KN3U

When I hear this question, I find myself trying to provide some context first. First and foremost, I am dismayed by the fragmentation of our relatively small Amatuer Radio market by three (or more) competing technologies whose similarities outweigh their differences. This seems counter-productive.

Second, although digital modes are sometimes promoted as beng useful for emcomm, it's hard to see that digital voice is a net plus, at least until there is some kind of convergence. For emcomm, we want the broadest pool of available operators, the widest degree of interoperability, and minimal reliance on commercial infrastructure. Admittedly, some of the tools, like the optional camera that works with some Fusion radios, could be useful for damage assessment.

Third, linked repeaters may be useful in some georgraphies and for some purposes, but in an emergency, it might be counter-productive to tie up multiple repeaters that could be better utilized for parallel communications.

That said, pick the mode that your friends or other local hams are using. If your primary operating interest is ragchewing, it's hard to see how you could go wrong with any of them. I'll leave it to others to argue the technical merits of the competing technologies.

73,

Al, KN3U