DMR, D-Star, Fusion, NXDN - No RF!

Unless you count Wifi... but even that is optional! Today I run through a quick setup and QSO using the ZUM AMBE Server device. This is a great little toy for getting your radio on while you're away from your shack. Super compact, easy to setup... no Radio, Charger, Antenna, Hotspot, etc needed. Just this device and your computer and you're on the "air"!
More Info: zumradio.com/p...
AMBEConfig Site: zumradio.com/a...
BlueDV Info Site: www.pa7lim.nl/b...
BlueDV Download: software.pa7li...
Click the 👍 Like Button, 🤡 Leave a Comment, ❤️ Subscribe
👉 Support The Channel 👈
❤️ Patreon: / temporarilyoffline
📺 KZbin Memberships: www.youtube.co...
💸 Tip Jar: paypal.me/temp...
🧰 Gear I Use: kit.co/Tempora...
🛒 Amazon Link: www.amazon.com...
📻 $15 off at Radioddity: radioddity.refr...
⚡ Meter I use in my videos: kaiweets.com/?...
👉 Fun Stuff 👈
👉 TOADs Discord: / discord
🕊️ Twitter: / kilomike9golf
😸 Github: github.com/Tem...
Where possible, all links are affiliate links, this youtube thing is an expensive endeavor and every little bit helps.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Very neat gadget. I WILL NOT BUY ONE, I WILL NOT BUY ONE, I WILL NOT BUY ONE. Ok, that's better. That completely obviates the need for pi's and pi-star etc. I'd say this is a better option, actually.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Agreed, it's a great option!

[@chrissewell1608]

For radio-less travel, Yes! But it just doesn't feel like Ham RADIO to me!

[@KG6NLWMotoRadio]

You’re going to buy one!😂

[@HowToHam_Tom]

Got the tracking number email yet Jim ? 🤑

[@momullinax612]

No RF. Not radio. Just another way to SMS...

[@temporarilyoffline]

I think it beats having one Hotspot and HT for each mode, but I'm also space limited. Other than that, no RF

[@johnq.public2621]

😃👍👏👏👏👏 Much helpful information! Many Thanks! Please keep up the excellent work!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Ubet!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Is the audio ever better lol, thanks TO

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yeah, I wasn't expecting a QSO, so I wasn't prepared to record it.

[@pcfreak1992]

I’m not the first or only one with this opinion but IMO this device doesn’t really give me ham radio vibes. It’s like talking on Teamspeak but using your callsign. With a standard hotspot like a pi-star, I am at least talking into a real radio and I can pretend that the RF is going to an RF repeater. On top of that, I’m also not sitting in front of a computer. 😅 I see this being useful if you are on the go and can’t take your hotspot and HT with you and still want to talk your ham radio friends on your favorite reflector, but I wonder, aren’t there smartphone apps for that too? Technically you don’t need any extra hardware to use the internet.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Droidstar. I like this device for traveling for sure. 3 or 4 less things I need to pack.

[@MikeBenedict1]

My thoughts exactly. There's a hundred+ other methods of talking over the Internet so I feel like I'm missing the point.

[@Hank_W6IR]

This can get you on digital modes for a lot less money than having to buy a suitable HT and building or buying a hotspot.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yes - and not multiple HTs too! I've got one for each mode and it's a pain.

[@ScannerJunkie]

Thank you for this. I was not able to get it working until I figured out that I needed my IP address in the software. now I am connected. Neat device.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Glad it helped!

[@b4ux1t3-tech]

Ham radio without the radio! So. . .so you made discord? Just kidding, really great option for folks who might want to giev digital modes a try before investing in a radio. It's still not "free", but it's certainly cheaper than a Pi (35-75 bucks) + MMDVM (~50 bucks) + Digital HT (usually 200+ bucks).

[@temporarilyoffline]

Exactly... great for travel too!

[@Hungry_Hunter]

Its all network comms so how is this Amateur radio? Its in the title "No RF" On air is really just on the internet so what is the point and why would you need to have an amateur radio call sign to use it since there is no rf element?

[@temporarilyoffline]

There isn't RF on your end, but there may be RF on the other end. This would be great for travel, USB cable and little box only - i wouldn't need the PiStar, Radio, Charging Dock, etc. See to other long comment thread for the discussion.

[@chublez]

It's handy if yer into talking on these modes and traveling and want to pack less and keep in touch with a regular group talk or simply while yer in yer office to not faf about with charging radios and emitting RF locally just to hit the hotspot on your desk if your trying to talk to a friend on DMR or whatever 3 states over regardless of if he's also just at his desk or mobile. While I'm not sure the argument would ever be made and many if not most HAMs certainly don't follow the rule but technically speaking "An amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications." I'd say if your goal is to get into a reflector using your local internet connection 0w is less than the lowest setting on any of my HTs. Also I have a really nice mic on my PC and while I have some decent Radios I'm willing to bet this audio-technica piped straight into the reflector sounds better than any of em if I'm siting here anyway.

[@GraymanPOTA]

I have the ThumbDV USB stick, but it is a pain in the a$$ on a computer that has active USB devices. I am going to look for a way to use the ThumbDV on a dedicated Pi as a stand alone server or just buy one of these.

[@temporarilyoffline]

That would be useful!

[@victorcharlie7491]

How Convenient, i knew this Would be coming eventually And so much more in the Works, What took em so long, tnx Man!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Exactly! Check out droidstar for your android and see if it got updated to support this yet - mobile, multi-mode!

[@richardsaunders3082]

The description seems to be missing ?? None of the links you mention are available. Otherwise a great compact video.

[@temporarilyoffline]

KZbin just made a breaking change to links that screwed everything up. Thanks, I'll take a look.

[@DD0ULQTC]

finally ;-)

[@temporarilyoffline]

Right!

[@leroymay8156]

what is the device actually doing? Is a software programm not able to replace this extra peice of hardware?

[@temporarilyoffline]

The device has a patented/protected/licensed/closed source chip inside that all the radios use. If it weren't for that chip, you wouldn't need anything at all - just speaker, mic, connecticity.

[@JennyEverywhere]

It's a cute device. I may but one, if only to simplify my own setup. I have a ThumbDV on a dedicated Raspberry Pi 3+. It runs AMBEServer when I want to connect. The Pi is weird into my LAN, so i can reach out whenever I want, from any room connected to our network. I have it poking through the firewall (on custom ports) through an obfuscated dynamic DNS. That means i can use BlueDV AMBE on my phone to access it from anywhere i can reach the Internet. Since the idea is to connect to transmitting endpoints _somewhere,_ an amateur licens is required. Many rooms, reflectors, or talkgroups have multiple RF connecting points, like the America-Link Fusion channel that connects to an RF link system. Some such systems, like the international wide area link systems on 01C on D-Star have repeaters on RF all over the world, so a license is required. It's not like talking on Zello. It's more like Echolink. Or using the Internet to operate a rig or in the countryside while you're sitting in your city apartment that doesn't allow antennas. You still get transmitted, just not at your location.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I have a zumspot usb that I think will work good.

[@JennyEverywhere]

@@victorcharlie7491 curse you, autocorrect! That was supposed to be BUY one, of course.

[@HamRadioCrusader]

Great video Steve! I have been looking at this setup for a while and needed this kind of context. 73

[@temporarilyoffline]

Soon: android (droidstar)

[@AD6DMDennis]

I used to give people flack about computer-based comms, but Echolink recently came through in a pinch when I was out of range. There are some great use cases for radio-less ham radio 😄

[@temporarilyoffline]

A mode for every mode. At the end of the day its all "tech" and we are nerds!

[@MarkoManiac]

Personally if yer using these modes that tunnel over ip anyway I just don't see the difference. Might as well not blast rf out especially if yet using a Hotspot anyway.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I agree - the only reason to use RF for these modes is if you have a radio setup for local repeaters, simplex and hotspots already. I don't know how crazy that would get with a hotpost linked (IP room) and a repeater linked (IP room) @@MarkoManiac

[@hwntwww]

flak

[@batica81]

So is the actual point of this "dongle" that it has legal implementation of voice encoder algorithm inside the Ambe chip? Otherwise that BlueDV app could work without it as well. (as Droidstar kinda does) What I would like to see is a device like this that can route to an back from an analogue HT, similar to an Allstar node. 73 yu4hak

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yep, this has the ambe chip in it. This or the NWDR device is how we created our shared rooms on TOADs for DRM, D-STAR, Fusion.

[@temporarilyoffline]

KZbin just made a breaking change to links, I'll take a look. Thanks.

[@jamescady723]

Intriguing!

[@temporarilyoffline]

In the near future, it will even be possible to do this with droidstar - so no PC either!

[@ko4mkp]

Dumb question. Is internet access needed in the mobile for this to work ? I watched the video and no mention of the requirements for connectivity.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yep, you need internet

[@ko4mkp]

Thanks Steve, It was good seeing you at the park pavilion. I kinda figured it needed internet but I just had to ask the ? LOL

[@chrissewell1608]

The audio sounds like it was muffled, is that typical?

[@temporarilyoffline]

I wasn't expecting a QSO, so that's coming from the back side of my mic. Sounds fine/normal in person and you control it with your PC volume controls.

[@W9HJBill]

I hate to be "that guy" (ok, I really don't), but aside from BM, TGIF, and others saying you have to, why do you need an FCC license? You aren't transmitting on a regulated frequency; you are talking on the internet. That's like Discord, Mumble, etc. I mean I get it, on the other end, someone is transmitting from the internet back to regulated frequencies, but is that really your problem? What if you are talking to someone on a cell phone and the person on the other end keys up on radio while you are talking on the cell phone, is it you or the person keying up on the radio who needs the license? Having said that, I wonder if you can use this on other systems that are "end to end" computers.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I agree, it's all regulation based, so we have to play by the rules. I have made a contact from a UHF US allstar node to a VK allstar repeater connected on 10m to a driver using a mobile 10m rig. Was "interesting".

[@crewsgiles9499]

Practical answer: First, your callsign is a necessary part of the packet, and you are being heard by others on RF-- because you are going out on RF via Wires-X repeaters. I don't think WIRES-X will pass a packet without it. Second, if using a radio without a callsign, you will be ignored-- mostly. I'll challenge a call not providing callsign assuming it may be it is a new ham needing a little guidance. If no callsign is forthcoming, further transmission will be ignored. Beginning and ending transmissions with a callsign is deeply ingrained in the ham culture.

[@JennyEverywhere]

It's not like Discord, Teamspeak, Zello, inasmuch as there could be a repeater at the other end. Your voice is going over the Internet, true, but it's more accurate to compare it to Echolink or AllStar -- you aren't using RF, but at some point you are or could be, being transmitted on RF somewhere. While it's true there could be a room or reflector that doesn't get transmitted, even Teamspeak can be used to interconnect users to live amateur repeaters. Case in point is the IRN system. They have segregated channels for non-hams, and there is an option to not have a ham call sign, but if you don't, you can't connect to transceiver or repeater-backed channels on their system, only the few non-ham channels. If at any point on that network you _could_ be transmitted on the air, you need the license to cover that transmission.

[@crewsgiles9499]

My second answer regards your hypothetical concerning a ham keying up and transmitting your voice coming from his telephone-- both under his control. That ham is responsible, because that ham has control of the station transmitting on RF. He uses his callsign when he keys the mic, so what is transmitted is the responsibility of that ham.

[@W9HJBill]

@@crewsgiles9499 I get that, but as I said, the person doing the retransmitting should be the one who needs the license, not the person speaking. Hence my example of two people talking on a cell phone and one person transmitting that conversation on the radio.

[@arkyump]

I believe that blue DV is available for all platforms including IOS and androids.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Nice!

[@ThinKkBIGG]

I confirm, BlueDV is also available on IOS and Android but also Linux.

[@TK-123]

Thanks Steve! You should be a professor/teacher. Easy to follow….

[@temporarilyoffline]

Wow, thanks! Happy to help!

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

That's an interesting gizmo.

[@temporarilyoffline]

I think so

[@Dusty_Ham]

This looks great, thank you for the more concise version!

[@temporarilyoffline]

Glad you like it!

[@pen25]

i can do the same with droidstar or dudestar on windows. costs nothing. btw no m17?

[@temporarilyoffline]

How does it handle the ambe codec to get on DMR, etc?

[@pen25]

@@temporarilyoffline there was a codec attached with the software. Believe they were using the bluedv. Sorta how the mmdvm to serial or the pistar works.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Ok, thanks! @@pen25

[@BentConrod]

Shipping to VK?

[@temporarilyoffline]

You bet! mlands.com

[@W8VHS]

Great Video, Thank you Sir !!!

[@temporarilyoffline]

You are welcome!

[@scottw9ava767]

is there a Mac version?

[@temporarilyoffline]

I'm not sure. Does this app run on Mac?

[@ThinKkBIGG]

BlueDV is also available on IOS and Android but also Linux and Windows.

[@HowToHam_Tom]

Well, no iOS version of BlueDV any longer. Bummer, I was 🤌 close…

[@temporarilyoffline]

That stinks!

[@Pops_607]

Is there such a thing as free zip? I’m so tired of paying for it

[@temporarilyoffline]

Windows has a built in zip program, but its "not great". That one is "free" with your purchase of windows.

[@ThinKkBIGG]

Looks like the DVMEGA Globetrotter.

[@temporarilyoffline]

Sure does!

[@hwntwww]

are you making freemason signals at the beginning

[@temporarilyoffline]

Probably not. 🤣

[@borneofile260]

Thank you

[@temporarilyoffline]

You bet!

[@alanreader4815]

Can you ship to the U.K?

[@cesar9247]

En UK las vende ML&S

[@temporarilyoffline]

Yes, check mlands.com

[@FEPLabsRadio]

ML&S stocks this device in the UK.

[@alanreader4815]

@@FEPLabsRadio Brilliant see you on the air.

[@chrissewell1608]

WTF!? Sure! Whats your address? Ha ha.... just kidding!