ciaran – M0XTD ARISS Operations Lead in the UK"

  
Full Information: CLICK HERE

Wouxun KG-UV9D Dual Band Radio Review

Video: YouTube/M0OGY

Dave takes a look at the Wouxun KG-UV9D

DMR vs Analogue FM on UHF

Video:YouTube/mrblogger

Whilst I do understand the advantages that DMR can have, I much prefer the sound of analogue. The digital always sounds so compressed and is often very difficult to understand what is being said. Both systems have a place in the modern world but I feel that the death of analogue is still an awful long way off!!!!

Midland GB-1 PMR446 Now In Stock @ Knights!

So there you go folks, you can now get your hands on a Midland GB-1 PMR446 radio from Doug at Knights.

Knights Website: LINK

Video of the NEW IC-7300 HF/50/70MHz Transceiver

Video:YouTube/Icom

Homebrew UHF YAGI tested against dipole!

Video: YouTube/mk1tina

2 Meter MORE Propagation - Danish Repeater OZ3REI

PMR446 (UHF CB) New Analogue Channel Allocation

So word comes from an industry insider that the UK is set to adopt the new expanded PMR446 channel allocation.

No official announcement has yet been made so make of this what you wish but it does appear that the new allocation will go ahead.

The exsisting allocation of 8 analogue channels (446.00625 - 446.09375) have been around since the late 90's and there have been many operators calling for extra channels particularly in busy cities and town center areas. 

Having an extra 8 analogue channels (446.10625 - 446.19375) PMR446 begins to look like a true UHF CB allocation. 

Sure you only get 500mw(!) but it's surprising how far you can get from a favorable location. 

The whole band (446.000 - 446.200) will also be opened up to allow the use of up to 32 digital channels.

New radios, which will have more rigorous specifications to reduce the likelihood of interference, are expected to be available shortly after the new allocation is adopted.