>   Re: DMR   
    >   By: Bob Seaborn to David Westphalen on Sun Nov 19 2017 01:58 pm   
    >   
    >>>>   
    >>>>                        .....Bob, VE5XEF   
    >>>   
    >>> ok this may be a very dumb question but here goes... What exactly   
    >>> hotsopt for? Advantages? Used for? etc.   
    >>   
    >>   
    >> Simply put, it's a personal, usually run in simplex mode, repeater.   
    >> you to operate in digital mode, d-star, fusion, dmr, etc, when there   
    >> local repeaters available, or when you don't want to link the local   
    >> elsewhere and inconvenience other local hams.   
    >>   
    >> For example, in Saskatoon, we have one D-STAR repeater, fully linked   
    >> outside world, one fusion repeater, which is only occasionally linke   
    >> DMR repeater.  In fact the nearest, and only DMR repeater in Saskatc   
    >> couple of hundred miles away, well out of range.  Yet, with a hotspo   
    >> full access to all three modes of digital service, which I fully mak   
    >> fwiw, I have two hotspots, both use a stubby UHF antenna, approx 6"   
    >> and have a TX power of approx 10mw, so they're easily used indoors,   
    >> range of a few blocks.   
    >>   
    >> For D-STAR, try googling for dstar commander (one example), or DV4MI   
    >> covers all three modes I've referred to, plus others.   
    >>   
    >> Most cost $100-$150 plus a Raspberry Pi, some others can cost double   
    >> more, and don't require a Pi.  The DV4Mini, for exmple costs around   
    >> plugs into a USB port on a Windows computer, or a Pi.   
    >>   
    >> Hope this helps   
    >>   
    >>   
    >>   
    >>   
    >>   
    >>                        .....Bob   
    >>   
    >>   
    > well i guess ill look into getting one. price is a bit high though.   
      
   If it's any help to you, or anyone else, I have a DV4Mini hotspot listed for   
   sale on eBay, with bids starting at a mere $80.00.  That's BOUT $50 BELOW NEW   
   COST.   
      
      
      
      
      
                          .....Bob   
      
      
   --- GEcho/32 & IM 2.50   
    * Origin: DE VE5XEF (1:140/12)