April 18, 2025: TIDRADIO TD-H3 cloning and upgrading, WPSD hotspot updating, hear ARRL Audio News on your AllStar node, new AllScan nodes coming, resurrecting an old router.
Tom - Great newsletter as always! I just received two TD-H3s so your cloning and updating info was timely for me. The issue of consumer Wi-Fi Access Points, especially older units (Goodwill, cheap on Amazon) being targets for botnets or direct hacking is very real. One way to potentially use them safely is to flash OpenWRT software onto them IF they are supported by OpenWRT. OpenWRT software is safe and maintained. You can see if a specific device is supported by OpenWRT by checking their list: https://openwrt.org/supported_devices.
Absolutely right about OpenWRT software on old routers. Thank you for adding that. My GL.iNET Flint 2 router runs a fork of OpenWRT (https://openwrt.org/toh/gl.inet/gl-mt6000) and I find it great as long as one doesn't mind digging into it a bit!
Stay tuned as I just ordered a TD-H8 radio, on the suggestion of a subscriber. Looking forward to it. For the record, I've had very little trouble with my two TD-H3 Ham radios. On one I messed something up and simply reset the radio to fix it. The other has been flawless (meaning I didn't fumble finger that second radio).
Between the TIDRADIO TD-H3 and and the Retevis RT-85 radios, I don't think we've ever seen such capable, inexpensive handhelds. Time will tell how reliable and sturdy they are, but for the price, it feels like it is worth giving these radios a try.
One other thing I love about the TD-H3 is the USB-C charging! That is SO sane - no custom power adapters needed any more (though it's nice that they include 2x USB-C cable and USB-C wall wart in the package with the drop in charging base.
Me. too. Right now, I'm recharging the TD-H3 I took with me on my morning walk, clipped to my belt under my jacket, with a monaural earphone in one ear while the W6EK net on node 51018 was going on. Being able to charge with a USB-C cable is a blessing as I don't have to (a) make space for a special charger and (b) find room for it!
Tom - Great newsletter as always! I just received two TD-H3s so your cloning and updating info was timely for me. The issue of consumer Wi-Fi Access Points, especially older units (Goodwill, cheap on Amazon) being targets for botnets or direct hacking is very real. One way to potentially use them safely is to flash OpenWRT software onto them IF they are supported by OpenWRT. OpenWRT software is safe and maintained. You can see if a specific device is supported by OpenWRT by checking their list: https://openwrt.org/supported_devices.
Absolutely right about OpenWRT software on old routers. Thank you for adding that. My GL.iNET Flint 2 router runs a fork of OpenWRT (https://openwrt.org/toh/gl.inet/gl-mt6000) and I find it great as long as one doesn't mind digging into it a bit!
Stay tuned as I just ordered a TD-H8 radio, on the suggestion of a subscriber. Looking forward to it. For the record, I've had very little trouble with my two TD-H3 Ham radios. On one I messed something up and simply reset the radio to fix it. The other has been flawless (meaning I didn't fumble finger that second radio).
Between the TIDRADIO TD-H3 and and the Retevis RT-85 radios, I don't think we've ever seen such capable, inexpensive handhelds. Time will tell how reliable and sturdy they are, but for the price, it feels like it is worth giving these radios a try.
One other thing I love about the TD-H3 is the USB-C charging! That is SO sane - no custom power adapters needed any more (though it's nice that they include 2x USB-C cable and USB-C wall wart in the package with the drop in charging base.
Me. too. Right now, I'm recharging the TD-H3 I took with me on my morning walk, clipped to my belt under my jacket, with a monaural earphone in one ear while the W6EK net on node 51018 was going on. Being able to charge with a USB-C cable is a blessing as I don't have to (a) make space for a special charger and (b) find room for it!