RFinder B1 HT Radio, Android DMR, ROIP

[N4GIX]

Has anyone tried out the RFinder B1 yet? At $1k it is a bit pricey, but never having to program frequencies, never having to create/maintain a "code plug" and having both radio and cellphone in one package is sure tempting!

RFinder B1 HT Radio, Android DMR and FM

RFinder B1 HT Radio, Android DMR and FM RFinder B1 HT Radio, Android DMR and FM This is the device that you have been waiting for! The RFinder B1 is now available for pre-order. Imagine a dual band DMR/FM handheld that NEVER needs a code plug! No

www.gigaparts.com

 

[N4KVE]

A guy I know has one. Unfortunately he sounds horrible whenever transmitting on it. But when he uses his Moto 7550, he sounds great. It’s certainly convenient, but you’d figure at that price it should sound great. And I’ve never liked “combo devices”. Suppose the radio dies, & you have to send it in for repairs. You lose your phone.

 

[N4GIX]

Thanks for the reply. I still have my 7550 and it's still working great. In fact, I bought a 5550 about 8 months ago and haven't even taken it out of the box yet, much less programmed it. I have a friend who told me he would shoot his code plug in the 5550 (he owns 2m and 70cm DMR repeaters) and that would also load the wide-band key at the same time. Unfortunately he is slowly dying from lukemia and hasn't been feeling well lately.

If I were to actually buy one I'd just get a different phone number so I would still have my current phone. I suppose if I traveled a LOT it would prove useful since it is truly "Global" in usage, but I don't any longer... travel that is.

BTW, I thank you once again for helping me out with the 7550 wide-band key.

 

[JASII]

I really don't think a device like that is meant to replace your current smartphone, but rather is to supplement your current smartphone.

With regards to the quality of the device, it is still being "beta tested", as far as I can tell.

I both agree AND disagree about all-in-one "combo devices". For example, Garmin had a Nüvifone years ago. I did try it and wanted it for three things:

1) Navigation,

2) Entertainment, and

3) Telephone Calls/Texts

In retrospect, it DID actually work for ALL of those things. Th problem was when I was navigating to a location and streaming music, it was fine...until a call came in and then I was no longer able to navigate and listen to music!

Other "Swiss Army Knife" devices are a compromise, too, of course. For example, many people have a Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool. They do a lot of things, but rarely are they as good as a "one trick pony" device.

Plain Smartphones are like that, too. For example, many people use a smartphone to take photographs. So much so, that I rarely see stand alone camera. Are dedicated cameras "better"? Of course they are! Despite that, I sure see a LOT of people taking snapshots with their smartphones!

I am something of a flashlight guy. Is a dedicated flashlight better than using the flashlight on a smartphone? Usually it is. Despite that, I still see a lot of people using their smartphone as a flashlight! (I still think it is kind of ridiculous.)

What about calculators? Are smartphones better than stand alone, dedicated calculators? I doubt it. Nevertheless, I see a lot of people using their smartphone as a calculator!

What about MP3 players? Are dedicated MP3 players better than storing MP3s on a smartphone? At this point, I don't even know. Can you even still buy a brand new, dedicated MP3 player?

We went through this with hammy radios in the past, too. For example, is a dual-band VHF/UHF radio "better" than separate, single band radios?

What about multi-mode, multi-band radios (DC-to-daylight). Are they better than separate VHFUHF/HF radios?

 

[jaspence]

I have the previous UHF only version. It is a decent radio, but not as convenient as it appears. My Btech 6x2 has FPP and is no harder to program and has much better audio output. The channel finding is only as good as the database, and at least two nearby repeaters have double listings, one as DMR and the other conventional FM.

 

[N4GIX]

Thanks for the additional information @jaspence. I am now 72.5 years old, and am trying to experience as many new things as possible. Since I'm not able to travel much any longer, I'm pretty much constrained to buying "stuff" with which to amuse myself. To die with high credit card balances no longer bothers me all that much!

Nonetheless, I will most likely give this a pass, at least for now...

 

[N4KVE]

Nonetheless, I will most likely give this a pass, at least for now...

Good idea. The guy I know who has one actually helps the importer of this device at ham fests. And while the idea is great for people who travel, whenever he travelled to Long Island he’d sound really bad while on the radio. Maybe if it was $300.

 

[ko6jw_2]

Reviewed in the November 2020 issue of QST. Interesting device. Not on my bucket list. I prefer my radios and my phone to be separate. Too pricey as well.

 

[JASII]

Reviewed in the November 2020 issue of QST...

Are you able to share the review from QST magazine?

 

[N4KVE]

This should be close enough.

 

[jaspence]

I do not use the phone part because it does not work on my provider. My go to HT is a PD782 Hytera that I bought several years ago before the big M lawsuit. It is more a professional type, especially the display information, but they did upgrade the firmware and included FPP like the CCRs. For a free fun to try DMR experience, try Droid Star. It is a free Android app that works on cell phones or tablets. I have a retired Moto phone and it works great as well as on my tablet.

 

[kayn1n32008]

I have the previous UHF only version. It is a decent radio, but not as convenient as it appears. My Btech 6x2 has FPP and is no harder to program and has much better audio output. The channel finding is only as good as the database, and at least two nearby repeaters have double listings, one as DMR and the other conventional FM.

RFinder steals their data and does zero QC/QA.

 

[KN4EHX]

Buy an OpenSpot 3 set the device to use TG 9 as default. Program your radio to your OS frequency of choice, control the OS with your phone, and talk away on the 7550. You’ll get a lot of versatility out of the OS and the support is excellent. Likely you’ll have better results.

 

[wb4sqi]

I currently own an Rfinder B1 and P2. B1+ will be arriving today. I have also been working with the DMRoIP testing group and have discovered that the radio is now working very well on RF, both analog FM and DMR as well as DMR over IP. Never program another codeplug again, nor research repeaters for a trip. Receive audio is as good as, if not better than the Motorola 7550e (yes, I have one to compare).

The development team has released new Rfinder upgrades frequently and have huge plans for 2022 for improving the feature set. Currently I can use it to scan and monitor four different talk groups. Battery life for me has been about 9/10 hours for receive only on the B1 and P2. A larger battery is planned for 2022.

Yes, it is pricey but you can walk out of your house, lose your wifi and it reconnects to the cell system. It will still follow your tg's while mobile and will reconnect with your wifi when you get back home. When on DMRoIP you have access to all Brandmeister talkgroups and are not limited by local repeater owners. Other networks like TGIF will likely be a future addition.

Again, it's pricey but eBay prices are a bit more reasonable for those who refuse to pay retail. Most of the eBay radios are sold by disgruntled users who did not or would not invest the time to learn how to use the radio and feature set. ( but I see this with Anytone 878's also, most people want plug and play, not having to invest time and thought into their new radio.)

It's not a product for everyone but at age 72 and being a snowbird I find the product meets/exceeds my expectations and needs. YMMV.

 

[Citywide173]

To those who have used it, does it receive above 480? I would have use, but without knowing if the 480 is just the guaranteed range and will go higher or if it is locked there is enough of an unknown to keep me from plunking down the money to experiment.

 

[w2xq]

Are you able to share the review from QST magazine?

Assuming you are a member of the ARRL, all QST magazines are available on line. There are apps for Android and iOS as well.

 

[wb4sqi]

Assuming you are a member of the ARRL, all QST magazines are available on line. There are apps for Android and iOS as well.

The QST review was pretty neutral at best and is very dated. The B1 and B1+ are greatly improved over the ARRL tested version. The ability to scan/monitor 4 talkgroups with DMRoIP is one of the greatest features. 2022 will see the addition of new features. I would look at the eHam and QRZ recent reviews for up to date opinions.

 

[N4KVE]

If these were so good, then why did Howard, the guy who helps Bob at ham fests, buy a Motorola Ion last week?

 

[KN4EHX]

If these were so good, then why did Howard, the guy who helps Bob at ham fests, buy a Motorola Ion last week?

Cause the Ion is suppppaaaa coooollll!!!

Personally I’d have an Ion if you could make calls on it.

I don’t own a B1 though. I’m mostly Motorola with a touch of Harris.

Easy enough to see the benefit of having a radio jammed into a phone, but in my world of emergency management I often have to use my phone and radio simultaneously so for me it might not work so well. Would still be convenient, but compromises all around.

 

[wb4sqi]

If these were so good, then why did Howard, the guy who helps Bob at ham fests, buy a Motorola Ion last week?

Because people like to try new things?