Video was good, product is a neat toy.... but it's hard to "forget the price" when it's an item for sale. Is it worth the asking price? Yeah, probably. The problem is that it's nothing that anyone needs. Maybe if this item came out 20 years ago it would have sold like hotcakes.
You can try the Lilygo t-Echo LORA: it has GPS, a battery, an e-ink paper screen in a plastic box with an antenna. For 70€/80€. With DL5TKL firmware, it's a nice APRS LORA tracker even if it doesn't have all the other options of PicoAprs. For the VHF version, I don't think there is a similar product. The TTGO VHF from Lyligo could be use as tracker too, in AFSK VHF FM, but it don't work really well I think.
This is such a cool project. I hope we keep seeing more innovative devices like this in the APRS realm, along with other data based modes. The mere fact that it has an exposed TNC is a big deal in my book.
Thanks for the detailed review - although I've come across aprs many times before, I had no idea one could message between APRS nodes let alone cross-net.
Great little device !! A bit expensive but it does cover a lot. On the 2m version I do like the Kiss TNC and Digipeat or igate functions. And it acts as a FM transceiver with +0.5 Watts. Great. Thanks for sharing. 73 Phil ON4VP
LOL. Size has nothing to do with anything where price (or value) is concerned. A diamond is tiny. A CPU is small. There are pills that cost more than 300 Euro.
IMHO, these are both really interesting products and I’m really glad you covered them. The wave of dismissiveness in the comments due to price is a bit discouraging, and I say that as someone who is far from wealthy.
I love the form factor and how good it is. However, there are a few HTs with APRS that are less than half the cost. I respect that going smaller for something like this actually increases the cost, and I respect that some of the HTs have economies of scale going for them reducing the cost so I don't think it is overpriced for what it takes to make them (said another way, I dont think it has a high or at least unreasonable profit margin); but as a consumer, it is hard to justify this over something that while being heavier, is significantly cheaper.
Way too much money I can get a Anytone DMR triband with aprs more power output etc … Also here in Southern California the APRS signals are so saturated that this pipsqueak would never be heard
When you say “saturated”, do you mean there is a lot of APRS traffic, or people running too much power? Here in the UK we don’t seem to have that issue.
Excellent Device Now he needs to design/build a bigger one... HT Size, 5W, Small Touch Screen For me, it Wins for the Functionality/Capability It leaves Yaesu/ICOM at the Starting Kine.
"KISS TNC". Hmmm. I'm betting it does not do the FULL Packet spec of 256 bit packets. So many of these devices claim to be "packet TNC's" but can only do a cut down subset used for APRS. So in short it would not be useful for anything other than APRS. Using it to access the local BBS would be very useful. If only ....
Clearly very few people here are able to forget the price, understandably so. It has features that aren't needed and for the great majority of users the very small size isn't a plus either.
new version: lora & 70cm but no transceiver function. 🤔 if i am not mistaken, previous version has all other functions of new version including aprs & more. i fail to see the point of the new version because those functionality can be done with other devices not needing that formfactor & it strips out some functionality from the earlier version.
LORA and AFSK FM are not compatible. LORA is a wideband modulation mode, so it is not designed for voice FM operation. This is probably why the VHF version can be used as a walky talky (it's FM AFSK) and not the LORA UHF version.
@@Stefaonthanks for clarifying. politely speaking, i know that already, but basically what i was pondering was why bother making a pico aprs with lora? the use case from what i see here is not as compelling because if i needed those functionality i could use something else. lora already comes in some tiny form factors and great options. i just don’t see a need of introducing it into this form factor while removing existing functionality. i hope that makes sense. (it’s not emphasizing trading the functionality, but rather why the introduction of the new functionality.)
First used in 1984, wouldn't call it a hype in this year, but it definitely plays it part in ham radio. Just like any mode, there will be someone that has a use for it.
Guys, for the moment forget the price. Do you actually LIKE the product (and my video)?
@@TechMindsOfficial hi Matt your one of the best reviewers on TH-cam, full depth reviews. Keep them coming 👍
Yes! Cool product, great review
Video was good, product is a neat toy.... but it's hard to "forget the price" when it's an item for sale. Is it worth the asking price? Yeah, probably. The problem is that it's nothing that anyone needs. Maybe if this item came out 20 years ago it would have sold like hotcakes.
Love the product, hate the price.
if it was 200$ cheaper id buy one right now
seen one of these in the flesh so to speak, the build quality is great and frankly if I could afford one I'd have one like a shot.
I like your attitude 💯
$300 is a bit much, mate. Could probably build that for less than $100.
You have won a prize! 🏆
Build it then.
I have to agree a bit Out Of Reach for most people
I guess I would have to build one
You can build it but can you program it?
It's not worth it for one Watt... imagined if it had a keyboard and 5 to 15 watts... may be worth it... but not at this price
You can try the Lilygo t-Echo LORA: it has GPS, a battery, an e-ink paper screen in a plastic box with an antenna.
For 70€/80€.
With DL5TKL firmware, it's a nice APRS LORA tracker even if it doesn't have all the other options of PicoAprs.
For the VHF version, I don't think there is a similar product. The TTGO VHF from Lyligo could be use as tracker too, in AFSK VHF FM, but it don't work really well I think.
It looks really cool, but I can't justify paying that price for one.
This is such a cool project. I hope we keep seeing more innovative devices like this in the APRS realm, along with other data based modes. The mere fact that it has an exposed TNC is a big deal in my book.
Thanks for the detailed review - although I've come across aprs many times before, I had no idea one could message between APRS nodes let alone cross-net.
Great little device !! A bit expensive but it does cover a lot. On the 2m version I do like the Kiss TNC and Digipeat or igate functions. And it acts as a FM transceiver with +0.5 Watts. Great. Thanks for sharing. 73 Phil ON4VP
Really ??? £300 for this tiny box
the price of xyz is not determined by its size, so idk why is it surprising
LOL. Size has nothing to do with anything where price (or value) is concerned. A diamond is tiny. A CPU is small. There are pills that cost more than 300 Euro.
They cost £10 to make, disgusting i know.
Such great fun :) thanks for the pinpont tip i will try this , Can we view the Lora activity as we do with mesgtastic ?
It baffles me how so many people think things are supposed to be cheap in price yet made with quality.
Mass production
300. Ffs so expensive hardly worth reviewing
go China. make us an affordable one! I am very interested in LORA 2way, but $300+ is way past my testing ground.
Video is great, up to your usual high standard. The Picoaprs is very clever.
Thank you kindly!
IMHO, these are both really interesting products and I’m really glad you covered them. The wave of dismissiveness in the comments due to price is a bit discouraging, and I say that as someone who is far from wealthy.
I love the form factor and how good it is. However, there are a few HTs with APRS that are less than half the cost. I respect that going smaller for something like this actually increases the cost, and I respect that some of the HTs have economies of scale going for them reducing the cost so I don't think it is overpriced for what it takes to make them (said another way, I dont think it has a high or at least unreasonable profit margin); but as a consumer, it is hard to justify this over something that while being heavier, is significantly cheaper.
Very cool device. For my opinion that price is correct for this unic device with no other comparable competitor in the world
Thanks, Matt 👍
My pleasure!
Nice! Any news on spurs? I imagine if made by a ham, it is clean.
Way too much money
I can get a Anytone DMR triband with aprs more power output etc …
Also here in Southern California the APRS signals are so saturated that this pipsqueak would never be heard
When you say “saturated”, do you mean there is a lot of APRS traffic, or people running too much power? Here in the UK we don’t seem to have that issue.
All these need is bubble pack packaging and a claim of 50 mile range.
Excellent Device
Now he needs to design/build a bigger one...
HT Size, 5W, Small Touch Screen
For me, it Wins for the Functionality/Capability
It leaves Yaesu/ICOM at the Starting Kine.
the price is a no go...
"KISS TNC". Hmmm. I'm betting it does not do the FULL Packet spec of 256 bit packets. So many of these devices claim to be "packet TNC's" but can only do a cut down subset used for APRS. So in short it would not be useful for anything other than APRS. Using it to access the local BBS would be very useful. If only ....
Thanks for the review. It is a nice toy. As exotic as useless.
Clearly very few people here are able to forget the price, understandably so. It has features that aren't needed and for the great majority of users the very small size isn't a plus either.
I've been playing with a T-TWR over the past few days, which is a similar device, but unfortunately it's pretty much completely deaf
I have been playing with a lilygo T-TWR as well. I got it to beacon my location but yeah, I couldnt get it to receive.
Maybe an idea for a new UV-K5 firmware?
imagined if it had a keyboard and 5 to 15 watts... may be worth it... but not at this price between 300 to 400 dollars
new version: lora & 70cm but no transceiver function. 🤔
if i am not mistaken, previous version has all other functions of new version including aprs & more.
i fail to see the point of the new version because those functionality can be done with other devices not needing that formfactor & it strips out some functionality from the earlier version.
LORA and AFSK FM are not compatible. LORA is a wideband modulation mode, so it is not designed for voice FM operation. This is probably why the VHF version can be used as a walky talky (it's FM AFSK) and not the LORA UHF version.
@@Stefaonthanks for clarifying. politely speaking, i know that already, but basically what i was pondering was why bother making a
pico aprs with lora? the use case from what i see here is not as compelling because if i needed those functionality i could use something else. lora already comes in some tiny form factors and great options. i just don’t see a need of introducing it into this form factor while removing existing functionality. i hope that makes sense. (it’s not emphasizing trading the functionality, but rather why the introduction of the new functionality.)
It as Bluetooth...
Can you connect a BT Mic, BT Keyboard.?
I need this to track my motorcycle if it gets stolen.
It’s the cellphone from Zoolander 😂
It's not worth the money, the price is too high for something like this. For this amount I do not like the product.
I agree with others, too expensive. Ill wait until china clones it for about £30
aprsdroid might be a better solution and if you have cell service you will be heard
APRS TX for iOS also uses internet for APRS.
Sorry newby here: Can someone explain what this does?
Yeah, definitely not for 325$ USD 😂😂😂 OUT OF THEIR MINDS. The hackrf is 300$ and definitely worth it.
DX Engineering has them for $400. What a joke. 😡
❤
300 notes wow no ta, thank for your time though.
You're one of a very tiny amount of people that actually thanked me for my time in creating this video, for this, I thank you too!
How much?????????
Too expensive
500$, ouff. i rather make my own.
WIMO is too expensive, tiny LCD. My Kenwood TM-D710A + GPS , I upgrated cost A$27 has better settings. 🤓
I still don't understand the hype for APRS
First used in 1984, wouldn't call it a hype in this year, but it definitely plays it part in ham radio. Just like any mode, there will be someone that has a use for it.
$100 tops
Too expensive.. How about they lower it to $20 USD
Way too expensive
Too expensive.
Too much expensive, sorry
too much for what it is