Inrico S200

PROS: 

• Separate device from a cellular phone

  • It's always nice have a separate device to run Zello so that incoming phone calls don't interrupt conversations

  • Phone notification sounds don't come through super loud during key ups. 

• External (removable) Antenna

  • This would help when you are far enough away from a cell tower where signals get weak. This may help get a signal when a normal cell phone can't. 

  • You could also hook up a wired external antenna if needed for really long distant trips to a cell tower - maybe even a directional antenna

• Comes with External (clip on) Mic

• 2nd sim card slot for even more coverage (but not required)

• Battery lasts a good long time, even when screen is always on

• Mic has a good sound

• Speaker is located on the back side, but can get pretty loud

• Screen quality is pretty good for what it is. 

CONS: 

• Just like many other Network Radios made by Inrico, Ansecu, etc: 

  • Android is always several versions behind.  This particular device is using Android 7

  • Not much memory to work with and processing lacks big time

    • This means the more you put on this device, or the more customizing you do, such as adding meters, sound analyzers,  automation, etc:   These things will slow the device down and will cause problems like key up delays, volume control delays, delays in switching channels or controlling various settings or apps on the device itself. 

    • If you're like me and have a ton of channels open, and 5 or 6 of them start to get active at the same time, I've noticed this device will slow down as well until unwanted channels are disconnected. 

• Volume control is slow to react

• PTT button at times is slow to react

• Wifi signal is WEAK

• Bluetooth signal is super WEAK (like 10 - 12 feet or so)

• The following physical buttons are NOT mappable: 

  • PTT

  • The 2 buttons under the PTT button

  • The Emergency button

    • When trying to map these 4 buttons, it starts to seem like they will work, but once you key up in Zello for the first time, all of the other keys seems to turn into PTT buttons as well and totally ignore button mapper.      The reason why I was trying to map the PTT button is because I was trying to make it an official "Zello ptt" which would be able to key up Zello outside of the application and with the screen off (which has worked on many of my devices)

  • The OK button is mappable, however, it will ALSO do what it was intended to do when pressed.  So it will do what you map it to do, and it may also select something you didn't intend it to select at the same time.   So I just left this one alone. 

• Battery Charge time is not consistent.  Sometimes it takes an hour to fully charge, sometimes it takes 4 hours - even if the phone is off.  I haven't figured this one out yet. 

• Cant remove the Inrico PTT app without flashing the device with a custom rom. Can't disable it either. 

• Screen is not indented, so accidental screen presses are easy to do.