The Model One Digital Generation 2 looks for all the world like a "normal" radio, complete with fabric grille, antenna and real-wood finish, but don't be fooled. At its core, the Tivoli is a wi-fi radio, with DAB+/FM taking the reins and now, Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth connectivity its valuable passengers. And, also on the plus side, the rotary knob arrangement allows proper DC isolation, obviating the need to put a switch in the DC power line, as some enthusiasts have felt the need to do with other devices. It is somewhat larger than some similar devices on the market, but the radio benefits from this, in that it provides a very clear, and sharp, 4-inch IPS capacitive touchscreen. This dominates the front of the device and is a delight to use at all times. The term radio comes from the Latin radius that means stream. We use this term as a shortcut for radio receiver or broadcast receiver, which makes it possible to receive radio broadcasts.

There are thousands of Zello channels, but the most popular ones for our use (at least so far) are in the Network Radios suite. Those who have been around the scene for a while will be aware of the Inrico T320. This is a fantastic little handie-talkie device; a great introduction to the world of network radios. As of now, it is the only device that runs Android 7. Therefore, it is well up-to-date, in terms of firmware and it is proving to be a very capable unit. Tim G4VXE has used the London Underground Wi-Fi and found that it worked well; you could even transmit on a cross-channel ferry; indeed, you can do so from anywhere you can connect to the Internet. 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. However, if you have space to fit it into your vehicle, it will perform well there too. I suspect that, in a business environment, external antennas (rather than the two short whips) could always be connected to give the increase in signal strength (and the subsequent robustness of service) that business users would probably demand.There are many similar apps; if there is an internet stream of something, you can probably listen to it on a network radio. And this is how I would like to begin my first column: With a few thoughts on the nature of radio licensing, and how people sometimes seem to behave when they hold a licence.

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. More information on this and links to the various solutions can be found on the network radio enthusiasts Facebook (FB) group: 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. Do you see my point? I liken tennis outdoors to using ‘natural’ propagation and tennis indoors to using ‘man-made’ propagation. The people in the photographs are all playing Tennis, just in different ways.Network radios are made to stand up to the elements. The best are even waterproof. No need to worry about drops or falls. The best network radios can take a beating in demanding outdoor environments. 4. Don't Miss a Sound This is the one that cheers me the most. Amateurs cheating. It is a very telling comment that exposes the mindset of the hobby currently. If you want to put it in radio terms, these systems use the internet as a method of propagation. Tell an AmSat user that he is cheating by using a satellite. Tell a Moon Bounce user that he is too. If your goal is to get your voice from one person to another so you can communicate with like-minded people and learn, does the method used actually matter that much? My experience is that this argument is normally used by people who have invested a lot of money in HF equipment. Maybe it is frustration, snobbery or a genuine belief that the internet is cheating. I don’t get it, but then I haven’t read any articles that decry Network Radios. Mostly, people join and stay. ‘It’s no good for Emergency Communication’ You should be presented with a whole bunch of channels. The one you want has a blue icon with number 01.

The term internet radio is used for different things. Internet radio or web radio can be used to describe a station that broadcasts via streaming over the web instead of using the conventional FM frequencies. Why do people so often ‘look up’ to those who hold a transmitting license? Perhaps more pertinently, why do those who hold a transmitting license frequently seem to ‘talk down’ to people who do not?I am very happy with it and i am a ham radio op there is a new world to discover with this radio its just the finding them once you have then its all opened up for you Whilst it may be true that Skype and Zello work via the internet. Try calling CQ on Skype, or calling up an unknown person to ask for a chat. I’ll leave that one there.