Hi John,
Dan is correct about most of the folks here in the Mid-Hudson having hot spots since there are no Fusion or DMR repeaters locally.
You can use your FT 70DR with a hot spot to get on DMR and no need for another radio until you determine if you like the Digital Voice protocol.
Bob K2LD has helped several hams who have fusion capable radios to set things up.
As of this morning, Friday, Oct 2, I see the FCC has not yet assigned you a call sign. The last group of new licensees showed up after a week and soon you will be able to talk directly to Bob and Nick and others.
They can also help you obtain a relatively inexpensive hot spot if you don't mind doing some of your own assembly...that is part of the fun of the hobby for some.
Thanks Paul for the Shoutout this morning on the 835. I've been inundated with information since I passed my tech license exam, trying to sort out RF radios (on air), antennas, repeaters ... and now digital. There isn't an all in one solution. The Yaesu FT-70d does analog/digital. Problem is, there's no fusion repeaters in my area .. matter of fact, I'm not sure if there's any digital repeaters near Olivebridge (D-Star, DMR, Fusion). Fusion sells a box for $149. but, from what I gather, you also have to buy another Yaesu Digital Receiver (not a handheld) linked to your computer (okay ... I guess Fusion's only the simpliest solution if you have a local Fushion receiver.
Is everyone on the 835 using hotspots (another learning curve)? Or is there a DMR or D-Star repeater locally that doesn't come up in Repeaterbook?
So much to learn .... Glad this group is on the air in the morning or I'd only be listening to the NOAA weather report! :)
Far as I can tell most club members use personal hotspots for DMR, as there aren’t any digital repeaters near ulster and surrounding counties. There are some hotspots that should let you use your Yaesu with C4FM/fusion to gateway to DMR, or to talk directly via fusion. Nick KD2RBR is doing this and could probably give you some pointers if you head in that direction.
@Dan KD2UPY thanks Dan. I was wondering. The antenna options would be too costly for where I am and I don't have enough space. Any recommendations for hotspots. Bridgecom has one ... so does Ham Radio outlet ... still researching here.
John, there used to be the KC2OBW DMR repeater in Highland that I could just hit using an HT from Olivebridge. Not sure it's still active, but the details on it can be found here:
@Chris AC2KV thanks Chris. Occasionally , I get someone, talking briefly on that repeater. Still havent received my call letters (maybe monday). The highland repeate says its DMR enabled. Probably the only reachable digital repeater if it is enabled. I have a yaesu 70dr. I watched a lot of videos on hotspots and bit the bullet and ordered the expensive
openspot3, backordered from Estonia. According to the youtube gurus they say the software is more stable than pi-star and its able to do cross platforms. We'll see. Thanks for your reply.
Seems like a few of the members on 835 own the ANYTONE handheld. It's certainly got a lot of favorable reviews. Everyone who purchased it seems to love it ... well, except for one person who mentioned he is having trouble with the Bridgecom vendor.
What are the advantages of the Anytone over a model like mine - the Yaesu 70dr? Are there repeaters in the "reachable" area for this digital repeater? Do I need a repeater for this unit? I'm a complete newbie working through now the General Exam material. I just passed my tech exam last Saturday in the Town of Kingston and
I tune in regularly every morning and listen to you guys .... Matter of fact, you're the only ones (with my limited radio skills) that I'm able to pick up (even though I've programmed in all the local Hudson Valley Repeaters).
IF you answer my question by speaking with the wisdom of the ages, I promise you, I will drift off into a complete coma! Talk to me ... I'd say like Dr. Seuss would .. but I just opened a copy of one of his books I'd seen in a dentist's waiting room and after reading a few pages, I'm sure Dr. Seuss is not from this planet .....
Just found this page .. maybe .. maybe I can be enlightened a bit .... Maybe
https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/collections/anytone-hts/products/anytone-at-d878uv-plus-bluetooth
Hi John, Dan is correct about most of the folks here in the Mid-Hudson having hot spots since there are no Fusion or DMR repeaters locally.
You can use your FT 70DR with a hot spot to get on DMR and no need for another radio until you determine if you like the Digital Voice protocol.
Bob K2LD has helped several hams who have fusion capable radios to set things up.
As of this morning, Friday, Oct 2, I see the FCC has not yet assigned you a call sign. The last group of new licensees showed up after a week and soon you will be able to talk directly to Bob and Nick and others.
They can also help you obtain a relatively inexpensive hot spot if you don't mind doing some of your own assembly...that is part of the fun of the hobby for some.
Thanks Paul for the Shoutout this morning on the 835. I've been inundated with information since I passed my tech license exam, trying to sort out RF radios (on air), antennas, repeaters ... and now digital. There isn't an all in one solution. The Yaesu FT-70d does analog/digital. Problem is, there's no fusion repeaters in my area .. matter of fact, I'm not sure if there's any digital repeaters near Olivebridge (D-Star, DMR, Fusion). Fusion sells a box for $149. but, from what I gather, you also have to buy another Yaesu Digital Receiver (not a handheld) linked to your computer (okay ... I guess Fusion's only the simpliest solution if you have a local Fushion receiver. Is everyone on the 835 using hotspots (another learning curve)? Or is there a DMR or D-Star repeater locally that doesn't come up in Repeaterbook? So much to learn .... Glad this group is on the air in the morning or I'd only be listening to the NOAA weather report! :)
Far as I can tell most club members use personal hotspots for DMR, as there aren’t any digital repeaters near ulster and surrounding counties. There are some hotspots that should let you use your Yaesu with C4FM/fusion to gateway to DMR, or to talk directly via fusion. Nick KD2RBR is doing this and could probably give you some pointers if you head in that direction.
@Dan KD2UPY thanks Dan. I was wondering. The antenna options would be too costly for where I am and I don't have enough space. Any recommendations for hotspots. Bridgecom has one ... so does Ham Radio outlet ... still researching here.
John, there used to be the KC2OBW DMR repeater in Highland that I could just hit using an HT from Olivebridge. Not sure it's still active, but the details on it can be found here:
https://repeaterbook.com/repeaters/details.php?state_id=36&ID=13602
@Chris AC2KV thanks Chris. Occasionally , I get someone, talking briefly on that repeater. Still havent received my call letters (maybe monday). The highland repeate says its DMR enabled. Probably the only reachable digital repeater if it is enabled. I have a yaesu 70dr. I watched a lot of videos on hotspots and bit the bullet and ordered the expensive openspot3, backordered from Estonia. According to the youtube gurus they say the software is more stable than pi-star and its able to do cross platforms. We'll see. Thanks for your reply.
Seems like a few of the members on 835 own the ANYTONE handheld. It's certainly got a lot of favorable reviews. Everyone who purchased it seems to love it ... well, except for one person who mentioned he is having trouble with the Bridgecom vendor. What are the advantages of the Anytone over a model like mine - the Yaesu 70dr? Are there repeaters in the "reachable" area for this digital repeater? Do I need a repeater for this unit? I'm a complete newbie working through now the General Exam material. I just passed my tech exam last Saturday in the Town of Kingston and
I tune in regularly every morning and listen to you guys .... Matter of fact, you're the only ones (with my limited radio skills) that I'm able to pick up (even though I've programmed in all the local Hudson Valley Repeaters). IF you answer my question by speaking with the wisdom of the ages, I promise you, I will drift off into a complete coma! Talk to me ... I'd say like Dr. Seuss would .. but I just opened a copy of one of his books I'd seen in a dentist's waiting room and after reading a few pages, I'm sure Dr. Seuss is not from this planet ..... Just found this page .. maybe .. maybe I can be enlightened a bit .... Maybe https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/collections/anytone-hts/products/anytone-at-d878uv-plus-bluetooth