Kenwood "2025 TM-D720": I am waiting for a rig containing a slot for one of the Raspberry Pi form factors. The format and the mounting holes should be standardized enough, just as the 40-pole connector. The only feature that changes from model to model is the layout of the connector panel. The video and audio connections of the Raspi are not so important. Raspberry Pis and more or less compatible computers should remain available for the time to come.
If the standard form factor appears too big for a mobile rig, take one of the smaller form factors. For stationary systems, add enough room for a HAT. Front panels should be easy enough to make for 3rd parties.
If you do get a meeting, maybe put out a feeler for Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration. With all the airbags in modern cars it's very difficult to find a spot for another head unit.
Imagine pairing a black box radio with your phone and having the UI just appear on your factory system. Much of the work has already been done with standard buttons and display primitives in the two APIs, just need to get the back end talking to the radio side. And it would automagically make it hands-free!
Ready - That makes complete sense to me. I'm encouraged that there are now a few Amateur Radio app developers who've broken through the Apple IOS app ecosystem "minefield", and maybe they can extend those projects into CarPlay and the Android developers into Android Auto.
Another "fertile area of experimentation" for auto use is the small number of radios that are choosing "headless" operation in favor of Bluetooth and an app (poorly implemented, but perhaps replacement apps can be developed).
I think we're about due for some significant rethinking of VHF / UHF radios by some scrappy little company for actual mobile operation (instead of the majority becoming base stations, where a hardware control panel is desired).
Kenwood "2025 TM-D720": I am waiting for a rig containing a slot for one of the Raspberry Pi form factors. The format and the mounting holes should be standardized enough, just as the 40-pole connector. The only feature that changes from model to model is the layout of the connector panel. The video and audio connections of the Raspi are not so important. Raspberry Pis and more or less compatible computers should remain available for the time to come.
If the standard form factor appears too big for a mobile rig, take one of the smaller form factors. For stationary systems, add enough room for a HAT. Front panels should be easy enough to make for 3rd parties.
Alexander - THAT... would be a very cool, Zero Retries Interesting radio. The Raspberry Pi Compute Module is ideal for such uses.
If you do get a meeting, maybe put out a feeler for Android Auto/Apple CarPlay integration. With all the airbags in modern cars it's very difficult to find a spot for another head unit.
Imagine pairing a black box radio with your phone and having the UI just appear on your factory system. Much of the work has already been done with standard buttons and display primitives in the two APIs, just need to get the back end talking to the radio side. And it would automagically make it hands-free!
Ready - That makes complete sense to me. I'm encouraged that there are now a few Amateur Radio app developers who've broken through the Apple IOS app ecosystem "minefield", and maybe they can extend those projects into CarPlay and the Android developers into Android Auto.
Another "fertile area of experimentation" for auto use is the small number of radios that are choosing "headless" operation in favor of Bluetooth and an app (poorly implemented, but perhaps replacement apps can be developed).
I think we're about due for some significant rethinking of VHF / UHF radios by some scrappy little company for actual mobile operation (instead of the majority becoming base stations, where a hardware control panel is desired).