Yaesu FT-8900R FM Transceiver

This is what I need to enhance the capabilities of Miss Daisy, in terms of communications. It will replace the sometimes ineffectual handheld walkie talkies in terms of reliability. with its capability, it can also serve as my ham radio station, although then this past time will have to operate out of Landy, which is not a minus point.

The technical specifications of the model under considerations is included below, including the 4 points below which have surely caught my attention as being vital for my needs.


29/50/144/430 MHz FM Transceiver The FT-8900R is a ruggedly-built, high quality Quad Band FM transceiver providing 50 Watts of power output on the 29/50/144 MHz Amateur bands, and 35 Watts on the 430 MHz band. It includes leading-edge features like cross-band repeat, dual receive, VHF-UHF Full Duplex capability, and over 800 memory channels. And its 10-meter FM coverage brings the possibility of world-wide FM DX-ing to you on your drive in to work!

Convenient Remote-Head Mounting Capability
Having trouble mounting your mobile radio in your compact car? With the FT-8900R and its optional YSK-8900 Separation Kit, mounting is a breeze even in the tightest locations. The YSK-8900 includes a 20’ (6 m) remote cable and a mounting bracket for the front panel, and the microphone jack is located on the side of the front panel, eliminating the need to run a separate cable.

Quad Band Operation
The FT-8900R combines the “traditional” 144/430 MHz local-communications concept with the exciting capability for Sporadic-E or F2 DX on the 29 MHz and 50 MHz bands, for nationwide or worldwide FM communications from your car! The first Amateur Radio FM mobile transceiver providing this capability, the FT-8900R will make you wonder how you got by with a two-band transceiver up to now!

Wide Frequency Coverage
The FT-8900R provides extended receiver coverage beyond the Amateur bands, so you can keep informed of communication activities in the public safety, commercial, aircraft, and government communications ranges. Included is coverage of 28-29.7 MHz, 50-54 MHz, 108-180 MHz, 300-480 MHz, and 700-985 MHz (cellular frequencies are blocked and non-restorable).

Cross-Band Repeat Capability
For emergency work, or to extend the range of a hand-held unit, the FT-8900R includes Cross-Band Repeat capability, similar to that pioneered on our popular FT-8100R Dual Band FM Mobile!

Poljot and Sturmanskie

"On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first cosmonaut who circled the Earth in a space shuttle called “Vostok” (East). This earmarked the success of the Soviet’s advanced development in space exploration, well ahead of its American counterpart.

It was a historical moment for 1st MWF as well with its “Sturmanskie” watch strapped around Gagarin’s arm throughout the space journey." This Russian watch factory has gone from being the first state watch factory in 1930 to the First Moscow Watch Factory in 1945 and then developing the trademark 'Poljot' (which means Flight) in 1964. While the watches were marketed under different brands or lines, the movements were produced by Poljot, notably the 3133 and 31681. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin, wore a Sturmanskie (Navigator) line watch, produced then only for military aviation and not available to the public. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of space flight, Sturmanskie produced 999 pieces of a limited edition timepiece to commemorate this event. I have heard of Russian watches and the brand, but did not know much prior to this trip and the research of the watch. I was fortunate to have chanced upon a shop selling this line and the one that stood out was this beautiful piece. Not only did it have a good look, it was full of significance and a limited edition as well. After much consideration and haggling, the price was settled at 12500 roubles, about SGD 750.

CASE:	SOLID STAINLESS STEEL 39 mm
CRYSTAL:	MINERAL GLASS
CROWNS:	STEEL, ENLARGED FOR EASY WINDING
MOVEMENT:	POLJOT CHRONOGRAPH CAL. 31681 OF RUSSIAN ORIGIN/MANUAL WOUND
FUNCTIONS:	SECONDS, DATE CALENDAR, 24 HOURS DIAL, STOP WATCH WITH SUMMING UP ACTION
JEWELS:	25 BEARING RUBY JEWELS
STRAP:	GENUINE LEATHER
BUCKLE:	STAINLESS STEEL
BACKCASE:	STAINLESS STEEL-SECURED BY A SCREW-IN RING
DIAL:	BLACK, ARABIC NUMERALS
HANDS:	SWEEP-TYPE SECONDS HAND, LUMINOUS
ACCURACY:	-20 TO +40 SEC/DAY
WATER-RESISTANCE:	Up to 30 meters/100 ft or 3ATM

6th Landy Improvement

What else could I possibly add to Missy Daisy, you would ask.

LIGHTS!

This has been on my list of things to add. And after a couple of night off-roading sessions, I was convinced that lights will be a definite help in my quest for a better experience. So once again, trooped down to Nam Seng to take a look.

So I made the following purchases:

1. Hella Ralleye 1000 x 4 pieces (mounted on the front of the Roof Rack)
2. Hella Comet 550 x 2 pieces (mounted on the rear of the rack)

Decided to go back to Specialists Audio at Bukit Merah for the installation as they were most familiar with Land Rover electrics, therefore least likely to mess up. Took about 4 hours for them to rig up the lights, connecting it to my 2nd battery, controlled by switches on the dash.

Now Ms Daisy looks like a fully equipped Land Rover.

I shall add photos soon

Tashi

After much deliberation, I have settled on the name for my boat.

Tashi

Firstly, it is Tibetan in origin and the name translates roughly as " a blessing or good luck" As part of a longer phrase, Tashi Delak, it is used as a greeting to fellow persons around.

It is a unique name. Suitably female for the naming of a sea going vessel, conforming to the traditions of old. And applicable to any seafaring activity in a kayak, "a blessing" would mean a good and safe journey to anyone who takes this boat to sea and from another angle, it is a blessing to be able to use the craft to take us to where we so desire.

And so we have it.... my feathercraft..... Tashi

It Floats! The Kayak Test Run

Today is test kayak day! After its arrival last week, today we officially get the Wisper wet.

So Fran and I brought the boat to MacRitchie Reservoir after Mass. I figured that a controlled water environment and fresh water would be a better choice for the first run. We had some time from 1400 hours to dusk to do the boat tests. So here is how it went.

Setting up the boat in the afternoon heat is not a simple task. I was drenched in sweat by the time I got the boat ready for the water. It was a highly anticipated moment when I lowered the boat slowly and gently into the water. The silence was only broken by Fran's exclamation, " IT FLOATS!"

Me: ...

So after about 2 hours of paddling, I have one thing to say....SUPERB! The comments on the Feathercraft that I have read prior to the purchase were true. The boat felt comfortable even when sitting into it for the first time. The sponsoons offered great stability to the boat yet the boat was nimble enough for you to execute a mean edge. The boat sits quite high on the water but probably due to the fact it is unloaded at point in time. It was a fast boat, maintaining a reasonable speed with a minimal of effort. Tracking was good. This was a concern as the skins of the Feathercraft are hand-made and some variations occur between every piece of boat they ship out. I am fortunate that the boat tracks pretty well under mild conditions today.

The sea sock works well in preventing flooding of the boat during a capsize. Which I did, in the interest of testing every aspect of the boat's handling. The boat did take in some water, though minimal, but this was likely through a not so thorough securing of the bow hatch. A combination of the sea sock and the spray skirt did make paddling a little warm in our kind of weather.

The skin proved to be really watertight and water repellent. Water dripping off the paddle just beaded up on the deck and rolled off.

The other piece of equipment that was a real good buy was the paddle. The 4 piece carbon paddle from Aquabound was, in my opinion, a real performer. The Eagle Ray is designed for touring and for a low paddling angle. The feathering angle can be adjusted as desired. Entry of the blade into the water is effortless and silent. Turbulence is minimal and as you exert pressure on the blade in the water, the blade moves smoothly all the way until it exits the water. It does not have the little wobble that I so often feel in other paddles when you pull hard on the blade.

I brought the boat back strapped onto the roof rack. This was easily done with a couple of ratchet straps and another from the stern to the spare wheel. It would be a challenge to bring the boat around on my own, because I had the help of Fran today, and it took putting the boat onto the bonnet before I pulled it up onto the rack.

See the pictures at this Flickr set Kayak Test Paddle

Now.....I need a name for her.....

Setting up the Wisper

The weekend was spent trying to set up the kayak and practising how to do it smoothly and with as little pain as possible.

I find no fault with the instructions or manual and the DVD included was just invaluable in making life a little easier. So blame it all on my ineptness, but my inaugural attempt in setting up the kayak took about an hour. I tried to be meticulous in making sure I do not do anything wrong that may damage the boat even before it hits the water.

On day 2 of practice, on my second try, the time taken to set the boat up was 37 min from the opening of the pack to completion. Dismantling took just slightly shorter at just about 30 mins. The bulk of time went to packing it properly into the pack.

Setting up the frame of the boat is easy, and planting the frame into the skin is also a relative;y easy. The most difficult areas are actually,
1. Making sure the frame is centred in the skin.
2. Tensioning the frame with the extension bars
3. And placing of the crossribs especially crossrib 2

But all in all, the kayak feels solid so far on dry land. The component pieces are well made and there was never a situation where the pieces did not fit one another. Design of the frame was well thought of with every piece having its role and doubling up in function sometimes.

Here are the photos of the kayak during the weekend.

My Boat is Here!!!

Today has been a long anticipated day. The order for my kayak made almost 2-3 weeks back has finally been delivered. See here for write up on the wisper and the order.

Brimming with excitement, I went together with Fran to collect the boat. It was also the first time I was meeting the guy who brought in the kayak for me, Huey. He has a rather colourful history with regard to kayaking and is now in the business of bringing in kayaking equipment, particularly folding kayaks. Check out the website: kayakasia

Now back to the boat. The backpack in which the foldable kayak was packed into was larger than I thought it would be. The other accessories were packed into the backpack with the foam blocks and buoyancy vest in a separate box. All in all, everything as in good order except for my neoprene spray skirt which was inadvertently left out in the order. This will have to be rectified in the coming weeks.

Therefore, this is my kayaking purchase and equipment thus far, my FIRST kayak plan.

1. Feathercraft Foldable Kayak: Wisper with front and rear hatches
2. Aquabound Eagleray Full-carbon 4 piece paddle
3. Feathercraft Klatwa 2 piece Greenland paddle (spare)
4. Astral Tempo 300 Personal Flotation Device
5. Feathercraft Neoprene spray skirt
6. Feathercraft Deckbag
7. NRS Bilge pump
8. NRS universal kayak blocks

Other pieces of good news include the approval from PUB to allow foldable kayaks into the reservoirs to paddle. Although the only open reservoirs so far are MacRitchie and Marina Bay, others in the pipeline include Lower and Upper Seletar Reservoirs. Once again, Huey has made arrangement for all foldable owners to have a tag to indicate registration with an organisation.
I have chose the number tag 7 for my boat.

All I have to do now is decide on a name and then will have to christian the boat during our first trip to the water. I cannot wait....

Wisper

Sounds like an advertisement for women's sanitary napkins. Rest assured, this is not about it!

I have decided on my kayak. After making tentative inquiries with dealers and evaluating both the features of the kayak as well as the depth of my pocket. I have finally come to a conclusion.

Having said that, it was by no means easy coming to the decision. The main difficulties were with the kayak itself. A host of questions had to be answered: hard shell vs foldable; length; model/brand were all considerations. The one which caught my eye the most were the Feathercraft boats, due to their portability and consistent reviews of seaworthiness. Fears of tracking and speed compared to their hard shell counterparts were slowly but surely dispelled by the many favourable reports for the foldables. After all, the physics was sound. The oft cited weakness in the foldable structure may actually act to absorb more of the wave energy thrown at the boat, allowing it to cope better with choppy sea states.

Feathercraft has a few models available. Earlier one, I had my eye on the Khatsalano, a greenland styled kayak. However, the price made the boat quite out of reach and if you noticed, it has been a while since I've revisited the issue of owning my own boat.

Here is where the Wisper comes in. It is a cross between the Khat and one of their other models. It maintains the Greenland style characteristics but in a slightly shorter package with a wider beam.

The most important thing...is the freedom the craft will allow. Paddling anytime, anywhere and being to camp out to explore the remote reaches of our island home. The possibilities are endless. I just cannot wait. Await the next post when I announce its arrival. Now I need a name for her....suggestions?

What is this For?

Just what is this thing for?



I have finally found it ...rather Fran found it for me.

This is the little brush used to apply shaving cream to the face before a shave. The last time we saw this was in a pharmacy in Paris and it was priced at about 20 euros. This one was bought at the very affordable price of SGD 2

Why the obsession with this brush? Because I think it is very quaint to use a piece of equipment like this and since I have little facial hair, I do not have to use it during my shaving. Therefore, it is going to be used to clean and dust my photographic and electronic equipment. The bristles are stiff enough to get at dust in odd corners yet soft enough not to scratch or damage delicate equipment.

What a find.....

Mountain Feet

My new boots are here!

I have just test run my mountaineering boots which arrived in Singapore last Saturday. After much deliberation, I decided on a pair of Koflach Arctis Expe plastic mountaineering boots.

Due to my upcoming trip to Elbrus, Russia ... I started thinking about getting my own pair of plastic boots after having a not so pleasant experience with renting boots from the agency.. However, the price was definitely a prohibitive factor coupled with the fact that I will not climb more than 1-2 times a year on snow and ice. After speaking to more people, I finally made the decision to do so to ensure the best possible experience and also as an investment for my interest in mountaineering.

So why a Koflach? Simply because it is plastic and this particular model is rated for the lowest temperature by any manufacturer. Also, the bright yellow colour of the boot is irresistible.

Here is a write up on the boots and the specifications:

The warmest boot made. We designed the Arctis Expe to conquer serious expeditions outside the lower 48.

It's also a great choice for technical ice climbing and general mountaineering.

Through Y-Technology, the lower part of the shell provides rock-solid stability with step-in crampons, while the upper part of the shell flexes nicely for hiking.

Expedition: Excellent
Vertical Ice: Excellent
Hiking: Very Good

Size: U.S. 5.5-13
Weight: 2,490g (U.S. size 9)
Hinge: Vario
Sole: Vibram
Lacing: Steel Ball
Shell: Y-Technology (dual density)

I bought the boot from REI and costs SGD 524.90

After a session of stair climbing to test run the boots, the review of the boots is a resounding GREAT! My initial fears that the size will not accurate were unfounded as the US 8 fitted snugly with a thin inner sock and wool outer sock. Though stiff, the dual density plastic offered flexibility and a greater degree of ankle movement without causing too much discomfort.

I can't wait to test it out in the snow and I think it will go very well with a pair of crampons....sigh more money.

5th Landy Improvement

The latest in the line of Miss Daisy improvements...

A spanking new Safety Devices Land Rover Roofrack installed on 4 April 2007.

This was a day after I got a call from Nam Seng informing me that the roof rack had reached our shores. Therefore, after mulling about it for a day or tow, decided to take a look at it and finally make a decision. One of the most difficult things to resolve was the fact that after installation, Miss Daisy may not fit into our own multi-storey carpark.

The rack was big, black and a beauty...even in the box. It was sleek and it was the original Land Rover G4 roof rack. The lower, sleeker profile boasts minimal addition to the overall height of the vehicle. RIchard assured us that after adding the roof rack, 2.15m carparks should pose no difficulty.

Installation was a breeze, the rack fitting easily onto the rain gutter and clamping it down to the vehicle with rubber clamps. All in all, it too about 30-45 minutes to fit and secure the rack to Miss Daisy. The weight was surprisingly light and it could not have weighed more than 20kg.

The only drawback was the price which was quite hefty at $2400. Considering that the rack would have cost about 600 pounds and taking into account conversion rates and shipping charges, I felt it was a fair price albeit a little steep.

Land Rover Defender Expedition Roof Rack
LR 004101
SGD 2400

PS: I still park in my own carpark

See how Miss Daisy looks with the rack.














This was how she looked without the rack.......



See My Flickr for more photos.

Oympus Mju 725 SW

I have finally bitten the bullet and done it; gone ahead to buy an underwater camera system. This was an issue long considered both whether there was a need and also which system to get.

To shorten a long story, a digital system was decided on even though there was an initial temptation to get a dedicated underwater film camera. It was to expensive to get a professional housing to fit my digital SLRs. It was a futile attempt to get the canon underwater housing for my ancient powershot S30.. There was little choice but to get a newer camera together with the housing.

Though I have never considered thr Olympus line of cameras, closer research revealed quite a gem for my purposes and lifestyle. Intro the olympus mju ( prnounced mew). It is a compact point and shoot camera with 3x optical zoom and reasonable control of all functions. Most attractive is its built in ability to withstand shocks and water up to 5m in depth. Now I can take the camera out in the rain, spalsh it with mud, jump into a pool with it and even go kayaking with it, all without using the housing.

So now I proudly own a Olympus mju 725SW. With the underwater housing PT-033, the operational depth is extended to 40m.

Model: Olympus Mju 725SW
2 original Olympus Li-ion batteries
PT-033 underwater housing
1 GB and 512 MB xD cards

Yokohama Geolanders MTs

Today is the day I got MTs onto Miss Daisy!

The impetus being the upcoming expedition on the Mat Daling trail. I have been researching on the available options and it is difficult getting MTs in Singapore. At least it's difficult getting the MTs of the right specifications.

I have been advised to get them from across the Causeway. I just have a few problems about driving around in JB, ensuring that the shop there does not botch up the tyre change and fleece me in the process. I also have the small problem of lugging back 5 ATs in the back of my truck. So, the next bet option is just to get them from here.

As luck would have it, the company had in stock 5 Yokohama Geolander MTs, with the same specs as the Grabbers that are on Miss Daisy. I have given much thought about whether to upsize my tyres but I at the end of the day, practicality and common sense overruled the other options and I had to admit that staying the same size would be best. As it is, I already have trouble getting into most carparks, any increase in height will effectively exclude me from ALL indoor carparks.

The Geolanders do not look as fierce as I thought most MTs would. But its look grows on you. I opted for plain black lettering as opposed to the raised white lettering on the sidewalls. I think it was a conservative decision. I negotiated a deal to store the ATs over at the dealer's place and to be able to run back there to swop to ATs when necessary.

Road handling was decent. It was not as loud as I imagined MTs to be. It has a pleasant purr on tarmac with a mild vibration at lower speeds during both acceleration and deceleration. This goes away once we pick up a certain speed. Off road, traction was discernibly better than with the ATs. Maybe it is all in my mind. I will have to confirm its effectiveness but for $250 a piece, it had better work better than the ATs.

The tyres were not cheap but probably a worthwhile investment for this offroading lifestyle. It may not be the best in its class for extreme type terrain but it will probably do for my expected level of offroading. I have included below, a picture of the tyre and the specifications.

The Khatsalano

I received local information about the kayak today. I have been eyeing this craft for quite some time now.

How did I come to this decision on what kayak I would like to have? For a start, I had to decide if I could live with renting kayaks from the sea sports clubs for the rest of my life. My conclusion is I can't, for the simple reason that the rental rules are too restrictive. No overnight rentals for the PA sea sports clubs and with the other commercial entities, cost becomes a real issue for a prolonged or overnight rentals.

So then I had to decide if I wanted a hard shell or a foldable. Let's not even go into the differences in quality of the different materials of the hard shell kayaks. Storage for one would be a problem with the fibre glass kayaks and I suppose where I stay, storing it in my flat will pose certain challenges. That will also mean that storage of the kayak at a certain locality will predispose her owner to launch off on trips from the same site. What a boring scenario. Might as well rent a kayak then yes?

The ability and freedom to bring the kayak to paddle and launch from anywhere then becomes an important factor. Yes, in the spirit of adventure and exploration, I want to explore the waterways around the island and be able to paddle anywhere I want around the region. And I want to do it having confidence in my own gear rather than having to rent sub-standard crappy gear elsewhere.

So as of now, I have homed in on a foldable. A Feathercraft. The Khatsalano.

This picture is from the feathercraft website. I place it here because the photo exemplifies the dreams of every sea kayaker. To stand at the shore and look out to the waters before setting off on an expedition of a lifetime.


This greenland style kayak stays true to its roots to provide an 'on the edge' experience while paddling. Sleek, fast and edgy. I am excited that this very type of craft was used for transport and work. The package comes with travel-style backpack, large bow and stern flotation bags, small diameter sponsons, adjustable padded seat, perimeter deck-lines and cross-deck rigging, adjustable neoprene spray skirt, sea sock, repair kit, assembly video. Quite a neat complete package.

Check out the craft at Feathercraft

The premium you pay for such a craft is daunting. It costs a princely $7500 for the khatsalano. Not a small sum of money but considering that a craft well taken care of is reported to be able to last 20-30 years. That is a depreciation of $250 a year over thirty years. One might argue that you will spend more than that sum a year on boat rentals alone.

What a temptation. I shall lay back on my bed and dream about faraway land that this boat can take me to....

D200 and other paraphenalia

I once mentioned to a friend that changes to my photographic equipment occurs in shifts, not drifts, The last 2 weeks saw one of these shifts.


30 July 06

I have been think about this for a long time. I have had my D70 for quite some time now. It has followed me to most of my overseas trips. I love the camera but felt the need to further upgrade my basic piece of equipment. The launch of the D200 earlier in the year bridged the final gap between the amateur digital SLRs and the pro range of digital SLRS produced by Nikon.

After much heartache and mental calculations, i decided to bite the bullet and take the final step in upgrading my camera body.
Even at the shop, I hesitated a couple of times during the decision making, almost turning back just before forking out the cash.
Final gear bought:

1. D200 body
2. MB-D200 Multi-Power Battery Pack



The battery pack is so cool. Makes the camera approximate the look of the professionals as well as adding a vertical grip to the camera. This allows you to take vertical shots without contorting your hands and face in the process.




6 August 06

This weekend was the 2nd step in the evolution process that commenced the previous week. A light weight quality tripod capable of enduring the rigours of my travels has always been on my wishlist. After much deliberation, again, I finally settled on the following

Tripod: Manfrotto 055MF4 ( with a magfibre construction and carbon centre post)
Ballhead: Kang Rinpoche Ballhead

All in all, it was an extremely satisfying fortnight having made the necessary improvements to further develop my interest in photography. Heavy on the pocket but in my opinion, worth every single cent.