BMH-78 - question regarding features and opinions

[Radek SQ5GLU]

Hi,

as some of the ham shops in the area has still the abovementioned BT mic in  the offer, I'm hesitating to buy it. The main reason for it would be the option to possibly fully control the N7500 without need to run the app on my smartphone.  I've found some opinions and remarks regarding this mic here, but let me ask some questions regarding it:

1) is it useful for an operation, while directly connected over BT to the radio (no smartphone involved)? Seen some raports here that direct connection has some drawbacks.

2) one of big concerns here is APRS support on this MIC. Will it display beacons/status messages of another APRS users within range?  What are limitations for APRS operation using it? Except for displaying a map, of course ;)

3) does this mic seems useful, in general view? What quality is the user experience?

best 73

Radek

[Marnoch Standen]

Hi Radek

Let's try and answer your questions correctly as I have the BT LCD screen.

I'm not at home but traveling this week. Using the N7500 for APRS. RF and Internet.

Off the top of my head I know it will be 16 channels which are in the N7500 from when you start it. Will check.ifpre.memory blocks.are possible.

It will TX the position on aprs as it has its own gps unit using the Chinese gps system..

 It works ok for me in the UK. 

The unit will connect to other BT items.  Anytone is one.

Question 2 on display you will have to wait till I test it or if someone answers before.

There is always more thing you would like it to do but not achievable for the price...

Min G0JMS 👍

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[Tom (13HN08)]

Hello. I didnt find a option to activate wide fm and nfm? What about that? Thanks.

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[Marnoch Standen]

Hi

When you set up a memory frequency you then enter wide or narrow.

In the UK 2 m is narrow for VHF and UHF is 25 MHz wide.  

You do it all in the phone memory setup. 

Min Standen G0JMS

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[Marnoch Standen]

Attached is a screenshot of a memory setting and where you can change the bandwidth.

Min G0JMS 👍

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[Radek SQ5GLU]

Hi Min,

are you back from the trip and can I ask you for checking the type and number of APRS data that can be displayed on this mic?

best 73

Radek

[Marnoch Standen]

Hi I’ll check it out in the next couple of days..

 

Min G0JMS

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[Marnoch Standen]

Hi Radek

 

Sorry for the delay but a member of the biking trip had a cold and nicely gave it to all, still sneezing  L

 

The microphone is not possible to do what you would like as doesn’t show any data from the phone display.  

Only the tx channel and what it is connected too. Using the 16 channels in the memory you would have to use the phone memory bank to change to another memory block.

 

Hope that helps

 

Min. G0JMS

 

From: vero...@googlegroups.com [mailto:vero...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Radek SQ5GLU
Sent: 19 September 2023 21:00
To: Vero VR N7500 Dual Radio Band <Vero...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Veron VR-N7500 Google Group] BMH-78 - question regarding features and opinions

 

Hi Min,

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[Radek SQ5GLU]

Hi Min,

thanks.

My question is mainly related to displaying the APRS information, as mentioned e.g. in this operation manual for BMH-78 (BHM-78 Fast Operation-1.pdf), last page:

https://moonrakeronline.com/eu/amfile/file/download/file/83/product/11926/?___store=base_eu&___from_store=default

Options mentioned in point 2,3 ("display the last contact information received", "display a list of recently received contact information").

Does it work reliably and updates the information on the screen as soon the packet is being received?

This function looks like typical APRS radio display, that's why I'm interested how it works - this looks promising, at least from perspective of APRS user.

Maybe there is possibility that you can record and publish short film on  youtube, displaying this part of BMH-78 operation and presenting this mic? Youtube is missing such content at the moment.

best 73

Radek SQ5GLU

[sirrosh69]

Hi Radek,

let me try...

This setup (radio+BHM-78) has very rudimentary APRS functions, unfortunately. Mine does not display any station list, only the latest "From" callsign of the received packet as a red banner above the compass.

73 de OK8UOF.

Dne úterý 10. října 2023 v 15:41:59 UTC+2 uživatel Radek SQ5GLU napsal:

[Radek SQ5GLU]

Hi Alex, thanks for sharing this information. That's quite surprising, especially in regard to information presented in the manual which at least in theory, should mean that it presents the list of the stations being heard on APRS recently. Maybe it depends on firmware version in BHM-78?

best 73

Radek SQ5GLU

[sirrosh69]

No doubt, it heavily depends on the software version, I checked the updates recently on both the station and the BT mic, there was none.

P.S.: Just bear in mind, this is a "purely Chinese" device, they are not like Yaesu/Kenwood/Icom we all used to. Expect a lot of strange and broken things, unexpected behavior and fiddling with settings that have absolutely no logic... or buy Yaesu FTM-500.

-- 

S pozdravem,

Ing. Alex Siroš

-------- Původní zpráva --------

Od: Radek SQ5GLU <sq5...@gmail.com>

Datum: 10.10.23 22:18 (GMT+01:00)

Komu: Vero VR N7500 Dual Radio Band <Vero...@googlegroups.com>

Předmět: Re: [Veron VR-N7500 Google Group] BMH-78 - question regarding features and opinions

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[sirrosh69]

A bit of an update to my previous message.

When you cycle the screen with the red button it _sometimes_ shows a kind of station list, see the foto.

I live in a busy APRS environment, but it's barely catching only about 4 stations in 30min. It also lacks the ability to decode the packets correctly, so for the most part you will see just raw data.

My conclusion remains the same: if you want a good standalone APRS -- buy yourself a Yaesu ftm-200/300/500 or ft5d if you prefer it portable. This rig stands nowhere near in terms of APRS operation.

My personal favorite is ftm-400xd (big screen, QSY function, c4fm) but they do not produce it any more (((

[Radek SQ5GLU]

Hi Alex,

these prefixes on the screen are looking familiar ;) :).

I must say, from my observation VR-N7500 decodes APRS frames pretty well. I also live in a busy environment (a lot of APRS traffic + a noisy urban environment) as this is the capital city - Warsaw. 

That's why I'm also wondering, if BHM-78 stays in line with data received by transceiver, or lacks some functionality or performance here and misses the ability to display the data which may be visible on the phone's screen.

 

Speaking of FTM-500 - I'm rather disappointed from what I've seen regarding this model. I own FT1XD which is a great APRS performer and also FTM-100 which is unfortunately a single band

and Vero has this kind of advantage that its dual watch receiver switches between frequencies very fast and effectively decodes frames, while monitoring the other frequency. This is the reason I'm looking

to push more from this little box and make its usage more convenient.

best 73

Radek SQ5GLU

[sirrosh69]

Hi Radek,

I have no illusions whatsoever about this radio and BHM-78 (btw mine says BM-78 while being turned on). This setup does not stand even close to any Japanese APRS radio in terms of ability to decode and correctly display packets. Being for more than a decade a huge APRS fan for me it's a huge compromise, because unlike many hams I'm trying to use this packet network up to its full potential, while many other amateurs would be satisfied just watching their track on screen and the appearance so many of LoRa trackers just proves my words.

In other words most people just not interested in _receiving_ packets and getting the information about the stations, repeaters and other events around. On the contrary, for me it's the most "ham way" to explore your surroundings while on trip or just commuting about the home region. Some time ago (when trackers weren't so popular) I even practiced an APRS MSG QSOs with new people around me, which was a great way to get acquainted with local hams somewhere far from home.

I had many APRS radios, for the most part from Yaesu. For APRS now I have FT3D, FTM-400XD (my all-time favorite mobile radio!) and a cheap Chinese handheld on which I'm going to publish a video this week)))  


P.S.: What is wrong about FTM-500 on your opinion? Besides its small, almost unusable touchscreen and illogical navigation...

Dne čtvrtek 12. října 2023 v 21:04:05 UTC+2 uživatel Radek SQ5GLU napsal:

[sirrosh69]

Hi,

here's that "cheap Chinese APRS handheld" video I promised: https://youtu.be/2-ohUDhU-6s

(it's very brief one, because a very few people would like an in-depth review).

Please feel free to ask me about it, I spent lots of hours with this "toy".

Dne čtvrtek 12. října 2023 v 22:30:24 UTC+2 uživatel sirrosh69 napsal: