As I was talking with someone yesterday and thinking about Network Radios and Amateur Radio Hotspots, I can't help but wonder if the future for digital modes will be a transceiver with the functionality of a digital hot-spot built into it. Think about it, a dual-band HT or mobile that has cellular and wfi connectivity built into it. Use wifi or a SIM card for the service of your choice. You could have it menu-driven and select whatever talk-groups interest you, be they DMR, YSF, D-Star, NXDN or APCO P-25. It would still have traditional RF functionality built into it for simplex use.
And, for another one of my hobbies, which is ATVing, it would be a great device. Several of us that ATV together are hams. We could use 2 meter simplex, either analog or DMR, but be able to switch to a DMR, or other talk-group, if we get out of range of simplex.
Now that I give it some more thought, didn't some company advertise something pretty close to what I just described? I seem to recall an HT prototype, that was menu driven, had multiple digital modes, and was going to sell for $699. Does/didn't HRO take a $35 down-payment for those? Was it vaporware?
Could something like this be announced at Dayton soon? Or, will Dayton 2019 be a dud?
Update: I did find this. Is there, or was there, an HT announced, too?
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And, for another one of my hobbies, which is ATVing, it would be a great device. Several of us that ATV together are hams. We could use 2 meter simplex, either analog or DMR, but be able to switch to a DMR, or other talk-group, if we get out of range of simplex.
Now that I give it some more thought, didn't some company advertise something pretty close to what I just described? I seem to recall an HT prototype, that was menu driven, had multiple digital modes, and was going to sell for $699. Does/didn't HRO take a $35 down-payment for those? Was it vaporware?
Could something like this be announced at Dayton soon? Or, will Dayton 2019 be a dud?
Update: I did find this. Is there, or was there, an HT announced, too?
DV4 DV4MOBILE Reservation