openSPOT is a standalone digital radio IP gateway / hotspot
What is openSPOT?
openSPOT is a standalone digital radio IP gateway designed mainly for amateur radio. You can reach DMR, D-STAR and C4FM/System Fusion networks by using an openSPOT, internet access, and your DMR/D-STAR/C4FM radio.
What’s openSPOT good for? Let’s say you live in Budapest, and talk to your friends on the local DMR repeater HG5RUC, which is on reflector 4770 on the Brandmeister network. If you travel around the world, where you can’t reach the repeater HG5RUC directly, you can still talk with your friends by using an openSPOT and a DMR (or C4FM) radio by connecting it to the same reflector which HG5RUC uses (4770, BM). If you speak on your DMR/C4FM radio on openSPOT’s frequency, it will route your call to reflector 4770, and HG5RUC will transmit your signals all around Budapest, so your friends will be able to hear and talk to you.
If you don’t have local repeater coverage, openSPOT can link you to DMR, D-STAR and C4FM/System Fusion networks all around the world. If you do have local repeater coverage, you can still make use of an openSPOT to avoid interrupting local repeater traffic. You can reach any reflector or talkgroup with it, so you don’t have to disconnect the local repeater and disturb other local users.
Two openSPOTs can be linked together directly without any servers or network infrastructure. Interconnecting two DMR/D-STAR/C4FM sites can be easily done this way.
By using openSPOT’s API, you can develop your own software to communicate on DMR, D-STAR and C4FM/System Fusion networks. You can send and receive text messages on DMR networks, or you can create your own RF protocols. All modem settings are customizable.
Key features:
- Supports DMR (Brandmeister, DMRplus), D-Star (DCS, REF/DPlus), System Fusion (FCS) networks. More supported networks and features will be available with new firmware releases.
- Supports cross modem modes. Talk with your C4FM radio on DMR, and with your DMR radio on System Fusion networks!
- Very easy to use, works without a computer. No additional hardware required, works out of the box. All accessories included.
- Web interface for configuration and monitoring.
- HTTP, UDP/TCP API support.
- Custom 2FSK/4FSK RF protocol support with TDMA.
- USB powered, low energy consumption, 20mW RF output.
- Runs fully embedded software written in pure C, running on an embedded real time operating system. No Linux, bulky Windows software or failing SD cards!
Video by SharkRF
Designed for amateur radio
- Connect openSPOT easily to DMR, D-Star reflectors, C4FM/System Fusion rooms, and use your radio with excellent voice quality without sync errors
- Customize communication settings on the web interface
- Discover how digital protocols work, and connect your own apps by sending and receiving RF frames in UDP packets
- Create your own RF protocol by customizing RF modem settings, packet format, sync words (even with TDMA support)
- Use single, or separate RX/TX frequencies
- Optional erroneous packet generator module for testing other digital receivers
State of the art hardware design
- 2 CPUs running at 100 and 120MHz
- USB mass storage device bootloader for easy firmware upgrades
- 4 multicolor, bright LEDs for easy real time state monitoring
- Low power usage
- Automatic recalibration
DMR features
- Use openSPOT not only as a DMR hotspot, but as a base or mobile station with 2 timeslots simultaneously
- Timeslot repeating in base station/repeater mode
- Send and receive DMR SMS messages
- Built-in echo service
- Controllable with calls and custom short messages to preconfigured DMR IDs
Price for EU customers: €219 (including 20% VAT, excluding shipping)
Price for Non-EU customers: €182.5 (excluding shipping)
Sold with 2 year warranty, including official support on the community forums.
Package contents: openSPOT, antenna, Ethernet cable, USB cable, 120V/230V USB power supply (available with EU, US, AU and UK plugs).