<div dir="ltr">Efectivamente assim é Viegas.<div><br></div>No entanto, os "influencers", que é como agora se chamam estes senhores actualmente, são os primeiros a alertar e bem que isto nada tem haver com o radioamadorismo, muito embora, por vezes, se levantem duvidas devido ao numero muito significativo de radioamadores e amantes das radiocomunicações no geral presentes.<div><br></div><div>Por mim, o mais absurdo nem é isto, mas sim, o " HamSphere - The virtual Amateur Radio". </div><div>A idade, por vezes, já não nos permite acompanhar "tamanha evolução".<br><div><br></div><div>João Costa(CT1FBF)</div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">Antonio Viegas <<a href="mailto:ct2ixq@gmail.com">ct2ixq@gmail.com</a>> escreveu no dia segunda, 4/11/2019 à(s) 17:43:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Boa Tarde<br>
Caro João , não posso estar mais de acordo! Mas embora este artigo venha focar no Zello , podemos lançar um pouco mais a confusão , os modos de fonia digital!<br>
Cordiais <br>
ACViegas<br>
<br>
-----Mensagem original-----<br>
De: <a href="mailto:cluster-bounces@radio-amador.net" target="_blank">cluster-bounces@radio-amador.net</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:cluster-bounces@radio-amador.net" target="_blank">cluster-bounces@radio-amador.net</a>] Em nome de João Costa > CT1FBF<br>
Enviada: segunda-feira, 4 de novembro de 2019 13:54<br>
Para: Cluster-ARLA<br>
Assunto: ARLA/CLUSTER: Network Radio (Uns radios que não o são, mas que conseguem alcançar redes globais através da Voz sobre IP)<br>
<br>
(Quando tudo falha, os Network Radio também falham...mas vale a pena<br>
conhece-los)<br>
<br>
What if you could have a network of handheld and mobile radios with<br>
global coverage? Forget about expensive repeaters and licenses.<br>
Everything will work via the cellular 3G/4G network.<br>
<br>
Either you want 1-to-1 or 1-to-many radio communications, this is for you.<br>
<br>
No range restrictions. If you have cellphone coverage, you are connected!<br>
<br>
Introduction to Network Radio<br>
<a href="https://youtu.be/je6xdynS7QU" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/je6xdynS7QU</a><br>
<br>
Network Radios - Good Or Bad? Advantages & Disadvantages<br>
<a href="https://youtu.be/HMcF24PTdhI" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/HMcF24PTdhI</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Network Radio – Is it real Ham Radio?<br>
<br>
Introduction<br>
Network Radio began gaining some interest as an amateur radio format<br>
about a year ago. During the past year Network Radio has gained<br>
popularity with Amateur Radio operator as well as with radio hobbyist<br>
in general. The most popular aspect of Network Radio has been based<br>
around Zello using their mobile phone apps for IOS and Android.<br>
Basically Zello is an VOIP service with a push to talk feature that<br>
can be used over WiFi or cellular Data. There are two versions<br>
available the free personal version and a paid commercial version that<br>
offers a larger feature set that would be of interest to business<br>
users. Zello allows for the creation of groups. These groups can range<br>
from just a friends to thousands of members in a group. When a user<br>
presses the push to talk button on their phone’s screen, the voice<br>
message will be heard by all users in the group in pretty much real<br>
time. Zello claims to have a worldwide user base of 120 million users<br>
at the time of this writing.<br>
<br>
How does Zello Work?<br>
<br>
Zello running on Network Radio<br>
<br>
Since most people use the personal version of Zello, simply download<br>
the free app that matches your devices operation system. The device<br>
can be an IOS or Android phone or tablet or a Windows PC. Once the<br>
app is installed you must create a free user account and user name<br>
with Zello. The user name can be anything that is not in use by<br>
someone else, but you may want to use your amateur call sign for<br>
amateur radio use. Once you have logged in, you search for public<br>
groups to communicate with. These groups can cover a wide range of<br>
interests and topics. You will find that there are groups that cover<br>
various aspects of the radio hobby. In these groups you can discuss<br>
you radio interests with other like minded individuals. Once you’re in<br>
the group, you can chat with other members, send text messages,<br>
photos, and positional information to group members. Keep in mind that<br>
what ever you say is heard by all the other group members. Also, Zello<br>
will store users voice conversations in the group log so members can<br>
review them later. You can also create your own groups. Zello has put<br>
a lot of thought into group management. In any group your going to<br>
have some “bad actors” so Zello has taken that into account and allows<br>
for member management. These features can be turned on by the group<br>
owner by the type of group they decide create.<br>
<br>
Zello Group Types<br>
Anyone can talk – These channels are open to the public to listen to<br>
or talk on. The channel owner may turn on the voting feature that<br>
allows the users in a group to vote off a user of the channel after a<br>
certain number of negative votes from members.<br>
<br>
Listen Only – Anyone can listen but only moderators can talk. A<br>
channel owner can also designate other members moderators to help<br>
manage the channel. In some cases it might be necessary to switch the<br>
channel to this mode if it is being used for emergency situations.<br>
<br>
Zselect – In this mode anyone can listen but can’t talk. To be able to<br>
talk on these channels you will have approved by a moderator to be<br>
able to talk on the channel.<br>
<br>
Zselect+ – Only approved channel users can talk or listen to the<br>
channel. These channels are basically private and encrypted. Users<br>
will need to approved by the channel owner or moderator before they<br>
can use the channel.<br>
<br>
Ok, what does this have to do with Amateur Radio?<br>
Amateur radio operators have always been really good about adapting<br>
emerging technologies to expand their communications toolkit. Network<br>
Radio offers certain advantages over existing Amateur Radio<br>
communication technologies. Network Radio can offer the following<br>
advantages over other communications modes.<br>
<br>
Advantages of Network Radio<br>
1. Not range limited. The Zello system reaches world wide.<br>
2. The audio quality is superb. Usually no dropouts ,digital noise ,<br>
or static unlike VHF, UHF, HF, D-Star, DMR, or C4FM.<br>
3. Very reliable compared to traditional amateur radio communications<br>
technologies since communications are accomplished through the<br>
cellular data network and the internet. Basically a direct link<br>
between the radio users.<br>
4. No expensive repeater system required for local amateur radio communications.<br>
5. No complicated hotspots required. All you need is a cellular<br>
network connection or a WiFi connection for a Network Radio to work.<br>
6. Since Network Radio does not require a FCC license, unlicensed<br>
individuals can be added to the group if the need arises.<br>
7. Equipment costs can be very inexpensive when compared to other<br>
communications methods.<br>
8. No external antennas needed.<br>
9. Easy to setup and use.<br>
10. Non licensed radio hobbyist can be allowed into Amateur Radio<br>
channels to gain knowledge of Amateur Radio by interacting with<br>
licensed Amateurs. Hopefully to eventually become a licensed Amateur<br>
Radio Operator.<br>
11. Can be used easily in mobile or outdoor environments since there<br>
is no need for external antennas.<br>
<br>
Disadvantages<br>
The major disadvantage is that if there is no cell phone coverage or<br>
internet then the system doesn’t work. This is the reason that Network<br>
Radio won’t ever replace traditional RF based Amateur Radio.<br>
<br>
Amateur Radio Applications<br>
Amateur Radio operators are beginning to integrate Network Radio into<br>
their arsenal of their communication tech. Here are some applications<br>
in use today and some reasons Network Radio is growing very rapidly.<br>
<br>
Alternative to modes that require antennas<br>
With the aging amateur radio population downsizing or moving into HOA<br>
restricted housing they often cannot always put up a decent outside or<br>
inside antenna for Amateur Radio modes that require one. Therefore<br>
feel that they often have to give up their involvement in amateur<br>
radio. Some have worked around the issue by the use of hotspots that<br>
connect to D-Star and DMR radio systems over the internet. Network<br>
Radio offers a simpler setup and less expensive way for them to enjoy<br>
“rag chewing” with other amateur radio operators around the world.<br>
Therefore bringing inactive Amateur Radio operators back to the hobby.<br>
<br>
Replace or expand local repeater systems.<br>
With aging and almost abandoned local repeater systems, Network Radios<br>
offer a good alternative to local repeaters. Also Network Radio can be<br>
added to an existing repeater system to expand its coverage by<br>
interfacing a network radio device directly to the repeater. This<br>
would allow amateur radio operators to access the repeater from<br>
virtually any where. Of course the interface channel would need to<br>
moderated to allow only licensed hams to access the VOIP connection to<br>
the repeater.<br>
<br>
Local Event Coverage<br>
Amateur radio clubs that offer event coverage can quickly set up comms<br>
using only the Network Radio system rather than repeaters. This would<br>
allow for greater range and more reliable coverage given that there is<br>
good cell phone coverage in the area. There is also the benefit of<br>
being able to add non-licensed individuals such as event coordinators,<br>
medical personnel,etc to the channel using their smartphones rather<br>
than stationing an operator with an individual. This also allows<br>
everyone that is involved in coordinating the event the ability to<br>
hear what is going on. The group can be easily added to on the fly.<br>
<br>
ARES, Skywarn, etc.<br>
Some ARES groups are already using Network Radio to supplement their<br>
regular communications methods. Again the advantage is being able to<br>
link amateur radio operators in the field quickly to public officials<br>
since they can be added to a Network Channel via their cellphone. The<br>
disadvantage is that Network Radio is only functional if the area<br>
affected still has cellular data service. During Hurricane Michael,<br>
network radio was used to keep the public informed of the storms<br>
progress and to take emergency calls to forward to channels<br>
coordinating rescue and relief operations. However, cellular service<br>
was interrupted in some areas knocking out Network Radios. This was<br>
example where network radio could be used until cellular service and<br>
the internet went down in some areas. After that traditional amateur<br>
radio HF and VHF communications had to be deployed. However that being<br>
said it would be possible to use a portable VHF to Network Radio<br>
repeater link to connect to another VHF – Network Radio link that<br>
still maintained cellular data service. These types of repeaters can<br>
be setup easily and quickly using a Network Radio HT and a VHF HT with<br>
a cable like this one SainSonic RPT-2D Two-way Radio Repeater Box for<br>
Two Transceivers Station DIY.<br>
<br>
Smartphone Phone vs Dedicated Network Radio<br>
<br>
Mobile Network Radio<br>
<br>
Due to the growing popularity of network radio among radio hobbyist,<br>
dedicated network radios have appeared in the familiar form factor of<br>
amateur radio Handi Talkies and mobile/ base units. These radios are<br>
basically based around an unlocked Android phone with a touchscreen.<br>
At then end of the day, Network Radios are in essence a stripped down<br>
Android smartphone in a HT or mobile / base form factor. They<br>
typically contain a small to large touch screen display, dual SIM<br>
cards, and a SD card slot. Most of these devices are made to work over<br>
the GSM cellular network (usually no CDMA networks like Verizon)<br>
carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and others for voice and data. If you<br>
add a SIM card with voice and text messaging you can use the radio as<br>
a regular cell phone. However to use Network Radio you really only<br>
need cellular data. Fortunately Network Radio doesn’t use a lot of<br>
data so smaller data plans can suffice depending on your use. Having<br>
the dedicated data SIM in the Network Radio will allow you to use the<br>
radio anywhere there is cell service. The other good alternative is if<br>
you have a smartphone that you carry with you all the time that has a<br>
WiFi Hotspot feature connected to the Network Radio rather than pay<br>
for a separate service. Using the radio around the house simply<br>
requires being connected to your home WiFi. Dedicated network radios<br>
all come with a side mounted PTT button on the HT or a PTT hand mic<br>
for the mobile/base unit. The HTs are typically constructed out of<br>
high impact plastic of varying quality and are rated as IP68 water<br>
resistance. So they can be abused a bit but they are not built as well<br>
as amateur radios from Yaesu, Icom or Kenwood. The HTs typically<br>
contain a 4000ish milliamp battery that can power the unit for several<br>
days when compared to VHF/UHF HTs that usually will only last a few<br>
hours. The HT’s can be charged via a mini USB port on the radio or a<br>
drop in charger. The mobile/base units are powered by a 12 volt source<br>
and do not contain a battery. The HTs also contain a front and rear<br>
facing camera while the mobile units do not. Both types of radios have<br>
GPS built in with the mobile units have an external GPS antenna. The<br>
HT models also sport an attached cellular antenna which allow for<br>
slightly better cellular reception than most cell phones. The mobile<br>
base units typically have a built in cellular antenna with the option<br>
of attaching an external cellular antenna. Depending on the model,<br>
both types of radio contain additional sensors like an accelerometer<br>
and gyroscope. Both types of radios contain very loud built in<br>
speakers with generally good audio which make them easy to hear over<br>
the background noise in a vehicle or crowded place. Most Network<br>
Radios allow you to download apps from the Android Play store. If the<br>
radio doesn’t come with Zello pre installed you can download it for<br>
free from the Android Playstore. If you intend to use the use the mini<br>
USB port to access any photos or data from the HT or mobile/base unit<br>
you will need to activate the developer mode to gain access to the<br>
internal storage. You can find these instructions easily on the<br>
internet.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
If you are new to network radio you might want to just download the<br>
Zello free app for your smart phone and give the service a try before<br>
investing in a dedicated network radio. However, if you use the<br>
service a lot you will probably want to buy a dedicated radio. A<br>
dedicated Network Radio gives you the convenience of true push to talk<br>
operation rather than pressing and holding the PTT button on your<br>
smartphones screen. The audio quality on both transmit and receive can<br>
be much better than your phone. Especially the receive audio which<br>
will be much louder and higher quality than even the best cell phone.<br>
The dedicated radio will should be much more durable than your cell<br>
phone and probably a lot cheaper to replace than your cell phone if it<br>
gets dropped. The dedicated Network Radios shout stand up to more<br>
abuse than your cell phone. If you are going mobile then the mobile /<br>
base unit will be more convenient than your cell phone. Plus most<br>
amateur radio operators just feel more comfortable with something they<br>
can clip to their belt or mounted under the dash. By the way the<br>
mobile units are typically not very heavy or deep so it is easy to<br>
find a place to mount in a vehicle. Another comforting factor for the<br>
radio hobbyist is that these radios come with hard buttons that make<br>
it easier to access certain functions instead of fumbling with a<br>
cellphones touch screen.<br>
<br>
However there is a little downside to the radios. While it is pretty<br>
easy to set up Zello on these units it can be a bit of a pain when<br>
working on the small screen in these units which are typically 2.5 to<br>
3 inches. Using the keyboard on the touch screen can be a real<br>
exercise in patience trying to enter information from the tiny on<br>
screen keyboard. Usually you just set it up once and don’t have to<br>
deal with it that often, however if you don’t already have one it<br>
might be worth investing in a Bluetooth keyboard to make typing<br>
easier. Another trick is to set everything up on your Zello account<br>
via your smartphone. When you are done setting up the Network Radio<br>
channels on your smartphone, log in to the same account the Network<br>
Radio and all the settings will transfer over you put into your Smart<br>
Phone. Be sure to exit the Zello app on your smartphone before logging<br>
in to your Zello app on your Network Radio since you can’t be logged<br>
into your account under the same user name simultaneously. If you do<br>
have more than one Network Radio and want to use them at the same time<br>
you will need to create a separate user name for each one under your<br>
account. Another possibility for working with the small screen is to<br>
install either Vysor or Airdroid to remotely access your Network Radio<br>
via your PC. These apps will give you access to your device on a<br>
larger screen with access to full keyboard and mouse making some<br>
setups much easier. These apps require you to have the developer<br>
option on the Android app and plugged into the host computer via USB<br>
(except for the paid version Vysor which will work over WiFi). .These<br>
apps can be downloaded from the Play Store. A word of caution when<br>
using Vysor it can lock up some radios to the point you have to remove<br>
power from the radio to allow it restart. Another app that you might<br>
find useful for your Network Radio is Button Mapper. Some of these<br>
radios may come with extra buttons and knobs that might not do<br>
anything out of the box. With Button Mapper you can assign these<br>
buttons to various activities like to load a certain application or<br>
turn a rotary knob into a volume control.<br>
<br>
What to look for when buying a Network Radio<br>
First of all if you are in the USA, dedicated Network Radios can be<br>
little hard to come by since 100% of them are made in China. So<br>
usually you can’t walk into your local ham radio emporium and buy<br>
one.You can order them on Ebay directly from China but you have to<br>
wait about 4 to 6 weeks to get it. Fortunately since the popularity of<br>
Network Radios are increasing in the USA some US vendors are now<br>
providing them in a few days. These are typically unbranded models<br>
offered at a low price. A few US Amazon vendors are sourcing these<br>
radios, but check the prices carefully. Some Amazon vendors are over<br>
pricing the units since they can be a bit scarce. At any rate, you can<br>
typically have one in your hands in a few days if you can get it from<br>
a US vendor. Secondly brand names mean nothing since a given radio can<br>
be sold under several brand names for the exact same radio. As far as<br>
warranty repair goes, you can probably forget about that since most of<br>
these rigs come out of China. As an early adopter it might be best to<br>
just purchase a basic HT or Mobile/Base unit until situation<br>
stabilizes. A basic HT will run from around $130 to $225 and a basic<br>
mobile will run from around $200. Above all be sure you are buying an<br>
Unlocked GSM version with PlayStore installed. Not having these two<br>
features can severely limit the functionality of the radio.<br>
Alternatively you can find a few inexpensive rugged smart phones for<br>
around the same price as a Network Radio HT with a PTT side button<br>
that will work well as a Network Radio.<br>
<br>
What determines the cost of a Network Radio?<br>
1. Size of the touch screen – The least expensive units will typically<br>
contain a 2.5 to 3.5 inch screen. Some models may sport a 4 inch<br>
screen but the price increases significantly.<br>
2. Android Version – You will find that most of the Network Radios<br>
will run a version 4 to 7. Higher is better.<br>
3. Feature set – This is pretty standard across the board but radios<br>
from Boxchip is offering S700A with a 4 inch screen which also<br>
contains a VHF or UHF transceiver with DMR(which may not be certified<br>
for use in the US market) for $750 They also offer a $499 version<br>
without the transceiver. Street prices are around $699 to $399<br>
respectively. These radios are currently the “Cadillacs” of the<br>
Network radios.<br>
<br>
Getting Started<br>
You can explore Network Radio with Zello on your smartphone before<br>
investing in a dedicated Network Radio. The best place to start is to<br>
subscribe to the 8 channels called Network Radios. Just search for<br>
them with the Zello app and you should see them with a blue logo next<br>
to them. There are other amateur related channels that you can also<br>
explore. The Network Radios channels stay pretty busy 24/7 with a<br>
large number of users. The channels are generally populated with users<br>
from the US and Europe. The Network Radios group allow licensed<br>
amateurs operators as well as unlicensed operators. Amateur radio<br>
communication protocols are observed when communicating on the<br>
channels. Users have to be approved to use the channel by a moderator<br>
by speaking to a moderator, however anyone can listen to the channels.<br>
If your user name is a valid amateur license, typically you will be<br>
added to the channels automatically. Usually there are a fair number<br>
of moderators around on the channels, so approval can be pretty quick.<br>
If a user does not adhere to the channels rules, they probably will be<br>
removed pretty quickly. If you wish, you can use an assigned Network<br>
Radio callsign by asking for one from one of the moderators. These<br>
callsigns are usually assigned starting with NR and four additional<br>
digits following.<br>
<br>
When you first get started with Zello and subscribe to several<br>
channels things may seem a little confusing at first. This is because<br>
that Zello works like an old school scanner. Zello scans all the<br>
channels you are subscribed to and when one goes silent it jumps to<br>
the next active channel. If you want to stay on a channel you must<br>
change your status from Available to Solo and Zello will stick on that<br>
channel. There are a lot of settings that can affect how Zello works.<br>
Here is a pretty good users guide to setting up Zello for PTT Network<br>
Radio hardware, as well as a good general resource on Network Radios.<br>
Another good resource is the the Network Radio Facebook page with over<br>
2000 members at this writing.<br>
<br>
Other Amateur Radio Uses<br>
While the bulk of Network Network radio centers around the use of the<br>
Zello app, there are other Amateur Radio modes that can be used that<br>
connect to the internet. Other ham related apps that can be installed<br>
on these Network Radio devices since they are Android based devices.<br>
These include APRS, IRN (International Radio Network) using Team Speak<br>
3, and Echolink. So in essence Network Radio hardware can be a very<br>
multi-functional radio that Amateur Radio operators should find<br>
useful.<br>
<br>
But is it Real Ham Radio?<br>
Getting back to the title of this article, is Network Radio real ham<br>
radio? It really just depends on how you define “Real Ham Radio”<br>
Amateur radio. Some amateur radio operators contend that because it is<br>
not a RF based communications technology it is not real ham radio.<br>
Well basically Network Radio is a RF based technology since it<br>
transmits a low power RF signal to communicate with a cellular tower<br>
or to a WiFi Hotspot. Some say it is not real radio because it is<br>
internet based. Well, that would eliminate such widely accepted<br>
technologies as DMR and D-Star communications over a hotspot connected<br>
to the internet. Also eliminated would be Echolink ,IRN and APRS. So<br>
that logic doesn’t really make since. Remember some amateur radio<br>
operators don’t see communications technologies such as WSPR or FT8 as<br>
“real ham radio”, but yet will claim that the ancient RTTY or even CW<br>
technology is. So you see really those that discount Network Radio as<br>
a viable Amateur Radio communications technology have sort of a<br>
non-forward thinking process going on. That’s ok though because the<br>
great thing about Amateur Radio is that everyone can find their<br>
favorite niche in the hobby and can contribute. No matter if it’s CW<br>
or Network Radio it’s all ham radio. Another objection that pops up is<br>
that non licensed users can use the technology. Well actually this a<br>
good thing for the hobby. As mentioned earlier, the Network Radio<br>
Zello channels accept both. This allows non-amateur radio users and<br>
licensed amateur radio operators to mingle and discuss communications<br>
technology. Therefore generating interest in Amateur Radio and<br>
attracting more users into the Amateur Radio service. There have<br>
already been members of the Network Radios channels who have gone on<br>
to obtain their amateur radio licenses. Some Amateur Radio operators<br>
feel that Network Radios could mean the death of traditional Amateur<br>
Radio. Not hardly. You have to keep in mind that Network Radio relies<br>
on cellular data and Wifi to work. If you lose those services then<br>
your Network Radio basically becomes a brick. So, RF based amateur<br>
radio will always be the “Last Mile” technology during disasters or<br>
other situations where traditional communications methods are not<br>
available. So, is Network Radio “real ham radio”, sure it is. Network<br>
Radio is just another technology that can be leveraged by Amateur<br>
Radio users to extend their communications ability. Network Radio<br>
won’t replace traditional Amateur Radio, but it can certainly augment<br>
it.<br>
<br>
Be sure to subscribe to Ham Radio Science YouTube Channel for future<br>
video’s related to Network Radios.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
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<br>
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