N3PRO (Dave)'s Blog

Why talk about a cell phone on a ham radio site?

I bought one of the Motorola Droid phones. I am a fan of open source as well as the underdog. I think this phone as a lot of potential for use with HAM radio. Being open source anyone can create software for it. Unlike Apple’s “walled garden” where every app needs approval; you can create software post it for download and bam it can be used. APRS – there can be an app for that, EMCOMM software – there can be an app for that, DX cluster – there can be an app for that. WIFI, droiddoes. Seems minor but what I picture is getting a call to report to a EMCOMM location, 30 minutes from the house, 5 minutes from the site; cell sites are down and traffic is at a standstill, don’t carry a laptop in the car but I could as previously seen on Hambrief.tv carry a D-star radio and WIFI router. In a few minutes I can have the D-star and router connected using the Droid to get on the internet to get the latest information or pass messages until back up comes with a laptop.

I’ll post some pictures of the Droid compared to the Yaesu VX-8

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