W9JH
Are there plans to add dealers for the OS2 similar to what was available for the OS1? If so, when in the US?
73,
Jack - W9JH
Mudflap
Shipping to the US is blazing fast.
W9JH
Based on the non-answer to my question, I guess there are no plans for US dealers like as before with the OS1. That was convenient not having to pay the high shipping cost...or in the case of US dealers, no shipping charges at all. Like ZUMspot at HRO.
W1JOP
Yeah I contacted HRO just out of curiosity and they have no plans to sell the openspot2 Which I think is stupid because I think there’s a big market for it 250 is not that much, but how much is shipping to the US?
HA2NON
The exact shipping cost will be calculated automatically after registering at shop.sharkrf.com with the exact delivery address and do the checkout. Please keep in mind that we ship with DHL Express with tracking worldwide, and not with regular slow mail.
W9JH
With the additional cost of DHL shipping, the OS2 is nearly twice the cost of a Zumspot from HRO with free US shipping. And the Zum includes an external antenna providing increased range.
I'm happy with my OS1 for home use, but the OS2 appears to be overpriced vs. the competition. Just my observation.
73,
Jack W9JH
vocoder
With the additional cost of DHL shipping, the OS2 is nearly twice the cost of a Zumspot from HRO with free US shipping. And the Zum includes an external antenna providing increased range.
I'm happy with my OS1 for home use, but the OS2 appears to be overpriced vs. the competition. Just my observation.
73,
Jack W9JH
Do you realize the ZumSpot on HRO's site is not a complete hotspot? You still need to purchase a Raspberry Pi Zero WH, a microSD card, a case, a power supply, download Pi-Star, etc.. The costs add up. Are you familiar with writing ISO images to SD cards? Do you have a computer that can read/write to an SD card? Have you played with Pi-Star running on a Pi Zero? I can tell you it's tapped out. The openSPOT2 includes everything, it's plug and play. I have several Pi-Star/MMDVM based hotspots. I have nothing against them, but comparing them to an openSPOT purely based on price is apples and oranges.
W9JH
vocoder, (no call)
The HRO ZUMSPOT includes the RPi ZERO with OLED display for $140. Case is $15.
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-016491
I have many microSD cards and adapters, and yes, my computer has an SD card slot.
I have used PiStar on my RPi with a DV Dongle which works fine.
Thanks for your concern.
BTW, what is your callsign?
Cheers!
vocoder
My point stands on its own. My call sign? How is that relevant to anything?
chood73
Since HRO tries to discourage DMR, It's kind of a non-starter.
The OS2 looks great guys. Thanks for bringing it to market.
I can't wait to get one.
Chris
W9JH
Since HRO tries to discourage DMR, It's kind of a non-starter.
Chris
Really...how is that? They sell several models of DMR radios and Zumspots which work on DMR.
Jack
kd2pm
Sometimes having dealers raises the price of the product since they want some % of profit in their wallet and that would mean SharkRF would have to sell them for less (or maybe not) so HRO would either be more expensive or about the same. Then you throw in the state taxes depending on where you live in the US. Our fine Govt now wants all vendors to charge us taxes on internet sales.
So the way I see it and its only my personal opinion...getting it direct from a vendor that is not charging us tax, charges us a fair price for the product there is no middle man and the only grip we can come up with is the shipping??? I think Sharks business model works for them, especially for US customers.
HA5OGR
Bingo! That's the point!
W9JH
The original OS1 was sold by several US dealers (HRO, MTC) at the same price as directly from SharkRF, but without the extra cost of international shipping. The US dealers even put the OS1 on sale occasionally ($200 with free shipping).
So what changed? The US dealers got burned when SharkRF put the OS1 on sale ($149 shipped) to close them out and the US dealers were stuck with old stock at a higher price.
N4MAW
I was considering the ZUMSpot HRO sells but opted for the OS2 instead for the simple fact that it is standalone, small, and extremely portable. The OS2 along with the battery pack I got for it (that powers the OS2 for up to 5 days continuously BTW) fit neatly in my inside jacket pocket making for a nice, out-of-sight portable RF node. No wires hanging out, bulky antennas sticking out, and the range is quite good for a 0.1w transmitter with an internal antenna (I have had solid connections from my XPR7550 into the OS2 from as far as 2 1/2 blocks away. I can leave it and the cell phone in the car out of sight and run in to the quick mart to grad a drink and a snack and be able to continue an ongoing QSO. The portability, reliability, & usability of this little gem were worth the money I spent on it. And yes, I have used a RPi/MMDVM based hot spot before and appreciate the simplicity of the OS2's operation vs. the RPi based units. I do not regret opting for this little gem over the ZUMSpot at all and would make the same choice again if I had to do it all over. Oh yeah...I ordered mine on a Monday evening (0'dark-thirty in Estonia) and received it on Thursday of the same week...just as fast as getting something from a US based dealer (faster in some cases.) IF $$$ is the main factor in your decision, I think we know what it will be (or was) but if size, ease of use, and portability are the main factors you should really give the OS2 a serious look.
I'm certainly glad I did. Just my two cents worth...