I’ve been a Ham about three months. I’m starting to do my research on hotspots. I really enjoyed your video. Your breakdowns on the hotspots are great ! Thank you !
Some don’t like the price tag on the Open Spot 3, I have one and it works great. Although hams like to buy radios with the OS3 you just need one radio and can talk on all. You don’t need to buy 3 radios. Also with it having a built in battery if you tether it to your cell phone you can go mobile with a HT, and I put my HT on extra low power so it last a long time.
Great informative rundown, thanks! I would like to know how the ZUMspot Nextion 3.5 that HRO has for sale compares to these. It looks pretty good but it sure is helpful to learn more the way you highlight and compare features.
Great video once again!! I did purchase the TGIF 3.5 based off your older review. Robert is a great guy and today the TGIF Prime Network was launching if I remember correctly. The only trouble I have is HOW CAN I START MY OWN TALK GROUP? I was approved by TGIf Network to start an Overland/Toyota Talk Group but what else do I need to do??
Excellent comparison as always. I have a homemade pi-star unit from a friend ... and an openspot 3 connected to wires x (yaseu 70dr and 991 a) ... A great video would be on what the active talkgroups are ... yea ...I'm on Nationwide and worldwide on the pi-star and America link on the wires x . But I can't raise the dead on the other talkgroups. I have to go on to Parrot to get someone to talk back, even if its myself! :) I'm located upstate ny in the catskill mountain area ... My club has a great analog repeater but there's no digital repeaters anywhere. The most excitement on radio up here is programming in all the ems, fire and police scanner frequencies (yes, they're still analog in these parts).
So much information and so well explained. Concise. My only question, being a noob with digital is how do you talk from the radio to the hotspot? Is it RF or is it IP I get the back end and out to the internet but nobody ever talks about going from radio to hotspot. You mentioned UHF/VHF is there a specific frequency. The confusion sets in. Thanks for another fine well spoken great audio video.
I had the HCP-1 for a week, I returned it. It didn't work well for me. It worked, but not well. I decided to build my own. I think that's the way to go.
Great information Jason. Would you be able to make an updated video on the various active reflectors that we can connect to? I have DMR and DSTAR, but I am finding it difficult to find active reflectors to connect to. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for an informative video! I'm planning to build a hotspot myself. I think it's difficult to choose between a single or a doble timeslot hotspot. What do you ecommend? Whats the pro and cons?
I had no interest in a hotspot, until recently, and got the Openspot 3. I wish I would have gotten one sooner. I think I've used my anytone 878 more in the last few weeks, than I have in the last year. I like that it's portable, and makes it really easy to cross over into dstar, ysf, etc
I have had the SkybridgePlus with an Anytone 578Pro for probably year now. Learned all about Pi-Star setup and more but the Openspot 3 design is definitely the next best step to removing all the hardware and software layers previously used to do the job of a Hotspot. Now the only problem is actually buying the Openspot 3. None of them being sold on the vendor website or Ebay. With them being in Estonia, I wonder if the manufacturer is actually making anymore Openspot 3 hardware. With the Covid lockdowns in China, I suppose they can not get parts either from them
I've been told that the ambe server will run dstar transcoding but It takes a lot of work to set up the kit board used to be sold by HRO and similar designs still available by others I think the OpenSpot is probably a better starting point for most that want plug and play
Tried to buy open spot but they decided not to ship to the UK re Brexit.. so I built a pi star works great and I enjoyed building it. I've also built another for the truck and 3d printed a cases for them :)
I've been very happy with my SkyBridge Plus, great little unit. The TGIF Spot looks pretty sweet as well and is cheaper than the SkyBridge Plus, I think that alone makes it a better value with better features than the SkyBridge Plus. I do like the design/layout of what's on the display on the SkyBridge Plus better than the TGIF Spot, though. The SkyBridge looks like a more polished product.
I have an old DV4Mini Micro Node which ran the old Dv4mini compact software. This soon died of death for support and only just in the last few months mmdvm for the dv4mini has software now for the raspberry pi which the micro node runs on. It is a all in one unit raspberry pi unit with a touch screen 3.5 inch tft which now I have working so you can access the same features like WiFi using the touch screen without logging on to the unit. I believe micro node usa no longer are making these and apparently only 100 sold and I think I must be the only UK person with one. Still use it today. And it runs dstar, p25, fusion, dmr, and more..
Thanks for the run down, I'm new to HT digital modes. So question, if I want to provide a public hotspot for people in the area to access could I use a hotspot? Or is it limited range because of power/antenna? Since we don't have a repeater in this area (closest is over an hour away), I would love to set up something for others to use, but I'm not going to pay several thousand for some big repeater setup. I'm planning on setting up an APRS IGate to fill in the gap we have too, it would be nice to do that for DMR too. I've done some reading, but I mostly just find hotspot vs repeater articles.
Interesting topic. I have some interest in the open spot. Looks interesting and simple. I have a MDVDM board on a raspberry PI that I bought from eBay and it works fine but it did take my pi computer to use.
So question, would it be possible to set up hotspots to act like local short range "repeaters" -- except not connected to the internet for typical net talkgroup usage, but to go from one system radio to another? example: Have a Yaesu FTM400 as a mobile (fusion) -> to hotspot -- hotspot transcodes to DMR, which talks to Anytone 878. All this, while not being connected to the web?
No. A hotspot is not a repeater, it is a transcoder of the DV mode into the internet. When you key up your hotspot, it is in RX-only mode - it isn't transmitting for others to hear while it is receiving your signal. Others can hear you simplex, yes, but if the hotspot isn't plugged into the internet, then it isn't doing anything but wasting space in this scenario. Plus...the duty cycle on a hotspot is terrible. If it did repeat like you are inquiring, I suspect that after a few weeks of getting a few stations on it, you would burn it up. It isn't made to do this type of work from multiple stations.
I have all three digital mode HT's DStar, Yaesu, DMR. which one of these will be the easiest that if I want to monitor DMR for one hour, then decide I want to monitor a Dstar reflect, I want to just change HT's and have the least intervention in changing modes. on the hot spot. not interested in transcoding.. just being able to switch between Dstar, Fusion, and DMR based on changing to different nets.. Again I have all the dedicated radios.
@@HamRadio2 Jason, thanks for sharing the great info on all of your videos. Any idea when Icom will release the ID-52A HT or do I buy the Kenwood before it goes obsolete?
Jason, i have a question for you, can the bridgecomm hotspot connect me to dstar? i have a icom 9700 and there is no hotspot in the indianapolis area for dstar
@@HamRadio2 might make a good video to do , i know was searching high and low to find this answer, could not find an answer anywhere on the search engines
I like the shark but because of the chp shortages I heard that they revamped the unit which apparently isn't as good . Can you verify this comments as being true?
I've been trying to make contact for a dy or 2 now and its all quiet and 3 different repeaters. I know its getting trough. Any ideas on why the repeaters could be so quiet? -KC1ODY
@@HamRadio2 Actually I was talking about analog radio but I figured out the problem. Something completely unrelated: I have a retevis RT82 on the way, do you know anything about it?
Is there a hotspot available that will allow you to change YSF reflectors with the radio instead of logging into it to change the reflectors or through the touch screens? Thanks: Mike DE VO1AX
No need to be embarrassed. Think of it as your own mini personal repeater. You connect to the hotspot via your radio, and the hotspot connects to the talk groups via the Internet. As long as you have Internet, you are talking. Great for us who have no local repeaters or want to talk on groups which are not available through local repeaters.
It can be used but it is wrong. A radio talks to a pi-star or zumspot or open spot and they connect via internet, router or a wireless hotspot.@@HamRadio2
I’ve been a Ham about three months. I’m starting to do my research on hotspots. I really enjoyed your video. Your breakdowns on the hotspots are great ! Thank you !
Awesome! Thank you!
Some don’t like the price tag on the Open Spot 3, I have one and it works great.
Although hams like to buy radios with the OS3 you just need one radio and can talk on all. You don’t need to buy 3 radios. Also with it having a built in battery if you tether it to your cell phone you can go mobile with a HT, and I put my HT on extra low power so it last a long time.
I have owned the openSpot 3 now for 8 months, works great. I have been looking at purchasing the TGIF spot. Informative video. Thanks
You can change profiles in the OS3 from the radio. Does not always work but handy for when it does.
I do like TGIF overall though. Have 3 of them....
Great informative rundown, thanks! I would like to know how the ZUMspot Nextion 3.5 that HRO has for sale compares to these. It looks pretty good but it sure is helpful to learn more the way you highlight and compare features.
Great video once again!! I did purchase the TGIF 3.5 based off your older review. Robert is a great guy and today the TGIF Prime Network was launching if I remember correctly. The only trouble I have is HOW CAN I START MY OWN TALK GROUP? I was approved by TGIf Network to start an Overland/Toyota Talk Group but what else do I need to do??
Great video Jason ! great to let fellow hams know the different hotspots avaialable so they can get one to fit their needs.
Thanks Robert!
Excellent comparison as always. I have a homemade pi-star unit from a friend ... and an openspot 3 connected to wires x (yaseu 70dr and 991 a) ...
A great video would be on what the active talkgroups are ... yea ...I'm on Nationwide and worldwide on the pi-star and America link on the wires x . But I can't raise the dead on the other talkgroups. I have to go on to Parrot to get someone to talk back, even if its myself! :)
I'm located upstate ny in the catskill mountain area ... My club has a great analog repeater but there's no digital repeaters anywhere. The most excitement on radio up here is programming in all the ems, fire and police scanner frequencies (yes, they're still analog in these parts).
So much information and so well explained. Concise.
My only question, being a noob with digital is how do you talk from the radio to the hotspot? Is it RF or is it IP I get the back end and out to the internet but nobody ever talks about going from radio to hotspot.
You mentioned UHF/VHF is there a specific frequency.
The confusion sets in.
Thanks for another fine well spoken great audio video.
I had the HCP-1 for a week, I returned it. It didn't work well for me. It worked, but not well. I decided to build my own. I think that's the way to go.
Great information Jason. Would you be able to make an updated video on the various active reflectors that we can connect to? I have DMR and DSTAR, but I am finding it difficult to find active reflectors to connect to. Thanks in advance!
I'd be interested in your thoughts on Skybridge Plus. Seems very similar to TGIF minus the touchscreen.
I have one of those coming that I will be reviewing
Yes please review the SkyBridge plus. For such a high price we need the most for our money.
Great video! What do you think about the ClearNode by Node-Ventures?
I've read about that one but never used one
Thanks for an informative video! I'm planning to build a hotspot myself. I think it's difficult to choose between a single or a doble timeslot hotspot. What do you ecommend? Whats the pro and cons?
I had no interest in a hotspot, until recently, and got the Openspot 3. I wish I would have gotten one sooner. I think I've used my anytone 878 more in the last few weeks, than I have in the last year. I like that it's portable, and makes it really easy to cross over into dstar, ysf, etc
I have an OpenSpot 3, but would really like to add a TGIF Spot to the Shack.
Hi Jason. Great video.
About my new addiction - tetra 😁
Is there a hotspot that supports tetra radios?
Thanks and keep up the good work.
I have the Hcp-1 and really enjoy it. I am going to try and use the 200mhz frequency tonight for D74.
Good choice!
The one I had didn't work well. Hope you have better luck.
@@andyschrack4466 Thanks Andy. Yes, I have had zero issues and have been using mine just under a month. Out of curiosity, what didn't work on yours?
I have had the SkybridgePlus with an Anytone 578Pro for probably year now. Learned all about Pi-Star setup and more but the Openspot 3 design is definitely the next best step to removing all the hardware and software layers previously used to do the job of a Hotspot. Now the only problem is actually buying the Openspot 3. None of them being sold on the vendor website or Ebay. With them being in Estonia, I wonder if the manufacturer is actually making anymore Openspot 3 hardware. With the Covid lockdowns in China, I suppose they can not get parts either from them
Thanks for sharing info!!!
I've been told that the ambe server will run dstar transcoding but It takes a lot of work to set up the kit board used to be sold by HRO and similar designs still available by others I think the OpenSpot is probably a better starting point for most that want plug and play
Tried to buy open spot but they decided not to ship to the UK re Brexit.. so I built a pi star works great and I enjoyed building it. I've also built another for the truck and 3d printed a cases for them :)
Will any of these run across the platforms? Like when I go south to WV they all use DMR and I'm using YSF. Can we talk? Thanks, love your shows.
Great video
I am wondering, is there a hotspot out there with a build in SIM card, so you can use 4G or 5G when your travelling?
Not that I've seen
Turn your phone on to be a wireless Hot Spot, and connect your device to that.
@@JE-si4no not the same thing. Your phone is only an internet hotspot and can't operate as a digital voice transceiver.
I've been very happy with my SkyBridge Plus, great little unit. The TGIF Spot looks pretty sweet as well and is cheaper than the SkyBridge Plus, I think that alone makes it a better value with better features than the SkyBridge Plus. I do like the design/layout of what's on the display on the SkyBridge Plus better than the TGIF Spot, though. The SkyBridge looks like a more polished product.
I'll be getting one of those soon to do a review for. Looks like a solid product.
The only issue with the RFinder HCP-1 is the lack of any battery indicator. Otherwise it is an excellent choice.
I have an old DV4Mini Micro Node which ran the old Dv4mini compact software.
This soon died of death for support and only just in the last few months mmdvm for the dv4mini has software now for the raspberry pi which the micro node runs on.
It is a all in one unit raspberry pi unit with a touch screen 3.5 inch tft which now I have working so you can access the same features like WiFi using the touch screen without logging on to the unit.
I believe micro node usa no longer are making these and apparently only 100 sold and I think I must be the only UK person with one.
Still use it today.
And it runs dstar, p25, fusion, dmr, and more..
Thanks for the run down, I'm new to HT digital modes. So question, if I want to provide a public hotspot for people in the area to access could I use a hotspot? Or is it limited range because of power/antenna? Since we don't have a repeater in this area (closest is over an hour away), I would love to set up something for others to use, but I'm not going to pay several thousand for some big repeater setup. I'm planning on setting up an APRS IGate to fill in the gap we have too, it would be nice to do that for DMR too. I've done some reading, but I mostly just find hotspot vs repeater articles.
Which type of Hotspot is more future-proof, a Raspberry Pi such as the Skybridge Plus or the OpenSpot 3 ?
Interesting topic. I have some interest in the open spot. Looks interesting and simple. I have a MDVDM board on a raspberry PI that I bought from eBay and it works fine but it did take my pi computer to use.
I would like to know if you have seen or reviewed the Clear node hotspot, that you can use DMR on any radio.
I've not reviewed it but I have seen it. I'd like to get my hands on one soon to review.
Good video but still not sure where to spend my money. Lol
So question, would it be possible to set up hotspots to act like local short range "repeaters" -- except not connected to the internet for typical net talkgroup usage, but to go from one system radio to another?
example: Have a Yaesu FTM400 as a mobile (fusion) -> to hotspot -- hotspot transcodes to DMR, which talks to Anytone 878.
All this, while not being connected to the web?
No. A hotspot is not a repeater, it is a transcoder of the DV mode into the internet. When you key up your hotspot, it is in RX-only mode - it isn't transmitting for others to hear while it is receiving your signal. Others can hear you simplex, yes, but if the hotspot isn't plugged into the internet, then it isn't doing anything but wasting space in this scenario.
Plus...the duty cycle on a hotspot is terrible. If it did repeat like you are inquiring, I suspect that after a few weeks of getting a few stations on it, you would burn it up. It isn't made to do this type of work from multiple stations.
I have all three digital mode HT's DStar, Yaesu, DMR. which one of these will be the easiest that if I want to monitor DMR for one hour, then decide I want to monitor a Dstar reflect, I want to just change HT's and have the least intervention in changing modes. on the hot spot. not interested in transcoding.. just being able to switch between Dstar, Fusion, and DMR based on changing to different nets.. Again I have all the dedicated radios.
I noticed that D-Star now lists the Kenwood TH-D74A. They’re working on providing more background. K0EVA 73
The TH-D74a has been out for a few years now. Sadly I think they are going to stop making it, though.
@@HamRadio2 Jason, thanks for sharing the great info on all of your videos. Any idea when Icom will release the ID-52A HT or do I buy the Kenwood before it goes obsolete?
Jason, i have a question for you, can the bridgecomm hotspot connect me to dstar? i have a icom 9700 and there is no hotspot in the indianapolis area for dstar
Yes it can
@@HamRadio2 thanks Jason!
@@HamRadio2 might make a good video to do , i know was searching high and low to find this answer, could not find an answer anywhere on the search engines
@@madmax9813 All Pi-star hotspots will connect to DSTAR. I've done a few videos about this
any old Hotspot that you wanna give out to a Newbie in the Caribbean?
I like the shark but because of the chp shortages I heard that they revamped the unit which apparently isn't as good . Can you verify this comments as being true?
I need one duplex or simplex lol I just need one for dmr
What s great channel!
I've been trying to make contact for a dy or 2 now and its all quiet and 3 different repeaters. I know its getting trough. Any ideas on why the repeaters could be so quiet?
-KC1ODY
Are you listening to active or dynamic talkgroups?
@@HamRadio2 Actually I was talking about analog radio but I figured out the problem. Something completely unrelated: I have a retevis RT82 on the way, do you know anything about it?
Can the Open Spot 3 be powered via USB or 110? Two hours is not enough time between charges for this rather expensive device.
It is powered via USB-C which also charges the internal battery
@@HamRadio2 Thank you. I guess I missed that in your presentation.
Super video! I applauded for $5.00 👏👏
Thanks!
do you have update for 2022
Openspot 4 pro
When the OPENSPOT works, it does a good job. When it doesn't it's a pain the A$$.And PI-STAR is also a pain.
You going to talk about Hot Spots for Raspberry Pi?
2 of the ones mentioned are using RPi boards
Is there a hotspot available that will allow you to change YSF reflectors with the radio instead of logging into it to change the reflectors or through the touch screens?
Thanks: Mike DE VO1AX
I think there is a way to do that on the Openspot with DTMF tones, but I haven't done it.
Open Spot 3 is now $480 USD!
nice
The TGIF spot has the best screen thought
I like this cool dude :))) how he looks like, how he shows his emotions!
Not sharkrf os3. Will not setup and no easy way to see what to do
Context?
@@HamRadio2 I have been trying to setup a os3 for 3 days. not wining over it. maybe capable but complex to me
@@josephrogers5337 Its so basic!
I embarrassed to say but what does a hot spot do for me? Why does anyone need a hotspot?
No need to be embarrassed. Think of it as your own mini personal repeater. You connect to the hotspot via your radio, and the hotspot connects to the talk groups via the Internet. As long as you have Internet, you are talking. Great for us who have no local repeaters or want to talk on groups which are not available through local repeaters.
They are not hotspots. A hotspot is a term used by cell carriers to give you wireless wifi.
The term can be used in more places than that
It can be used but it is wrong. A radio talks to a pi-star or zumspot or open spot and they connect via internet, router or a wireless hotspot.@@HamRadio2
Semantics
yobro