Nowhere in this definition does it require the holding of a licence, the use of Amateur only bands or specific equipment. What we see is self-training, learning, the passing of messages and the use of the frequency spectrum. This is something that I struggle with on a daily basis,I can churn out 80-100wpm on a physical qwerty keyboard,but perhaps 10 or 20 on a touchscreen one. Although I’ve seen others flying along, fingers blurred ! These units win over your mobile in various ways. Firstly, if you are in the middle of a QSO and your phone rings then you can kiss goodbye to that VK3 you are talking to. The phone will take over and dump Zello. Start using Zello heavily on your iPhone and watch that battery go. The T320 takes it in its stride. Also you can assign Amateur only apps to your Inrico. Having APRSDroid running 24/7 causes not a bump in the battery life. Also it’s a really nice platform to have things like RepeaterBook and other Amateur apps running on. For internet radio, an internet connection between the transmitter and the receiver, is actually necessary. So-called streaming servers are used for this purpose. The receivers or listeners connect directly to these servers via the streaming URL. The capacity of a server always has a technical limit, called slots, so the number of simultaneous listeners is limited. It is a good sign that the RSGB has been open enough to let the debate on network radios spill over into their most prestigious annual event.

What is more, APRSDroid allows access to the APRS system and you can send a record of your travels to a map while walking, driving or cycling. If it is a DAB radio, it will self-tune and the display will tell you what station you are listening to. There is no tuning dial. Most network radios can also be used as a WiFi Hotspot allowing other devices to access the internet through the network radios 3G/4G data connection, this will require a larger 'data allowance' with Your chosen mobile network provider. I entered the transmitting world via ‘legal’ FM CB in 1981 and was also a huge enthusiast of 934MHz CB too, before sitting my RAE in 1988 and receiving the G7DDN callsign.Anyway, once that’s done you need to search for some channels so that you can add them. This differs slightly from iOS to Android to PC. However, in the main, look for an ‘add channels’ icon first. Recently, we have seen the growth of new digital HF modes like FT8 on the one hand and of digital voice modes like D-STAR & DMR on the other hand. Slightly further into the autumn is the RSGB Convention, which takes place from October 12th to 14th, 2018. This is noteworthy as, for the first time ever, there will be a lecture on network radios at the event. Handheld network radios look and function like traditional two-way radios (a.k.a walkie-talkies, DMRs, or ham radios). But, instead of using UHF/VHF frequencies to connect, they connect via the Internet using a SIM card or Wi-Fi signal.

Businesses have made use of two-way radios for many years. However, they have been restricted by coverage issues. PMR and LMR ultimately have a limited range, however many repeaters one uses. Unlike most smart devices, network radios have removable, replaceable, high-capacity batteries; sporting smaller screens also means battery life is much extended over a typical smartphone; network radio handheld transmitters can also stand up on a flat surface unaided ( Fig. 5). We independently review hundreds of products each year, always as a team, at our state-of-the-art testing facilities located in London, Reading and Bath. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency and of course, impartiality, while ensuring no opinion goes unheard from our team of audio experts.

Neither have an Amateur license but – dare I say – are often more knowledgeable than many who have.

With this heart-warming story of how technology is helping us to make more of our hobby, I will sign off for now. One of the great things I have found about network radio is that the community is very friendly and forthcoming. I have heard some great stories on the air and it would be great to report on them in this column.

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When I holidayed in Europe years ago, I took my Sony ICF-7600SW to listen to short wave broadcasts, exploiting the vagaries of ionospheric propagation. By contrast, today I use my smartphone with a Bluetooth speaker (internet propagation) and the quality is first rate! No fading, no static, no noise. Network radios can also communicate to each other – not directly but via the network. This is, arguably, the one aspect that upsets people. Many have difficulty accepting it as ‘radio’, although, in its strictest sense, it clearly is. Can you begin to understand the controversy surrounding these devices a little better now, perhaps? There is an inclusivity to this, versus the exclusivity of having a transmitting licence. There are growing numbers of unlicensed radio enthusiasts, licensed amateur radio operators and business users making good use of network radio equipment to communicate around the world. The Zello system is free to use and the app does not cost anything. Teamspeak is free to use but there is a small initial charge from your App Store.