Here I share what I have learned after tinkering with these picky little MMDVM devices and code plug creation for a variety of DMR radios.
I'm no expert or hotspot professional but I do know how to get them up and running.


Note: The page is a very deep rabbit hole, there's a lot to cover here you may want to get a cup of coffee and a sandwich








Do not be intimidated by all the negative DMR haters talking trash about DMR because they can't figure out how to use it, you can!

DMR is really not that hard to use, once you get the very basics down, if you can get a ham ticket you can learn DMR


Learning to use DMR is not that hard /   Basic minimum computer skills necessary to configure DMR What is a "Code Plug"? /   Tips for the new guy on using DMR

D4D What is a DMR hotspot /   D4D Learn more about DMR here







Here are the steps to get all of your DMR credentials registered and verified
(Required for BrandMeister hotspot connections)

Get your DMR user ID registered and validated






DMR doesn't have to be super expensive, for around $200 to $225 you can buy a complete DMR setup

TYT MD-UV390 GPS 10 watts preloaded OpenGD77 firmware DMR HT $110 /   MMDVM hotspot  MMDVM pi-zero hotspot with a LAN port for $116

Here you can find a starter code plug for the 390 w OpenGD77 /   I recommend this duplex hotspot from CQ Radios /   I have the Boomerang HS-Pro I love it

Here are some on line DMR retailers





Are there any DMR repeaters near you?
The BrandMeister DMR Repeater Network Map   /   The DMR MARC DMR Repeaters Network Map

If you live in Arkansas look here





It's like having your own personal low powered digital repeater at home or in your mobile

Most everyone who starts off using a DMR repeater gets a hotspot for the freedom they provide, no restrictions or sharing.

CQ Radios /  Amazon eBaySkyBridge Max by BridgeCom (Expensive / Overpriced for what it is)






There are a bunch of them to choose from
BrandMeister & TGIF require an account and a network password for access to their networks

XLX DMR Reflector networkQuadNet System-X DMR networkAmComm DMR networkFreeStar DMR networkSystem-X DMR networkFreeDMR network  /  DMR+





The DMR networks below are restricted to RF Only! (No Hotspots) and most require permission to use!

c-Bridges: DMR-MARC, DCI TRBO, NATS, CACTUS, K4USD, Crossroads, Lonestar, Dillo, DMRX, Chicagoland, Rocky Mountain Ham, DMR-FL, Bronx TRBO, Minnesota TRBO, and others.




Take your time, don't be in a rush, follow the directions carefully
Setting up your hotspot for the first time/  How to setup your BrandMeister hotspot password/  How to setup your TGIF hotspot password/  
What are hotspot passwords?





How to fix it
More Advanced hotspot features for those who want more than just one DMR network
How to setup and configure DMR gateway/  How to add and use talkgroup rewrites to your code plug

Once you get your hotspot up and running the way you like make a backup






(1)- The most common issue I run into with people having hotspot issues is a missing or wrong password, not connected to the DMR server

(2)- WiFi or Internet issues, either the router assigned a new IP address or other Internet related issues in this case use pi-star.local to gain access to the dashboard

(3)- Tinkering around with the configuration not knowing what you're doing and have one or more settings misconfigured

(4)- Audio issues, clipping, distorted because the mic gain is set way too high, start with level-1 and work your way up using the parrot or a friend

(5)- Outdated firmware, running WPSD (all issues), currently Pi-Star:4.2.3 / Dashboard: 20250606 is the stable non-beta version as of June





These little devices are very picky and have zero tolerance for type-o errors, if so much as one small detail is off it will render the device temporarily useless

If your device stops working just restore it with the backup you made restoring your hotspot to the last known working condition
The checklist below is packed full of tips and tricks gathered over years of messing with these picky devices, 90% of its users are successful at resolving their HS issues
Set it up and put it somewhere out of the way and away from RFI devices, don't shut it just leave it on, it updates nightly at around 03:30
Sometimes solving the issue is as simple as re imaging the SD card with a fresh pi-star OS and starting over

Clone your SD card just in case     Use this tool to clone your SD cards


If your device stops working just restore it with the backup you made restoring your hotspot to the last known working condition
The checklist below is packed full of tips and tricks gathered over years of messing with these picky devices, 90% of its users are successful at resolving their HS issues
Set it up and put it somewhere out of the way and away from RFI devices, don't shut it just leave it on, it updates nightly at around 03:30
Sometimes solving the issue is as simple as re imaging the SD card with a fresh pi-star OS and starting over

Check out my MMDVM pi-star troubleshooting check list




To access your hotspot configuration dashboard click here same user name and password (pi-star / raspberry)
Use caution when you tinker around and always make a back up before you do anything.
Double check your configuration settings If you're having high BER % try calibrating the device
Check your gateway script for errors, Try rebooting the hotspot
Update your hostfiles or Upgrade to the latest pi-star OS






Each DMR network has it's own set of talk groups that are specific to that network, not all are bridged between these other DMR networks, especially BrandMeister

What you need to know about BrandMeister

Tips for the new ham on DMR, what you need to know about BrandMeister


Current network activity  /  LastHeard dashboard  /  "Hoseline" the online audio feed

BrandMeister's WiKi talkgroups page  /  BrandMeister's official talkgroups page  /  How to use "Private Call"

How to use your DMR user ID as your own personal talkgroup  /  The BrandMeister 10 min talk time limit on all 4 digit statewide calling talkgroups






My list includes labels / descriptions for the unlabeled by BM

My custom 6 & 7 digit talkgroups list, lots of AllStar links


Download my XLXS master talkgroup list

My Collection of DMR talkgroups




Mostly hotspot DMR networks

DMR+ IPSC2 networks have their own set of talkgroups and reflectors
TGIF  /  QuadNet System-X   /  FreeDMR  /  System-X  /  DMR+ IPSC2  /  DMR+ IPSC2 QuadNet

How to use DMR+ talkgroups with talkgroup rewrites






TGIF comes with it's own API talk group manager on the pi-star dashboard, for BrandMeister you must add it manually

Manage your BrandMeister talkgroups  /  
Manage your TGIF talkgroups  /  Mange your DMR+ IPSC2 talkgroups

Dynamic vs static talkgroups  /  Manage your QuadNet talkgroups  /  How to add the BrandMeister talkgroup manager

How to Navigate your way around on the DMR XLX reflector network




Here you can find some CSV talkgroup files to import, most all DMR CPS software has some sort of import / export feature usually in CSV format, super easy to make changes

My recently uploaded "How to make a code plug video"

Make a backup code plug and keep it in a safe place on your computer
My collection of DMR CPS programming software  /  
How to flash OpenGD77 onto your compatible radio  /  My Collection of DMR talkgroups

My collection of default code plugs for various radios zipped file

The Most Common CPS issues

You must already have the correct version of CPS and are able to read and write from the radio before you can import the files and for the rdt plug files your radios band split must match
I use Band-00000  "European Commercial" for all of my code plugs, it allows full access to the radios band split


"Band Error" The plug and your radios band plan must match, go to model info and check it, to change it in the radio you must use "AT-Options"
(More instructions & download)

Radios band plan and CPS band plan need to match to use other code plugs. a way to avoid all this is to just import the CSV files, the building blocks of any plug

Note: You must import the talk groups first then layer the rest on top of that, if you run into any issues re-import the channels.

"Wrong Model" the CPS must match the radios firmware version

No communication through cable with computer, push the cable all the way into the radio and into the computer then turn the radio on, if you don't hear the Windows chimes indicating a device connected you might have a comm port issue.

Download the latest DMR digital contacts list





My email is on my QRZ page
      
   



If this web page didn't help you with your issue and
you're still not able to get your DMR working you may need some additional help




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Last Update by 1 July

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