Is The Future Of Digital Voice A Transceiver With A SIM Card Built Into It?

[JASII]

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?

DV4 DV4MOBILE Reservation

 

[mmckenna]

Similar creatures already exist on the LMR side.

There are several manufactures that have P25 capable radios, including multi-band with LTE and WiFi capability. Voice traffic can fall back on LTE if out of range of the LMR system and route back to a gateway and back into the system. With WiFi, similar options are out there.

 

[w1haf]

You mean like these.

Network Radios – Network Radios

 

[AK9R]

If my understanding is correct, I think Icom and Yaesu may have already done it. Both the Icom ID-51A Plus 2 and Yaesu FT-2DR can act as a hot spot when they are connected to a computer (which provides the IP connection to the Internet). Neither of these radios has a cellular modem in them so that's why they need to be connected to a computer.

 

[AK9R]

As for the DV4 Mobile, Wireless Holdings is the developer of that unit and their web site says "Available in 2018".

 

[TampaTyron]

Motorola has the TLK100, which is PTT over LTE on Verizon's network and MOTOTRBO NITRO which is a local private LTE system deployed in the 3.5Ghz band. Both require SIM cards, but rely on the WAVE-ON-CLOUD backend. TT

 

[JASII]

You mean like these.

Network Radios – Network Radios

Yes. I ordered an Inrico T320 and expect it to be delivered today.


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[dazey77]

There is the Hytera PDC760. DMR, WIFI, LTE. Connects natively to Brandmeister over the internet with no hotspot required.

Expensive right now though.

 

[JASII]

Is that the one that is over $2,000?

 

[dazey77]

Dunno what they cost in the US, over a grand in the UK (way more than I am prepared to pay)

 

[dazey77]

Have you also seen the Boxchip? S700A Cheaper but only 2W transmit. I think there is another Ham orientated version with 4w but I am struggling to recall where I saw it. . .

 

[dazey77]

Rfinder M1 DV/U DMR 4G/LTE
4w $700, DMR, LTE, Wifi

 

[dazey77]

(The last two I am not sure do native brandmeister. RFinder says 'This network radio is fully compatible with the International Radio Network (IRN)' whatever that means)

 

[jaspence]

The Rfinder K1 has two SIM slots and can replace a regular cell phone. It is available in 2 meter or 440 DMR/analog versions and can run programs such as Zello, Team Speak, and Echolink. There are two PTT buttons, one for radio use and the other for digital services. It is not cheap, and also has all the functions of an Android phone, including a slot for a micro SD card. The customized operating systems lets the operator add analog or DMR ham repeaters (Brandmeister or other systems) without any software. DMR Smartphone RFinder K1 – Review And Demo – Android DMR UHF

 

[byndhlptom]

referencing original post, just a comment....

You do realize that where you probably are out ATV'g, there will be a small chance that it has Amateur repeater coverage, even less of a chance of WIFI or internet access. Cellular coverage may be better, but that's not a given.

So expecting that you will have a back up for simplex may not be a sure thing.....

$.02

 

[JASII]

Thank you very much for the replies. I must say that the Hytera PDC760 looks very good and the Rfinder H1B, !1 and K1 look great. I would love to see a dual-band version and have the price drop a bit. (Yes, I know, it is wishful thinking on my part.)

 

[iMONITOR]

Just more ways to track our every move and every word! What next DNA transfer???

 

[SlyFerret]

Already exists in the commercial world, though I feel like it would miss the point of the amateur radio hobby when we start communicating primarily over WiFi and cellular networks.

-SF



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[JASII]

A dual band RFinder E81 was announced at Dayton 2019.



The new dual band DMR smartphone announced by RFinder is the E81

 

[kb9mwr]

DV4 DV4MOBILE Reservation

The DV4 Mobile concept was shown at Dayton 2016.

You might want to pay attention to a Russian ham, Andrey RU3ANQ. A few years ago he had very interesting software defined radio receiver that did all the ham modes. He's been fairly silent as of late, but that appears to be because he is attempting to start a company:

RadioCraft

www.rfcraft.ru