I
put this together to help newcomers better enjoy the hobby and know
what's expected of them on public repeaters and linked systems
Unwritten rules you either learn the hard way or someone was nice enough to tell you about them.
DMR etiquette is 98% common sense and courtesy
Unwritten rules you either learn the hard way or someone was nice enough to tell you about them.
DMR etiquette is 98% common sense and courtesy
The good news is the audio quality is way better than FM analog
DMR audio is totally different from what you're used to on Analog.
DMR audio levels will vary greatly due to individual operating habits and radio configuration, mic again setting in particular is most common
followed by individuals who feel the need to scream into the mic.
You will need to keep your volume knob close proximity for east access to adjust to just your receive audio.
Talk groups are a series of numbers that correspond to a group or geographical area like states, TAC, WX, EComm, Auxcom, regional, global, chat, social clubs or groups.
Each DMR network has its own talk group that is assigned based on the MCC country code, for example in the USA our DMR talk groups and user ID's start with 3,
global talk groups start with 9. All DMR user Id's are 7 digital long and are capable of being used as your own personal talk group,
it's also possible to have a private conversation using "private call" this can not be monitored by hoseline regardless of server connection or
radio setting, the only person that could possibly monitor your private conversation are network administrators
and with close to 300K registered users on DMR it's highly unlikely anybody cares enough about you and your conversation to listen.
There are some courtesy restrictions on talk group use just like with frequencies in the ham bands no one individual or group owns a talk group,
the only talk group that belongs to you is your 7 digit DMR user ID.
When you're calling on a talk group announce the talk group so others know what talk group you're on
You only need to hit the PTT once to connect to a talk group, if you don't hear anything that's because nobody is talking.
If you key up the talk group too many times the server will block you
for a few hours to prevent looping, this is automated, if you're a frequent talk group kerchunker you will be banned from the talk group for abuse.
It's very annoying and is unnecessary, good way to piss off repeater owners
If you want to verify your connection look at the last heard dashboard most networks have one
PTT / Kerchunk is a brief transmission and need not be ID’ed to turn on a talkgroup.
ID must be done within 10 minutes, better sooner when you gain voice control when you make a call.
A talkgroup change does not “require” an ID if you are TX’ing to the same repeater (no transmit frequency change)
But it’s a good idea as you have the talkgroup anyway and it’s a standard courtesy.
Kerchunking repeatedly is not a FCC consideration (though it may be annoying)
As you are not changing frequency
You only need to ID at the end of your series of transmissions or every 10 minutes during that series.
But you should pause for effort or to change a control setting, IE: don’t be a lid.
PTT, Push-to-Talk or Kerchunking is a primary and necessary way to route, control, enable and diasble traffic on DMR networks.
Multi-talkgroup DMR networks would is very hobbled if PTT is not made a significant port operational component of the network.
It would be similar to the chaos of removing CTCSS and DCS from FM repeater input control.
If you wish to interpret Part 97 rigidly and rather use a workaround method, then:
Don’t kerchunk; make it a call, ID your station, state what your are doing or why or whatever communication you feel fits the situation.
If you kerchunk and want to ID but not into a current QSO, do it over local on the opposite timeslot using the same repeater.
kind of like 52 simplex this rule only applies to BrandMeister other networks have no such restrictions. If you call someone on a statewide calling talk
group make sure it's short, and to the point meet up on a different talk group like statewide TAC or Chat, if your QSO exceeds 10 mins you will be banned from the talk group,
if you continually kerchuck the talk group in a short amount of time you will be blocked by the server for 2 hours, this is automated and is set to protect the server from looping.
A lot of people PTT activate a talk group and don't hear anything so they keep kerchunking to see if they are connected,
the reality is they were connected the first time but because nobody is talking they won't hear anything. If you want to check your connection
to a repeater or network use the parrot. Other restrictions include using talk groups assigned to your home country
and state, not having a QSO with your friend on a Florida talk group while neither one of you is in Florida.
if there was a round table and at least one guy lives in Florida or whatever state it's okay but when he leaves take the QSO to a TAC or other talk group.
When you're on a statewide talk group you're most likely bringing up every repeater in the state.
DO NOT just pick a random talk group and start using it, this is the fastest way to get blocked.
Between your transmissions leave a space for others to join or make a call to someone on the talk group, same as you would with a repeater.
Don't Bogart the talk group, everyone wants a turn on these shared talk groups, don't be that guy.
If you have smart mouth and like to make stupid comments, or like to play games on the radio the whole world is going to know it's you on DMR, unlike FM analog there are no anonymous key ups or
comments or jamming, playing music, every time you hit the PTT your name call and location are displayed for everyone to see,
and trust me people will rat you out and then you'll find yourself heavily restricted and if it's really bad you can have your DMR ID pulled then
you will be banned from DMR completely or by most networks.
Also note that every conversation you have ever had on BrandMeister has been recorded and stored on a cloud server, with date and time stamps.
Remember ham radio is a family oriented hobby, there could be little kids and families listening to the radio, if you can't say it at the dinner
table with your mother present you shouldn't talk about it on the radio. Remember all it takes is for you to piss off the right person and your DMR
network privileges will either be restricted or banned. Nobody wants to hear about your health issues and how your prostate exam went on mainstream talk groups
There is no freedom of speech being suppressed, DMR servers and network infrastructure is privately owned personal property, there is no entitlement to access.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech from government censorship, but it does not apply to private citizens, businesses, or organizations
Just like on an FM analog repeater if the owner or trustee asks you to stop using it that's it, you're off the repeater. If your QSO is deemed offensive by the owner of the network you will be removed.
The big difference here is the network admits, owners do not have to tell you anything, with a stroke of a few keys you're gone.
No sending certified letters in the mail, no asking the FCC to intervene, you're blocked, banned, no more DMR for you.
Note:
Some networks like TGIF have special talk groups to talk politics, bash
the gov, conspiracy theories, smoking pot, and other controversial topics.
