I just passed my General exam this morning and I think I'm going to go ahead and treat myself to a new HT. I live in Loudoun County and was wondering if anyone knows what type of digital is most common in this area? DSTAR, Fusion, Fusion C4FM?
Reach out to a couple of the clubs up that way. They can tell you what the most used digital modes on 2m or 70cm are in the area. Me I have a DMR radio that may get 10 hours a year on it just not a lot of active people. My D Star radio maybe 5-10 hours a year. My P25 never over the air direct to a repeater. I use them with a hotspot for a few people I cannot reach via airwaves.
DMR repeaters are the most common. Not much activity. Can't say I've heard much on the proprietary modes the few times I've tuned to them even though I wouldn't be able to decode it.