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Author Topic: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far  (Read 338 times)

KK4GMU

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Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« on: February 02, 2023, 09:22:41 PM »

I'm wanting to set up a mobile hot spot in my house/car to work with a DMR HT.

Hot spots come in several forms:
Simplex or duplex:  Simplex is most common and that is all that is needed for Fusion and D-star; DMR benefits from Duplex.
2.4GHz only and both 2.4 and 5G:  The great majority are 2.4 GHz only.  TGIF 3.5 (domestic) has both and is highly rated on eHam. https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14715
Chinese and domestic;  Chinese via Amazon.

I bought a Zum 3.5 (domestic) from HRO believing it was well supported.  The user manual did not match the Pi-star screens and customer support is nearly non-existent.  I posted questions and concerns on their Facebook page.  It requires a lengthy review process before even posting.  No acknowledgment from their email.

Bridgecom is very pricey:  $400+ for simplex 2.4GHz. Probably more than $150 of that is for their programming service.

I learned that the Spectrum router I'm leasing is so automatic and "smart" that it cannot be tailored to 2.4 versus 5GHz devices.  It reverts to 5 if the device is within range and goes to 2.4 by default when 5 is out of range.  It is not user configurable.  So 2.4GHz hot spots are a no go, unless I jettisoned the leased router and bought one of my own.

So my decision is either a) Get a pricier hot spot like the TGIF which is $100 more than the Zum, or b) trust that a user owned and customizable router I could buy would play nice with the separate Spectrum modem and that Spectrum wouldn't do finger pointing whenever anything glitched.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2023, 09:37:59 PM by KK4GMU »
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IC-7100, RSPdx, AT-D878UVII-Plus HT, TGIF Spot

KC9BUH

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2023, 09:36:36 PM »

Find and buy pi +3 board.
Then buy a N5BOC top hat.
buy a 8gig or larger micro disk.
download and install on the micro disk,pi-star software.
enclose it all in c4labs case.
Mike
KC9BUH
good on qrz   note the first picture
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KK4GMU

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2023, 09:40:11 PM »

Nope.  I don't build my own antennas, either.  That is not the part of the hobby I enjoy.  Thanks, tho.
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IC-7100, RSPdx, AT-D878UVII-Plus HT, TGIF Spot

K5LXP

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2023, 04:51:55 AM »

N5BOC is the platform we recommend to our new users today.  If that's a non starter for some reason then any other solution is learn and pay as you go. 

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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KD2HCU

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2023, 05:39:34 AM »

I bought a B-Tech DMR radio and a Shark Openspot 2 a few years ago.  Both work well, but the novelty sort of wore off when I upgraded my license class.  It good to know that I have them in my arsenal just in case, and the radio is also good as a UHF/VHF handheld.  BTW the hotspot allows me to access System Fusion with my Yaesu radios.  Hotspots have come a long way in a few short years.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2023, 05:44:27 AM by KD2HCU »
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K4FMH

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2023, 06:23:48 AM »

N5BOC is the platform we recommend to our new users today.  If that's a non starter for some reason then any other solution is learn and pay as you go. 

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

Hi Mark,

FYI only…N5BOC is out of stock on all versions at the moment, unfortunately.

73,

Frank
K4FMH
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K1KIM

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2023, 09:41:20 AM »

Won't the Shark RF OpenSpot 4 Pro work for you?

That's what I use.

3 Day delivery from Estonia.
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So Many Toys.......So Little Time!

KK4GMU

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2023, 06:03:46 AM »

Won't the Shark RF OpenSpot 4 Pro work for you?

That's what I use.

3 Day delivery from Estonia.
Nope.  I need one that does both 2.4 and 5GHz to cope with my "too-smart-for-its-own-good" router that likes to shift frequencies.

A few days later I discovered the man, Robert, who started and runs the TGIF DMR network lives an hour from my house.  He also makes the best eHam-rated hot spot, the TGIF Spot. It handles both 2.4 and 5GHz routers - essential for my situation. Of course it's not limited to the TGIF network - it will do whatever networks you program it to.

Being new to DMR radio I don't have everything programmed the way it should be yet, but within a few minutes of setting up the Spot I did get a Parrot - better than a Turkey I got with the 2.4GHz Zum.

And Robert answers emails and and phone calls almost as fast as Karin of RT Systems.  She usually answers on the first ring.
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K6JH

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2023, 10:00:36 PM »

Ditch the spectrum Wi-Fi Al plug in your own. That’s what I did. I’ve got 2.4 and 5 running simultaneously, and also have a “guest” network with only limited access.

I’ve got a few IOT devices, like thermostats and garage door openers on 2.4, and can still use my 5ghz at the same time.
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73
Jim K6JH

KK4GMU

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2023, 09:25:44 AM »

Nope, keeping the Spectrum router for two reason:

1) I don't want the confusion of circular firing squad finger pointing if the Spectrum network is the problem, and
2) I don't want to disrupt our current service:  happy wife/happy life and all that.

I'll adapt to what I have.  And the TGIF Spot hotspot works very well with my Spectrum router.
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G4AON

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2023, 03:05:22 AM »

The ZUM Spot and TGIF ones are using free Pi-Star software, in the case of the TGIF board, it looks to use an ordinary MMDVM board that can be bought for $20 to $30 on eBay.

I recently configured a cheap Chinese MMDVM board and found their $0.12 TCXO drifted all over the place, however the replacements are available from Mouser for $2.39 with a ten times more stable unit!

The size and basic specification of the original Chinese 14.7456 MHz TCXO by SCTF is the same as an ECS-TXO-3225MV-147.4-TR. However, the ECS one is specified as +/- 2.5ppm over -30C to +85C, as opposed to 20ppm for the Chinese one (assuming the Chinese one originally fitted to my board even meets their claimed spec). Obviously a board without an OLED display is easier to work on, as the TCXO sits under the display.

Configuring your own hotspot is a lot less expensive than buying a ready to use one, especially if you know which end of a soldering iron gets hot... A cheap hot air soldering station is handy to swap the TCXO too. Any of the later Raspberry Pi boards can be used with these boards, many of us have a few in the desk drawer, unfortunately sourcing new ones at the moment is a problem, but millions have been sold and many of those are likely to be gathering dust.

73 Dave
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K4CQO

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2023, 07:50:13 AM »

While KK4GMU has resolved his 2.4 vrs 5G issue, others may need a solution. There are fairly cheep wifi extenders that can have a 2.4G wifi interface and still support the 5G to the router.

I have that issue with my Raspberry 3B+ that connected to the 5G network but could not handle the data speed -- so I created a "guest" network that only supported 2.4G.

KK4GMU -- glad that you got your DMR working!
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G8FXC

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2023, 08:49:17 AM »

In terms of performance, there is nothing wrong with a $20 Chinese MMDVM board connected up to a Pi Zero. The benefit you get from a more expensive branded Hotspot is better support... If you are comfortable with some simple mechanical assembly and tinkering with Linux at the command line, then don't be afraid of assembling a hotspot with a cheap MMDVM card - you'll save a fair amount of money.

Martin (G8FXC)
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K6JH

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2023, 06:02:27 PM »

So doesn’t your Spectrum Wi-Fi router have an Ethernet jack on the back? Buy a second Wi-Fi router and run two Wi-Fi networks.

I’m currently running a spectrum cable modem but had them disable Wi-Fi. That way if the cable modem goes out it’s their fault, if Wi-Fi is out it’s my problem. I can always plug in a cable direct to decide which end has issues, but so far it’s always them. My Dad ran his own cable modem and had finger pointing going on between spectrum and Motorola, so I pay spectrum for theirs.
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73
Jim K6JH

N1YFA

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Re: Hot Spots for DMR - My experiences so far
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2023, 01:38:05 PM »

Im not sure how Spectrum routers work but if you are able to get into the settings on the router and shut of "Smart Connect" or something similar to that, it will solve your problem. I have TP-Link routers (both ax3000 and ax4400) and there is a setting in there to make it do what yours is doing or you can shut that off and have separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connections. Its usually as simple as un-ticking a box and then going through the process of setting up each connection.
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