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Reviews For: SharkRF OpenSpot2

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

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Review Summary For : SharkRF OpenSpot2
Reviews: 14MSRP: 255.00
Description:
The openSPOT2 is a standalone digital radio internet gateway (hotspot) designed mainly for amateur radio. You can talk with others on digital radio networks by using an openSPOT2, Wi-Fi internet access, and your radio.
Product is in production
More Info: http://https://www.sharkrf.com/products/openspot2/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00144.3
K1VI Rating: 2022-03-22
Great, but its receiver drifted Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Original setup was easy, and I used it a lot for a year, then it sat on the shelf for a year-plus (busy doing other things). When I went back to it, its status on the dashboard showed during transmit, a slew of "invalid color code (##) expected (1)" messages. Tried to puzzle it out myself for too long. Finally contacted support. Very quick response: "add in receiver offset, trying +/- 100 Hz increments until minimum BER" (dashboard's modem tab) -- Yep, the openSpot's receiver had drifted - Same offset solved for both of two radios. Solution applied, now back to being happy.
WB4SLI Rating: 2020-06-11
Okay - Except For Its WI-FI Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had an openspot2 for awhile. It is not available except on the used market. Please be forewarned that its wi-fi is nothing to be proud of. I have the device about ten feet (~3 meters) from the Router. The device continues to reconnect to the router. I have begun to use it only as a last resort because I keep getting disconnected/reconnecting voice messages. I have not had it drop out mid-qso, but I fear that will happen one of these days. I would say to save your money and go plain jane pi-star. I have both and prefer the pi-star.
N6PRX Rating: 2020-02-24
Weak WiFi Receiver Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased the OpenSpot2 almost a year ago to use with DMR. In general it works well. The pros that I found useful are its diminutive pocket size and weight, USB powered, easy to configure software, ability to store configurations for different situations, usable with DMR, D-Star, Fusion, NexEdge, P25, APRS.

The lowered rating is due to its weak WiFi receiver. The OpenSpot2 is almost deaf when used at home. To get WiFi into the 'OK' range it must be within 10-15 feet of the WiFi source. From the shack just one room away, the best possible signal is 'Medium' and measures in at -70dBm to -80dBm, which can lead to packet loss. More often than not the connection quality is 'Low' from any room other than where the WiFi is located. I would like to keep the OpenSpot2 in the shack where I can turn it on and off with the rest of the station gear. With the deaf WiFi receiver it just isn't solid with 20 feet and a wall between it and the access point. An external antenna option would be very nice to have for the cost of this device.

Although it has nice features it is very expensive. Support was good when contacted, and the software works well as long as the WiFi is solid.
KB9ZB Rating: 2020-02-02
outstanding product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
could not be more happier. very easy setup, almost sets itself up!! plugged in my DMR id and frequencies for both DMR and DSTAR. working right away. very good range I am getting almost 500 plus ft in a heavy RFI area, no issues. I have had others but nothing else has worked this good before.
Only regret is I should have waited for open spot 3, my friend got it and its even better than th2 and I didn't think that was possible
WA0UAY Rating: 2020-02-02
Excellent product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Recently picked up a used OpenSpot 2. Works very well. Setup was incredibly simple. Switches from home WiFi to smartphone automatically in seconds.
Just no real issues using it on Fusion.
I also have a Zumspot and setup although not really difficult but does take more time. But after using it for the last year, it also works very well. Great dashboard on both. I would say the Pi-star dashboard seems a little more complete.
I had an original OpenSpot running on dmr a couple years ago and it worked very well also.
With the OpenSpot 3 now available, there seems to be some OpenSpot 2 units on the used market at good prices.
AA1QG Rating: 2019-07-15
Great hotspot Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have used several different hotspots over the years, but this one is in a league of its own. Stable, and works with different DMR radios. I have had trouble with jumbospots and DVMEGA spots, some radios did work well, others not.

20mw output give good range.

Great user interface as well. A professional product well worth its price.

Only negative is the lack of an external antenna connector.
G4AON Rating: 2019-07-07
Expensive but works well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If it wasn’t for the high cost, I wouldn’t hesitate to rate it 5. However it costs 3 x the cost of a Raspberry Pi and Chinese MMDVM Pi-Star combination.

There is no doubt the Shark is straightforward to set up for basic use straight out of the box, taking perhaps 5 mins max to configure for single mode use on D-Star. The web based user interface is a little confusing, although if all else fails it is easy to reset back to factory defaults and start again.

One of the big advantages over the MMDVM approach is the “de jitter” feature that applies to all modes, not just DMR. This is primarily useful when using a 3G or 4G portable network connection where the data rate can vary significantly. On an MMDVM Pi-Star setup the de jitter parameter is only available on DMR. The problem that jitter causes is it can result in gaps in speech, or the speech to break up or become garbled. The jitter setting buffers the data flow, with recommended settings of 1 second or higher when used on 3G/4G.

Another advantage for “portable” use is the easy to pocket shape of the case. The Shark is easy to power from a “power bank” portable battery pack of the type used to charge mobile phones.

Other than the high cost, the only other potential disadvantage is the lack of automatic mode switching - the Pi-Star units can auto switch modes, which in some cases can be useful.

For use with a home broadband connection, the Pi-Star/MMDVM units are unbeatable in both configuration, web interface, not to mention value for money. However, for use away from home with a mobile phone network the Shark is the better bet.

The above comments relate to v47 firmware in the Shark and Pi-Star v3.4.17

Pre-purchase support, “next day” DHL delivery (in Europe) and prompt response to forum questions are impressive.
K9OBX Rating: 2019-06-28
Easy to set up and use!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is my first hotspot and so far this thing is great. Easy to set up and use portable. I have an Anker 10000 mah battery pack and use my cell phone wifi hotspot. This little thing uses almost no data at all and the Anker battery pack barely notices. I ran the Openspot 2 for 4 days on the battery pack and it was still almost full charge. My cell phone provider said I had used only 1/2 of a gigabyte....AFTER 4 DAYS!!! I've used cross mode from c4fm to DMR and C4FM to P25. Both work GREAT!!! If you're on the fence about it......GET ONE!!
KB0VVK Rating: 2019-04-18
don,t let it go south Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
IT worked great for a week then IT got off line
can,t find server. the red flashing light for
making contact looks like the red light for failed
openspot2. I will remember more later it was fun for a time not stable . like the DV access point
I got four years ago for dstar.
KA3ZAI Rating: 2019-03-08
Works out of the box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This little device works flawlessly. Took it today to the beach here in Florida and was impressed how well it functioned using my cell for internet and my C4FM HT. At the home QTH, using my wifi, the OpenSpot2 works like a charm. This is my first Hotspot and took about 5 minutes to set up. Also, SharkRF has great CS and user-friendly forums.