Amateur Radio Hotspots
- Thread starter JASII
- Start date
From what I've seen and heard, the Shark RF OpenSpot may be the easiest to use with the simplest user interface.
But, it probably doesn't have the flexibility that an MMDVM board on a Raspberry Pi running PiStar has.
But, it probably doesn't have the flexibility that an MMDVM board on a Raspberry Pi running PiStar has.
Take a look at the Clearnode. Does Allstar, Echolink, DMR, P25, Fusion, and NDXN. There is also experimental D-Star support. You use an analog radio to talk to it, even on digital modes.
Rather than a web interface, it's controlled by a phone app.
Under the hood it's a Pi with an MMDVM board.
Rather than a web interface, it's controlled by a phone app.
Under the hood it's a Pi with an MMDVM board.
Before you get just any Raspberry Pi-based hotspot, be aware of this -
Open Letter to MMDVM Board/Hotspot Vendors - W0CHP.radio
Open Letter to MMDVM Board/Hotspot Vendors - W0CHP.radio
If money is no object go with an openspot 4
-Easy setup
-Flexible
- Automatic update (if you want)
-Low maintenance (If any)
- Nice web interface
- No bulky exterior antenna
-Fits in a shirt pocket
-10 hour battery
I've been running 3 openspot 3 for more than 2 years and never had any issues with them. If one of them breaks i will replace it with an openspot 4.
-Easy setup
-Flexible
- Automatic update (if you want)
-Low maintenance (If any)
- Nice web interface
- No bulky exterior antenna
-Fits in a shirt pocket
-10 hour battery
I've been running 3 openspot 3 for more than 2 years and never had any issues with them. If one of them breaks i will replace it with an openspot 4.
With the PRO version you can have 10 profiles and you don't need a radio to talk, you can use an app on your computer or phone. The voice quality is apparently better in cross mode operation. D-Star cross mode operation requires the PRO version
It sounds like the OpenSPOT4 Pro hands down is better than the OpenSPOT4.
Thank you for the reply.
The openspot 3 will do d-star cross mode. You may be able to find a used one. I do d-star to fusion and d-star to NXDN with mine
NXDN is pretty quiet over here too
I really like the idea of a self-contained battery on a hotspot. Is this, currently, one of the few that has that?
Don't know about the battery on other brands of hotspot. What is really nice about the openspot is that the antenna is also internal. There is of course a phone app to access the hotspot.
I use a Zumspot Elite 3.5 with Chip’s WPSD software. Works fantastic
APX8000
Sarcastic Member
TGIF 3.5 Nextion hotspot if you have the cash.
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Own two OpenSpots, a 4 and 4 Pro, and a SkyBridge Plus from Bridgecomm. There is no doubt the OpenSpot 4 series is the easiest OOB experience, lightning fast boot time, runs stable as a rock (mine stay on 24/7) and does easy cross mode like a boss. That being said, as far as PiStar based stuff, the Bridgecomm is a premium device. It's dual band and that's a plus too. The bottom line is the more you pay, you're paying for support. Bridgecomm and Shark RF have better support options than "Bob's MMDVM on Ebay".
Openspot 4 Pro works very well, faster boot up time, easy changing modes on the fly with your phone or computer. Have the Zumspot 3.5 elite also, but it has been giving me issues getting on certain modes.
I was reading about cross-mode operation. C4FM gives the greatest number of cross modes choices. I need to find out what some of the C4FM choices are these days. Right now I just have DMR portables.
"You can use your C4FM transceiver to access D-STAR, DMR, NXDN, P25 networks"
manuals.sharkrf.com
"You can use your C4FM transceiver to access D-STAR, DMR, NXDN, P25 networks"
Cross modes · GitBook
manuals.sharkrf.com
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