Network Radios - Good Or Bad? Advantages & Disadvantages 

These would appeal a lot more if they had a direct mode or an analog radio built in. A big advantage of amateur radio is being able to communicate when mainstream infrastructure is not available. These "radios" could be useless when u need them the most.

This is great progression for anyone using Zello on normal smartphones. I started a bike messenger company in 2012 using Zello on smartphones and we have used it ever since for dispatching orders. We've been struggling a lot with the normal "glass phones" that are just not made for a full day in the rain. They will die the first time you drop them and you need a powerbank to stay online all day. Bike messengers all over the world using Zello will like these phones.

Aha! I just rewatched your vid while paying attention. You answered my question there. This radios offer a stand alone rugged, customizable platform and most likely cheaper device than a smartphone. Cool!

These Radios are really good for businesses to use alongside company phones. I work as a Security officer for a Large chain of stores that get hit a Lot from shoplifters. With these, I can instantly radio over to one of the companies other stores in the group and warn them to watch out for the shoplifter. And every store in the group will hear the radio call going out and be aware to be on the lookout

Well I AM a HAM and I just ordered myself one as a base station that combines Network and analog in one device, with the intention of learning more about it and using this base as a analog to Network repeater for my VHF/UHF mobile in the car and HT sets that I often cary... Some of your other vids on this helped out a lot so thanks for the work and 73

Good video. Another thing to consider is Bluetooth speaker mics. Kind of an intermediate between actually getting a network radio and just using your normal everyday smartphone. And in my opinion a pretty good option. No need to buy additional data or SIMs, no risk of dropping your phone when talking because you'll only be holding the speaker mic, and they're usually cheaper than network radios.

Late to the conversation and I've not used one of these, but I do like the idea of the instant Comms approach for people in cars, vans, lorries as you'd be able to use the hand mic whilst driving ... When it's safe do to so of course and I'm not advocating having a natter at the wheel when you should be focusing on your driving, but it would be damn handy for a group traveling in a loose convoy to keep each other informed of traffic or whatever immediately, rather than having to wait until you get to a service station, pull over, get your phone out ... And then the person you want to tell is still driving and can't pick up the phone. This way the person at the front can give the shout out and you get the chance to nip off the motorway before you miss your chance. It's not "radio", but it does mean you don't need an operator in each car ... and it's going to "feel" like radio 😀 Maybe enough to convince your convoy cohorts it's something worth looking into.

great video, defiantly done your research. by far the most informative video ive seen on these

Thanks for the video, I like the description that network radios are a sideline to amateur radio, it is a great mode, although not radio, it offers a modern choice for enthusiasts to engage and hopefully get more people applying for their licence. Enjoying network radio here

I'd like to give Network radio a try I like the look of that mobile radio and the RT4 looks good too.

Great video Ringway, well presented and very informative. Even though I tend to be a purist in Ham radio terms when it comes to, antenna to antenna comms so to speak. Yes I can see the advantages of using DMR radio's with some Hams. There will always be those hardened Hams though, like me, and even some of the newer licensees as well I would hope, who would prefer to use RF all the way. I'm not too sure though whether I can be persuaded to use a DMR radio, as I'm a bit set in my old Ham ways you see. Nevertheless I'm sure DMR radio is here to stay, and will be become the forerunner of Ham radio in the 21st century, eventually. Over the years I have seen the best of what Ham radio has had to offer me, so I will always be glad of that. G4ZZB

Very good video, well explained. I work at an annual event where ten separate start locations converge to one finish line. The average distance between points is about 45 miles, and because it's only a once-per-year event I'm reluctant to get into expensive monthly contracts, so using network radios on Zello with pay as you go seems a logical solution & your video affirms that. Just awaiting delivery of an inrico T199 to test, but your video seems to confirm that this is the right direction to go.

Hi Lewis, love your videos :) - just a wee questions please. I'm a GiffGaff user, will normal goodiebags work with these or is it the data only bags? Cheers Eddie

Hi, good review. Are you able to send an 'open' transmission? And what I mean by that is can you send a transmission that is not aimed at any particular station or source?

Great videos and reviews. Have you tried the Inrico T368 radio yet? Thanks.

Never heard of these radios til saw your video and now I have an RT4 on the way. I think they are cool and yes, I do have a ham license and no, I do not feel threatened by them like some. I am in a bad area so these are gonna do wonders for me. I am also financially limited so buying an expensive antenna systems really does not work for me. Thanks for vids and keep em coming!

Here's hoping Baofeng make one, and combined with an analogue radio.

I would be interested to see these used in a Broadband hamnet mesh Network or an AREDN mesh Network. Unmodified routers can be connected to mesh nodes at various points in the network. That way, any one of a variety of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi walkie-talkie apps could be used across the network and Link to a traditional radio system.

Great video Lewis and the whole issue put across very clearly. Personally i think network radio has a place in communication and something that iam myself considering. The audio sounds great on the new microphone and 13 mins without a break or mistake was some going. Well done.

Been a ham for 30 years. The magic of our hobby has always been the fascinating world of over the horizon RF and HF/VHF/UHF, etc. Learning about antennas, propagation, repeaters. Like you said, these are really cell phones with a PTT. It hurts me to see where our hobby is headed. Why not use a smart phone, a license is not even required for network "radios". Good video, thanks.

Para quien no tiene licencia de radioaficionado, o no puede poner antenas o simplemente no quiere, además de una inversión en equipos de RF considerable, es una opción a tener en cuenta. Da la facilidad de comunicarse a distancia, sin caprichos de la propagación ni la Ionosfera. Además, si por cualuquier motivo, debemos cambiar de QTH, es muy fácil recoger el equipo para instalar en el nuevo hogar. Además, ambos medios, tanto el tradicional de radiofrecuencia como el radio-network, son complementarios y no debemos rehusar de ninguno. 73. Felicidades por el canal. EA7KGV

Hi, on the rt3 and rt4, does the side Ptt button work as soon as you download zello or do you have to somehow program the side Ptt button to work?

I ride a motorcycle with a group mostly in places where cellphone service is at best sporadic. We use the anachronistic CB radio. Do you know of modern digital replacement?

Hi it was nice video !! I purchased last week 6x TK-3601D from kenwood and i must say in digital the range is great … but now i saw couple videos on RU-vid about the PoC radios ya i have mixed feelings … because the range with PoC is endless and with my digital radios its like limited but in your video you say something about that you cannot compare these network radios with digital radios … why you say that are they slower or lower quality or wheat ? The product I’m very interested in is inrico S300 . Should i replace my TK3601D for S300 ? The only thing I’m not sure about is with PoC radios you have an monthly costs for data plan … and iff i want 4 PoC radios then i must buy 4 data plans … with my TK3601D I don’t have to pay nothing … ya the range and some other features put me in thinking mode… can you help please thank you

Do you know another software or platform for comunication? I want to have my server and don’t use Zello. Btw nice video 🙂

Hi lewis, thanks for the blog , network radio is great for people who have limited access for antennas but keeps them on radio as it connects to echolink, dstar, allstar, dmr ,etc you can see whos on when using IRN and there is always hams joining every day ,it has RF repeaters to connect to .and acts like radio . i do enjoy the network radio , no rough rf noise just digital sound and you can take it anywhere and still talk to your mates. Will you cover IRN lewis ?? durante at network radios is always on and always helpful for any questions ,

I think it has a place like everything. I have a GMRS license and enjoy my MXT400. Time a place for everything, I used cell radios like the Motorola T100 I believe is the model number working for a company and man did they sound so good. It was like talking on a cell phone, but it came at a cost of $300 per radio and a $35 monthly plan per radio. It gets expensive but it is something that has a place. Just not for preppers or bugging out.

Lewis, Have you explored if any of the network radios actually use the antenna for the cellular side of things? I've heard suggestions and seen a year down video whereby the antenna was just for GPS on one set and on another was absolutely not used at all. Can you investigate cellular signal compared to a normal smartphone in difficult coverage areas?

A good introduction for me, thanks. If you just need to dip your toe in the water, but want a full smartphone capability, I suppose you just use something like Zello on your current smartphone. Or go that bit further and aim for a more solid unit like the BV9500Pro. Apart from its ruggedness, would that bring any advantages?

These are great for haulage companies that can communicate with a dispatch centre or any losing dock across several UK locations. I’ve known a few companies to use these services but analogue is still alive and strong

I've got my ham license, a GMRS license, and a hatful of radios of various types. I've got so many handhelds I had to say no to a pair of lovely early Alinco "credit card" handhelds -- I have the DJ-C5T dual-band versions, and these were one each uhf and vhf, the pair for only $40 USD. Yes, I'm still kicking myself. I should have bought them. But the "I already have SO many handhelds I'm not using!" cry was said more than once, so that's how many of the silly things I have. I've got a Tytera MD380 uhf DMR radio and an OpenSpot for it. My partner has a Kenwood TH-D74a DSTAR handheld (which amounts to me having it most of the time). I have the aforementioned Alincos, a couple of Baofeng UV-5r's and a couple of the T1 minis I picked up for next to nothing. And I still have my Yaesu VX-6r Tribander. In addition to the OpenSpot, I have a NW Digital ThumbDV AMBE3000 device running on a Raspberry Pi with Ambeserver, punched through my firewall so I can access it anywhere I can get Net access. I can use any of my Windows boxes at home to connect to DMR or DSTAR (Fusion soon), my cell phone, or my new device: An Inrico T320 handheld. I got the T320 by paying for about 2/3ds of the cost with "cash back" from one of my bank cards, so I got it a lot cheaper than usual. I bought it from Amazon, so I had it in 3 days. It came with a new Ting.com SIM card, but I already have two backup phones (a little BLU and a Samsung Gravity, both "feature" phones of older design) with activated Ting SIMs, so I took the one out of the BLU and stuck it in the T320. It came right up and connects with full 4G LTE phone, messaging, and data. $3USD gives me about 5gb of data per month on the Ting SIM, and I only used about 10 MB of data last month on it. I'd have to use it a lot more for the cost to really make itself felt. I was already paying the line charge to keep the SIM active, so it's not like I'm paying all that much extra. I put all the 2-way radio apps on the Inrico -- Zello, Teamspeak 3, Echolink, Orion (which I never use), and the BlueDV AMBE app for Android. (I also have the pro version of the Pocket RxTx SDR app, but only for receive. The T320 works beautifully, has excellent sound quality both incoming and outgoing, and the battery life is AMAZING, especially on standby. The PTT button works on everything right out of the box. The ONLY issue I have is that Zello is WAY too promiscuous and insistent, and has to be force-stopped to keep it from seizing the foreground when you hit the PTT in one of the other apps. So I end up not using Zello much unless I have to. But Teamspeak handles 80% or so of what Zello does, and Echolink helps with that, too. The real champ is BlueDV AMBE, letting me use DMR and DSTAR seamlessly through my ThumbDV at home while I'm out and about. If there's one thing, though, that annoys me about this hardware, though, it's the speaker/mike connector. It's one of those goofy, way too chunky Motorola-style connectors with pins on the plug and contact points on the side of the radio. It's nearly impossible to figure out WHICH Moto-style connector to buy on a speaker/mike. The brochure says it's an M5, but that doesn't fit. An M3 has a 50-percent chance of fitting out of the box, but the kind with a thumbscrew instead of a small machine bolt is too small and won't screw into the radio. I replaced the thumbscrew with a nylon M3 standoff screw, and it works fine. I wish it had something more mainstream, such as a Kenwood two-prong or Yaesu 3.5mm TRRS plug. At least the Inrico allows me to select speaker or speaker/mike with a pulldown menu instead of having to disconnect the thing all the time. It's a nice little device. It lets me use many of the repeaters and networked links I'd access with an analog radio, the two kinds of digital systems I can connect to with digital radios, and more besides. It has phenomenal battery life, and doesn't require a special, proprietary charger or custom wall-wart -- I can use any convenient micro-USB cable. AND I can connect it to my PC to access the internal storage and microSD card I added (32gb of extra storage). I just have to sheepishly refer to it as my "cell phone that identifies as a ham HT". An indelicate joke, but it accurately describes the thing. I like Network Radio. I'm a member of IRN, TheGuild, and Hamshack Hotline, as well as a number of VHF/UHF/HF groups and clubs. It's a nice way to stay in touch and not have to reprogram the radio if I take a trip, to access local repeaters. I can stay on the links I'm used to, or find the local area through Echolink. The T320 cost me about $230, $150 of which was in Amazon gift credit from my bank. So it's a decent value.

Ive got an intermediate licence, how does using these tie in with the uk amateur band restrictions, just got a T320

Thanks for reviewing what these things are. I feel I need something independent of 4G, and I’d prefer text as trying to decipher what my grandson is saying on his phone is hard work. Is there such a thing as an RF pager now?

Very good Aproach. I'm Able to connect these Networlk radios on my GPS Platform. In my Personal Opnion Zello is Banwidth eater , there are some others methods to avoid this glitch specially if you switch from 4LTE to 3G networks environments (specially in 3rd world conutries) And WAY more less expensive than Zello cost.

Good video, but I have a few questions. Do you need a SIM card to use the radio? ---OR--- can you just use wifi? and could you link the radio to your phone via hotspot on your phone? Lastly, what advantages does the radio offer over downloading the Zello app on your phone? Thanks! I'm also a Ham own 2 GMRS repeaters

Tm7, if you remove the weights inside, you can fit 4x 18650 lith cells with tags and a 4 cell reg PCB and get 24-32hrs on a 15v charge. Nice vid ,73s

I've never really looked into these, but following your video tried Zello on my smartphone and it works very well. Surprisingly having an android wear 2.0 smartwatch, the Zello app can be downloaded onto my watch, and I can select contacts/groups on the watch and push to talk using my watch alone (LG Watch Sport) with my smartphone still in my pocket!! My LG Watch Sport is a South Korean import so I have a SIM card in it for totally independent operation away from any smartphone. Alas the Zello app needs to be contacted to my phone unfortunately and can't work independently. The handsets do look good, especially the more expensive Inrico models that also combine a UHF/VHF radio too...I can see the advantage of one of the those! You must be so tempted....

Great video mate, with that gold mic I thought you might break out in to a song :-) I havent looked much at these radios really, I have to say I think they are a good idea for a rugged tool in the workplace also you might even be able to get away using one whilst driving (although I wouldnt) as it would take a copper who really knew his stuff to know it wasnt a radio and is in fact a phone, I do drive and use my HT though as you saw in the last few videos as that is legal. If they combined the network radio with a dual band hand held then im on board for sure, I am sure that they will do that, I used Zello a few years ago and had to wash my ears out after going on the Scottish Zello group, even the names of some of them I couldn't repeat on here, c*nto was one of them LOL. Audio was good on this video, I am sorting out an adsense issue with my account at the moment but will be getting some more videos up in the next few months when thats working again. Have a good weekend :-)

Can you tell me the size of the base station ie the smaller bit I want to know if it will fit in my dash

Network radio is ok if you have antenna restrictions, also running echolink is a bonus. I cant see it being a threat to amatuer radio as you'll get the "Its not real radio" brigade who wont touch it nor DMR. It might get more people into the hobby as its like a "try before you buy" for radio.

I'm looking at moving our company HF radio coms to POC. This hs been useful.

Although the rt3 is a but older than some models do you still recommended it or are there better options?

I am intrigued by your video. As an amateur radio operator all forms of communications fascinate me. Would love to hear more on your data usage after a month of hard use. Wondering if this would be a use case for FreedomPOPs free service

I am considering the RT4 and the TM7. I am a HAM, but I also use Zello for communications between REACT teams and trying to use Zello on an iPhone without the PTT button is a real pain when you have to keep typing your password all the time. This may e just what I need. Thinking of two of the TM7 units, one for a base and one for the vehicle.

Very interesting video. As regards your comment that network radios could damage amateur radio,well yes they could but in reality something similar is already happening with the use of DMR and Dstar radios being run into local hotspots like DVMegas etc. Yes they look interesting, I would like to know how much data they actually use with an app like echolink for example. I have been considering getting one of these but they seem a little expensive at present!

It looks an interesting system. Certainly could offer a 'fix' to those amateurs who have difficulty installing/setting up an external antenna for 'normal' radio at home. The new mic looks nice and sounds good too.... 73

I use Zello with coworkers at work since everyone has a smartphone already. But I woudnt mind buying the T7 for the car and using my spare prepaid sim which otherwise wouldnt get used. Im a ham, I think its another mode of communication.

Can you connect the handhelds to the android wireless hotspot on your phone? IE So you don't need another SIM and just use phone data tethering (contract allowing).

Excellent presentation, All the Best Sir.

Evening Lewis hope your well!! Where is the best place online to get a RT4 from?? eBay??

You said these radios can be used as normal phones as well as ptt zello etc. Does this include the TM7? Does the mobile style radio have on screen number pad dialer and can anyone phone into the unit if you have a data and minutes SIM?

Can you download google maps on the mobile device? Will it work? Thanks

I've just bought an Inrico T320.

Agree with the pros and cons. But what I like with these is the coverage. cellular networks have more coverage than radio. And in our case, coverage is everything. I think this might overtake DMR coz of the infrastructure advantage that GSM /LTE networks already have in place. Good reviews. Many thanks!

Nice video Lewis. With the problems with noise on the HF bands especially (and when conditions are rubbish) these radios could be very useful, not just for the antenna impaired. My other half loves them though because there are no antennas to erect! I've just got a Talkpod N58 to try out, but it needs a firmware update first. The hardware looks good though. Another advantage is that you can run Ham Apps as well of course - APRS Droid will turn it into an APRS radio - any Broadcast app will turn it into a DAB-type radio - and so on. And you can monitor and use the various web-SDRs on the net via the browser! :) Looks like fun!

What is TEAM SPEAK is that an app...?? thanks...

I can see these having real value if you have a communications task to perform within a organisation. For example running a big event like a Scout Jamboree or perhaps a sports tournament you could establish a number of Zello networks and use the 1:1 and 1:many functionality smartly then burn down the nets on completion. The pseudo privacy of those communications is useful as it excludes pratts interfering on RF. Also system overload on these network radios is unlikely whereas running an event with only a few UHF channels (shabbily partitioned by CTCSS) that everyone is fighting over can be a struggle. Furthermore the fact that any smart phone user with only peripheral comms need can be brought into these networks on the fly when authorised means no hardware investment for non core comms team members. Latency is a bit of a drag though cf RF

hi mate thinking of getting the inrinco tm7 just waiting on supplyer getting stock were did you get the handhelds from cheers and can i add you to zello for test when i get my radio cheers

awesome smr radio and iden is my new intrest atm.. there cabilities are cool.. cant seem to find one of those old blackberrys and figure how it is the police have there network and they comunicate... somethin tio do with RIM tech have heard first hand its possible.. altho????

idk what gargif mobile data is. will it work if i put an att sim card in it?

Is it possible to do a video on the anysecu w6??

Have been looking at those for aged, debating whether to buy one. Just might do .cant find your channel on zello too

Are these really good for PTT to use in security industry ie.retail or on the doors as im after using something like this :)

Do these have an internet browser? Do they work with AT&T?

Do you need to have a licence to talk on the network radio channels? Also does anyone no any good scanner channels to listen to? Thanks

A bit late to this video, but I've always been quite intrigued by the thought of getting a ham licence, I've used CB on and off since about 1980, and I've used radios for other jobs. I think this may be a good way for people like myself to dip a toe in the water without the investment that a ham licence requires.

What's the best network handheld do u recommend for my first time.

A cell phone with no bloatware / crapware / fighting bye the ISP purium I hope the signals are encrypted?

I love the Network Radio platform, I you asked me the question theoretically I'd have said "No, surely there'd be no call for it?" ... but since signing up to NR and listening, it is clear that there IS call for it, from all different types of people too, from licensed amateurs to folks that have never really used radio before. As for the devices themselves, I think their biggest problem is that Smartphones not only run the software, but they run it SO WELL! As well as the A17 I bought (after seeing your video!) I also run Zello on my old iPhone 4S, which is useless for anything else, and it runs like a dream! both TX and RX audio is crystal clear, In fact I've noticed you can always spot iPhone users by their outstanding audio. I convinced myself I "needed" the PTT and radio form factor, but I do wonder whether I should just drop the pretence and embrace the convergence :D

this doesnt seem much different than echolink, which you can use on your smartphone. you can do group chats on echolink too?

I don't think that I understand how just these are different to an android phone running the zello app? Can anyone enlighten me?

Good confident presentation - and you're quite telegenic by the way ;-) But have I missed a video? I still don't understand what they do. Is it amateur radio through the internet? Seems these things operate like anything from walkie-talkies to DXing on 20m? So where is the challenge to understanding propagation? Where is the thrill of building something with a handful of components and communicating with someone across the street or across the sea? So you need the internet infrastructure to make them work? Surely the whole point of amateur radio is that no infrastructure is required. So when the lights go out and Tescos closes, our battery-operated rigs will still be able to set up some sort of communication. Sorry, but I don't really get it. But good luck the those who do...

Curious, how are these really different then a Zello app on your own Iphone/Samsung phone..?

I use zello a lot with my friends I chat to them I have a ulephone power armour 21 with a built-in Ptt button with a 10000mah hour better it's so useful zello not having the distance issues that traditional radio have of course

Very good video thank you for sharing

I have your group on zello and it’s always quiet why did you have a different group

These see like a good option for private groups, commercial use, families, and MAYBE Emergency services? (But I have seen those fail before, in EMS use. Due to being out of range of a cell tower!)

I have a Google pixel phone which has WiFi and data and 128 GB memory card. Would it be better to use this or one of the network radios?. 73's Alan

Is it IP Walkie Talkie?What are the advantages of it over normal Walkie Talkie set?What are it's installation requirement & working principle?

Do these RT3 radios work without sim cards? If so, then there really isn't a cost involved other than the purchase of the unit itself. Obviously, if you have to use it where there is no WiFi network, you will need a GSM sim card, but if they are just being used in a warehouse, for example, these would be a very low-cost alternative(some of the higher end radios can cost over $400 USD) to a repeater network. Which as far as I know, no matter where you are requires a local license to use DMR, DSTAR, Etc.

Is this an alternative to a cell or mobile phone? Or is it a HAM radio innovation? Will this work in the event of a disaster event or will they shut down with the rest of the mobile system?

I have just got into. Network

Is zello only for licensed people?

Hey buddy, Great channel. You may have sparked my interest in Ham Radio again :-) How about putting some buying links to the gear you review. You could earn yourself some nice commission too :-)

How much does the data cost for these to operate

Lots of none technical people are using zello these days so it's not a bad thing I've been looking at the anytime t3 for a POC. But I will never give up my actual radios ......never 😊

Are these unlocked for any sim ?

Do they work with AT&T

If you were to buy a network radio today. What would you get ?

What is the brand and model of the handhelds?

Excellent

can you get onto the yaesu fusion system with these raidos

As much as I want these network radios to be a success another part of me doesn't want them to suceed because when I first got my amateur license I got it for HF use and 70cm and VHF after discovering VHF and 70CM analogue is mostly dead I went to DMR and I love it, but I find most of my communication is done on HF and I love just the excitement you can get from talking anywhere and you don't know where they could be from, and also some amazing people that you get to speak to and Im not saying network radios don't allow you to do exactly the same but to me It's a mobile phone shaped into a radio and It's pretty much just like a skype call, I personally believe it's all about RF communication that advances you in the hobby and get you to learn more and more, These are certainly radios (wireless radios) but I just think it can bring a lot of bad press to the ham world with these.

how do i fix my radio if i locked out of it

Is this kind of like a satellite phone that will work with no cellular service?

How I can turn my M990 off and on please

Question: Do the android devices also work as phones?! Or is the phone app crippled?

I love networkradios, thanks for the video Lewis !

Interesting tech. But like you said , takes the buzz out of traditional Radio. They depend on a functioning infrastructure ( like mobiles do ) , so they're useless otherwise. This is where Radio shines. It still works when everything else does not.. The only advantage I see here ( if I understood these correctly ) is the ability to send voice over a mobile network , without using a sim-card ( using WIFI only ) , closest thing to which is the sending of voice messages over Whatsapp , which I never bothered with. Cause really and truly, might as well use a mobile. Like I said , they are interesting however.

How is this different from just downloading the Zello app and using your current phone/tablet?