AURSINC MMDVM Hotspot Spot Radio WiFi Digital Voice Modem Work Contained with Raspberry Pi Zero 2W with Firmware V4.1.5 UHF VHF, Supports C4FM YSF NXDN DSTAR P25 DMR (with Ethernet Cable)

If you are reading this, then you know what a MMDVM hotspot does. This one, jumbospot, zumspot, openspot, they are all pretty much the exact same thing. They take your digital radio and connects you to a reflector/repeater somewhere else in the world via the internet. While local digital repeaters can do this to an extent, a hotspot can connect you anyplace in the world. And this one does a wonderful job at it. I have a Yaesu FT-70DR handheld radio. It does conventional analog as well as C4FM/Fusion/FSY digital. This MMDVM has no problem connecting to it. If you aren't into Yaesu, this MMDVM can also do DMR, DSTAR, P25, and other modes. There's even the capability to cross mode on some modes. Set up was easy. Turn the MMDVM on; wait a couple minutes; look at your tablet, smartphone, pc, or laptop for wifi connections. Besides the WIFI you're expecting to normally see, you'll see a new one called Pistar. Once you know that IP address, you can log into it and set it up to USE YOUR WIFI. I bought this one because it came with a micro-usb to ethernet dongle. I wanted to plug directly into my router and not use wifi. I still set up the wifi to get use to it, but I find ethernet is more stable with all things. If you only want to use wifi, you can buy this same exact MMDVM from the same seller here on amazon for a lower price. NOTE: If you're going to use ethernet, there's two Micro-USB ports on the MMDVM. Looking at them, put your power (Cell phone charger with more than 1.5amp (1500ma) into the RIGHT plug. Most outer Micro-USB. Plug the ethernet dongle into the micro-usb to the LEFT of the power. I had it the other way around (You'd think it wouldn't matter), but then the MMDVM ONLY saw the WIFI. It didn't see the ethernet. When I swapped the plugs, my router saw the ethernet and gave it an IP address and the MMDVM gave priority connection to ethernet over wifi. This is definitely a great device. If you don't need the ethernet, get the $105 one. Same thing. You can always buy the ethernet dongle later if you really want it. I do recommend that you educate yourself on how an MMDVM works, the Pi-Star operating system, and how to get your radio to connect to it. It's not hard. It's not rocket science. But if you don't prepare a little before jumping in, you'll get frustrated. Simply go to youtube and type in MMDVM setup or MMDVM and your radio model; or something similar. You'll find a ton of videos on it. Don't forget to send Al Gore a thank you note for making the internet possible. But after watching a couple videos, it's very easy to set up. There aren't any on the ethernet connection. It should have been plug and play, but I learned through trial and error about the ports and priority to make it work. But I had the wifi connected, and my radio connected, in less than 15 minute. (With prepping by watching some youtube videos). Then go to the pistar.uk site and find all the reflectors, rooms, repeaters, etc. whatever your radio calls them, and you can go to those places and talk away. I've had this for 4 days and have spoken to other hams in about 15 states and 4 countries already. Also, mine came with firmware from March 2019. That's not bad, but there is a newer one out. When you go to pistar.uk there is a download section where you can get the most recent firmware. (Watch a youtube video on that also and you'll be fine). Remember: 1. 5v cell phone or similar Power supply of 1.5amp. Mine is plugged into a usb port in my network router being I'm using ethernet. 2. Make sure the SD Card is class 10. Mine was, but verify it. It came with a 16gb card, but even an 8gb is more than enough. Just hard to find 8gb. 3. Update the firmware if it's not the newest 4.1.2 . When you log into the MMDVM, look at the very top right of the page and you'll see the firmware version. Mine was 3.x.x something or another. 4. Watch videos on how to set it up. 5. Go to pistar.uk for any details about the software. 6. Go to the the "Jumbospot and other mmdvm hotspot" facebook page, join, and ask questions. People are great at helping. Hope I provided enough info. If you know what a hotspot is; know what it's for; definitely want to buy one; then this is a solid choice. No need to spend $280+ on an Openspot 3. Plug, that is completely sealed. These MMDVM have an external antenna jack. So I personally didn't use the 1-2 inch uhf antenna it cam with. I put on one of my spare dual band 15" whip antennas for my portable. 3.5db gain over the little thing it comes with. The stock antenna is fine for around the house. With my whip, I can go about a block away down the street. When you're in the house area, keep your radio transmitting at LOW POWER. But if you go further away, then you can go back to higher power. The MMDVM only puts out 10mw. But you don't want to be 10 feet away in your shack and shove 5 watts down it's throat. Anyway; if you're interested in a hotspot for your ham radio, this is an excellent choice.

No problem with the install. Works flawlessly with my DMR radio

Great for the money. Setup was a breeze. I had to take one star away for the occasional lockup I get. It seems after running for about 3 days it has a tendency to lock up. A simple Reboot and I am back up and running. Other than that it works flawlessly.

I purchased this on December 3rd and it no longer functions. I re imaged the SD card updated firmware and it still drops offline and locks up. After some interaction with their support team another device is on the way. I have to give them five starts for their support. The replacement unit arrived a few days ago and it initially failed to connect to the WIFI. It connected one and now won't finish starting up. The pisser is I can't return it to get my money back. What a piece of garbage!!!!!!

This would be my second hot spot for my DMR/P25 radios. Just wanted a second hot spot for when I'm traveling or on the go where I can tether to my mobile phone. I'm fully aware on how to setup these hot spot and consider proficient in Linux. Well, this one is a dual band (2m/70cm) and though it's much cheaper than the name brand. It's sill operates in simplex and can't do full duplex like the more expensive one. The size is small and compact, pretty much comes with everything you need to get talking thru DMR/P25 or other digital formats. Received this and again, this would be my second device but in dual band. Plugged it in and let it boot up and setup for around 5 minutes. I keep on waiting and check the wifi and did not see anything pop up on my computer. I popped the case (which is very nicely made) and visually check all the pins and solder joints as I have heard folks been having issues with this particular model as I heard the company has switched manufacture of the main and modem board. Plugged it in again and waited 10 minutes and still nothing. The top lights stopped blinking and I picked up the unit and the underside where the CPU was extremely hot. I didn't know how a USB powered device can get so hot. Well, I then smell something like a capacitor had popped and had your typical electrical burnt smell. I removed the SD card out and double checked the file and everything looks good. At this point, I wasted several hours already have need a hot spot since I'm flying up north in a day. I end up returning this device. Maybe I'll try this brand again later down the road.

I use a Yaesu FT-70DR for digital comms. With a few google searches I was able to get this up and running in an hour. To make things simpler, use an Ethernet connection initially to enter in your wi-fi info. Be sure to select UPPER CASE host files and YSF If you use a Yaesu radio. If you are setting up for a Yaesu radio, this allows your radio to select YSF reflectors in the same way you can select wires-x rooms on a repeater. Just be clear this device DOES NOT allow you to connect to wires-x rooms! There are some articles out there about linking YSF reflectors to wires-x rooms, but nothing you can do on your hotspot to make that happen. UPDATE: BUT Some YSF reflectors are linked to wires-x rooms. So, for example, you can connect to YSF reflector 32453 US-KCWide which is linked to wires-x room 28054 Kansas City Wide room. So you can sometimes get there, just not directly. I have not yet found a handy cross-reference list, but will keep looking! I do suggest you change the configuration to initially connect to a PARROT reflector so you can test it out. You transmit and it plays back what you said. The default is 438.8 MHz - DN mode. Set low power. The description implies there is a built in battery you can charge. This is not true. You must power it by connecting to the RIGHT SIDE mini usb. Overall, good value for the money. Installation is not 100% intuitive but with some easy searches very doable.

The device does work pretty well. However, there are several issues that are going to cause people problems. First, the firmware is rather old. An update works, but you then have to know to flash new firmware to the MMDV. And finally, you might think "I'll upgrade to that new, cool WPSD software." Well, it needs at least a Pi Zero 2W. Note the "2". So, basically, this version has a processor from 2015 when they could have included the 2 version for not much more. Quite frankly, I bought from this vendor because they have a decent reputation at not doing things like this. I guess that's not really the case, and I'll need to research them just has hard as random vendors on Ebay. And in the end, I'm sure I'll be able to save on price. Come on guys, it's time to do a little upgrade, hear. The case seems nice, but I have not opened it up to put in the Pi Zero 2W I ordered. If the case is bad to work on, I'll update this review.

Setup was easy, product is durable, but I can't keep it online for more than a day or so at a time, which then forces a hard reset that sometimes requires a re-flash of the firmware and that it be setup again. Bit frustrating. ==UPDATE== I came back to this project and eliminated the wi-fi and ran a hardline to the network instead, that helped and other than an occasional reboot it seemed to be working for a few weeks. I logged in to the GUI and did an update and have now lost the RX side, it won't hear my radios. Any help from the Seller???