One thing I'd really like to see is a true "auto discovery" system for data radios, and a CAT interface becoming standard/required for any data modes going forward. Idea would be monitor a common channel (144.39 APRS could be the obvious choice but would need some wrangling), let the radio build a table of what's around in the area and QSY automagically. So instead of sitting idle on the local repeater listening to everyone cherchunk all afternoon, find out who's around and what they're monitoring. Then just pick from the list. Maybe even set up crossband modes for full-duplex with data repeaters.
Problem is nearly all mobile V/UHF radios have no CAT port, so no way to easily QSY, or set PL tones, etc. Let alone build talkgroups or other digital specific features, if your radio will even be set up to handshake with the repeater at all. And given the very long product lifetimes of most amateur radio hardware it will take decades for manufacturers to adapt anything new.
Ready - This is the best version of the "auto discovery" concept that I've seen is a "Hailing Chanel" for Amateur Radio. It IS doable - see this presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wUl-plfc_w. We really, Really, REALLY need some group that offers to be an impartial arbiter and publisher of standards in Amateur Radio, like my proposed Amateur Radio Standards Organization (ARSO) equivalent to the Internet Engineering Task Force and their publication of Requests For Comment (RFCs). The way we do it now is starting to be broken from too many varying implementations of the same idea.
One thing I'd really like to see is a true "auto discovery" system for data radios, and a CAT interface becoming standard/required for any data modes going forward. Idea would be monitor a common channel (144.39 APRS could be the obvious choice but would need some wrangling), let the radio build a table of what's around in the area and QSY automagically. So instead of sitting idle on the local repeater listening to everyone cherchunk all afternoon, find out who's around and what they're monitoring. Then just pick from the list. Maybe even set up crossband modes for full-duplex with data repeaters.
Problem is nearly all mobile V/UHF radios have no CAT port, so no way to easily QSY, or set PL tones, etc. Let alone build talkgroups or other digital specific features, if your radio will even be set up to handshake with the repeater at all. And given the very long product lifetimes of most amateur radio hardware it will take decades for manufacturers to adapt anything new.
Ready - This is the best version of the "auto discovery" concept that I've seen is a "Hailing Chanel" for Amateur Radio. It IS doable - see this presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wUl-plfc_w. We really, Really, REALLY need some group that offers to be an impartial arbiter and publisher of standards in Amateur Radio, like my proposed Amateur Radio Standards Organization (ARSO) equivalent to the Internet Engineering Task Force and their publication of Requests For Comment (RFCs). The way we do it now is starting to be broken from too many varying implementations of the same idea.