Hand Held Radio Safety Lanyard

Hand Held Radio Safety Lanyard

One day while wearing my Kenwood TH-F6 on my belt I backed up to a wall for some reason and the radio fell off my belt and the clip on battery separated, both falling to the floor.  The radio was ok but the battery lock mechanism was broken.  The battery is rather expensive so I determined to figure out how to protect any HT radio.  It took a while but here is my solution:

T-Reign 24 inch 4 oz small retractable tether.  (My model: TRSMSTRAP HUNT).  Approximate cost is anywhere from $16 to #25.  I purchased mine from Sports Chalet in Brea California for $12.76 on sale.  My model has a Velcro belt  loop which I do not see on the T-Reign web site.

I tried to make the T-Reign work directly by trying to attach the device to my HT but it simply would not work.  The unit has a satinless steel loop but it was extremely difficult to open and once I did open the loop I found it would not slip through most of the small HT lanyard openings.  The elegant solution was found when I spotted a Nite Ize S-Binder #5 carbine.  I purchased the 2 pack for about $3.99.  I found them at Home Depot and Sports Chalet.

Image shows HT radio connected to T-Reign by using a Nite Ize carabiner.
Image shows HT radio connected to T-Reign by using a Nite Ize carbine.

Photo taken by Nancy Nuclear.

The Kevlar cord is 24 inches and simply will not allow the HT radio to hit the ground.  The cord does pull out with some small effort.  I found working the HT radio was not impeded by being connected to the lanyard.  The S-Binder carabiner works terrific for quick connect and disconnect.   I totally discount using the the cable anchor because it is such a pain to connect and disconnect.

 

Yamaha DM 1000 version 2 Lost Input Patch Settings When a Scene Recall Was Initiated.

Yamaha DM 1000 version 2 Lost Input Patch Settings When a Scene Recall Was Initiated.

One of my customers complained that after making input changes to their Yamaha DM 1000 model audio board they would be lost when they initiated a scene recall.   This audio board has two different save methods and each method parcels out different portions of the audio board to be saved.  The main one is “scene” which includes mainly production type of changes the board operator might want to configure for each production.  The second save method is “library”.  It includes deeper factors like input and output patching.  The trick is to configure both scene and library and link the two.  The board is set up so when you conduct a scene recall from memory, it also makes changes specified in the library save.  The customer just needs to remember that when you do a patch change, also conduct a “library” save and lock it to the “scene” that you will be using.

How Not To Win A War

How Not To Win A War

You should seriously consider looking at and consider buying the March/April 2013 issue of Foreign Policy magazine (How Not To Win A War).  It does an excellent job of looking back to how the United States has done such a poor job at waging war.  I used the word “poor” while others may substitute the word “incompetent”.  The issue mainly cites Afghanistan in its analysis.  As part of this issue, they reveal how President Obama allowed for  similar failed administration process as George W. Bush for sanitizing people working on the war effort (revealed in Imperial Life In The Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran) by stuffing under qualified individuals into positions of war and “nation building” buy having each individual pass the political litmus test of allegiance to their “leader” (in the case of George W. Bush that would be Chaney and his neocon ideology).    A whole lot of ideas come out of this issue that are not explicit stated but one can most easily pull out of the issue:

  • Evidently no one in high office even thinks of conducting deep choice analysis prior to invasions of foreign countries.
  • The US Military method of waging war is land grab.
  • The US always takes on the method of looking down upon the country being invaded and imposing our views and methods.
  • The US Military can really run it off the rails when it gets involved in deciding policy.
  • The CIA can really ruin the war effort when it gets involved in deciding policy.
  • The U.S. State Department expertise is not appreciated, under utilized as a result, because their business is seen as making sausage.  Presidents seem unable to comprehend political complexity, want it simple.
Syrian Step Solution For The West To Consider To Help The Syrian People

Syrian Step Solution For The West To Consider To Help The Syrian People

Proposal:  NATO or United Nations should perform an invasion of Port of Latakia in Syria  for the following purposes:

The current Syrian administration has tried hard to keep this part of their country secure.  Many of the current political and military administration have homes in this city.  This city has taken over a significant portion of the economy and thus functions to support this.

  • Send a powerful message that the western world is in this conflict, wants the current administration to change.
  • Shuts down a powerful wide open door in an out of Syria that can handle a lot of logistics support for the Syrian administration.
  • Gives the spy agencies another door for their operation.
  • Gives the rebels a terrific logistical support portal.
  • Offers a forward logistical base for any future spy, military and humanitarian action.

I foresee a real problem with the rebels trying to exert their control over this territory after this occupation and could come into conflict with the forces that occupy.  The way this would work is if the rebel forces sanction this action, work with the occupying force  and can expedite a good workable interface

Otter Box Samsung Galaxy S3 Defender Series Phone Case With Belt Clip Product Review

Otter Box Samsung Galaxy S3 Defender Series Phone Case With Belt Clip Product Review

July 20, 2012 I purchased a Samsung Galaxy S3 Defender Series Otter Box cell phone cover from the manufacturer.  Item No: 77-21086_A.  The price was $49.95 but when sales tax and shipping was totaled I paid $69.70.   The case came as 4 pieces.  I had to put the phone into a hard shell case which comprised a top and bottom piece.  Over this hard shell was a rubber cover that provided the soft landing protection.  The final piece was a belt clip.  The soft rubber outer case began to slowly expand out from the hard inner shell.  This expansion process was gradual but really got annoying after having the case around six months.  It was getting difficult to put the phone into the belt clip.  The rubber was too wide and would hit the top clip stopping the final hold.

The company does have a product warranty that is quite good but does require that you provide four separate images of the front, rear, damaged part and receipt.  Their replacement period is one year but I was told that they often times extend that time.

Summery:  I am somewhat neutral about this product for the model I purchased.  The company needs to improve the outer rubber part of the case so it does NOT expand over time.  This is really a significant problem for those people who use the belt clip  and may not be for those who do not.

  1.  When the case is new, it is pretty darn awesome.  I am annoyed with the outer rubber expanding and interfering with the belt clip over time.
  2. I just do not see any women buying the belt clip model.  My son loved the case for the first six months until the flap used to protect the power connection broke.  This also seemed to happen about six months after he purchased the unit.  He would slide the case into his pocket.  The outer rubber is resistant enough to keep the phone inside the pants pocket which is nice

TIP:  I am a ham radio operator.  I am very aware of the hazard to the humane body when you place any device that transmits radio waves close to the body, especially the head.  There are some reports of individuals getting brain cancer from cell phones and two way radios usage.  I found it quite easy to install black wrap into the belt clip using double stick tape.  This protective layer should help diminish the cell phone radiation from entering my body.

Miele Power Plus Vacuum Cleaner Review.

Miele Power Plus Vacuum Cleaner Review.

Product review for Miele Power Plus vacuum cleaner.
Model: S7580

I invited my sister to take over our home when our family went on vacation.  When I returned she had donated our very old classic upright Hoover and purchased a Miele replacement.  I have had a chance to test this vacuum for about one year and here are my likes and dislikes.

Like:

  • The power cord is super long.  I thus do not have to keep moving the power plug as I cruise through the house.  I appreciate efficiency.  The cord does get warm telling me that it wastes energy.
  • I just love the fact that the vacuum head rides over any surface.  Every other vacuum cleaner, I have to set the carpet depth.
  • Bag replacement is rather simple and quick.

Dislike:

  • The unit continuously gets clogged.  I have to take the bottom head unit apart and clear out the rather small suck hose that collects the dirt and debris from what is spun up from the rotating brushes.  What is infuriating is that the tool that is needed, T-10H and T-20H, is special.  They should have used Phillips or straight blade screws.  There is a trick to getting the large plastic bottom piece back into place.  You need to move the brush roller back toward the handle and it then slips right in.  Also, along the right and left sides, there are rubber sides that can easily get caught under the plate when you screw it back in place.
  • I ran over the power cord the first time using it and damaged the outer insulation.  I have run over power cords with a lot of other vacuum cleaners and have never caused any harm.

Summary:

I previously panned this vacuum cleaner.  But, I had to go to a vacuum repair shop, All Vacuum Depot, in Brea, California, to get some advice as to how to unclog my vacuum.  The owner, Mike, was  amazed that I did not like the Miele.   He then proceeded to show me the more popular brands that people were buying and how deficient they are.  One brand he showed me had no bag but collected the debris in a see through plastic chamber.  What he seemed to push was that the Miele was a most healthy device.  The filters and collection bag were extremely efficient in collecting the vacuumed up material and not resending it back into the room.  I reflected upon his viewpoint and have now reconsidered my recommendation.  My main complaint with the Miele was it was getting clogged time after time and it required me to dismantle the bottom plate.   I think most homes would not have the floor debris that we have.  I have two teenagers that litter every room in the house it seems with all kinds of annoying objects.  It does not take much to block this vacuum cleaner.   I was then shown a secret door behind the unit that just required undoing two screws.

 

Access door.
Clean out door.

Miele has a special tool, called Miele S7 Cleaning Tool o7431700, that is used by repair technicians for cleaning out any obstructions.  I did find this for sale on the internet.  After opening this door, you have access to five channels for the vacuum air flow and using this tool makes the unit work again.

Conclusion:

I recommend this vacuum cleaner but the buyer should be made aware of my concerns about the unit getting clogged.  Just about every vacuum cleaner gets clogged but this one is a pain if you do not know about the secret door and don’t have the cleaning tool.