Any Android App Writers who are interested in HAM Radio out there?

I want an App for my cell phone which will allow me to use my Android Cell Phone or my Android Tablet, with my 2m/70cm HT to run digital modes.

Already I can use my Chronograph through the speaker/mic jack, and through the micro USB jack my phone can be used as a USB Mass Storage Device.

Is there a way to make it so an Android Device can be used with something like a Rascal, plugged into the external Microphone jack on my Baofeng UV5R and then into the speaker/mic jack and Micro USB jack on my phone or tablet.  I can use either a Bluetooth keyboard mouse combo on both my phone and tablet, I can also use a USB Std. to USB Micro adapter use a regular Keyboard and mouse through the use of a USB Hub, on my tablet and phone.

So wouldn't there be a way to make it so I can use either of my Android devices to control a HAM Radio and use Digital modes?

I think if that could be done, a lot more people would be interested in HAM Radio, as they could purchase an inexpensive HT and a small external antenna like a  Flexible J-Pole Antenna, or a Mag-Mount antenna, they could then run Packet, FSK, PSK, Olivia, or Hellschreiber.  With a spare Battery, AAA Battery Case, or even a car cigarette lighter adapter, they won't have to worry about running out of power to operate.  Just think, with a small 4 Watt HT, with a good Antenna, running one of the Digital Modes, you can transmit 50+ miles.  Plus you would be part of the HAM Community and an important part of our Country's Backbone Communication System.

With a little training, you could be one the National Weather Service Weather Watchers, known as SKYWARN.  You can also listen in to the local Nets on the various repeaters in your area.  The following link is the Nets available to me here in my neck of the woods.  STARC Nets.  You can see there are Nets on various Frequencies, almost every day of the week.  From Buy-Sell to just local Rag Chewing, there is probably a Net for it.

So come on App Writers.  Can you write an Android App that will work with most Android devices to be used with an HT through an interface such as a Rascal?

I know if there was one, and if it was free/trial for 2m/70cm and paid for 6m, 10m and the rest.  I personally would buy it if it was a reasonable price.  There are probably many more HAMs who would as well if they knew about it.

If reading my post here made you interested in HAM Radio, and you might be looking for some information on how to get your own HAM License, please check out the following links.


The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) You don't HAVE to join the ARRL to get help, but they do have some interesting Tech Articles for members.

How to Get an Amateur Radio License in the US: 5 Steps

Partial Review Caldwell Chronograph

I looked around for quite a while to find a shooting chronograph to use for my ammo tests.  Finally I just asked The Lady Tam, and she said she used this model for her testing.  So I looked around and while Amazon had a good price, so did Midway.  But Midway sometimes takes forever to ship and I really wanted to have Amazon's warranty in case something went wrong.

So I went to order it from Amazon, and suddenly their "Good" price had gone up $14.00.  YIKES!  I'd read about how Amazon plays with the prices, but I bit the bullet and bought it from Amazon.  Five days later it arrived.  It arrived in a box almost 3 times it's own size, but with the clamshell packaging the chronograph was in, I could understand it.  Plus I got a LOT of brown packing paper to be converted into targets!!  Right away I found a problem.  One of the sun shields had been broken.  I got back on Amazon to see how to just get a replacement sun shield and the only thing Amazon allowed was to return the whole thing and get a refund.  Not we'll ship you another one and you send us that one back, just return it for a refund.  Uhh, I don't want a refund, I just want a new sun shield.  Well in the packaging was the users manual with a way to contact the manufacturer, Battenfeld Technology, plus they actually had a phone number which is answered by a real live human being.  I called them and explained the situation.  And after a 4 minute phone call and 5 days, I had a new sun shield delivered straight to my door. "No Charge"  Now THAT is good Customer Service.

Now that I have a replacement sun shield, lets get on with this "Partial" review.

Inside the "Basic" setup packaging you get the chronograph, 2 sun shields with the steel rods that hold them in place, a 15 foot patch cable, and nylon bag with a cord pull top and a users manual.  Everything, the chronograph, cord, shields and manual fit inside the bag with a little bit off extra room for me to put in a medicine bottle with 2 extra 9 volt batteries.

The chronograph itself, has it's battery compartment on the bottom next to the mounting nut so the chronograph can be installed on a tripod.  The battery compartment has room for your main battery plus an extra battery in case you need it.

The sun shields have their rods held to them under small ears on the shield.  The rods fit into the shield and then into the angled holes on the top of the chronograph.

All of my tripods, and other camera mounts screw right into the nut int the bottom of the chronograph, so I shouldn't have any problem setting up securely.

Now, there is a Free Android Application that Caldwell/Battenfeld has put on the play store,  to allow you to hook your Android phone/device up to the chronograph and it will keep track of all of your data for you.  I haven't had time to really play with the App yet, but I can tell you, it DOES NOT work with my Generic 9 inch Android Tablet, however it DOES seem to be working with my T-mobile ZTE Concord Android Phone.  I says SEEMS to be working because my phone was able to communicate to the chronograph, whereas my Tablet could not.  This is NOT Caldwell/Battenfeld's fault.  My tablet is a very generic Chinese Android Tablet that I buy from the same supplier as my other android tablets as they honor their warranty and 98% of all the Apps I try work on them.  Not bad for $60.00, but it does NOT communicate with the chronograph through it's speaker plug and my cell phone does.

So I haven't taken this to the range yet to test, but Sprog #4 aka Daughter #3 aka The Meganator, and I are heading to the Sooper Sekrit Range in the morning to test the chronograph, some 1 1/8th ounce Brenneke Style S&B 2.5 inch Tactical Shotgun slugs against 1 ounce Foster Style 2.75 inch Remington Slugger slugs, and some Aquila 60 grain .22 LR Sub-Sonic ammunition in both pistol and rifle.  We might also get some practice in with the Franken-15.  Even though it has an inexpensive Leaper Red/Green dot optic, it's surprisingly accurate.

So tomorrow afternoon, I should have some more data on how the Caldwell Chronograph works with it's App and my Android Cell Phone.

Until Later, Be Safe and Shoot Straight, and ALWAYS use your Ear and Eye Protection.