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General question here, though it may belong in the /diy/ electronics general. If so, just tell me and I will put it up there.
What would be the disadvantages of building a radio yourself?
I mean, I don't want to fiddle with HF parts here, but there have to be readily available modules you could throw onto an Arduino. One could build a radio with all the stuff he needs and maybe even a bit more, but leave out all the unneccessary things. A big battery for long trips, some kind of two-way radio to communicate with others and maybe even GPS and 3G for easier terrain navigation.
In a way, you could combine different things to have less luggage, but that would mean if something breaks down, everything breaks down.
I could imagine that putting an Arduino in it could negatively affect the power consumption. How efficient are modern radios?
Do /out/ radios have to be water/dust proof?
What maximum weight would you accept, as you may have to carry it around all day?
What features would you definitely want in a radio?
Also, the price. Cobbling together the different modules would most definitely cost more than just buying a radio. What would be the maximum price for a multi-function radio you would be willing to pay?
