Earl: a 6" E-ink Android Tablet with Solar Panels and Radio

[ApK]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

they'll have to ship daylight to me by pack mule!

And you'll need it to recharge your Earl.

And we're back on topic, just like that!
Hoo-ra, baby!

ApK

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by ApK

Not for nothing, but the Earl announcements says the other radio choice for the US is GMRS.

To the best of my knowledge, GMRS still requires a license. It's just a matter of filling out an online form and paying a fee, no test or anything, but required nonetheless.
The FCC has proposed to do away with that license, but it hasn't happened yet, unless the news got by me.

My advice: if you are at all technically savvy, study up on-line, find an examiner, and take the no-code technician class ham test. It really is not all that hard, and you'll be able to use a radio band that is not constantly polluted by every drunken idiot with a Walmart walkie-talkie.

As a bonus, you'll be a licensed amateur radio operator, so when the zombie apocalypse comes, you'll get stationed in the command bunker manning the radio net, and not stuck on the muddy barricade with a shotgun.

But it does not require a license to buy it, just to use it. GMRS shares 7 channels with FRS and so long as you use it in .5Watt mode without an external antenna you should be in compliance with FRS requirements to share the channel, so although it can't advertize FRS since the antenna can be swapped with an external longer or remote antenna which is not legal for FRS you should be good to go. Compliance with the law is a user thing. YMMV

Dale

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

But it does not require a license to buy it, just to use it. GMRS shares 7 channels with FRS and so long as you use it in .5Watt mode without an external antenna you should be in compliance with FRS requirements to share the channel, so although it can't advertize FRS since the antenna can be swapped with an external longer or remote antenna which is not legal for FRS you should be good to go. Compliance with the law is a user thing. YMMV

Dale

Did you see any indication that there IS a .5 Watt mode? I only see mention of 2 Watts.

And for the record, as you suggested above, in the US we don't need the license to buy ham gear, either, nor to listen to it. Only to key the transmitter.

ApK

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

Did you see any indication that there IS a .5 Watt mode? I only see mention of 2 Watts.

I only see 2W for GMRS. $85 is ridiculous for a no-test license. Sounds like a cash cow.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I only see 2W for GMRS. $85 is ridiculous for a no-test license. Sounds like a cash cow.

It would be great if they actually enforced it, because as it is, GMRS is as bad as CB was at it's worst in populated areas: just constant streams of loudmouths (aforementioned drunken idiots) endlessly holding the PTT button and singing profanity.

If it was aggressively enforced*, that $85 (for 5 years, for a family) would keep the band usable.

But, instead, they will likely just eliminate the fee, as proposed.

ApK

*By hams with directional antennas and billy clubs. We seriously need more organized vigilantism. I mean "self-regulation."

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

It would be great if they actually enforced it, because as it is, GMRS is as bad as CB was at it's worst in populated areas: just constant streams of loudmouths (aforementioned drunken idiots) endlessly holding the PTT button and singing profanity.

If it was aggressively enforced*, that $85 (for 5 years, for a family) would keep the band usable.

But, instead, they will likely just eliminate the fee, as proposed.

ApK

*By hams with directional antennas and billy clubs. We seriously need more organized vigilantism. I mean "self-regulation."

Requiring the $85 fee at time of purchase would go a long way to weed out casual users. Manufacturers could then go back to producing non-fee FRS radios for those unwilling to pay the fee.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by ApK

Did you see any indication that there IS a .5 Watt mode? I only see mention of 2 Watts.

And for the record, as you suggested above, in the US we don't need the license to buy ham gear, either, nor to listen to it. Only to key the transmitter.

ApK

I haven't seen any indication since they removed the FRS from the specification but before that there was a .5 Watt in the spec so I don't know if they removed it or not. It would be useful to save power and batteries when not needed. I think I will go over to their forum and ask the question. It should not be difficult to include it.

Dale

[Greg Anos]

Delayed again...

[Glorfindel]

how long does that make the delays, total?

[Edward_R]

Originally supposed to ship last year.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Delayed again...

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

how long does that make the delays, total?

Originally Posted by Edward_R

Originally supposed to ship last year.

Was supposed to ship in late September or early October of 2013, but I think everyone figured that was a pipe dream.
I'm still excited about it, but I must admit that my enthusiasm is starting to wane. I'm pretty much just waiting to have a box arrive at work out of the blue at this point.

[Edward_R]

I requested abnd recieved a refund a long time ago.

[murg]

Originally Posted by Edward_R

I requested abnd recieved a refund a long time ago.

I'm wondering if I should get a refund, and then pay the extra for an Earl if I still want to buy one in a few years time (when they are finally available).

I'm starting to wonder if they have their software act together, seeing how they clearly don't have their hardware act together. And software is the key to making an eInk screen look good under Android.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by murg

IAnd software is the key to making an eInk screen look good under Android.

Plus with Android maturing itself quite rapidly one has to wonder if they are staying current, or staying with what was current when they started development.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Plus with Android maturing itself quite rapidly one has to wonder if they are staying current, or staying with what was current when they started development.

They are staying current, Kit-Kat is the current test OS. I think the software is sound. They can do the software themselves but the hardware is farmed out. The software is also less regulated, no FCC testing.

Dale