OpenSpot3 discontinued

[jazzboypro]

Hello all,

According to SharkRF website the OpenSpot3 is discontinued but supported until 2024. Did not see any new product announcement/replacement

 

[MTS2000des]

OH NO. I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for Shark, The OS3 is the "gold standard" of easy to setup hot spots that support multi-mode digital without the hassle.
Guess they'll now triple in price like the Kenwood D-74

 

[jazzboypro]

The fact that they are not announcing anything new does not look good

 

[alcahuete]

Unfortunately, they priced themselves out of business. You're talking about the Baofang crowd when it comes to DMR. Most of them are not going to spend $500 for a hotspot.

 

[jazzboypro]

Unfortunately, they priced themselves out of business. You're talking about the Baofang crowd when it comes to DMR. Most of them are not going to spend $500 for a hotspot.

Not sure it has to do with price. The hotspot is their only product, maybe they can't get the parts to build them in enough quantities to sustain their business. True they are expensive but there is always people willing to pay the price. Not every ham tries to buy the cheapest item available.

 

[vagrant]

Why in the world is that thing over $440? That is a high price for a hotspot. I have a couple of the original SharkRF hotspots and both of them combined did not cost that much. Plus they have ethernet and I have some old school mini WiFi router battery combo thing with an ethernet port. I like P25 and all, but the original works fine other than that. Hell, I could probably cobble together some MMDVM hat with a Pi Zero wireless laying around and my own Uber battery and blast away. Woot! Woot! - Time to sell one of those original SharkRF open spots and just put one of these together as they now handle P25 and D-Star. Hell, I could build two.

I believe alcahuete has it right. They priced themselves out of business. Even a full built MMDVM/Pi Zero version is only $140 on Amazon.

 

[MTS2000des]

Yeah but the MMDVM/Pi route is not a clean, quick and super reliable way to get on a network. I use my OS3 on my private P25 reflector and it stays connected for MONTHS without reboots, restarts, etc. The Web UI is painless, simple and one doesn't have to have a Linux programming background to configure it.

"The Baoturd" crowd balk at spending more than $50 on a feces pieces HT- don't think that was Shark's target market with something that is four plus more bills.

I'd be thinking this is more development, support and manufacturing costs. It doesn't run PiStar and it isn't someone else' hardware with a new plastic shell or case on it. It was built hardware and software wise from the ground up. That ain't cheap to do.

 

[SQP]

Since others' are having chip issues, this may be the case with SharkRF too. My OS2 is DEAD, and I'll just have to wait until things get better...CHIP WISE.

 

[jazzboypro]

Why in the world is that thing over $440? That is a high price for a hotspot. I have a couple of the original SharkRF hotspots and both of them combined did not cost that much. Plus they have ethernet and I have some old school mini WiFi router battery combo thing with an ethernet port. I like P25 and all, but the original works fine other than that. Hell, I could probably cobble together some MMDVM hat with a Pi Zero wireless laying around and my own Uber battery and blast away. Woot! Woot! - Time to sell one of those original SharkRF open spots and just put one of these together as they now handle P25 and D-Star. Hell, I could build two.

I believe alcahuete has it right. They priced themselves out of business. Even a full built MMDVM/Pi Zero version is only $140 on Amazon.

That hotspot is easy to setup, and easy to maintain (automatic if you want) no messing around with downloading images onto an SD card and stuff like that. They are easy to configure thru a clean web interface. No messy antenna to install on top of the unit so it is very easy to carry. The built-in battery is good for about 5 hours so depending on your need no external power source is necessary. Support is very good (used it 3 times for technical questions). All this comes at a price that many people are willing to pay

 

[kb9mwr]

Never made any sense to me. When you need a bunch of HT's and a hotspot to access internet connected talkgroups/rooms/channels, and the RF can be measured in terms of feet that is actually travels... one need to step back and say what they heck are we doing and why?

DroidStar is a step forward in techology in my opinion.

Improving Open-AMBE for D-Star

Software AMBE to augment ham radio

www.qsl.net

 

[vagrant]

@kb9mwr - Different operators have different needs. Not everyone can enjoy an outdoor antenna for whatever reason, or perhaps they want to contact fellow operators when they are outside of their local area either temporary, or via a move. The hobby is what we make of it and there's plenty of room. I would venture for many that traffic on local repeaters may be slow and it allows one to join in on a busy group, or enjoy just listening to the chatter.

Ultimately, it is about communicating. I do not frown on the method used, but the cost of that device seems a bit much considering other available options. Still, I am glad it is was there as it provides another choice.

Never made any sense to me. When you need a bunch of HT's and a hotspot to access internet connected talkgroups/rooms/channels, and the RF can be measured in terms of feet that is actually travels... one need to step back and say what they heck are we doing and why?

 

[MTS2000des]

I have a P25 reflector connected via IP to our P25 repeater, allowing our supporters and authorized users to access the system from places where it is impossible to get native RF coverage. Like in my work which is deep inside a concrete bunker. It's good to have the OpenSpot 3, and my portable, and I can keep tabs on what's going on and chat when things aren't busy. Users on "terrestrial" or "IP" sound clean, clear and no annoying static, audio issues, etc.
IP is radio and radio is IP. It's 2022 not 1922. Building networks and bridges is "advancing the art of radio communications" as is one of the basis and purposes of the amateur radio service and why it still exists.
The OpenSpot 3 is a very refined product that doesn't get in the way and does what it does well. It is very convenient for applications such as the one I use it for. With the ability to cross mode, it's also cool to use a YSF "ham portable" on our "commerical" Quantar and SOUND JUST AS GOOD on a $200 FT-70D as one does when using a $12,000 APX NEXT.

 

[DeoVindice]

Never made any sense to me. When you need a bunch of HT's and a hotspot to access internet connected talkgroups/rooms/channels, and the RF can be measured in terms of feet that is actually travels... one need to step back and say what they heck are we doing and why?

DroidStar is a step forward in techology in my opinion.

Improving Open-AMBE for D-Star

Software AMBE to augment ham radio

www.qsl.net

It would be nice if DroidStar supported hardware PTT keys. I have a hate-hate relationship with touchscreens.

 

[N4GIX]

I have a hate-hate relationship with touchscreens.

I'm with you on that issue. For some reason, touch screens and my body chemistry just don't get along.

 

[kb9mwr]

It would be nice if DroidStar supported hardware PTT keys. I have a hate-hate relationship with touchscreens.

It's open source. Fork the code, add the code to support the PTT key and make a pull request.
Thats how its supposed to work (collaboratively) rather than a bunch of people nagging one coder.

 

[DeoVindice]

It's open source. Fork the code, add the code to support the PTT key and make a pull request.
Thats how its supposed to work (collaboratively) rather than a bunch of people nagging one coder.

I'm a hardware guy, not a coder, but that's a good model for development.

 

[pike63]

Clicked on the website for openspot the other day and a page for the openspot 4 came up. Did not have any details only a coming soon notice on it. Have not been able to get that page to come up again. The picture pretty much looked like the 3. Guess time will tell

 

[sallen07]

Clicked on the website for openspot the other day and a page for the openspot 4 came up.

SharkRF – High quality wireless communications equipment

www.sharkrf.com

 

[pike63]

SharkRF – High quality wireless communications equipment

www.sharkrf.com

Okay they must have just added it back to the site

 

[w2xq]

Hello all,

According to SharkRF website the OpenSpot3 is discontinued but supported until 2024. Did not see any new product announcement/replacement

Huh? The 4 was announced at the same time the 3 was said to be discontinued. Details soon. See the https://www.sharkrf.com/ website.