IngramTech

I recently bought myself a new handheld to replace my old Yaesu VX5R (which had started to play up). After a bit of consideration I selected the Icom IC-92AD from Kyle Communications in Burpengary. Mark Kyle had the radio to me very quickly, which is one of the benefits of buying locally.

The decision I had to make was between the IC-92AD and the latest Yaesu handheld, the VX-8R. The IC-92AD has D-STAR digital radio, but the VX-8R has APRS. Both are waterproof, are robust and have horribly expensive GPS microphone options.

I went with the IC-92AD because I thought the digital message passing with D-STAR would be more interesting than APRS (which is not all that novel). The bonus I didn’t expect was that the IC-92AD was going to be so good on analogue too. The scanning functions are very intuitive, the audio quality is good and the rig has twin receivers — I missed that function on my old Kenwood TH-77A when I started using the VX-5R.

I’ve played with the radio for a week or so now and am starting to get the hang of it. I have mainly used the Springbrook (Gold Coast) repeater, VK4RGC on 2m (port C). Activity on the repeater can be found online since it has an internet connection. jFindu has all the details.

This afternoon though was the first time I had some good simplex operation on the 2m DV frequency of 145.125MHz. I was able to record some of the conversation, and compare it to FM over the same path. The path isn’t clear with my QTH in Taringa being at 35m ASL and VK4EA’s QTH being very near sea-level. A path profile is below, and MP3 recordings of VK4EA calling VK4TDI are here for your comparison:

fm d-star

A null-pc connection (M-M DB9 cross over) cable lets me connect my Garmin Geko 201 GPS to the radio. Each time I transmit on the radio it also sends my location in the background. One trap I found is that for the location to make it out on the internet, RPT2 needs to be set to a gateway (’VK4RGC G’ for me) even if you’re not registered. When you look up the APRS position the gateway will be listed as the D-STAR repeater (VK4RGC-C). The raw packetwill look something like:

VK4TDI>API92A,DSTAR*,qAR,VK4RGC-C

Digital data transmission is a strength of D-STAR and I’ve found the D-RATS package to be the most flexible. It allows broadcast messages to be sent, as well as regular bulletins of position, weather and so forth. Other programs are out there, but D-RATS doesn’t need 300+ MB of support libraries (.Net 3) so it is easier to install on older computers, and will work with Linux too. I haven’t had a chance to pass form based messages yet, but it will be a matter of time. One big trap with D-RATS is that if you’ve left GPS transmission enabled on the radio this sets the serial port to 4800bps and so the radio will not talk to D-RATS or d*chat which require 38400bps. The extra trap is that the Icom RS92 programming software will still work, so it must have a clever overide in there. The D-RATS instructions had this tip to deactivate GPS position transmissions.

Thanks to Adrian VK4TUX, Merv VK4ZE and Peter VK4EA for the contacts and the testing.

I currently have an ADSL modem/router/firewall for my broadband internet and it provides a pretty good firewall that stops unwanted incoming connections. It passes the Shields Up! test at GRC, which is well worth running to make sure that your internet connection is secure.

The firewall however lets outgoing connections do what they like. This is a problem if spyware somehow gets into my PC as it can ‘phone home’ without restriction. There are a few options for firewalls in Windows XP (still running on the old Sony Vaio), and I preferred the Sunbelt Personal Firewall even if getting a Windows Mobile connection working was a pain in the neck. When I started using Vista this software was not compatible with Vista, so I looked around.

One of the ‘new’ things with the Vista firewall is that it can restrict outgoing connections. About time! The downside is that the configuration of this requires local policies and lots of other uglyness. This is where Vista Firewall Control steps in. This neat bit of software manages the built in Vista firewall with a nice GUI rather than reinventing a whole new firewall (like the other options do). I hope this means that if there is a problem with the Vista firewall it will be picked up quicker because more people are using it than XYZ Firewall. Free versions and trial versions are available and they are fully functional, which is nice. I’ve gone for the trial version since I like to configure applications separately.

Each application can have its own ‘zone’ rule, and there can be many zones. Lots of zones are predefined, but custom ones can be added. I have added a zone that allows incoming and outgoing connections on my LAN, but only outgoing connections to the internet. Restricting outgoing connections saves money when you’re using a 3G phone service to access the internet. Nothing worse than firing up the bluetooth connection to the cellphone and have something like Acrobat Reader decide to download $20 worth of updates! If the firewall needs to be deactivated (I’d only recommend this if you have a hardware firewall too) so software can update then this is very simple to do. Conversely, locking down the computer is also a simple right click, left click option (although turning off WIFI or pulling out the ethernet cable is probably faster and easier).

Vista Firewall Control doesn’t slow the PC down at all because it isn’t actually doing the hardwork. It does provide popups when new applications first access the network, and it has settings for what the default permission will be. The first time an application tries to talk to the big wide world its request will be rejected, but if you are using the non-free version then it will quickly be set to the default access. The FAQ (which I agree with) suggests that the default is left as ‘disable’ to stop outbreaks, but a more moderate approach might be to set the default to ‘LAN Only’ if you need to access local intranets or email servers.

All up, this is pretty good software and since I haven’t found anything better I think I’ll probably spend the US$29.95 and get the full version rather than going back to the free one.

Update (13/8/2008): My Z9i wasn’t performing quite to spec. It wouldn’t pair with more than two devices (advertised as doing 5) and was sometimes connecting and disconnecting with my W880i cellphone. I thought I was going slightly mad, but I found an interesting posting on the Mobile Barbarian blog. It seems that others were having the problem, but there was new firmware to fix the problem. I grabbed the firmware and updated my headset and now it all seems to be working as advertised. Fingers crossed! If you need the firmware, you’ll find references in the posting’s comments.

Original Post:
My old Sony Ericsson bluetooth headset (bought off ebay a few years ago) has started to really play up and it was time to get a new one. We visited Westfield Chermside and I looked at the options in the mobile phone shops there. As an aside if there were no fashion shops and no mobile shops I don’t think there would be anything else other than the supermarkets and department stores at Chermside!

The Plantronics and Blueant headsets looked good, and after some review on the internet I decided on the Blueant Z9i. This is a second generation of the Z9 headset, with new and improved features:

• Can pair with five phones instead of three. Yes, I might need to do that with various SES phones, my main phone, the spare phone in the car and my wife’s phone.
• Simultaneous operation (they call it multipoint) with two phones at once. This means the one earpiece can be used with my phone du jour and the SES duty phone if I am carrying it.
• The background noise cancellation is meant to be better too, but since I didn’t have the old headset I can’t comment on that one.

Here’s the headset (click on the thumbnail for a larger view):

The ‘ant’ button seems to control most things, and that’s good as it is easy to find. An ear loop does come with the Z9i, but it works quite well without it if you’re not jumping around the place. I’m going to try using the loop for a little while (I’ve been using it without, as shown in the photos) and then decide. One advantage of not having the loop is that it is easier to carry the earpiece around (it has a little clip) on the top of a pocket.

The only trouble I’ve had is that the Z9i is so small you forget you’re carrying it in a pocket and I make a phone call with it connected to my phone. I couldn’t hear anything from the phone and that’s when the guy standing beside me reminded me that I’d been using the headset. When I retrieved it the called party (sorry Greg) was still there going ‘hello …. hello ….’ so it was a lucky save.

This was with my Nokia 6230 which is not as clever as the Sony Ericsson W880i. I’ve set the Sony up so that the call stays with the phone if answered using the phone or if a call is made with the phone. Conversly when a call is answered or made using the headse the audio goes to the headset straight away. Transfer options are available too, but it should avoid the headset in the pocket problem in the future.

The audio quality is surprisingly good, so I think that I might be using in preference to the handset even when I’m not driving simply because the sound is clearer and louder than what Sony or Nokia have managed with their own phones.

Shop around too — the prices online are significantly better than those in the shops. Only time to buy in the shop is when you’re getting a new phone and you either get a good price or get it for nothing.

My radio equipment is mostly setup for portable operation, but it was pretty messy to move things around. My Yaesu FT-817 was vulnerable to damage when being shifted and things were a rats nest. Secondly, the FT-8800 dualband mobile wasn’t getting very much use since I don’t spend much time in the car, so I wanted some way of using that from home.

The TRC-1 tactical radio carriers from Tac-Comm are advertised in QST, and I thought that this would be a nice way of organising the rigs. I bought four of these aluminium carriers and one of the steel lids (to act as a magmount base) direct from Tac-Comm. Quite impressively put together!

Dummy’s Note: the mic hanger screw holes are countersunk on the inside of the carrier, so put the nylock nuts on the outside. The slider will move up and down then.

I did find that some extra holes had to be drilled to mount the Yaesu FT-8800 because the Yaesu bracket has longways slots instead of side to side. The FT-817 and Z11pro tuner were mounted using webbing straps, but to make the mount more secure I put some thin foam sheeting between the two so there was something to compress down.

My power supply from GME fits nicely into the carrier too and I bolted the Rigrunner 4005 to the back of the carrier and this gives me quite a lot of flexibility for DC distribution on the shack bench. In the field I can swap the PSU carrier for a gell cell battery, or if there is AC available take the PSU along as well (one of the benefits of a switching power supply is the light weight).

I only know one other person that uses these carriers in Australia, but after I take them out and about a few more people might be interested.

Quite a few people have made bluetooth adapters for ham radio using the Jabra A210. Unfortunately this is almost impossible to buy in Australia, and the US sellers on eBay won’t ship to here. I chanced across the HH1 at iBluetooth and this does everything that I need. The packaging lists the model as an RL9-HCB08, the manual calls it an HCB08 and the manufacturer is Bluesonic. A trademark search shows that Bluesonic is owned by Huey Chiao Wireless Communication Co Ltd. The HCB-08 comes up as a bluetooth headset, so not too sure what is going on there though, but the logo on the product matches that on the website.

While you can buy from these people direct, it works out cheaper to buy it through Oztion.

I built a simple adapter based on a stereo 2.5mm socket and two 3.5mm mono plugs. The tip of the 2.5mm plug on the bluetooth adapter is the microphone output, the ring is the speaker and the base is the ground. On air test showed that it works quite well. I used some existing interface cables that I had built for a gaming headset, but if keen you could build a dedicated adapter lead if you liked.

The adapter auto-pairs with a headset in pairing mode, and I used by Blueant Z9i. It seems that the HH01 adapter will shut the connection down if there isn’t any audio for a little time, but when there is some sound from the radio it wakes up and connects back to the headset. Quite a cool power saving trick!

I’ve been on the hunt for a really good keyboard for some time. I bought a cheap Logitech one to go with my new desktop PC, but discovered that the arrangement is non standard. While it has all the keys (unlike some of the Apple keyboards) they’re in strange places and crammed in together.

I found out about Unicomp who are continuing the line of quality keyboards from IBM and Lexmark. They are still making the keyboards in Lexington USA (rather than Lexington PRC). The shipping is quite steep as the keyboards weigh quite a lot, but I was able to find one on ebay secondhand.

I ended up taking the plunge and bought a brand new ‘SpaceSaver’ in black and grey from Unicomp, but that has is being FedExed (and the FedEx speed is making the USPS and Australia Post look really good — I doubt I will ever use FedEx again).

The key feel is quite heavy, but I think that promotes better key striking and I keep my hands up high rather than just bending my fingers. This should be better for me in the long run.

I was warned from other reviews that the keyboard is quite noisy. I certainly underestimated the noise level. I will be keeping the Logitech handy (got to love USB for allowing multiple keyboards on a PC) for late night gaming or typing. I had intended for the big beige keyboard (this one) to be used at work and for the nice small black keyboard to be used at home. Well, not to be. The ‘bl**dy noisy’ keyboard has been banished from work. I guess the sound of hard work is too much for some, eh Al ?

My parting thoughts are that the keyboard takes some getting used to, but it won’t slide around the desk, looks ‘old school’ and will probably outlast any piece of computing hardware you have in your house.

I’ve been looking for a bluetooth keyboard to make life a little easier with my Dell PDA (X51v), but I was pushed to do something about it when I bought the Fujitsu P1620 laptop. The keys on that laptop are useable for simple things, but to bang out a blog entry would be easier using a real keyboard. I do have an Apple Bluetooth keyboard that I used on my Sony Vaio (which only works with the Microsoft BT stack - how ironic). It’s the old model with the full numeric keypad (clear base and white keys), not the disgusting thing they sell now, and not all together portable.

iGo had a good keyboard that has since been discontinued, but I found that Mr Gadget was selling them for a good price (that has since gone up). The reviews of this keyboard are good, and the key pitch was surprisingly large. I took the plunge, ordered one, and have loved using it since.

(Click on the thumbnail for a full sized photo)

It folds into four pieces and then closes into a nice shiny clamshell (that shows fingerprints like crazy).

The laptop is usable by itself, especially for websurfing (and the tablet mode is great for sitting on the couch wasting time on the net), but by using the extra keyboard and my bluetooth mouse it becomes very productive. The best thing is that everything packs away small and fits into a normal backpack (rather than a laptop specific one that screams out ‘mug me’).

The only downside that I have found is that the keyboard can only be paired to one host at a time. That means I have to go through the pairing procedure each time I want to move it from my laptop to my PDA or vice versa. Most of the time it is paired to the laptop, but if it was travelling without the laptop (not that I can imagine doing that as it is so portable) I would still take the keyboard so it can be used with the Dell.

Back in April I bought a new laptop to replace my Sony Vaio (which sounds like a jet due to the CPU fan failing). The costs of repair for the Sony are crazy, so I’ll use it as a ham radio computer until it dies and then flog off the RAM and hard drive.

After much consideration I ended up with the Fujitsu P1620 notebook/tablet. It has a screen that rotates and lies flat so it can be a notebook or a tablet. Very versatile! All the mod-cons are included except an optical drive, but I have a DVD multiformat burner in a USB2 box all ready, so that isn’t a drama. The Toshiba Portege R500 was a consideration (it has a DVD burner, but not the touchscreen), but the extra price and really flimsy keyboard put me off. The Sony Vaio TZ series was also an option, but was more expensive and had a cruddy warranty (Sony standard). All of the laptops considered use the Intel U7600 ultra low voltage dual core CPU running at 1.2GHz.

The P1620 is incredible portable. With the standard 3 cell battery it weighs 999g (according to my kitchen scales), and a bit more with the 6 cell battery. The long-life battery means that I don’t need to carry the AC adapter with it.

This is how the laptop looks. Click on the thumbnail to open the full sized photo in the gallery.

There are plenty of ports:
Left Side (PCcard slot):

Rear (VGA, modem, gigabit ethernet and Kensington lock):

Right Side (SD/SDHC reader, USB2, headphone, microphone, USB2):

Having an SDHC reader built into the card means that extra storage is easy. The built in HDD is ‘only’ 100GB (a quiet 1.8″ rotating HDD), but 16GB SDHC cards are not too expensive and it will only be a matter of time before the 32GB cards become reasonably priced.

Windows Vista Business is supplied on the laptop from the shop, but XP Tablet and Vista recovery discs are supplied. I trialled a Fujitsu P1610 to see how it all worked before buying the P1620 and I have to say that I think Vista is a better OS for a tablet PC than XP. With 2GB of RAM Vista performs quite well. The screen rotates to portrait automatically when the screen is flipped over, but there is manual rotation as well. Handwriting recognition works very well, and that’s without ‘training’ the software as that’s 45min of my life I wouldn’t get back.

With a smallish HDD and the large percentage of it that Vista takes (quite a porky OS) I’ve kept the laptop lean and clean with apps. Almost no duplication exists (one email client, one office suite, one photo editor etc) and it is all open source or freely available software. Linux might work on it, but I can’t see the reason in trying (since the OS came with it anyway), but such as large amount of Open Source software is available for Windows now it makes life easy. Doing presentations with OpenOffice Impress is worth it just for the confused looks in the audience :-).

If you’re in the market for a small, light, yet very capable laptop the P1620 should be considered. Don’t just take my word for it, as there are some really good reviews out there:

• Wired Review
• JK On the Run
• Engadget
• ZDnet

I was quite stunned to see that Microsoft has invested a huge amount of effort in upgrading the font import interface for Vista. As you can see, things have improved significantly since Windows 3.1 …

It’s pathetic isn’t it?

I was browsing the website of one of my favourite radio shops, 409shop.com in Hong Kong. I saw that they sell the ‘earbone‘ microphones for portable radios.

(Click for full size)

These are really quite cool. The speaker-mic looks like a normal in-ear ‘covert’ or ’security’ earpiece, but there is also a small piezo accelerometer included which translates the vibrations in your skull created by talking into a microphone signal. The result is that there is nothing near your mouth to give away that you are transmitting, but what I was interested in was the noise immunity. Since the mic is using the effect of your voice on your skull, outside noise should have very little impact, which is good for outside use if there are bands playing etc.

The speaker-mics come with a heap of different connectors, but I chose the Kenwood connection as this connects into my Kenwood TH-77 as well as my Puxing PX-777 and Kyd TK-328.

Audio reports were that the audio was easy enough to understand, but a little muffled. That’s a lot better report than I got from a throat mike (which was not complementary to say the least). While you can pay over A$200 for these mics (with a fancier PTT button and more connection options), Mr Chan’s price at around US$20 is hard to beat and worth the punt.