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Bob N2TEV
12-06-2017, 01:28 PM
I am wondering if anyone has either a Echolink, IRLP or Allstar portable node with them in their travels. Locally we have several Allstar nodes that occasionally someone will be traveling with a portable node and reporting conditions along his route for the duration of his trip. I have access to unlimited wifi cellular device and have visited several websites that have do it yourself plans for constructing a node. There are also several portable nodes available for purchase such as Micro-Node or Nano-Node but the prices vary between IRLP, DMR, Echolink and Allstar. When you search the different nodes it isn't clear which is the most active and what the differences or even which one will still be around in a few years or so. Anybody have a grip on the status of the digital modes and a recommendation of a mode or a website or other resources that compare the different modes. I think that with a mobile node I could connect to back home or ahead to my next stop. I think it would be easier to use driving than HF as you would have only one channel on your HT rather than scanning the HF bands in hope of finding someone on the air. Any thoughts or ideas.

NN5I
12-06-2017, 02:21 PM
Sounds like fun, driving along and picking picking your nodes ...

Bob N2TEV
12-07-2017, 02:28 PM
It does Carl. I was hoping to find someone who can tell me in non-technical language what is the main difference between the different modes are and if anyone is has been using a portable node in their RV. I guess I am going to have to go to a strictly ham radio forum for an answer. Thanks for the reply.

NN5I
12-07-2017, 03:17 PM
Had I any clue, I'd explain it myself. Alas, I know nothing about that stuff.

Me, I'd try Googling it, perhaps with search strings like:

(ALLSTAR | ECHOLINK | IRLP) NODE

and so forth. But surely someone on ORR knows about these things.

p.s I just Googled with the string I suggested -- seems to be a brain-overload worth of stuff there.

N3LYT
12-11-2017, 06:01 PM
DMR right now is probably the most popular mode.