>>   
    >>                        .....Bob, VE5XEF   
    >   
    > ok this may be a very dumb question but here goes... What exactly is a   
    > hotsopt for? Advantages? Used for? etc.   
      
      
   Simply put, it's a personal, usually run in simplex mode, repeater.  It allows   
   you to operate in digital mode, d-star, fusion, dmr, etc, when there is no   
   local repeaters available, or when you don't want to link the local repeater   
   elsewhere and inconvenience other local hams.   
      
   For example, in Saskatoon, we have one D-STAR repeater, fully linked to the   
   outside world, one fusion repeater, which is only occasionally linked, and no   
   DMR repeater.  In fact the nearest, and only DMR repeater in Saskatchewan, is   
   a couple of hundred miles away, well out of range.  Yet, with a hotspot, I   
   have full access to all three modes of digital service, which I fully make use   
   of. fwiw, I have two hotspots, both use a stubby UHF antenna, approx 6" in   
   length, and have a TX power of approx 10mw, so they're easily used indoors,   
   yet have a range of a few blocks.   
      
   For D-STAR, try googling for dstar commander (one example), or DV4MINI, which   
   covers all three modes I've referred to, plus others.   
      
   Most cost $100-$150 plus a Raspberry Pi, some others can cost double that or   
   more, and don't require a Pi.  The DV4Mini, for exmple costs around $130, and   
   plugs into a USB port on a Windows computer, or a Pi.   
      
   Hope this helps   
      
      
      
      
      
                          .....Bob   
      
      
   --- GEcho/32 & IM 2.50   
    * Origin: DE VE5XEF (1:140/12)