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Reviews For: SharkRF OpenSPOT

Category: Interfaces, Radio to computer, amp, rotor, coax switch, internet

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Review Summary For : SharkRF OpenSPOT
Reviews: 26MSRP: 204.00
Description:
The SharkRF openSpot is a digital radio IP gateway / hotspot which allows connectivity to D-Star, DMR, and C4FM digital voice networks. This device is completely standalone and requires no external PC hardware to operate.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.sharkrf.com/products/openspot/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00264.2
W4HTP Rating: 2022-11-13
Owned since Nov 2016 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I first delved into DMR in September 2016. I found repeater coverage in my area to be lacking. About that time, a new fangled device was being talked about coming soon - the OpenSpot. I ordered mine from Grapevine Radio in TX about October and it was delivered the first week of November.

Once up and running the OpenSpot was a forever accessory to DMR. Over time I added a travel router for WiFi support and a pass-through charging power bank for portability.

Over time the component spec shifted a bit. That caused some anomalous reception issues, but eventually the Internet caught up with advice on software adjustments. It's still going just fine.

I recently decided to upgrade to the OpenSpot 4 Pro and will post a review. That's not necessarily gone as well. My OG OpenSpot 2016 has been great - buy one used, if you can and only need it for DMR. You won't be let down.
SV2BWM Rating: 2022-03-27
Great! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Great hotspot, but is a little bit tricky to set it up. Lots of parameters around, but once you configured it keeps running stable without any problem. I have the TYT MD-380 portable and I've been using it more than a year. Good job! Thanks 73...
G1XXV Rating: 2019-12-31
worth the cost Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works well, but can dump it's software when switched off. Mine did this twice before it became stable. Since then has work flawless 24/7. Best left running non stop.
N4QWK Rating: 2019-07-11
Great Product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have three of these. One for DMR, one for D-Star, and I just got another for Fusion. They all work great. It's basically set it and forget it, and it's also nice not to have the computer on to use them.
W4KVW Rating: 2019-03-31
Works AWESOME! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Works like a Champ.No issues with it for DMR.I does just what I purchased it for 1st time every time. Great product & I would purchase again if I needed another one.
KB4BJM Rating: 2019-03-31
P.U. stinks/headache Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Found no local IP connection on Shark RF site. They do not support there obsolete products. The site is only friendly for their Openspot2. Spent way too much time to get it to work.
WA3HVR Rating: 2018-05-14
My own repeater! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got one of these because our local repeater got hit by lightning and was off the air for about a month with no guarantee that it would get back on. Use it with an MD – 390 and absolutely love it. Running .2 milliwatts, it covers my two-story house and property solidly. I really like this unit and can recommend it highly. I found it easy to set up and it works without any problems.
PA3HGT Rating: 2018-04-09
DMR not OK.Dstar great. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Had the Sharkrfspot for a very short time.Dstar excellent but DMR was distorted.Tried to solve it with changes in the TYTMD2017-programming but no success.Change firmware to the latest stable version:no succes.From my HT to the nearest repeater was OK,no distortion.After 2 weeks trying other suggestions, i sended back to the shop.Now i work with another hotspot,no problems.
K4FX Rating: 2018-04-09
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have only had this about a week. I just now am getting into DMR. The openSPOT is a great solution for hams like me who do not live close to DMR repeaters. It took a bit to get it running by myself, but it works wonderfully. My advice would be to find someone with experience to save a lot of configuration work.
M0KZX Rating: 2018-03-04
Buy one!! One of the coolest digital radio gadgets out there Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is one of those things that you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Although I have my own Wires-X node, which requires having a radio and PC running to work, this tiny blue box does it all!

My only concern was that this would be a tricky thing to configure. I had nothing to worry about. Within no more than 5 minutes I had updated the firmware, programmed it with my user details and selected the room I wanted to use.

It's on 24/7 powered directly from my broadband router and it has never skipped a beat.

So easy to use across all digital networks and you can quickly switch between rooms and modes by logging in from a PC or mobile phone.

Clever stuff!!