Hey Tom, totally hear you on that journey. C4FM and DMR can be fun, but yeah, the learning curve and gear costs add up fast, especially once you hit that “you need a hotspot” wall.
Sounds like you made the best of it though, testing modes, learning gear, making a few contacts. That’s more than a lot of people do before giving up.
If you’re looking to regroup, maybe give HF a shot (if you haven’t already)? Even something like 10m or 40m with a wire and 10w can open up a whole new world l, no hotspot required. Or maybe check out APRS or satellites for something different?
Either way, glad you’re still exploring, keep us posted on where you land next!
73 de W1DVR
