This isn't GMRS/FRS, but this seems to be the best place for this. I am just wondering if anybody here would happen to have any experience with the Sonim XP8 smartphone and the optional XPand Direct Mode for off-network communication? Just to put this in perspective, I recently became interested in Network Radio. In fact, I even bought a brand new Inrico T320 very recently for just that purpose. After using it, thinking about it some more and researching a bit, I have been reconsidering what equipment I should use for this purpose. I know that there are some smartphones that have a built-in PTT (Push To Talk) switch. As I started narrowing the likely contenders for this purpose, the short list was down to a Kyocera DuraForce PRO/DuraForce PRO 2 and the Sonim XP8.
Then, I saw that the Sonim XP8 has an optional XPand Direct Mode for off-network communication available. I am just curious if anybody here has the Sonim XP8. I need to do more research, but this could be a great device for a lot of people. Now like many people here, I am a licensed amateur radio operator. I know that there is a lot of choices for simplex comms, both analog and digital and repeaters around the world. There is FRS/GMRS and MURS. Even the old Nextel units Direct Talk as well as the Motorola DTR/DLR devices. There are even some Motorola r765 iDen devices available on Ebay.
The thing that has often bugged me, however, is most of the devices give you an either/or situation. By that I mean most of the traditional RF choices are either simplex or simplex/repeater and are, obviously, dependent on the end user being to access whatever repeater or repeater network. Amateur radio is, obviously, dependent on the user being licensed for legal operation. Focusing on the non-amateur radio devices for simplex are great, when you are within range.
My recent Network Radio experience has been great, but is dependent on accessing the internet via wifi or cellular data. That is great, if you have access to the internet. Again, I was thinking back to the days of Nextel when some handsets came out with off-network Direct Talk. Someone, somewhere, "got it". By that I mean they realized that despite h ow robust the network is that you are using, there will be times when you can't access the network. I have often wished that the mainstream cellular smartphone providers would have a version of Direct Talk built into their devices.
I should also point out that there are some Chinese smartphones that do, indeed, have a two-way radio built into them. Often in is UHF, but sometimes, it is VHF. Some of the inherent risks with that are the phone portion may, but often does not, have all of the correct cellular bands for operation in the United States. It is quite likely that the VHF or UHF portion is not FCC type accepted.
So, back to today. As I was eyeing up the Sonim XP8 and looking for RSM (Remote Speaker Microphones), I happened to see that the optional XPand Direct Mode is available for it. While I know it is a long shot, does anybody happen to know anything more about this option? Could it be compatible with either Motorola DTR/DLR devices or, for that matter, old Nextel Direct Talk devices? My best guess is that it isn't, but I would like to know more about these?
Also, a shout out to David, N1DAS. If anybody on here is likely to know more about this, it is you. What do you know about this. It does require an Android app and I have included the link to it below.
https://www.sonimtech.com/xp8/
https://www.sonimtech.com/sonim-xpand-direct-mode-for-xp8/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sonim.directmode&hl=en_US&showAllReviews=true
https://www.amazon.com/Inrico-Bluet...ocphy=9019691&hvtargid=pla-583308375016&psc=1
Then, I saw that the Sonim XP8 has an optional XPand Direct Mode for off-network communication available. I am just curious if anybody here has the Sonim XP8. I need to do more research, but this could be a great device for a lot of people. Now like many people here, I am a licensed amateur radio operator. I know that there is a lot of choices for simplex comms, both analog and digital and repeaters around the world. There is FRS/GMRS and MURS. Even the old Nextel units Direct Talk as well as the Motorola DTR/DLR devices. There are even some Motorola r765 iDen devices available on Ebay.
The thing that has often bugged me, however, is most of the devices give you an either/or situation. By that I mean most of the traditional RF choices are either simplex or simplex/repeater and are, obviously, dependent on the end user being to access whatever repeater or repeater network. Amateur radio is, obviously, dependent on the user being licensed for legal operation. Focusing on the non-amateur radio devices for simplex are great, when you are within range.
My recent Network Radio experience has been great, but is dependent on accessing the internet via wifi or cellular data. That is great, if you have access to the internet. Again, I was thinking back to the days of Nextel when some handsets came out with off-network Direct Talk. Someone, somewhere, "got it". By that I mean they realized that despite h ow robust the network is that you are using, there will be times when you can't access the network. I have often wished that the mainstream cellular smartphone providers would have a version of Direct Talk built into their devices.
I should also point out that there are some Chinese smartphones that do, indeed, have a two-way radio built into them. Often in is UHF, but sometimes, it is VHF. Some of the inherent risks with that are the phone portion may, but often does not, have all of the correct cellular bands for operation in the United States. It is quite likely that the VHF or UHF portion is not FCC type accepted.
So, back to today. As I was eyeing up the Sonim XP8 and looking for RSM (Remote Speaker Microphones), I happened to see that the optional XPand Direct Mode is available for it. While I know it is a long shot, does anybody happen to know anything more about this option? Could it be compatible with either Motorola DTR/DLR devices or, for that matter, old Nextel Direct Talk devices? My best guess is that it isn't, but I would like to know more about these?
Also, a shout out to David, N1DAS. If anybody on here is likely to know more about this, it is you. What do you know about this. It does require an Android app and I have included the link to it below.
https://www.sonimtech.com/xp8/
https://www.sonimtech.com/sonim-xpand-direct-mode-for-xp8/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sonim.directmode&hl=en_US&showAllReviews=true
https://www.amazon.com/Inrico-Bluet...ocphy=9019691&hvtargid=pla-583308375016&psc=1