A third post on this? Yeah…
One tiny update: I’ve decided to pivot back to D-STAR from DMR. Most of the time I just monitor the radio, and it’s far easier in my opinion to link a hotspot to a D-STAR reflector or repeater. Plus, this lets me use my TH-D74 which does APRS a lot better than the AnyTone.
The D74, unfortunately, doesn’t charge via USB-C directly, but its successor that is on my shopping list, the TH-D75, does, albeit at a very slow rate.
Having APRS in a more fleshed-out form is definitely advantageous when it comes to travel. Even if the radio only has a max of 5W output, many major cities have decent APRS infrastructure, and failing all of that, I can transmit the position to the APRS-IS using D-PRS from the handheld, so that’s a win.
The D74 is notorious for rather poor battery life, and a third party has made an improved battery that has a USB-C port for charging: that would solve the charging issue. I understand the D75 exhibits similar issues, which is unfortunate to a degree. I also have the battery case that takes AAA batteries, which fits both the D74 and the D75, so that’s available in a pinch.
All in all, pivoting back to D-STAR will likely work better for me in the long run: the Pride Radio Network has a permanent connection from an XLX reflector in Australia, and if I ever spin my own back up, that will be an endpoint on the US West Coast, so that’s exciting to think about…