Digital Ham Radio?

[BullMoose1776]

I am looking to purchase a new radio for my Jeep JL.

I need a detachable face radio, and there are, of course, many options.

I am weighing the benefits of getting a digital radio, but I am hesitant, based on the limited and (frankly, somewhat uninteresting) activity I see on Echolink.

I'm not interested in a wires-x v D-Star debate. I'm familiar enough with the choices, pros, cons, etc.

Maybe I'm missing something, or just don't get it. But the local repeaters are mostly quiet, and what I've seen on Echolink makes me think Digital might not be worth it.

Thanks for all the guidance.

 

[Prerunner1982]

For hobby, dmr seems popular here but things could be very regional. If local repeaters are quiet, internet linking repeaters are definitely a way to get past that. Are there any winlink or irlp repeaters? They don't require any special radios.
HF is another good way of getting out of local dead zones.
For overlanding, analog it is unless you are running with a group that just all happen to have the same digital protocol capability.

 

[J.W.]

If your local repeaters stay quiet, Digital radio of some form is going to be the fastest and least expensive way to find people to talk with. That said, DMR/YSF/WiresX/DSTAR are all going to seem very similar to EchoLink when you first connect. It is entirely possible that you have not spent enough time with EchoLink to find the conversations/groups that might interest you.

 

[Prerunner1982]

An overland net on echolink and you find it uninteresting? How dare you.

 

[RockyMountaineer]

Digital is cool stuff and the truth is for the price difference I wouldn't buy a radio that doesn't offer digital modes these days. But the truth is that for simplex on trail comms digital voice doesn't offer any real advantages. Some other digital modes a different story. But if working with repeaters then digital offers some great advantages. The ability to link repeaters and utilize nodes is a big thing for voice and then the ability to transmit data can be helpful too.

 

[Prerunner1982]

One thing with digital is that it generally tends to go further before the signal drops off, but when it does it does so quickly.
Representation..

 

[Sean's #1 Pop]

I am looking to purchase a new radio for my Jeep JL.

I need a detachable face radio, and there are, of course, many options.

I am weighing the benefits of getting a digital radio, but I am hesitant, based on the limited and (frankly, somewhat uninteresting) activity I see on Echolink.

I'm not interested in a wires-x v D-Star debate. I'm familiar enough with the choices, pros, cons, etc.

Maybe I'm missing something, or just don't get it. But the local repeaters are mostly quiet, and what I've seen on Echolink makes me think Digital might not be worth it.

Thanks for all the guidance.

Before you decide on a format, I recommend you research on repeaterbook.com and find what is active in your area on the bands you have privileges on. For example near my home base DMR is active and C4FM is almost non-existent...BUT... go down the hill into the Inland Empire and beach cities Fusion repeaters are everywhere. I have a Yaesu FTM400 and love it. 50 watt dual band, easy cross band, Fusion digital, APRS detached face plate and easier to field program than any radio I own. Using the RT systems programming software I can load onto a micro USB and clone the programming 100 times if I want to.

If you have a taste for the mid-range radios, Anytone AT-D578 has 2M-70cm and DMR -- PLUS!!! -- can cross band DMR to analog and vice-versa. Has bluetooth functionality, APRS, etc. After having the chance to use this one on a recent field day this one is on my short list of radios for my truck when I replace my Yaesu 7900.

If you're in an area short on digital repeaters take a look at Rugged Spot Rugged SPOT - NEX-GEN Custom Hot Spots comes preprogrammed and is truly a plug and play. Also has the useful feature of cross mode from DMR+, Fusion and can also connect D-Star.

No affiliation with any of the above....just passing on what I have experience with. ---- 73's

 

[RainierandTacos]

In addition to the recommendation to check which digital format is popular in your area, I'd recommend monitoring simplex frequencies as well. With the exception of nets most of the repeaters around me are usually quiet, but there's almost always some activity on 146.520. And even when it seems quiet I can get a response when I call out most times.