[Suggestion] GPS Distance, Repeater Coords, & Channel Sorting
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 12:22 pm
I ordered my first DMR yesterday (TYT MD-UV390) and I'm excited about it coming. I had a few ideas which could be implemented in the firmware relatively easily, depending on how it's structured. These ideas rely on each other, with the first idea being the baseline for the second and third. Disclaimer: I don't have a radio yet, so some of these may already be implemented, or in development. I tried to search for these features before I made this most, but found nothing. Also, I'm young and new to ham radio. I apologize if I sound naive.
I will start with listing the suggestions, then give examples to show why they are helpful.
1. GPS Distance
I think I heard someone talking about this once. Essentially, when receiving GPS coordinates and with GPS enabled, calculate the distance to the other person. Should be a relatively easy and small calculation.
2. Repeater Coordinates
This second suggestion relies on the first: programming in repeater coordinates would let you check your distance from the repeater. You could possibly even have repeater range programmed in. Obviously this would take more space, but I'm willing to lose a few channels to see what repeaters are close to me.
3. Channel Sorting
This is where the three suggestions all come together: An option to calculate and sort all repeaters in a zone by distance (or possibly by name or mode if wanted). When pressing this, GPS would temporarily turn on to find your location, and the radio calculates what repeaters are closest and displays them at the front of the zone.
Where would this be useful?
1. GPS Distance
Say you are talking on a local repeater which supports GPS data. You are talking with someone locally who is sending data. You can see that you are only a short distance from them, and you both agree to switch to simplex.
GPS distance has less useful applications and is really just 1. a cool feature, and 2. a baseline for the other suggestions.
2. Repeater Coordinates
Let's saying you are driving around town, but you don't know what repeater you are close to. By looking at your radio, you can find what repeaters you can hit rather than having to try them all.
3. Channel Sorting
Finally, you decide to take a trip out of state/country. You would usually program in a new codeplug, but let's pretend you have enough space to copy all the repeaters there into a new zone. While you are driving through this different state/country, you have no way of knowing what repeaters you can hit. Sure, you could try them all, but that would take forever. Instead, you just sort by distance. Turns out there was a repeater only 2 miles from you!
This feature is also useful if you have a lot of channels in a zone, and need to sort alphabetically or by mode.
I hope I have been able to demonstrate why each feature I listed could be useful. If I could only have one, number 2 would be my pick. Being able to see where repeaters are is something that would help immensely when mobile.
Devs, thank you for this wonderful firmware. I hope you will give my suggestions a try.
I will start with listing the suggestions, then give examples to show why they are helpful.
1. GPS Distance
I think I heard someone talking about this once. Essentially, when receiving GPS coordinates and with GPS enabled, calculate the distance to the other person. Should be a relatively easy and small calculation.
2. Repeater Coordinates
This second suggestion relies on the first: programming in repeater coordinates would let you check your distance from the repeater. You could possibly even have repeater range programmed in. Obviously this would take more space, but I'm willing to lose a few channels to see what repeaters are close to me.
3. Channel Sorting
This is where the three suggestions all come together: An option to calculate and sort all repeaters in a zone by distance (or possibly by name or mode if wanted). When pressing this, GPS would temporarily turn on to find your location, and the radio calculates what repeaters are closest and displays them at the front of the zone.
Where would this be useful?
1. GPS Distance
Say you are talking on a local repeater which supports GPS data. You are talking with someone locally who is sending data. You can see that you are only a short distance from them, and you both agree to switch to simplex.
GPS distance has less useful applications and is really just 1. a cool feature, and 2. a baseline for the other suggestions.
2. Repeater Coordinates
Let's saying you are driving around town, but you don't know what repeater you are close to. By looking at your radio, you can find what repeaters you can hit rather than having to try them all.
3. Channel Sorting
Finally, you decide to take a trip out of state/country. You would usually program in a new codeplug, but let's pretend you have enough space to copy all the repeaters there into a new zone. While you are driving through this different state/country, you have no way of knowing what repeaters you can hit. Sure, you could try them all, but that would take forever. Instead, you just sort by distance. Turns out there was a repeater only 2 miles from you!
This feature is also useful if you have a lot of channels in a zone, and need to sort alphabetically or by mode.
I hope I have been able to demonstrate why each feature I listed could be useful. If I could only have one, number 2 would be my pick. Being able to see where repeaters are is something that would help immensely when mobile.
Devs, thank you for this wonderful firmware. I hope you will give my suggestions a try.