My FIL received two of these about two weeks ago, can't wait to give it a try. Thanks for the video Bob.

Another great video. Thank you Bob!! I am enjoying my OpenSpot3

Love mine, keep up the great videos. Looking forward to QSO's on the road

Loved this video. A new ham and still deciding on what direction to take it. This helped tremendously knowing that I can talk across the different digital platforms! Awesome and thanks! Steve KO4FZY

Thanks for your time Helping me

Great video Bob! and I agree well worth the $300 73 de N1AD, I received one as a belated Christmas present from the XYL

Awesome video. Great information! So I really wanted a Yaesu FT3 as my first ht but DStar is more popular in my area. There are a few fusion releaters as well in my neighborhood, not to mention DMR is picking up too. I didn't know such a capable device existed.. Thank you!...

Bob, Excellent video as usual. Waiting on my OS3 to arrive. 73!

I love mine. The battery option was my decision in buying it as I take it on my work commute but the cross mode is a bonus. I bought my OP3 2 3 week after I got the OP2 and soon after playing with the OP3, I sold the OP2.

Late to the party but ordered my device. Wish I had this 10 years ago. Great video Thank you 73’s W1FYG

Nice job! Plan to use in my motorhome too!

Bought mine right after seeing Bob's review, BEST Openspot yet!!

Great video Bob! Nice to see that cross mode feature. FT-3 is my next radio so it’ll be nice to not buy another one for DMR, since we now have that back up here on the local repeater.

Great video for beginners to hot spot confusion!

Very cool, as you said you can use the radio you want, and cross band 👍👍👍

If you carry three radios you look like a radio dork. Love it!

Just an FYI, SharkRF is the best hotspot I have ever used, the 2 was amazing, the 3 is just phenominal. I will never consider switching to another device as long as SharkRF is in business. Not one single issue, almost instant startup and connectivity, automatic updates, never locked up, don't need to reconnect it to my iphone when I leave the truck. Just impressive... 73 Bob

Built-in cross mode changes everything! Thanks for the review @K6UDA. And yeah, who wants to be a radio dork.

Great video explains lots. I am just having a heck of a time trying to decide what digital format radio (HT) to but? Fusion, DMR or DSTAR?

Nice review. Just got a FTM-400DR in my TACOMA.

I've called CQ from my 2M/440 FM rig for the last 5 years and never got a call back except from our of our guests at our central FL campground that I arranged in advance. Even with a 1/2~ antenna I cannot hit a local repeater from my golf cart due to a 300' hill 6 miles to the SW of me. I think it is time for Dstar with a SharkRF Openspot 3, our campground WIFI admin account, and a suitable Icom or Kenwood ht. Thanks Bob for helping this old elmer come out of the stone age, but if I am going to spend 8 hours a day on my golf cart repairing the campground infrastructure, I need more than a Chinese radio programmed to GMRS channel 4 to chat with my maintenance guys or the office ..... Zzzzzz. 73, Dave - KU9L

I will have to consider this. I have the 2 and like it for Fusion but can't get it to work on DMR for some odd reason. Good News! I passed my Amateur Extra Exam today.

Great upload, thank you. I am considering the purchase of one of these for my 9700; looks like just the ticket! 73s, John M7JHA

Appreciate your insight on the Openspot 3. Cannot find it for sale anywhere in the US. Your thoughts on why this is the case.

Good video. Unfortunately I bought one of the first ones and it was a lemon and had to get a refund! I will wait for the unit to become a bit more mature and try again.

Loved the “don’t be a radio dork” comment... 😆🤣😂

Very good video I may go out and get one 73 VE6 DCV

Glad yours worked! mine died after 4 uses. All you get through product support is next to nothing, they won't admit that their product failed. I got told that my WIFI magically turned on "client isolation". I then took the open spot to 6 friends houses and got same lights that again support told me that was because of client isolation, even though while at 1 friends house I helped him put up 6 wireless cameras that were on this router that my open spot wouldn't talk to. Huh? Lastly I dug out my 4G cellular hot spot that the open spot was last mated to last June but surprise! Same lights telling me, according to support that I had client isolation enabled on my hot spot. I called the cellular company and surprise you can't turn it on in their hot spot!! SAVE YOUR MONEY, IF IT FAILS BE READY FOR HOURS AND I MEAN HOURS OF FRUSTRATION BEFORE YOU FINALLY THROW IN THE TOWELL.

I haven't been able to find the open spot 3 any place and they are on back order at SharkRF. Keep looking. Good Video Bob. I have been around for a good while but not active and all these new modes has my brain spinning. I did buy the TH-D74A waiting for them to get software working on MacOS. Just registered for D-Star but trying to figure our the rest. Oh, I do have my call in the phone. lol. 73

One thing I wish it had was a way to setup for home on power supply. Battery great if on go but at home I like not having to charge

I got mine in two days ago, I was able to set it up and get off the ground in no time(after getting on KZfaq). BTW, just got my license 3 months ago and I am very happy to get into HAM world in 2020 with such a clear vision to the future. This is only possible because of you and other great KZfaq backbones making it possible to understand and use these advanced technologies. 73 KE8NPD

Dude, you scared me. I ordered one last week. It's on back order shipping end of March. I saw your vid title and my throat sunk into my gut. I thought you were going to say it's terrible and junk. Now I'm relieved.

Not having to mess with code plugs? Priceless.

Great review Bob! Now I have to spend more money, thanks..... -K8TSG

THANX Bob, Was wondering what this $$$ unit is all about - Wouldn't think the RDO companies are going to like this REALLY Nice to use it for all three modes and More I see. Have the 400XDR - found ur Node on WIRESX I have the D74. I really have to figure out how to use it. Have it setup for APRS and DSTAR - but not one contact on DSTAR yet. Think I really need a Hotspot3. There is a DSTAR Rptr here - but not a soul I have heard?? why? Nice MHome ya got there. 73s

Great video and subscribed. Thank you sir. Question if I may, keeping the unit powered would this damage the battety? I have OP1 looking to upgrade but the “always” on is my concern, although just switch it on when needed I suppose.

i enjoy your videos...i am new subscriber......can the openspot 3 use a battery bank?

Great video Bob, thank you for posting! Cheers from way north of you! VE7PJG

Is it easy to perform on-the-fly mode changes? For example, say I’m driving . . talking on my favorite DSTAR reflector using my DSTAR radio, and wish to then switch to my favorite DMR Brandmesiter talkgroup while using the same DSTAR radio, while driving . . thanks in advance !

There in fact is a sense behind a dark theme. Modern smartphones do use OLED displays and on an OLED Display the power consumption depends on the pixel brightness. So with a dark mode your smartphone display saves power. Put your iPhone in dark mode and activate dark themes on your apps if available and you save 1 hour of battery life every day.

Gosh.. Cant find any videos on comparison between this openspot3 vs Skybridge plus for dmr? Just got my dmr id and wanting a hospot the prices now ( jan 2022) are about the same $500 but the shark seems way more simple????

3:50 - Couldn't agree more

Ok great! Now I understand how this digital stuff works. My question is why can't you just use your hotspot from your phone to connect straight to the radio? I have D-star on my 5100 but have never used it.

Not on digital enough for my 300 . but pretty cool. 😎

Alright, I watched your video and ordered one on the spot.

Question: At 12:40 in the video, you mentioned that the Openspot3 is not exactly APRS. What do you mean? Can you provide some more information on why it's not?

I would imagine that this unit has a ceramic type antenna in it?....Any idea how far away I can get from it before it starts loosing RX/TX?

Here is another question. I connected my IC-92AD to my original openspot. That is Version 1. Everything is working but what is really weird is that I hear the Audio from 1C on every other reflector that I have programmed into my radio. I don't understand why this is happening. Mark KB3Z

If you had to buy one hotspot, and you were brand spanking new. Openspot3 ? HRO's unit (nice screen), RuggedSpot (not sure they're in business) or Bridgecom's (good education but who want's to know that much). Thanks ..love your videos. Where do the girls come from? :)

I cant get mine to connect to the openspot3 interface ,using my iphone , home wifi it connected no problem , any tips can can help

I Use a separate Android phone to program the hotspot 4, to connect to my regular Android phone, on Hotspot mode, then once the hotspot 4 is connected, then I can use my regular phone for the rest of the programming, makes it a whole lot easier than before, I was trying to use my PC but apparently the unit got confused and thought it was another PC hotspot, it's was being programmed for, Now I can Add the Profiles,

Just sent mine back to the warehouse. The app didn’t work at and it took several hours of trying to connect it to a Wi-Fi for the website to see the device. After watching this video the one I ordered did nothing like what your showing. There must have been something wrong with. I spent probably six hours just to get it to see my wifi. It’s not heavy enough for a paperweight socI sent it back.

Go to get One of these,

By the way great video and very informative. Thanks you for your videos. 73 de KI5GLT

Question: how far away do you think top of the line radios are from having this hardware already installed on the radio? And making this obsolete.

Will mine ever get here ?

So for a very new dmr / c4fm user is this easy to program?

what about the battery..can it be changed.

The UI is definitely more user friendly than PiStar. If you're doing cross mode. If you use Dstar to DMR. I guess you have to change the talkgroup using the web interface and not the radio. Would that be correct?

A simple question. If I have my DMR radio on and my Dstar Radio on, can I pick different receive and transmit frequencies for each radio? Also, Can I access both radio's at the same time with the Openspot3? Or is it like the regular openspot where you have to designate the connection and make the necessary change in the software? KB3Z

Got a question about the OpenSpot3 Say you are are on a D-Star XLX Reflector, XLX227D then want to change to another XLX Reflector, XLX016D Did one have to Input the Global Server for each XLX reflector like you need to do on Icom Radio’s like the IC-9700 or IC-705 Just wanted to know if it’s seemless in changing since I may not know the associated Global Server (dashboard) IP address for that XLX reflector Is the OpenSpot3 already know each IP or url Global Address when just selecting The XLX reflector number Is it that Smart in software Mike WB6DJI

Do the sharkrf guys have any USA dealers? Or are all sales direct from them?

does it crossband as well as cross talk? @ 14:39 the Yaesu is on 2m, and the Kenwood is on 70cm.

I'm a radio dork and even wear mirrored sunglasses.

Can you use the open spot to connect your radio to AllStar?

Id like the video

I wanted to ask you a question concerning the placement of my OpenSpot3. I use the OS3 in my shack ONLY and always keep it plugged in. When it's not in use I keep it in NULL. It sits on a shelf in front of my MFJ auto tuner. I also have my HF radio in the shack as well as ladder line coming into the shack. My question is when I transmit on HF while in the shack, can RF damage the Open Spot3 in any way? I haven't yet gone on HF since receiving the OS3. I figured I would ask someone like yourself before I transmit. Any information concerning this question would be greatly appreciated. Be well.

Whats the nelody of the intro

LOL... nice lesson on how to not look like a "radio dork"! However when the openSPOT3 was announced, the openSPOT2 went on sale... and I bought two more of those rather than going with the openSPOT3. So I am fine with being a radio dork. I don't think it matters if you have one radio or three. Chicks think that guys that play radio are dorks.

We love your video KJ7LXL

Hey so i'm new, so great video #1. So question, it looks like openspot3 does everything but wires-x? So basically with like FT3DR with openspot3 you can do everything? but with other radios+openspot3 you can do everything but wires-X? thanks for helping newbie.

N2yio I bought an openspot3 and I guess I am just Stupid or am just doing something wrong because I am having a hell of a time connecting to my phone and I have a couple other of the U Tube channels what I am doing wrong and no one has given me any help or any answers at all. I live in South Jersey and have Verizon as my internet provider when I try to connect to the openspot3ap like I'm supposed to do but it disconnects my network so I can't do anything on the computer or phone when I try to connect to that am I doing something wrong? or what can someone please help me because I am about ready to sell my 878uv and the openspot3 because its not doing me any good If I can't use it Thanks, N2yio

A stupid question. Does this does allstar nodes?

3:09 trying to loosen your load?

Dmr to D-star? that will be fun. I just got the D74a a little bit ago. I will say this most Dmr radios mic quality sucks. I use md-2017 and md-9600 great audio. Those Baofeng etc are crap trying to hear. As the saying goes there goes the neighborhood!!

Gee Bob, thanks for helping me spend more mad money.

GIMMEE! Gimmee, gimmee, gimmee!

$300 +$25 shipping US. $386.00 after euro conversion!

I didn't see this, as it said I didn't want to. Did I miss anything?

is the openspot3 going to keep working after 2024, dosent sharkrf host its service.. thank you N6RIP

can I put in a new battery

After some thought and reflection I would recommend a new ham buy the new OS3 along with the Yaesu FT3D. If you can't spring for the FT3D then I would buy the FT70D fusion HT for half the price. i think after owning the OS2 I would spring for the OS3 instead from what you are claiming. Kinda funky about the charging though. I guess from what you are saying is run the unit down and shut it off and charge it when you are done with it. It's probably for battery protection. How hard are the buttons to push? They look small...

HOW MUCH DATA DO YOU USE PER MONTH? 73 VE1DEW THANKS FOR THE VIDEO

It's not cool to be a radio dork? DANG!!! 73's. KE0WKN

Mine just quit working. Man!

Whoa! 4000+ emails...lol

I do the same thing with two cheap MMDVMs and a battery pack. I control it from my phone, too. Of course, I'm a geek and it comes natural. ;

Be great if you could buy one !

Yes, some of us still understand the word "WIRELESS" , My PERSONAL digital radio is my Android phone.

If you already own the openSPOT2, would you buy the openSPOT3 or wait for the openSPOT4?

Unfortunately Bob you released the video too late ,mine ships on Feb 20 th ,could not help myself ,credit card nu,bees flew from my dinger tips.

Good video, stop with the click bait titles. You are better than that.

Boomer speaking: what the hell's an 'open spot'? I'm glad I'm into ham radio.. not hamplusinternet radio. Looks like a good and useful vid for the non-boomers out there who aren't stuck in 1939 like me. I wouldn't know. I didn't understand a word you said.. and I'm a retired biomedical engineer who's into Linux and prototyping one-off transceiver designs. 73 OM and welcome back from that freak show in the desert. Speaking of - next year I'm bashing your 'youtubers of ham radio' panel. I've got 3 subs now.. and at least as many 'likes'. I'm just like you now, UDA!. Yep, ol' UDA... maybe next year I'll be seated between you and ol' 'RLW. I need to teach that boy the definition of QRP. He seems confused. 73 OM

How to Configure your MMDVM Pi-Star HotSpot for DV Scotland DMR Network IPSC2-DVScotland. Configure your radio with HotSpot Frequency and Time Slot 2. List of DV Scotland DMR Network Talk Groups: www.dvscotland.net/talkgroups.xhtml How to configure static Talk Groups. DMR Configuration DMR Master: DMR+_IPSC2-DVScotland DMR+ Options: Options= TS2_1=23555;TS2_2=23556; kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rqh8fKZq2LPUaJc.html

I have spent at least 25 hours trying to set it up. Why say it is the greatest. It did work 2 or 3 years ago but now. I have tried facroty reset, firmware update, been working with computer for at least 60 years now. Why praise what is so diffucult.

Well.. I cannot allow myself to be a dork, so they’ll just have to take my money.

Wrong.. you can’t cross from D-Star to p25, or vise versa

The price today is 386.00 plus shipping plus taxes you end paying like 414.00 are Rf Sharp crazy no thanks

So, what happens after you go through the 200 cycles of the LiPo battery and it no longer holds a charge? Also, you still cannot access WIRES-X. You still have to have a WiFi hotspot, so there goes your unfettered mobility. So, I'm spending $250 over a homebrew MMDVM/Pi-Star so I can get 30 and 1 Charlie? Thanks but no thanks.

OK so basically, the DMR radios let you talk to the guys 50, 60, 300 miles away easy, as long as you have your cell phone providing a wifi hotspot when you're away from home or work and as long as the eggs battery lasts.... But your cell phone can talk to those guys without the egg and the radios, even in a group chat. and if you share your google location they can see where you are at all times. Just practically speaking it seems to add too much expense and complication to your day, when your phone is so easy. I've been looking hard at these radios and trying to find out what my personal needs are and if these DMR's would make my days easier or just complicate my day. Excellent video. Thank you for putting this all together. Thank You.