Last Updated: January 21, 2020 (Refresh Now)
MMDVM Hotspot Spot Radio Station Wifi Digital Voice Modem P25 DMR YSF DSTAR P25 OLED Antenna
Last Updated: January 21, 2020 (Refresh Now)
7.5
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
111
Old Reviews
0
Unverified
3
Spam Test
PASS
Yes
FM RADIO
Yes
WIFI
Yes
USB
Review Analysis - 108 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Setup
32instructions, easy, pi star, works great, hotspot
+94%
-6%
" ... This Pi-Star hotspot was easy to set up, but there are quite a few steps. ... "
" ... Easy to set-up if you follow the instructions. ... "
" ... I'm using Brandmeister, so it was fairly straight forward to set up since many of the talk groups on my local repeaters use the same numbers (statewide, for example). ... "
" ... This makes for a big modem setup, mounted on a piece of wood to prevent a rat's nest of cabling all over. ... The hardest part was getting my unit configured and working. ... "
" ... The hardest part was the waiting for it to connect. ... Now it works great, easy to set up after you find good instructions. ... "
" ... I have setup several SharkRF Openspots and they are a breeze. ... "
" ... I had it setup in about 30 mins. ... "
" ... A little hard to get setup but after that it works great. ... "
Ease of Use
24setup, set, easy to set, works great, instructions
+92%
-8%
" ... Easy to configure and works great even using cell phone as inet hotspot. ... "
" ... If you haven’t set one of these up, the learning curve is steep but it’s pretty straightforward. ... "
" ... Simple setup and impressive RF range. ... "
" ... easy to program ... "
" ... Now it works great, easy to set up after you find good instructions. ... "
" ... The setup procedures are VERY smiliar. ... "
" ... It was easy to set up, and it is still working very well for me. ... "
" ... Easy setup and a lot cheaper than the shark. ... "
Product Reliability
22working, unit, days, box, error
+36%
-64%
" ... (Didn't need it and just re-flashed myself so card was not defective). ... "
" ... The 2nd one did not work after two day. ... Why should I fix a defective unit? ... "
" ... I did this several times and it threw errors at different times. ... I now question if it would have worked, how long would it last? ... Spent about four hours trying to get it to work. ... "
" ... Tried reloading the card, took a card from a friends working unit, still doesn't work. ... When it worked it was great but no more. ... "
" ... couldn't even access the pistar page after it started crashing. ... "
" ... edit May 31 now 4 months later and the MMDVM displays "-CLOSE-" some days and needs rebooting before I can use it again. ... "
" ... This seems to be a trial and error process. ... "
" ... Only happens every few days as I leave it plugged up all the time. ... "
Device Compatibility
19connect, internet, raspberry pi, mobile, pi star
+89%
-11%
" ... Would recommend to other hams looking for a hotspot. ... "
" ... I got the hotspot for running DMR, was nice that it came assembled and configured with the Raspberry Pi. ... "
" ... To someone who has no prior knowledge might be startled when this thing boots up and starts connecting to fusion and DSTAR. ... "
" ... A friend helped me hook it to the computer and access it. ... "
" ... Once I figured out that I was an idiot and didn’t have my phone setup correctly I loved it. ... Easy to setup and get running (once you turn your cellular hotspot on) ... "
" ... I recommend this hotspot. ... "
" ... I can use it as a mini repeater at the house or as a mobile hotspot paired with my cell phone. ... "
" ... It definitely helps to have Raspberry Pi experience when setting this up. ... "
Software Platform
13raspberry pi, configuration, browser, working, hotspot
+54%
-46%
" ... and makes me want to do even more varied projects on more capable Raspberry Pi's. ... "
" ... The Pi-Star (web browser) Dashboard is very handy, allowing me to see the call and talkgroup number of the stations that come across the hotspot. ... "
" ... If you do need to re-flash, I learned that dragging an edited wpa_supplicant.conf into the root of the /boot partition when the card is mounted in a Linux machine will result in it automatically being copied into the /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf location with the correct permissions when this device boots up - this can save you some time. ... "
" ... Pi-Star will automatically create it's own Access Point to connect to from your PC or laptop, then access the Pi-Star dashboard from your web browser. ... "
" ... I got the hotspot for running DMR, was nice that it came assembled and configured with the Raspberry Pi. ... "
" ... I changed the callsign to my own and did a few minor tweaks to the web-based configuration and we were up and running in less than 10 minutes. ... Pi-Star software comes preloaded making it all the easier to use and tweak to your own specific needs and uses. ... Great device and Pi-Star free software makes it easy to update it. ... "
Network
13wifi, network, uhf, throughout, power
+54%
-46%
" ... The MMDVM has the wifi built in and is TINY !!! ... "
" ... I have it set on low power and it covers a 4,200 sf home inside and outside throughout my yard while using my HT BTECH 6x2. ... "
" ... WIFI connects to my home, cell phone, RV hotspots. ... "
" ... screw on the antenna and connected to the wifi ap for setup. ... "
" ... I personnally have a BTECH DMR 6x2 which works great on low power with the Hotspot throughout my house. ... "
" ... I live in an apartment where I can't have an antenna, so this little device helps me make worldwide contacts from home. ... "
" ... It also comes pre-configured for a wi-fi network. ... "
Wifi
11wi fi, pi star, connect, configured, configure
+82%
-18%
" ... Once configured, I programmed it for my wifi, and rebooted the hotspot. ... "
" ... All I had to do is configure the WiFi and a few more settings, ID, callsign, etc . ... "
" ... You just need to connect it to Wi-Fi and configure your personal info for the digital mode(s) that you are using. ... "
" ... I found it easiest to take out the memory card and setup wifi from web on computer . ... "
" ... The MMDVM has the wifi built in and is TINY !!! ... "
" ... One is that when you go from the Pi-Star wifi used in setup to your phone or house wifi, you need to pull the power plug on the unit and reapply power before it will connect to the newly configured wifi. ... Once the configuration is done, these do work just fine with the convenience of having built-in wifi. ... "
" ... WIFI connects to my home, cell phone, RV hotspots. ... "
" ... It also comes pre-configured for a wi-fi network. ... Just set up a wi-fi network (temporarily) with your own router/access point so it can connect then you can access the device through your web browser using Pi-Star. ... 2018-05-29 This device continues to work very well on an extended trip via wi-fi provided via a variety of methods including iPhone, hotel connections, etc. ... "
Storage
9card, unit, pi, luck, installed
+22%
-78%
" ... When writing to the seller, I was told to re-do the SD Card. ... "
" ... I tried flashing the SD card with no luck. ... I flashed a brand new SanDisk SD card, no luck. ... I removed the SD card from a working hotspot and installed it in this unit, no luck. ... "
" ... The SD card was defective ... "
" ... The micro sd card in the unit came already with a fairly recent version of pi-star installed. ... And if you need to put an empty ssh file in the root of the micro SD card then to set it up with a static ip you need to run rpi-rw at the command line then modify the dhcpcd.conf file. ... "
" ... Had to reflash the SD card. ... "
" ... Has no SD Slot. ... "
Price
9money, worth, well, cost, back
+78%
-22%
" ... Nice unit for the price. ... "
" ... The purchase price for the newer openSPOT 2's (1's are no longer in production and only available on the used market) is 199 Euro's. ... The MMDVM's low cost makes this type of "playing around" very cost effective . ... "
" ... I have talked to many folks that spent more than twice as much money on some of the other brands, but this one is awesome for the price. ... "
" ... Outperforms OS2 at less than half the price. ... "
" ... Great buy for the money. ... Well worth the money. ... "
FM
8dmr, ham, set, repeaters, hotspot
+100%
" ... This has been a helpful reference even as someone with a bit of Linux and digital radio experience. ... "
" ... Used to connect my Ham radio to the internet. ... "
" ... I programmed my radio for new TGs not on the local repeaters, set up my zone, and it worked perfectly. ... "
" ... I use this hotspot in conjunction with my MD380 DMR radio. ... "
" ... Love it I am able to enjoy my DMR radio. ... "
" ... Took about 30 minutes to get this set up and another 2 hours to get the DMR radio set up. ... "
" ... Helps make DMR an great addition to ham radio. ... "
" ... Just bring your compatible digital ham radio along . ... "
Capacity
5room, power, low, home, dmr
+100%
" ... In many ways, I like it much better than the openSPOT 1's, and there are some operation differences in "channel", "reflector", and "server/room" changes from the radio between the openSPOT and MMDVM. ... "
" ... This product brings the world of DMR to your living room. ... "
" ... I have it set on low power and it covers a 4,200 sf home inside and outside throughout my yard while using my HT BTECH 6x2. ... "
" ... I personnally have a BTECH DMR 6x2 which works great on low power with the Hotspot throughout my house. ... "
" ... I live in an apartment where I can't have an antenna, so this little device helps me make worldwide contacts from home. ... "
Video Playback
5youtube, help, good, setup
+100%
" ... Use youtube videos for setup. ... "
" ... Watch some YouTube videos and it's not hard. ... "
" ... You-Tube videos available for extra help getting it set up. ... "
" ... Several good how to configure for DMR videos on YouTube. ... "
" ... I did my research and watched you tune there are good videos that help. ... "
Marketplace
5amazon, august, good
+80%
-20%
" ... I needed one quickly, and Amazon got it to me the next day. ... I'm 100% happy with the purchase and the seller. ... "
" ... But great jester on part of seller. ... "
" ... Thanks for the help from the distributor. ... "
Ports
5power supply, antenna, plugged, micro usb, hdmi
+60%
-40%
" ... Simply screw on the antenna, grab a micro USB cord you have laying around at home, and plug it into a power supply. ... "
" ... All you need is a USB power supply and a Wi-Fi network with internet access. ... "
" ... Attached antenna, plugged in a 5 volt, 2 amp power supply (same usual PS used for a Raspberry Pi), followed the WiFi setup instructions for the Pi-Star software with comes pre-installed on the included microSD card. ... "
For Running
4minutes, time, 5
+100%
" ... No problems getting it up and running in short period of time. ... "
" ... Had it up and running in 30 minutes. ... "
" ... and I was up and running. ... "
" ... Had it running in 10 min. ... "
ISP
4modem, first
+100%
" ... no issues setting up ... "
" ... This was my first DMR hotspot. ... "
" ... Update: It's been over a week now and the modem works great. ... "
" ... It is the first time I worked with a hotspot. ... "
Size
4difficult
+75%
-25%
" ... This device and my 2m 70cm portable allows me to communicate around the world! ... "
" ... much easier and less gear to transport. ... "
Returns
3money
-100%
" ... I sent it back, thinking I just happened to get a bad one. ... "
" ... I want my money back. ... "
" ... returned for refund. ... "
Display Clarity
3line, display, unit, screen, panel
+67%
-33%
" ... I can also see the call, name, and TG number on the unit's display. ... "
Build Quality
3build, cover, better
+100%
" ... Excellent build quality ... "
" ... and I’m not saying the DXMini and Rugged Spot aren’t fantastic unite . ... "
" ... Yes, you could maybe build one yourself for a few dollars less - if you don't break anything- but unless you enjoy that kind of thing it is probably not worth the trouble or the shipping time for the multiple parts. ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
FM Radio: Yes
WiFi: Yes
USB: Yes