Network radios again...

YouTuber "Ringway Manchester", better known as Lewis M3HHY, published a video of him operating a network radio, the Senhaix N60, which was running Zello, one of the radio apps of choice (of which I have and run 2 accounts for, one for licence-free and one for Amateur). though it could be done on a phone anyway it does not feel like radio, hence why I rigged up a CB mic to my shack computer for systems like Echolink, perhaps I have missed a few points with these devices as they seem to be quite popular now.

Most people will say that these things aren't radio, that is not strictly accurate as there are at least 2 transceivers fitted to them, one for WiFi and one for the mobile phone networks, there's radio involved in most of the path as most Zello users tend to use a mobile device and Echolink can come out on any repeater or node in the world, even some Zello channels are connected to a radio in some way shape or form.

I am warming up to the idea of these and am looking at the Senhaix N60 as a possible radio, also the business potential of these units is quite useful as they run Android and can be customised, this applies to all Network radios.

Perhaps I was quick to jump to conclusions on these radios and since they all come from China I imagine that they are cheap to get hold of.

Naturally people will still be saying that it isn't radio, to be honest connecting to Zello or Echolink with one of these via your router or the mobile phone networks is probably similar in vain to DMR through a repeater, just in different bands, or even like connecting to a hotspot for digital modes outside coverage areas, and I already run a Jumbospot to get onto DMR and Fusion.

So what to do next? get a network radio of course and report back.

73 de 2E0EIJ

Still not totally convinced by network radios

I have been having a look at network radios again, essentially these things are Android phones built to look like a mobile radio or HT, I still think they're a bit of a gimmick but as I alluded to previously they may have a purpose.

Naturally to actually convince me if these radios are any good I'd want to do my own review and run one to see how it fairs, I've watched some further videos on the subject on YouTube channel "Ringway Manchester" but to be honest a test of one of these radios (they're starting to pop up on a couple of well known radio suppliers in the UK now) is in order. all of which I intend to put on YouTube myself with my own opinion, I already have an account on Zello (well I have two) and the IRN, and can run Echolink as well on one of these.

Of course to do the review I have to buy one, as the old saying goes you have to spend money to make money, or in this case spend money to make a review (my YouTube channel isn't monetised and I make no money from my videos), and normally I don't leave my YouTube videos open to comments due to a history of abuse of this on my videos but I could well make an exception on this one as thoughts are welcome as I know there is some people for and some people against, whereas I am in between and undecided as far as these are concerned.

As soon as I can get hold of one I'll start my videos on the subject.

73 de 2E0EIJ

Network radio... a glorified Android phone made to look like a transceiver, gimmick or not?

Today I became aware of a device called the Inrico TM-7, a so-called network radio being sold by Martin Lynch & Sons, which in essence is a dual-SIM Android phone that can be made to work with both TeamSpeak and Zello, and also Echolink if you are duly-licensed of course, but I have one question, why?

First off I can see a somewhat practical use for this in an environment for the Amateur where antennas are impossible to erect, though this thing is touted as a mobile rig and does plug into a car cigar socket, but most hams who want Echolink usually use a computer or phone so all this is doing is adding a hand mic to the mobile Echolink app (which probably can be done anyway without having to buy this).

I became aware of this radio via Twitter on a post from Martin Lynch & Sons, not the usual sources of new radio news, though this thing has been sold by the Chinese for some time (being dual-SIM is a giveaway of its Chinese origins as many mobile devices sold there are configured this way).

I think this "radio" is a bit of a gimmick and I think I should give it a review to see if my mind is changed, of course I would have to buy it if I am to do so.

From what I understand, this device works on WiFi as well as the mobile networks so should require little to get it working at home, it also has GPS so you could, in theory, add APRS functionality to it as well using the well-known and popular APRSDroid app (remember this "radio" is an Android device).

Upon doing further digging it does not appear that the TM-7 is the first of its kind either, there are others as well, the point in these I still feel is a bit of a gimmick but testing these out is probably worth it.

73 de 2E0EIJ