Colin:

Thanks much for the clarification.

As I'm sure you can tell, I'm new to the whole concept of FM digital
repeaters, since as I indicated earlier, our repeaters here in my area of
Michigan are still analog.

Nevertheless, I can see the switch to digital happening for at least some
repeaters, maybe even in my area, in the future, so I am trying to learn at
least something about them in order to at least be somewhat informed.

To me, the real problems with the switch to digital are two-fold:

1.  The lack of standardization across regions, states, and beyond, which
makes buying radios a questional proposition for people who are not
necessarily going to stay put in one area where a given technology is used;
and

2.  Accessibility for blind hams like ourselves.

Will be interesting to watch as things develop.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Colin McDonald
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2016 2:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Help me out, please

Tom: Fusion is it's own digital mode different from the rest.
Yaesu offered dual band fusion/analogue repeaters in 2015 for such a good
price that many clubs bought several of them.  It is somewhat unfortunate
that the repeaters are made up of essentially two mobile radios and some
controller circuitry...instead of a properly built repeater.
Yaesu has a couple radios capable of fusion, but of course they are still
pricy and uncommon...DMR radios are much cheaper and easier to get ahold
of...even more so than DStar, so I see DMR becoming the standard digital
mode just due to availability and cost...as we all know, hams tend to be
cheap lol.
You can buy a very nice DMR handheld for $200 or less shipped to your
door...the yaesu fusion HT is still well over $300.
DMR also has more potential and a far larger network across the world at the
moment.
Yaesu tried this before with the wires concept, which did well in Japan but
never took off anywhere else...now they are trying fusion which I fear will
have the same result.
They come late to the party most of the time and other systems are better
developed and nicer to use.  To try and develop the fusion network they
were, perhaps still are selling dual band fusion repeaters for $600 or so. 
If enough clubs buy these, and many many of them have across north america,
perhaps fusion will get off the ground.  But Yaesu will have to quickly
start offering several different models of radio capable of using fusion to
get it going.




73
Colin, V A6BKX
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Sunday, January 3, 2016 9:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Help me out, please

Thanks, Pat.  I was wondering the same thing.

Here in my local area, we are still all analog, although there are some
folks who are starting to play with the digital modes.

For example, our club just bought two of the 2-meter/440 Fusion repeaters
from Yaesu, and I know they have digital capability of some kind.  However,
I'm not sure what that capability is.  Perhaps DMR?

If anyone knows, please advise.

For now, I'm sticking with analog.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Pat Byrne
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2016 10:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Help me out, please

I am playing catch up!  Is DMR another scheme in addition to Dstar and the
Yaesu digital offering?
If so, then are there three competing scenarios?
Thanks.
Pat Byrne, K9JAU