YSF and DMR final conclusion from an old poor ham
Posted by @W8FIK Jun 26, 2025
to vote, or .
_**i started with a Yaeso FT70DR
I wanted to try C4FM and get into all those cool world wide talkgroups
well that turned into frustration because when you take the repeater, for a while the locals complain...
Then I thought...hey Tom try DMR that sounds like fun.
well pretty much the same end result. Its another mode for tal;king to locals on a repeater...
and if you want to try one of those fun talk groups well you get kicked off after a few minutes, the radio just goes quiet...you have to push the ptt to get back in... you know KERCHUNK
So next I learned that i would need one of those hotspot things.... so another $200 to $600
more confusing stuff and less grocery money.
My conclusion...I learned a lot had some fun , talked to a few people
I spent money maybe I shouldnt have.
Im back to looking for different radio fun now
Thanx for the help, its time to regroup
Tom W8FIK
37**_
Comments
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@"W1DVR"#p327 well hf is fun but im a old disabled guy living in a tiny apartment but i would like to set up a qrp radio that i can take out on a walkabout in the spring . I did a lot of HF in my youngeer days loved CW... but life happens
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