Fusion, D-Star, DMR combined Hotspot

 One of the downsides to the current trend in digital ham radio is the separation of users into distinct camps. Over the last ten or so years, this has taken an already small VHF/UHF user base and subdivided it into 'Fusion', 'D-Star', and  'DMR' users, plus some other digital modes such as NXDN and P25.

To make matters even more polarised, it's quite clear that the big brand manufacturers aren't going to agree to get along and support each others systems any time soon. To some extent, I think this subdivision has been embraced in some quarters of the amateur community. Perhaps a little too eagerly.

Fortunately, some members of the amateur community have taken a much more pragmatic and unifying approach to the separation of the digital systems. Hence we now have such things as the OpenSpot and MMDVM Hotspot. Put simply, this system allows you to use a radio using any of the modes to connect to the internet and access the networks of any of the modes.

Slowly buy surely, the different digital modes are being tied together via the internet.

This particular unit is a Chinese clone of a European design, that I purchased for £33, add on the cost of the Raspberry Pi 3 and a simple case and the whole thing cost £70, including shipping.

Add on a 3G WiFi Dongle (or just tether it to your smartphone), and a USB battery bank, and you have a portable hot spot that enables you to access all the digital modes wherever you are... so long as you can get a 3G phone signal.