Network Radios - Explanation and Demo using Inrico T320 and Zello 

Network radio could actually be the saviour of amateur radio! I found a video by mistake on network radio when flicking through RU-vid, I downloaded the Zello app on my iphone and within a few days I was addicted, it then inspired me to re-activate my amateur radio license after 18 years away from the hobby! This form of radio opens up a whole new area for people who due to either cost, location or personal circumstances are unable to broadcast on the HF, UHF & VHF bands. Should be embraced not ridiculed.

Great Video found an amazing new place to try Network Radios Unplugged

I am an avid fan of network radio and Zello RF is quiet bec they only entertain licensed fcc ham operators only by them selves and IT Is FEELING BORING ‘ 😆 Unlike Zello and network radio is you talk to anyone Licensed or none licensed Zello communicator there is no discrimination in network communication Network radio communication is more popular than ever... For me network radio enthusiasts IS THE NEW HAM RADIO COMMUNICATION JLT Thanks for sharing! God bless!!

good analogy, a group of my mates have gone that way. I feel like i need to do the same ,just to talk. the same Concern was about , with digital. as long as the Radio thing keeps going kay sara .seriously thinking of avin a go .

So glad he xplaned what everything meant I've been using zello for 2weeks haven't got a clue what he was saying nr541

Great video Mike. Network Radio is very polarizing but it really is just another way for radio enthusiasts to communicate. Many non licensed ops have gone on to get their foundation license thanks to NR and Paul/M1BPT's Tuesday night net. One mode is not meant to replace another. I appreciate the ability to converse around the world with full clarity &no antenna. Antenna restrictions at my QTH prohibit me from putting out a decent signal using RF but I make do with indoor antennas. Network Radios has its place for people like me and go well alongside my ThumbDV for Dstar & DMR. Thanks for the video.

I'm planning to buy a T320 primarily to use with EchoLink. I see it has adding to the hobby. 73s M7TUD

It's a communication medium in the same way as 446 or CB is. It's not amateur radio but yes radio amateurs use it. It's a good medium for chatting but there is no challenge or sense of achievement which for many of us is part and parcel of our hobby. The real strength of the Network Radio system is as you point out the fact that it is well moderated. It won't be the death of amateur radio it may appeal to those who just want to chat. I have a device for this but it doesn't compare to amateur radio, it's no more of a challenge than using the phone or using an app like Skype.

Good video. I'm a full licence holder and my main passion is HF with the occasional 2m/ 70cm and DMR, but myself and many of my amateur friends use Network Radio and yeah, it isn't radio in the true sense of the word, but one way of looking at it is that it could be seen as just another addition to the many operating modes of Amateur Radio. And if it encourages people into taking their Foundation licence then that can't be a bad thing. Still a touchy subject for a lot of hams though lol

I've been using Network Radio for about three months now, mostly on the Network Radio channels you mentioned. I was initially sceptical but found I was impressed not only with the sound quality but the quality of the contacts I made. Great bunch of people on these channels both Amateurs and unlicenced. Like you I found many of the unlicenced users were, because of Network Radio, studying for their foundation, or equivalent, exam. There is also another group of channels called International Radio Network. This was started by a ham in the USA but has good support here in the UK. Every day except Saturday they have a 10pm UK time net. On a Friday the net is only for Amateurs as they crosslink Zelo with DMR and D-Star. So yes, I'm enjoying Network Radio, talking to people all over the world, and see it as an addition to working RF. I'm also using Peanut and Echolink all on the same device. I now have two devices as I enjoy it that much, and Inrico T320 and a Telo M5 mobile radio.

Amatuer Radio must embrace the technology available to survive and not burate the users of the new technology. I have heard many users on Zello enquiring about amateur radio licensing and training so it is helping to grow the hobby rather than taking away from it. One big point overlooked is that you can travel with it on a foundation and intermediate license, which you cannot do on your license. I'm heading off and looking forward to using it in Spain next week while I'm there. Great video well worth a sub.

Hello ,I was walking my dogs in Weston super mare listening to you make this video,73s to you from 2e0zdj (nr2626)

A good video. I'm actually one of those people that use Network Radio and it prompted me to sit the Foundation exam. I'm now using HF as well as NR. NR is such a friendly community and full of people to chat to. It is great that it has moderators and the moderation team do a great job. For those people that criticise the medium all I would say is give it a go - you might just enjoy it. If not you have lost nothing. M7DSH and NR905.

Well done Mike, great to hear someone licensed being positive about Network Radio. G0JIW

this is a great video I have been informed about a Inrico T320 and Zello I didn't know this existed, where I live is making contact on the LPD 2m/70cm/ and big problem i have a diamond x200 and it is difficult to connect to repeaters. I live in kollum Friesland in the Netherlands and my flat is between the houses and am surrounded by solar panels and obstacles. I have been recommended to to buy a Inrico T320 and to use Zello, your video woke me up I'm going to try Zello and thank you for this beautiful video stay safe and healthy.

The quality of the audio is excellent far better than DMR. It's just another mode well worth experimenting with. Not enough amateurs use the digital modes to there full potential!!!!!

Great video Mike i will be taking my foundation licence exam in January mainly due to finding Network radio and talking with hams etc without NR i would still be listening to the ham bands without being able to take the plunge so long live Network radio. NR004

Well i can agree to many of you its easy , cheap and strait of the box but nothing in any means never replace true satisfaction and excitement when you set up your own radio station and make real rare DX contact that's for me a real HAM RAdio, sure the network radios have future but they never replace for me enjoyment and joy of transmitting on real radio waves. Many 73,s to all M7SZY

why i use network radio 9s units plus of noise ie crap,being deaf i just can not here through the shizun plus no out door antennas allowed here .. tnx for video from sir jeffrey, sheptonmallet somerset.

For me, Network Radio was a no brainer. I have been licenced for 40 years and now live in sheltered accomodation in the middle of sheep farming country with no amateurs in handheld radio range and with no possibility of putting up any external antennas so it was network radio ham radio related channels or nothing. I came to NR because I had no choice, but have found it to be very well frequented & very well run. With strict but fair moderation, the NR channels have far less abuse than the VHF/UHF ham repeaters do. The reason that by using NR you can always find people to chat to is because it has worldwide coverage. Locally, there is no one within radio range to chat to because of my restricted circumstances but even with the best VHF/UHF setup, you are not going to be able to communicate with the whole country wide population of hams at any one time and even with the best HF setup, the same applies with worldwide coverage. The UK ham bands usage levels were getting less and less long before network radio came on the scene! Some people may not like NR and that's fine. You don't HAVE to use it do you? You could always go look at your silent but nicely lit up VHF/UHF gear instead :-) I think Mike M0XMX has some very valid points and I agree with him, I have also spoken to or heard several non licenced network radio users who have gone on to take the RSGB Foundation licence and onwards from there. I come from a time where there was no graduated entry into the hobby of ham radio and have built and used my own VHF/UHF & Hf equipment and done everything from CW to phone to RTTY, packet radio, SSTV and fast scan colour TV and also bought and used many commercial made equipment over the years. Network Radio for me is an useful extension to ham radio and an asset not detrimental to ham radio hobby. If it gives us another way to communicate and helps to bring in new blood to the Amateur radio community, whats wrong with that? GREAT VIDEO MIKE.

well done pal spoke to you this morning ..m0prf.. jeffrey .. from somerset we need new blood in the hobby and new ideas this is it as far as i can see ,, my video is .. NET WORK RADIO FRIEND OR FOE ..

Hi. Do you know the button combination to do a hard reset on this radio?

I think ham radio has its own space...which cant be filled by anything else...

On a really basic level, could my family members have these in our cars?

Hi Mike. Anymore Network Radio videos coming? Do you still use it?

Except in 2021 they removed the trending lists, so it’s difficult to find active channels.

oh i got one of those, an inrico t320 rattle bucket ..jeff.. m0prf

Hi Mike, why not provide links to Network Radio Apps for iPhone & Android .. it will help people..

good video very informative I have just bought a t320 and am just trying to get it sorted. 73's Alan 26CT2661

The keypad rattle/buzz on your T320 is terrible! How can you listen to that?

I am a bit confused. Why do you call CQ on 2 meters? Are you on 2 meter side band? I am probably wrong on this but I thought CQ was for HF long distance. Let me know so I can get it straight. And if you do 2 meter side band then i can see why you use a log book. I know some Amateurs that log all their contacts regardless of where they are talking. I do not use a log book for my 2 meter/440 FM, DMR, D-Star, C4FM contacts but that's me. It sounds like you do not use DMR. It is not expensive and with a hot spot you can talk to the world using your cell phone or home WIFI. Thanks for the video!

and looks like no heirachi problems I stopped using 2m after being told as an M6 I'm only a novice and dont know my equiptment by an old boy!! funny cos on HF or Cw euro contacts are far more welcoming for qrp contacts Might give this a try 73

Hi, personally I cant be doing with all the swearing especially from the moderators on network radios

Part of the demise of 2m,was introducing 12.5khz spacing (non compatibility with older 25khz spaced equipment),the dropping of tone burst access comparability on 2m repeaters and use of CTCSS,plus the biggest problem in my area was a lot of 2m repeaters have moved away from prime commercial hill top locations due to commercial pressures and fees and now reside in low places where they cannot be heard or gone. Network radio when interfaced to base stations and the use of meshed networks is the simpler solution to the old vhf\uhf and CB\PMR will provide a solution and why becoming more popular. The biggest problem Im currently is getting the desktop PC software applications to work easily interface with bases radios to allow this. Zellow currently is bugged not allowing full use of comm port (commercial version works OK) FRN does not support Phone app (was alpha test version but support lost) Fix these issue and meshed radio with phone and PTT network 2 ways radios can interface all mediums and this I can see is future of radio\cellphones\LTE\etc Give it time and this will happen and hardware interfacing via the USB\RS comms port of a PC is not too hard to do allowing all modes to be connected up ham,cb,commercial. As far as the phone software apps they work fine,and dont think will be the death of ham,cb etc as in the commercial world of PMR we are seeing a trend shifting where a radio system is not now based on one system is better than another,more like combining these systems together old and new to bring more life to product and this can be done the same with network radio ie FM,DMR,D-Star,C4FM,dPMR Way I see it it will allow multi-platforms to operate together old,new,cutting edge be a phone,network radio,a cb radio,pmr446,ham repeater etc and dont see that as a bad thing just a shift in thinking process. Radio & Phone have allows been a separate entity for a while and this is slowly changing by combining of the two we are already seeing 4\5G PTT phones+FM\DMR VHF or UHF built in+Hi Speed Wifi,it only a matter of time before we see this integrated into 2 way radios of all kinds of products Ham,commercial,VHF marine,CB,License Free subject to "red tape"regulations that normally holds progress back when it comes to radio equipment and access,while we need regulation to some point to control things,sometime the regulations fail to catch up pace with fast changing technology ! Network radio is just another additional facility to communications and doubt very much it will kill Hobby ham radio as title suggests,just a shift in whats accessible. Interesting video ,thanks for posting. Rob

Amateur radio is dead anyhow regardless of any new invention. I have my amateur license since a long time and have a studio with countless expensive equipment that are more or less dust catchers. Many of my transceivers I have are sold on by now. Main reason was that one cannot listen or broadcast in large cities as the entire spectrum is polluted with all sorts of noise coming in via the air or via the power-supply making it impossible to listen or to broadcast. I still have and keep my 2 meter and 70 centimeter equipment, preferrable top of the range hand-held transceivers in case of nature or other disasters, where such equipment comes handy. I now have purchased a network radio that can be used for Echolink and it gives me the possibility to talk and contact worldwide without the rather useless HAM connections and the boring and cliquey talk with old men not much more interested than talking about the past time when HAM radio was something useful and active. Nowadays, HAM radio is outdated and has past its used by date.

If you want to operate nerwork radio just use Skype , no exams to sit

Amateur radio is more than just chatting to most hams

The problem with Network radios is that its just Skype or chatrooms. There is nothing 'amateur radio' about it. Its an APP on a phone. No antennas, no skills required, no license required, no knowledge, push the button and talk to anyone, anywhere.

Internet is not radio.