Apr 28, 2023·edited Apr 28, 2023Liked by Steve Stroh N8GNJ
I'm a little worried that that BTECH radio looks like it may share a platform with the QYT KT-8900d. The KT-8900d is RDA based and has an extremely slow turn-around time so it's unsuitable for connected data modes. Rob Riggs experiences mirror mine exactly but unfortunately I had bought two of the QYT radios to experiment with before I found his blog post. Rob's findings and measurements are below:
Ben - In my experience (your mileage may vary), transmit / receive (t/r) turnaround time is but one measure of how useful a radio is for data communications. Yes, in the traditional packet radio paradigm where there's one frequency, one radio, and packets are short and numerous (typical of TNCs with small buffers), t/r turnaround time is a big deal. But this radio is $125 or so, and I could easily anticipate buying two and having one receiving full time (or an inexpensive software defined receiver). This is especially the case when you use two frequencies and you can enable full duplex communications. Lastly, one compensation for slow t/r turnaround time is to lengthen the packets. This is getting more feasible as we now have more and more Forward Error Correction (FEC) such as FX.25, IL2P, and FEC is built into VARA FM.
As I said, I'm looking forward to hearing some reports about the suitability of these radios for data communications use.
I'm looking for a platform to publicize and discuss a concept I've been thinking about for several years: hams are 'Systems Engineers' to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the complexity of their station. Wikipedia: "Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and engineering management that focuses on how to design, integrate, and manage complex systems".
John - Thanks for the kind words about Zero Retries!
You point out something I think most Amateur Radio Operators take for granted - that it falls (mostly) to THEM to make their particular disparate units of Amateur Radio equipment all work together.
The sole exception I can think in having to do our own systems integration is that FlexRadio seems to be developing an ecosystem of "mostly just works together" units - transceivers, amplifiers, antenna matchers, even antenna systems (SteppIR). I think that's because FlexRadio recognized the importance of well-designed external interfaces, both physical (Ethernet) and software (published APIs) that make it much easier for manufacturers to make their systems work with FlexRadio units.
To your point, it is one of the distinguishing characteristics of Amateur Radio vs other radio -related hobbies that we do have the ability to make things work together that weren't originally intended to do so. One of the joys of doing so is that we have a rich community and history to draw from, and ask for help, when we decide to tackle such a project.
I'm a little worried that that BTECH radio looks like it may share a platform with the QYT KT-8900d. The KT-8900d is RDA based and has an extremely slow turn-around time so it's unsuitable for connected data modes. Rob Riggs experiences mirror mine exactly but unfortunately I had bought two of the QYT radios to experiment with before I found his blog post. Rob's findings and measurements are below:
http://www.mobilinkd.com/2017/05/27/a-brief-review-of-the-kt-8900d/
I'm not trying to be a naysayer. I really hope BTECH has worked to resolve the turnaround issues.
Ben - In my experience (your mileage may vary), transmit / receive (t/r) turnaround time is but one measure of how useful a radio is for data communications. Yes, in the traditional packet radio paradigm where there's one frequency, one radio, and packets are short and numerous (typical of TNCs with small buffers), t/r turnaround time is a big deal. But this radio is $125 or so, and I could easily anticipate buying two and having one receiving full time (or an inexpensive software defined receiver). This is especially the case when you use two frequencies and you can enable full duplex communications. Lastly, one compensation for slow t/r turnaround time is to lengthen the packets. This is getting more feasible as we now have more and more Forward Error Correction (FEC) such as FX.25, IL2P, and FEC is built into VARA FM.
As I said, I'm looking forward to hearing some reports about the suitability of these radios for data communications use.
I'm looking for a platform to publicize and discuss a concept I've been thinking about for several years: hams are 'Systems Engineers' to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the complexity of their station. Wikipedia: "Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and engineering management that focuses on how to design, integrate, and manage complex systems".
-de John NI0K
P.S. I enjoy Zero Retries and read every one.
John - Thanks for the kind words about Zero Retries!
You point out something I think most Amateur Radio Operators take for granted - that it falls (mostly) to THEM to make their particular disparate units of Amateur Radio equipment all work together.
The sole exception I can think in having to do our own systems integration is that FlexRadio seems to be developing an ecosystem of "mostly just works together" units - transceivers, amplifiers, antenna matchers, even antenna systems (SteppIR). I think that's because FlexRadio recognized the importance of well-designed external interfaces, both physical (Ethernet) and software (published APIs) that make it much easier for manufacturers to make their systems work with FlexRadio units.
To your point, it is one of the distinguishing characteristics of Amateur Radio vs other radio -related hobbies that we do have the ability to make things work together that weren't originally intended to do so. One of the joys of doing so is that we have a rich community and history to draw from, and ask for help, when we decide to tackle such a project.