How Far Does a DMR Hotspot Reach?
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- čas přidán 26. 01. 2019
- How far does your DMR hotspot actually reach? DMR hotspots are becoming increasingly popular. Ham radio operators are using openspots, zumspots and other hotspots. They are useful for monitoring multiple talkgroups or digital protocols in your ham shack, or if you like to rag chew and don't want to tie up your local ham radio repeater.
The DVMega hotspot puts out 10mW of power, that's a very minimal amount. Don't worry though, that's plenty of power to use your hotspot around the house or even the area surrounding your house.
I put my DVMega hotspot to the test with my AnyTone 878. Just how far does my DMR hotspot actually reach? Find out in this video! - Věda a technologie
That's pretty awesome for 10 mw. Although I once maintained contact on 2M down to 50 microwatts over a 15 mile path, but that was on CW with high-gain antennas on both ends.
900 MHz is a lot of fun, though. I was able to get into a 900 MHz repeater in Knoxville, TN, 25 miles from my campsite in Pigeon Forge using 5 watts to a homebrew 1/4 wave groundplane inside my truck camper.
I was only able to get about 800 feet with the stock antenna that came with my Jumbospot. I tested the stock Jumbospot antenna on my MFJ269 and threw it in the trash. Crazy SWR on 70cm! Replaced it with a different antenna and had similar results to you. Thanks for the video!
I recently just did this on mine, replacing the original antenna with a Yaesu rubber duck I had laying around. It's not high performance but the Yaesu rubber duck is higher quality for sure.
Great video! Very informative
Loved the video. Thanks!
This is soooo cool. Didn't know my hotspot would reach that far.
I ordered the OpenSpot3 (comes from Estonia), backordered ... looking forward ...
Thanks ... great video. I don't think I can put an extended antenna on the unit .. damn!
Yeah, YMMV as you have a small internal antenna with an OpenSpot - but they are higher power.
Completely satisfied a curiosity I had.
Glad to hear it!
That is a nice set up!
Thanks!
Nice job!
Well done!
Thank you!
Very Impressive, had not heard of this radio before today. Going to look into the Hotspot and radio as well. 73, K9HDT
Glad you enjoyed, Harry!
Bandit PMR 78 wire antenna indoors (Brick buildings and urban areas) on 446, I made it 3 1/2 miles using a Baofeng GT3-TP mk iii to another with the antenna his came with...sounded like he was across the road from me...using 5w
Very good distance test! I use an OpenSpot2 with 20mw output but you can’t fit it with an external antenna.
I keep my mmdvm hotspot on a battery pack all the time. I stuck a piece of velcro...sorry hook and loop fastener... on the bottom of hotspot and top of battery pack. I have a nagoya 771 on it. It works all over my neighborhood pretty much. My hotspot came with a sad little excuse for a antenna. Just a one inch chunk of plastic basically.
Yeah. The antennas that come on money are pretty much a dummy load. If you’re hoping to use it around a large property or down the street changing out the antenna is worth it.
I was wondering about that distance thing. Thanks! Fun to watch.
Glad you enjoyed it!
thank you for the nice video. :)
Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks for doing it!
thanks for the interesting video!
i think i am gonna be get a DVMega Hotspot and connect it to my Diamond X-50N btw. Diamond x-510 at the top of the roof.
Let me know how it goes!
@@K0LWC A similar arrangement in West Beaumont, Texas yielded about .75 mile diameter from the antenna. Again, my five-watt handheld could be heard much further than the 10-mw hotspot. There was some discussion years ago about using an amplifier to boost the output of the hotspots to something more respectable, say 5-7 watts, but the manufacturers advised against it because of the signal purity and potential for amplifying spurs and other equally nasty signals.
Thanks for the great video of your distance test. Y'say you're in Denver, right ? Hey what's all that white stuff layin' around on the ground ? We don't usually get any of that stuff around here ! How come you're cold in January, that's mid-Summer isn't it ! (LOL)
SOUNDINNN REAALLLL GOOD BOY
I truly wish more people would do distance and clarity tests. Is their another hotspot with better range? What about different antennas? SUBSCRIBED
Sooo... kind of. You can make one from an mmdvm "modem" board. That connects to a radio via cable. The radio you use doesn't even need to be digital. The easiest way to do it is to use a commercial analog 2 way radio with an accessory jack on the back that will accommodate a "data modem". Thats essentially what most digital voice is. Data over fm.
I got my DMR hotspot and I am going to try this,but with the antenna on the roof 😉😂👍
Outstanding! Thank you for sharing. W6TOL
Glad you liked it, Guy!
Was this uhf or vhf? I suspect vhf would do better at low power? I’m trying the same thing with my uhf ClearNode over FM but I’m only getting 1400’. Terrain is uneven and I don’t have line of sight. Thanks for the video!
Agree that swapping the stock hotspot antenna can help a lot.
This is a scenario where the receiver specs of your handheld can make a big difference - if I go out with a BTECH in one hand and a Motorola XPR 7550 monoband in the other, the Motorola will be able to hear the hotspot quite a bit further than the BTECH.
Direct conversion in btech vs superhet in motorola.
Very informative. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
@@K0LWC I am near you in Aurora, and want to get involved in radios. Where do I start?
Michael Wolff Have you obtained your ham radio license yet?
@@K0LWC No. Sent you an Instagram msg.
Great video! What type of antenna does the pi-star MMDVM use? I know it's supplied with a tiny rubber duck but which better fitting antenna will work with it. I don't know the sma size.
It’s a female SMA on the DVMEGA. Any Male SMA will work. It comes with a tiny rubber duck, but any SMA male will be good to go - or you can get a jumper and go from SMA to a large outdoor antenna via PL-259.
Can you add a link to the antenna that you used for the hotspot in the description?
Very interesting 🤔
@OP i don't know if you still use this setup or not but i was wondering if you know not only can use it as a dmr repeater ...but can you also use it as a wifi internet hotpot at same time or do you have to use it as a dmr repeater only?
have you tried any different antennas? anything give better performance than the stock one?
I am wondering if the Rasberry Pi DVMEGA could also double as a BBS.
Great video, good option for a hotspot.
I am wondering, how well are you able to hit DMR Repeaters without the need of a hotspot? I am in Denver as well and I know there are quite a few DMR repeaters out there.
The W0TX repeater is the best Brandmeister DMR repeater in Denver. If you’re from central Denver or northern part of the suburbs I’d check out the KB0VGD machine in Golden in North Table. Both are solid machines and offer HT coverage in Denver.
W0TX = Best HT coverage across the metro.
KB0VGD = Great from central Denver and north to Loveland.
@@K0LWC thanks for the quick reply! I frequent W0TX on 2m and 70cm so that's good to know.
I always wonder how a hotspot will work adding an external antenna in the room.
Angel Perez better but not what you’re imagining... theres just no output power to work with... you’ll stop hearing your hotspot transmissions farrr sooner than your radio will no longer be able to reach your hotspot.
I am wondering what antenna is that? I like how it looks and seems to perform well. Can you provide the name for it and where you purchased it? Thanks in advance...
Which one?
No hills between you and the hotspot, though - try having it located down a hill in a small 'valley' and then try it - that's how mine is set up (unfortunately, for me) - W1DGL, Prescott, AZ. (I'm using a SharkRF openSPOT connected to a TP-Link [for Internet connectivity to my neighbor's router])
Now is there a way to put a extender on that hotspot and run it to a antenna on a 90 foot tower?
Interesting and great video by the way.
Dont want to spend $$$ on another dmr repeater if I can avoid it
You could run it to an antenna on a tower, I know those who have done it. You’ll get a bit more range, but at what point do you start acting like a repeater given coverage where coordination is a concern. Cool to test, but I wouldn’t do it long term.
I'm new into Ham radio, studying for my test now. But I thought a hot-spot puts you on the internet. So you can reach any repeater you want.
Or are you using the hot-spot as a repeater that your contacting with your handheld n having the hot-spot shoot out he signal?
Both actually. The hotspot is connected to the Internet and repeats what you say to the Internet and repeats the Internet signal back out so your handheld can hear it. In ham radio, when you say repeater, usually that is a high antenna with high power output, maintained by a radio club, not a very small 10mw box.
I wonder what the effective range would be if you were to place this hotspot into a waterproof housing with a decent antenna mounted on a pole on the top of your house.
I’ve seen people rig up a hotspot to an external antenna at 50 feet and get 5-6-7 miles from it. Where you really need a bump is a miniature amplifier and that external antenna. Then 10-15 miles isn’t crazy.
that is most impressive.
Thanks for watching, Dave!
Great videos. New to HAM, currently studying for my technician. Is there such a thing as a DMR/analog radio? Would like to only buy one handheld. Thanks
Yes, the AnyTone AT-D878 is a great analog/DMR radio. It’s also both VHF and UHF so you can get on the 2 meter and 70cm bands. I have videos about it and its predecessor the AnyTone 868 on my channel.
Google “AnyTone 878” and you’ll find it. I recommend GigaParts as a reputable retailer for that radio- that’s where I got mine.
K0LWC Awesome!! I'll check the video out. Thanks
Also, the TYT -UV380G or UV390 both do it and are a fair bit less than the Anytone models. You can't go wrong with either.
The new Alnico is just as good a radio and quite a bit cheaper. I have both and they work great but the Alinco' is just as good and a better value.
Nice! almost double the distance of the 868.
Thanks for your help, Jimi!
That has nothing to do with the radio, it's all the hotspot. The radios are both good for a couple of miles easily. That is a strange test for that.
@@pupdaddymail I've read that the internal components are identical between the 868 and 878, only the firmware is different. I believe you're right.
I have the 878 great radio really good. I want another 1
Agreed! It’s a great radio for the price.
@@K0LWC I dont think.there is much better for the price. Unless.you want to go for a moto which I think is over priced and probably over rated the at-dm878 is a superb radio with professional quality for great value price.
Graham S Motorola is great, but not ham friendly in features and design. However, if durability is key and money is no object - Motorola!
@@skepticalexicon3534 Moto/Hytera radios are far superior in build and functionality. I own a bunch of Hytera radios and used to have a Moto 7550, great radios. I have the 878 and a few other HTs, its a good ham radio, but I'll take my commercial radio any day of the week when going out around town. If I'm going traveling, then I"ll take my 878 as you can field program it.
For the money though, if you want a good ham radio, the 878Plus is a darn good option.
Hey I have this radio how and why does yours make that sound when transmitting?
Hmm wonder how one would do with a NAGOYA 771???
I work the IO177 sat, 6,000 km away on 500mw. You ask a loaded question that has a lot of variables. Start with free space loss, then work from there.
I wish you had performed two tests, one with the rubber ducky. Great test, though.
Antenna gain makes some difference but not drastic.
Contento😁😁 por hacer contacto con Tigo en FT8 12M 30/01/2024 EA4HRV ,no me imaginaba que eres tu ,mui contento 😉😉
Is DMR the biggest digital network in Denver and in the Colorado mountains?
Yes, by far.
What distance would the 878 achieve in turbo mode just handheld to handheld? Say one car following another as an example
In a highway scenario, I’d guess about 1.5 miles - 2.5 miles on VHF (144 MHz). Obviously, terrain would play a role in where it would fall in the range I mentioned.
Do you prefer the DVmega or the zumspot?
DVMega seems more reliable. But a lot of people like the ZumSPOT. Can’t go wrong.
I guess the antenna is different. I always change antennas on from the stock to something I actually know has decent SWR.
The antenna was changed between the 868 and when the 878 debuted. The 878 antenna is actually decent in my comparisons. The 868 antenna was horrible.
Interesting test. Now what if you connect the hotspot to an external rooftop antenna? I think I will test that one. Range should be larger!
True, but you have to be aware of a large footprint in populated areas causing interference.
I've always found that the signal from the hot-spot can be heard at really good distances but it's not always the case that the hot-spot can hear you.. A bit on the deaf side..
That’s very odd. The hotspot has mWs of power where your HT will have 1-7 watts depending on the radio. Your HT should vastly out-distance your ability to hear the hotspot. What hotspot do you have?
It will be the reverse... your hotspot will stop reaching you long before it stops “hearing” a 5w HT. Something in your testing or understanding is flawed.
Hi good video.
One question. ! Does DMR digital radio work when internet shuts down on earth.
If i buy couple of DMR radio can i Encrypt those sort of speak privacy. And when internet shuts down in the world. It will still work.
Thats my bigg question for preppers.?!
Yes. Here's an example for DMR, but read all the comments for it, too: czcams.com/video/R_fYaK84VU4/video.html
Yes. DMR doesn’t rely on the Internet.
Can't use encryption on amateur frequencies with DMR legally. But yes, these radios will work in simplex, but you won't be connecting all over the world like you can now. You would be limited to either simplex or if you have a local repeater you can bounce off that. The internet is what gets you outside of your local area, if there is no internet, then your radios will just stay in RF range of the radio and or repeater.
Can you get a Linear Amp for that DMR Hotspot, if you are using 432MHZ you will need to be line of sight to get a signal.
You could, but why not just get and coordinate an actual repeater at that point?
There are very low watt repeater kits that do boost you up to say 2.5 watts.
I suggest to upgrade the hotpot to 1 to 2 watts, this will work much better
absolutely defeats the reason of a hotspot... They are supposed to be low power for a reason, they are only supposed to be used for around your general area. Hotspots are super popular, image if everyone had a 5 watt hotspot.... You would have so much interference it would be impossible to use. More range is not a good thing with hotspots.
@@kabish0603 In that case remover the antenna, Nice no range hotspot. I know non hotspots, its nog zo populair as you think.
@@VicGreenBitcoin Ya, remove an antenna off a transmitter good idea why didn't I think of that. Just about every ham I know has a hotspot of some sort that they use. In the US they are incredibly popular. Can already tell you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, remove the antenna genius idea... have a nice day.
@@kabish0603 So... What's the difference between a higher powered hotspot and running a WiresX Node via an FTM mobile radio from my home, accessing it from another mobile in a vehicle? One could theoretically be cranked up to 50W both ways w/ 6db gain antennas. As far as I know, this is perfectly within the rules (US) on VHF/UHF. I suspect the only reason it's not more popular is that the cost of entry is a bit higher than a $100 hot spot.
We managed 50 miles on analouge 446mhz 500 milliwatts. Can't wait to try the dmr shame about the audio tho much prefare analouge .
You much prefer the sound of analogue until it starts breaking down at distance. At the point where analogue breaks down digital simplex going strong... Here in the big city we get almost double the distance on digital simplex. Great for ECOM.... But yes, when analogue is clear it sounds much better....
Which frequency/band were you operating on?
UHF
@@K0LWC is it possible to have a vhf hotspot on PI?
Yes, there are VHF hotspots.
Does the hot spot work in remote places
It will work anywhere you have power and an Internet connection.
You have no high buildings across your distance tests , so that's you have long distance to RX/TX DMR signals.
I have maximum 500m to RX/TX DMR via my pi-star mmdvm hs hotspot in my location in Moscow.
De RC3C #2503041
There are some obstructions as noted in the satellite views, mostly homes up to 40 feet in height.
I’ll be doing another test that is more focused on testing distance with more obstructions.
Could you put it through an amplifier?
Yes, but if that’s what you’d like to do why not just get an actual DMR repeater?
@@K0LWC Point understood, but the experimental aspect is exciting.
@@K0LWC the point is to not have anything near the cost of a repeater and still talk around the world.
What frequency you were on?
UHF
@@K0LWC Nice. Have you tried tx signal amplifier ? With an exterior antenna?
Why so close to the window frame?
Just to give the antenna a better look outside versus in the center of the room.
Question to Jimmy: have you been drinking sir?
Wow DMR is impressive compared to analogue FM.
Om du ha en bas ant till din hotspot så kommer de bli längre avstånd
Awesome test, but you made one mistake - you summarised the hotspot at ten MEGAwatts of power, not ten milliwatts. Lower case m applies. 73!!
Are you the lad that dose the science videos
Science videos?
are you the guy who sings those songs glenn Campbell LOL :)
It kind of looks like you took the path of least resistance as your path was mostly clear and not blocked by houses. Do it again using a path where housing gets in the way.... A great test would be to put an antenna on your roof.... that I would like to see.
What is this feet' measurement ?
A foot = 12 inches. 🤗
@@K0LWC What's this 'inch' thing? I think we need to drag the U.S. kicking and screaming into the 19th century and teach y'all to use the metric system. Still, you folk do make the best guitars...
So I’m so confused How does it work with using a hand held a hotspot and lets say an iPhone for internet. Is there a video showing this anywhere
Simply set your hotspot to recognize you’re iPhone’s SSID and it will auto connect when you leave your home WiFi network.
K0LWC I guess I wasn’t clear on my question. Not connecting to an iPhone but what modes do you run with the radio while connected that way.
Kevin OKeefe You can run any kind of mode, you set it to bridge to another codec on the hotspot firmware. I was using DMR, but you can use NXDN, P25, YSF, etc.
well thank u ,,, there clearly a waste of money unless u can match handset wattage
Did you just DOX yourself?
I mean I do appreciate the test and the video was interesting but are you sure you want everyone to know your address?
I guess depending on how you have it set up your address is linked to your callsign anyways but still ...
Anyone can look up my license. 🤔 Meh.
If you have a ham license everyone already knows who and where you are. Not a license for cowards. ;)
Well, depends on how you set it up, doesn't it? You can use a PO Box and here in the UK at least you can choose for your address not to be published
dgnikon That is an option here, too. Many don’t even bother with it.
Pfff really... you'd improve the distance quiet a lot by adding a counterpoise below your antenna.
Basic stuff you're supposed to know being a ham.
😂
hot spot jumbo pi star mindv all killed dmr in uk it has died
How so?
i started on dmr many years ago just a radio and a repeater network that was dmr and should have stayed like that in the uk dmr has gone load of us useing network radio now in england g7gru
this digital voice sounds awful