Hello from Tennessee I remember the 64 machine in Vero what a great machine been around for years, good video thanks.

Thanks Eric for the information about the OPENSPOT2 =) Looking forward to watching more of your KZread's ( wonder why I missed this one /-)

Great overview 👍🏻 For mine to work, I had to upgrade the firmware yesterday, then it just jumped into life ......... I.e. it then connected to Reflectors, etc.

Eric, just enjoyed a short QSO with you while you were driving across Florida. It must be perilous for you to identify on air. So recognizable, everyone must jump at the chance to ask you “a question”. Thanks for being so accessible, N4UQY (Bill). Please keep up the videos.

Just getting back into HAM Radio after an absence of nearly 20 years.Call sign and Full license active and authorized as of today.Can't believe how things have changed.Bob's introduction to Digital Radio and the 3 main formats was very informative and helpful to me.Top marks.Now need to see what activity is available in the UK before any new purchase. The very best regards. GM6KXO

I just ordered one. I have a cheap eBay MMDVM one that works fine but I like the fact you can store WiFi networks on this unit like you can with nearly every WiFi device in this world.

This is a fantastic peice of eqipment and I have the original and several mmdvm that use pi-star. The Openspot and now Openspot2 is hands down easy and reliable it might cost more than you like but it is truley set and forget product.

I've got one on the way to me for replacing my existing DVAP. Not having to carry a notebook around or leave a computer on constantly to get access to DStar will be nice. I live in an area with no local DStar repeaters and have really liked by DVAP in the year that I've had it.

@RussellThomas

5 жыл бұрын

you will really enjoy it I believe, Actually I've seen folks setting up their DVAPs on Raspberry Pis vs full computers with QNETGateway and really love it. but the openspot is way more portable than even that.

Thank you for this video.

You got yours before I got mine. Not fair!! Dude, great new opener.

@HamRadioCrashCourse

5 жыл бұрын

@Colin Baker lol

Got my Shark Openspot2 yesterday and had it running in about 10 minutes. Biggest problem was I couldn’t remember ow to run my HD1. Had to find the manual and look up how to change VFO. Aiulance really needs to make their key descriptors more user friendly.

Looks nice but I have a JumboSpot that I have no problem with or setting up. The price of the Openspot2 I could buy pretty much buy 3 jumbospots, one for home, car and work.I do like the nonvertical antenna though. If it was $99 I would probably buy one. Choices are good though,

At 20mA on the antenna, the LED takes more power. Hardly seems worthwhile turning it down. I might have to get a couple so I can do DMR and D-Star without fiddling.

A $75 radio into a $230 hotspot tethered to a $800 cell phone at $100 a month for a sufficient data plan...and echolink is still free with better audio :)

@nevets68

5 жыл бұрын

Or H.R.O. zumspot - around $120. $60 android phone + $60 a month data plan from MetroPCS (which includes 15 gigs of hotspot data..which I DOUBT highly you'd use up using the hotspot / dmr radio.)

@richarddavidson8149

4 жыл бұрын

@@nevets68 echolink audio is NOT better audio lol

Hi there. The fact that one cannot connect to different reflectors on C4FM using Wires-X you say it is a thing between Yaesu and the hotspots. However we can do that with a Jumbospot for example. Openspot2 will have this ability in a future upgrade according to the manufacturer which I hope that comes soon. Thank you for the nice reviews.

Thanks..... that was a nice review to the openspot 2. Mine is coming tomorrow and you really answered lots of questions already. Looking forward to more videos Chuck KD9GYW

I got Openspot2. I connected to dstar Ref30C. i tried and tried to change to Ref 1 from radio & no luck. I am using D-74.

Thanks!

So if I’m not mistaken, I can use this with my Yaesu System Fusion C4FM digital radio to connect to DMR repeaters and talk groups?

Tip: Put one of the stickers on the wall wart to remind you what device it is intended for.

I just discovered DMR/BrandMeister automatically links your hotspot to APRS. You can see it on the aprs.fi map. You must explicitly turn this off in BrandMeister setup if you’d like this to be private.

Back handed slap to Robert Chartier....Awesome

Thanks Eric, Dont know nothing about this in your video you say that after we set it up that any other changes can be done on the transmitter. Can you show the procedure with an FTM 100 once again thank you 73's

Hey Brandon, I noticed there was nothing about adjusting the BER amd offset on this like you need to do with pi-star. Is this something you need to do with the openspot? And if not, how stable is the ber on the openspot?

I got it plugged in to the wall socket cant get the web page to come up what they say to go to my computer dosent like

What external speaker you using with the 5100? Sounds good

thank you very much really good job, i ordered my after i saw your video. Keep the good job. VA3FBA

I just think they messed up by not adding VHF. I know UHF is the most popular band for DMR/P25 but allot of people use ex commercial VHF equipment. I would love to upgrade my RuggedSpot to one of these but I'm limited to VHF.

you didnt go over the P25 aspect of the open spot 2. Can it do P25 mode. I heard when it was launched it was not able to.

I got an Ailunce HD1. Will low on this radio still too powerful to transmit to the OpenSpot 2? Thanks. 73

Do the Pi Star based hotspots have full cross link capability like the Open Spot 3?

I’m so confused about this whole digital mode stuff I’m just not understanding it. Do you have a video for dummies that goes to the very basics

Can you please do a video on actually connecting the radio to the open spot. All of the settings you need in the radio itself that’s where I’m confused. I have a yaesu 3d but I’m sure the 2d you have would be the same

What if you can pair it to your android phone bluetooth? What's wrong?

I wished you had covered setting up profiles.

Is the frequency on your radio set simplex

That is pretty cool! Hows this compare to a ZUMspot?

@hondocalrissian1918

5 жыл бұрын

I had a Zumspot and sent it back, Openspot is 100% much better

Can't pair it to your android phone via bluetooth? KG5RPC

On another guy's video he showed the Openspot webssite they expected to give Wires-X room from the button on your handheld. Can you confirm this has happened?

my open spot 2 cant find server it did for a week

You just sold another Openspot2. Thanks for the video. 73 K1WLJ.

Can I use it with my wires-x?

No overwhelming feature, overpriced. I'll wait for something of better design and quality. Using Yaesu HRI-200 with direct microphone, solid reliable connection to wires-x without using a radio ; )

Gee, you kinda threw Rugged Spot under the bus there...I just received my Technician License and have been looking at the different hot spots and thought the Openspot2 would be the best unit for me. The Rugged Spot seems pretty expensive compare to the Openspot2. Is there anybody selling just the parts to make a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 work as a hotspot? Thanks for your videos!

I just installed SharkRF IP connector Server ! on my raspberry pi zero running pi-star 3.4.16 😃 I removed the mmdvm board and power it of a usb port on my router. A pi zero running shark server only uses 100mA. Now i just need to buy an openspot 2 with my friends so we can have a private chat room 😃

Is there any possibility of an external antenna? Great video as usual! 8P6RC

How much are they? And who sells them?

I have a question that I haven't been able to find the answer to online. Can you use the OPENSPOT2 to communicate with the Local Brandmeister TG 9 on your local repeater. I can't reach the local repeater reliably from my house. I know I can use an outside antenna, but would like to be able to walk around with a handheld in the house.

@ertonyrn

5 жыл бұрын

Lynn Hedspeth negative

This takes the place of the Pi Star?

I have the Openspot...... 1? (I guess you may call it) Have been waiting for this one to come out. I have tried the Jumbo Spot and it was a Pain to use and the others were not much better. Looking forward to trying one out. I take it you like this one better than the others on the market. To change from DSTAR to DMR , you have to go to the web page? Anyway good talking to you, hope to run into you again on the air.

3:51 picks up the one designed for a little girls dolls house electric sockets :D

OHHHHH shiney new toy...am so tempted...but have to pay for Indonesia cruise first or She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) will surgically remove body parts I am rather attached to!!!!

@MrNpkellogg

5 жыл бұрын

Michael Mackay-Blair SWMBO is a marriage agreement? I hope not.

POCSAG was used for pagers. Not sure what it’s used for now.

@robertfullarton

5 жыл бұрын

Pagers - hampager.de/#/

@Yeenoid

5 жыл бұрын

around my area (NA PNW) it's still used for pagers by a couple hospitals (but most have switched to FLEX) and a 911 dispatch station in snohomish county which is always interesting (it's called SNOPAC for anyone who lives around here)

Forgive me for what will come across as a stupid question but ... I just recently got my technician license and I'm moving toward my general. If I understand correctly this will allow me to use digital modes with my radio assuming I have the appropriate license via the Wi-Fi connection from my cell phone?

@j0394

5 жыл бұрын

George Niebling so here's the skinny with these bad larrys. This will receive the USER configured digital mode transmission and act as a gateway to the world via the interwebs. Here's the kicker George, you need to have a digital radio for this and configure your hotspot appropriately. Also it's not required to use your phone for this. In a pinch or as a mode of operation enable personal hotspot on your phone, link this devise to it and you're now you're using cell network(4G/LTE) to talk to whomever. Im almost certain the technician license is all you need to use this. Further licenses won't give you more access the digital net. Please anyone correct me if I misspoke.

@charlesschneider7079

5 жыл бұрын

@@j0394-You are correct, sir, on all of the UHF/VHF modes being available to Tech class and above. HF spectrum comes into play more as the licensing to general and above comes into play. 73 de N0SJU

Question. In the C4FM mode you connected to the AmericaLink Room. Can the OpenSpot 2 connect to any Wires-X Room?

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

no. only YSFreflectors or FCS reflectors, WIRES-X rooms are not supported at this time

@butch3715

5 жыл бұрын

I see the AmericaLink in the Room List in Wires-X. I wonder how this Wires-X Room also became a FCS Reflector?

So are the openSPOT2, Pi-Star, or Jumbospot all SDRs? I.e. they receives RF , digitize it, but they send it over the internet instead of the user PC? But I assume it has to exit a server somewhere to then get RF transmitted to a repeater? And how does the communication from the repeater get back to the OpenSPOT2/user? And if SharkRF closes, would the openSPOT2 still work? i.e. is this using any proprietary protocol/server?

@bluedeath996

5 жыл бұрын

Sort of, but they do low power transmit also. If SharkRF closes then the peer-to-peer system would take up the slack, as far as I can tell the hardware is semi-proprietary (in that it could be reverse-engineered) but the software is open source.

Eric.. if I wanted to get one radio to run all the programs (fusion,dmr,dstar,ect…) would the id51a plus 2 or the yaesu ft2d do all of these or will I need different radios for different modes?

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

So far there is no radio that does all modes. Need a Dstar radio for Dstar, DMR for DMR and Fusion for Fusion

@Sam-w9des

5 жыл бұрын

I mean with the openspot2 would one do all

Hi, I'm new to digital, So what is a hotspot and why do I need one? A bit of an intro to the whole field would be nice

@billoldham396

5 жыл бұрын

I'm no expert by any means! But you can pretty much talk just about anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. Your radio is transmitting and receiving to the hotspot. The hotspot is connected to the internet. That could be your home WiFi or your cell phone, or any WiFi for that matter. So in theory, you could have the hotspot connected to your cell phone, which gives it the internet access it needs. You and your buddy live in New York. You talk on the local DMR repeater. But you are driving to California. With a hotspot, cell phone and an HT in your car, you could talk to him all the way there. Think of it as your own little personal repeater. You can't leave the hotspot in New York. You need to take it with you. Because YOU are talking to the hotspot! The hotspot is piping you through the internet. The hotspot needs to hear you, and you need to hear it as well. So you get to California, and put the hotspot in your hotel room. As long as that hotspot can hear you, AND you can hear it. You could walk around town and talk to your buddy on an HT from California to New York.

Can I use an analog Kenwood HT to connect to the OpenSpot 2?

@ertonyrn

5 жыл бұрын

David George no

May look into one when nxdn update comes out

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

I think NXDN is ready, it's P25 and POCSAG not ready yet.

@ryankc9oza118

5 жыл бұрын

Ok. Well I might be looking into buying one down the road

@ryankc9oza118

5 жыл бұрын

It shows on website that nxdn will be a firmware update in the soon future

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

@@ryankc9oza118 Yah I went in and looked again, it is grayed out but lets you change the NXDN settings, so I thought it was ready

@ryankc9oza118

5 жыл бұрын

Went ahead and ordered mine this morning

19:02 I see you're using a VHF Frequency. SharkRF's website states that this device is UHF only is that not the case?

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

no the VHF frequency is VFO A on the left running analog. The band on the right is UHF 435.000 the Sharkrf does only UHF, there is only 1 hotspot that i think does VHF and UHF, thats the dvmega

Whats local that mean your local talk group?

can you connect 2 open-spots to each other for a private link?

@ertonyrn

5 жыл бұрын

Gary Hopkins yup he talked about it if you watched the video

they didn't send me one :(

what plugs in to what does it stay pluged in

@brandonbinder5572

5 жыл бұрын

jon ericson it has its own built in coal power plant - - ... ... - -

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

@@brandonbinder5572 . - . . - - - . - . .

Just me I guess, but this seems to complicate things too much, not sure why I would want or need this.

cant get the openspot2.local to open on my galaxy s6

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

did you try different browsers? Assuming you already paired it on wifi.

Pretty pricey for what it is? But I would buy this hands down 100 times before I would purchase a nexgen rugged spot. Great tutorial video.

Does it bridge my DMR radio to D-STAR?

@g6ctx445

5 жыл бұрын

No...

Can you get onto Allstar with it?

@gcopter1963

5 жыл бұрын

No.

@africantwin173

5 жыл бұрын

That would be kewl. There are some german hams that are testing Echolink with MMDVM. Google echolink mmdvm. D-star and dmr are only a protocols. If there are raspberry pi hats available with uhf vhf 200mw outputs fm,vthan im sold. All my icom,dvaps,megas will be thrown away. Just analog ht with big battery and dtmf.

@RussellThomas

5 жыл бұрын

No, these hotspots are digital not analog. However, there are some bridges between between DMR to Allstar like the Alabama Link for example. :)

So this still needs power source out and about, correct? And is only uhf?

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

Yes. You can pick up a USB solar battery bank for $11 on ebay.. It will charge from your computer, or from Sun, and power your openspot for most of the day. www.ebay.com/itm/Black-80000mAh-Dual-USB-Portable-Solar-Battery-Charger-Power-Bank-For-Cell-Phone/391812812134?epid=20008642883&hash=item5b39dd0d66:rk:4:pf:0

brandon I see your a smart ass . do I keep it plugged into anything

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

The included power adapter, or a 5v USB port on your computer.

@brandonbinder5572

5 жыл бұрын

Smart ass? Thanks!

@hobojon44

5 жыл бұрын

better to be a dumb ass

#synthetic-radio

Dont use 433.9000 MHz, this freq is used by many Part 95 devices including weather stations. Instead, you should use the freqs reserved by your local spectrum management group. For example, here in Southern Nevada 145.7100, 145.7250, 145.7400, 145.7550, 145.7700, 145.7850, 445.9500, 445.9875, 446.0250, 446.1500, and 446.1750 are reserved for IRLP, VoIP, Echolink, OpenSpots, etc.

That's funny because I have never heard anyone say anything on any of the D-Star reflectors :(

@HamRadioConcepts

4 жыл бұрын

Which reflectors are you listening to? Give 30C a try, it's hard to get a free time in there because it's so busy. There are a lot of unused reflectors but a lot of busy ones as well..

@johnratcliffe6438

4 жыл бұрын

@@HamRadioConcepts I've just had my first D-Star QSO! Hurrah! Thanks Eric. The issue seems to have been I was connecting to empty reflectors. I had a 2m FM QSO earlier with a chap who mentioned he used D-Star so I quizzed him and he pointed me to a juicy reflector full of people :) I'm connected via a repeater 40KM away that I've linked, but this chap uses a hot spot and suggested I have a look at that as an alternative to using a repeater. My next research project. Thanks for your support - greatly appreciated. 73s, John M7JHA

@johnratcliffe6438

4 жыл бұрын

I've now ordered one of these Eric. It should save me the worry of someone unlinking my reflector on the repeater! 73s John

If they really wanted to make something worthwhile, they should let you be able to use it with FM....

sure it's me, but 200e is really too mutch.

I honestly do not understand how people consider this HAM Radio...

@billoldham396

5 жыл бұрын

Well it isn't really. It's Skype. But part of ham radio is establishing communication. Now let's just say you are an old guy, based on your comment, I'm probably right. Nothing wrong with that! I'm an old salty ham too! My shack is in the basement. The day is coming I won't be able to get down here. At that point I'm probably not going to be able to put up/fix antennas. Maybe I have to move in with one of the kids? They live in a town house. NO ANTENNAS ALLOWED! Or maybe a nursing home! Neither is going to happen to me, but it does happen. Now if you and I have talked on the radio for decades, but now you are in a nursing home, and you just can't put up an antenna. Is this wrong? Think about it!

overprice for not having an internal battery, no vhf and no external antenna connector. If only i use this for fusion id stay with my version1, mmdvm and my wiresx.

Only works with DMR Brandmiester not cbridge.

So easy to use = 24 minute video?

Um.. wtf? If I wanted to play with computers ok. gimme a 40m. QRP / CW any day.

M

HOW MUCH AND WHERE DO YOU BUY THESE

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

the link is in the description

@BrianMackey2010

5 жыл бұрын

To Much for what you get 233.00 US I believe

@Robert-Wilson

5 жыл бұрын

Way to much that for sure. Twice as much as the ones built on the raspberry pi.

@RussellThomas

5 жыл бұрын

depends on what you are looking for. I have not seen any other hotspots be this small and portable with no antenna to get broken off and are this easy to setup.....

@davidbrass2562

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah, way too expensive for what it is.

Got burned with the OpenSpot not updating despite it saying it was successful. I won't flush more money buying their products.

too expensivecost nothing to make these

WARNING FALSE ADVERTISEMENT it doesn't do P25 or NXDN yet..SO Let me know when all the modes work (P25 and NXDN) then I'll think about it. If its not going to be able to do those reflectors and its going to have some other setup on those modes don't waist your time. You can't say it does the modes till it actually does all the modes that false advertisement.

@HamRadioConcepts

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, 73 :)

I can tell I've been a ham for 40+ years... all this digital vhf / uhf crap is... barely radio to me. all that equipment... all that infrastructure... doing amazing things of which I have no interest. I guess that I'm stuck in the analog past. Good video though... nice work. It's actually not easy to do! 73

@nevets68

5 жыл бұрын

G.O.M. alert !

@africantwin173

5 жыл бұрын

I totally agree with you , but i do like Echolink. Dstar,tetra,dmr,fusion is becoming a labyrinth. Most friends i cannot find anymore on the digital frequency. And most older hams dont like computer configuration shit. But the new Icom, kenwood radios are also becoming €5K + tv's. Ill stick to the old Echolink, and wide analog audio tranceivers.

@dewroc66

5 жыл бұрын

You guys realize it works without internet as well ? If the dmr Network goes down, it still works , just to the repeater though, ahh like you do now , not sure why you think a mini repeater isn’t radio ! Works on my radio , enjoy the hobby shame your missing the best part , but that’s your option

@dewroc66

5 жыл бұрын

Internet on the repeater, not a hotspot that is

@n8nkqrp595

5 жыл бұрын

Nah, for me the best part is designing, then prototyping, then optimizing, then having fun with QRP transceivers - both CW and DSB. Yeah, your DMR surely is radio. I meant that to me- a radio is something you interract with quite a bit and you actively make contacts with. Yep- like on uhf / vhf with or without the repeater. Not a robot-like digital station cranking out basically automated contacts. But to each his own... which is why it's a cool hobby

You can't buy these things anywhere.

Your password is Rubbish

Reviews should be neutral. Present the Features and Benefits without editorial content. Know the product 100%

Thank you!! This is one of the best and clearest explanations that I have seen on how to set up an OpenSpot. Thank you very much for making it understandable for us newbies!! de K5LLE