Production Supported Radios
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 10:51 pm
I love the Open**** firmware as I have GD77's / DM-1801's / RD-5R / MD-9600's radios. What I have been noticing during the last few months (apx 6) is that the ability is less and less to get any of the DMR HT's that Open**** Firmware runs on. The clearest example is the 'new' 2022 DM-1801 which is different hardware then the previous. I see that getting the original GD-77 is nearly impossible except as used, and Radioddity is not promising when they will have more. Lately here in the USA I can no longer find new RD-5R as most suppliers that still list them show out of stock or back order.
I have no direct connection to the manufacture(s) or such but it does seem the Hardware (CPU / Chipset) that the OpenGD77 firmware is written for my be headed to past history when it comes to HT's. Regardless, getting a new HT that is capable of running OpenGD77 is becoming harder and harder.
Fortunately on the Mobile side the MD-9600 is still produced and earliest to the current versions of Hardware seem capable of running Open**** firmware. Personally I find that the Open**** firmware improves the MD-9600 the most of all the radios that I use it on. The HTs were 'ok' with the factory firmware even as a DMR HT, but the I found the MD-9600 barely usable and as such delayed placing it in my vehicles and used it only in my shack. Now with the OpenMD9600 firmware I have it in both my vehicles / shack / go box and have purchased a 'spare'. That is 5 working MD-9600 and they all run the OpenMD9600 firmware. I travel at least monthly and sometimes more and this is the most enjoyable mobile to use, especially with DMR repeaters along the route.
The point of this post is that the MD-9600 maybe the only current production radio that will run the Open**** firmware. Looking at the past, present, and possible future, this is what I forsee.
I have no direct connection to the manufacture(s) or such but it does seem the Hardware (CPU / Chipset) that the OpenGD77 firmware is written for my be headed to past history when it comes to HT's. Regardless, getting a new HT that is capable of running OpenGD77 is becoming harder and harder.
Fortunately on the Mobile side the MD-9600 is still produced and earliest to the current versions of Hardware seem capable of running Open**** firmware. Personally I find that the Open**** firmware improves the MD-9600 the most of all the radios that I use it on. The HTs were 'ok' with the factory firmware even as a DMR HT, but the I found the MD-9600 barely usable and as such delayed placing it in my vehicles and used it only in my shack. Now with the OpenMD9600 firmware I have it in both my vehicles / shack / go box and have purchased a 'spare'. That is 5 working MD-9600 and they all run the OpenMD9600 firmware. I travel at least monthly and sometimes more and this is the most enjoyable mobile to use, especially with DMR repeaters along the route.
The point of this post is that the MD-9600 maybe the only current production radio that will run the Open**** firmware. Looking at the past, present, and possible future, this is what I forsee.