W9FE'S

BASIC DMR INFO PAGE

Catch me on the Illinois-Link DMR Talkgroup 31171

NEW TO DMR?

LEARN THE BASICS FIRST!

REQUIRED FIRST STEP: GET A DMR ID  

Click here or on the Picture to apply for a DMR ID at RadioID.net.

YOU MUST HAVE A DMR ID BEFORE TRANSMITTING ON DMR NETWORKS!

VIEW THE INTRODUCTION TO DMR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION (by WCARA)

AND

Introduction to DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Presentation - (by KB9VBR)

	Introduction to DMR (by WD8KNI)		DMR Etiquette & Common Courtesy

Listen to Live DMR Worldwide (TG91) QSO's on the Brandmeister Hoseline

(NOTE: Be sure to press the top right corner Player Icon button on Brandmeister Hoseline Live to start the Audio stream)

SECTION 1

CODEPLUG PROGRAMMING

5 SIMPLE STEPS

Step 1: Set up your Basic & General Settings (Callsign, DMR ID)

Step 2: Add Your Talkgroups (Digital Contacts)

Step 3: Add Your Receive Group

Step 4: Add Your Channels

Step 5: Add Your Zones with Channels

EXCELLENT CODEPLUG PROGRAMMING VIDEO TUTORIALS

	How to Write a DMR Codeplug (video)		How to Write a Hotspot Codeplug (video)

	K8JTK Tutorial - DMR in Amateur Radio; Programming A Codeplug

SAMPLE CODEPLUG EXAMPLES

Try out a Brandmeister Starter Codeplug for use with your Hotspot or SharkRF Openspot

Hotspot Frequency: 434.0000 MHz

(Be sure to click the Download Button on the link Popup)

	Basic Hotspot Codeplug-TYT MD-380/390(GPS)		Basic Hotspot Codeplug-TYT MD-UV-390(UHF/VHF)

DMR to Fusion Crossmode Instructions with the SharkRF Openspot

FLOWCHART STEPS TO PROGRAMMING YOUR RADIO

FOR YOUR OPENSPOT OR HOTSPOT

(Click photos to enlarge Sample Templates)

STEP 1) BASIC RADIO FREQUENCY, CALLSIGN & RADIO ID, AND GENERAL SETTINGS

BASIC AND GENERAL SETTINGS

Set Radio Frequency Range

Radio Name: Your Callsign

Radio ID: Your DMR ID

Intro Screen: Character Screen

Intro Screen Line 1: Your Callsign

Intro Screen Line 2: Your Name or Phone No.

STEP 2) ADD YOUR DIGITAL CONTACTS

(include Call ID Talkgroup 9 for Openspot)

DIGITAL CONTACTS SETTINGS

Contact Name: Local 9 (or Openspot)

(Note: Add addtional Contacts as desired)

Call Type: Group Call

Call ID: 9

Receive Tone: No

NOTE: You can Print or download the Complete Brandmeister Talkgroup List here

STEP 3) ADD YOUR DIGITAL RX GROUP LIST

(Local 9 for Openspot)

DIGITAL RX GROUP LIST SETTINGS

Group List Name: Openspot

Add Available Contact: Local 9 (for Openspot) to Contact Member

STEP 4) ADD YOUR CHANNELS

(RX/TX freq., Talkgroup, Color Code, Timeslot,...etc.)

NOTE: Openspot uses Color Code = 1, Repeater Slot = 2

CHANNEL SETTINGS

Band Width: 12.5kHz

TOT[s]: 180s (3 min) max.

Power: Low (for Hotspots), High (for Repeaters)

Channel Name: Local 9 (or OpenSpot)

RX Frequency: 434.000

TX Frequency: 434.000

Admit Criteria: Always or Channel Free

Allow Talkaround: Yes

Emergency System: None

Contact Name: Local 9 (or Openspot)

Group List: OpenSpot

Color Code: 1

Repeater Slot: 2

Privacy: None

In Call Criteria: Always

STEP 5) ADD YOUR ZONES

This shows your channel on the radio channel selector display

ZONE INFORMATION SETTINGS

Zone Name: Brandmeister

Add From Available Channels to Channel Members: (Examples)

Worldwide

North America

Bridge 3100

Midwest Region

USA-Area 9

Illinois State

Illinois Link

Missouri State

St Louis Metro

TAC-310

TAC-311

TAC-312

Parrot 9990

Reflector Disconnect

DMR ZONE LISTS

Need help organizing your DMR Zones and Channel List?  Here's my DMR Zone setup.

Feel free to organize your Zones and Channel List similar to mine or create your own personalized setup

File can be downloaded in either PDF or Excel formats

	W9FE DMR Zone Listing.pdf		W9FE DMR Zone Listing.xlxs		W9FE DMR Zone Listing.xlx

SECTION 2

DIGITAL SIMPLEX

FLOWCHART STEPS FOR PROGRAMMING

DMR SIMPLEX FREQUENCIES

ON THE TYT MD-380/390 (GPS)

DMR SIMPLEX VOICE FREQUENCIES

	441.000		446.500		446.075 Most Common North America
	145.790		145.510		433.450 Most Common Non-North America

IMPORTANT: *DO NOT USE 146.520 or 446.000 Mhz as they are National Analog Simplex calling channels. Also avoid repeater input or output channels, locally used Non-DMR simplex channels, satellite sub-bands, and any other frequencies that could disrupt amateur communications

STEP 2) ADD SIMPLEX DIGITAL RX GROUP

DIGITAL RX GROUPS LIST SETTINGS

Group List Name: Simplex

Add Available Contact: Simplex to Contact Member

STEP 3) ADD THE SIMPLEX CHANNELS

 Change Channel Name, RX & TX Frequency for Each Simplex Channel

NOTE: Simplex uses Color Code = 1, Repeater Slot = 1

CHANNEL SETTINGS

Band Width: 12.5kHz

TOT[s]: 180s (3 min) max.

Power: High

Channel Name: SPLX 433.450

RX Frequency: 433.450

TX Frequency: 433.450

Admit Criteria: Always (or Channel Free)

Allow Talkaround: No

Emergency System: None

Contact Name: Simplex

Group List: Simplex

Color Code: 1

Repeater Slot: 1

Privacy: None

In Call Criteria: Always

 433.450 MHz               441.00 MHz                           446.075 MHz                   446.500 MHz    

STEP 4) ADD CHANNELS INTO A SIMPLEX ZONE

This shows your channel on the radio channel selector display

ZONE INFORMATION SETTINGS

Zone Name: Simplex

Add From Available Channels to Channel Mmebers:

Local 9 (or Openspot)

SPLX 433.450

SPLX 441.000

SPLX 446.075

SPLX 446.500

SECTION 3

PARROT CHANNEL

DMR ETIQUETTE

and COMMON COURTESY

 REMEMBER:...PARROT IS YOUR DMR FRIEND

Example Parrot Channel (Brandmeister) for Audio/Radio checks

Instead of constantly asking for radio checks on populated DMR talkgroups like you were still on CB...Take advantage of the Parrot talkgroup (Group call on Repeater TG9998 or Private call on Brandmeister TG9990) to check your audio. It will echo back your audio test when you transmit to it.

Announce your Talkgroup when announcing your availability or calling another station. Some users may be scanning or have a radio without a display. (e.g. "This is W9FE listening on North America" or when identifying during your QSO, say "W1ABC, This is W9FE on TAC 310".)

Avoid calling CQ. DMR is not HF. Operating DMR on the network is not DXing. If you desire a contact, Just say something like, "This is W9FE listening on North America"

Move to a more localized talkgroup when connecting with someone on a Wide Area Talkgroup (e.g. Worldwide, Nationwide, Regionwide, or Statewide) or keep your QSO's short. You will be tying up hundreds of repeaters on Wide Area Talkgroups. Consider moving to a TAC channel for longer QSO's

Listen...Listen...Listen. Spend most of your time Listening..not talking. Allow 180 Seconds before transmitting when first joining a talkgroup. This will avoid calling over a QSO transmission in progress that your radio has not yet unsquelched. Many people have their Time Out Timer (TOT) set to 180s and your radio will not unsquelch a transmission already in progress on the talkgroup until they actually unkey.

Allow several seconds of Pause between transmissions. This will allow users with hotspots to disconnect from the talkgroup or allow others to join. Quick keying during your QSO is inconsiderate.

and once again...Use Parrot to test your audio instead of on populated talkgroups

You will occasionally see some user ID's appear momentarily. "Kerchunking" on DMR repeaters is necessary for them to hear the PTT talkgroups or those with hotspots to change talkgoups. Don't assume that they are looking for you to contact them. Many times they are commanding things up so they can listen.

 

SUGGESTED HOTSPOT FREQUENCIES

Illinois Repeater Association Band Plan-2006

Have a DMR Hotspot?  Set your DMR Hotspot to one of the Auxiliary Repeater Links below

 

 

Avoid Repeater inputs & Satellite Uplink frequencies

Hotspots, repeaters, terrestrial simplex, and "anything not satellite" should never transmit in the segments 145.8-146.0 MHz or 435-438 MHz by international band plan.

ARRL NEWS - DMR Hotspots & Interference with Satellite Uplinks

IMPORTANT: *DO NOT USE 446.000 Mhz as it is a National Analog Simplex calling channel. Also avoid repeater input or output channels, locally used Non-DMR simplex channels, satellite sub-bands, and any other frequencies that could disrupt amateur communications

 

ARRL BAND PLAN

IN THE U.S.:

Part of the 70cm band (433.00 - 435.00 MHz) is reserved for "Auxiliary Repeater Links" (your OpenSPOT fits this definition well enough.) IT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE A FREQUENCY IS NOT ALREADY IN USE BEFORE YOU BEGIN USING IT WITH YOUR OPENSPOT !!! If you cause interference with someone else's equipment, there is no excuse for not trying a different frequency! You might want to check with your area's Frequency Coordinator.

A second block within the 70cm band (445.00 - 447.00 MHz) is reserved for "Auxiliary and Control Links, Repeaters, and Simplex (Local Option)". Again, your OpenSPOT is a good fit, here. AGAIN - IT IS UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE A FREQUENCY IS NOT ALREADY IN USE BEFORE YOU BEGIN USING IT WITH YOUR OPENSPOT !!! It bears repeating - you might want to check with your area's Frequency Coordinator.

It is recommended that you check with your local Frequency Coordinator before selecting a frequency, and at the very least, set a UHF ANALOG radio to a frequency of interest, in VFO simplex mode. Then turn up the volume, and just listen for a couple hours as you go about your day. If you don't hear anything (voice, digital screeching, or other obvious traffic), you might be able to use that frequency. If you hear anything, set VFO to a different frequency and listen again for a couple hours. (With so many frequencies to choose from, if you pick something in the middle of the pack, you'll likely get lucky on the first try.)

 

The Illinois Repeater Association (ILRA.net) lists the following Band Plan for Auxiliary Link Frequencies:

433.025-434.975 (25 MHz Spacing) - FM Auxiliary Links

445-447 (25 MHz Spacing) - Auxiliary and Control Links, Repeaters, and Simplex (Local Option)

 

 

ST Louis Area DMR Repeater Codeplugs

  Need a DMR Codeplug for our St. Louis Area DMR repeaters?

 

  NOTE: These codeplugs listed are NoCall / NoID codeplugs...you will need to enter in your callsign and DMR ID into them using your Codeplug Programming Software (CPS) prior to importing into your radio. NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A DMR ID BEFORE TRANSMITTING ON DMR NETWORKS!

 

	Basic Hotspot Codeplug-TYT MD-380/390(GPS)
	Basic Hotspot Codeplug-TYT MD-UV-390 (UHF/VHF)		K7QLL Repeater (Greenville, IL)-TYT MD-380/390(GPS)

 

St Louis Area DMR Repeater Listing (by Frequency)

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is imperitive to utilize a more localized talkgroup when connecting with someone on the St. Louis Area DMR Repeaters or keep your QSO's short. You will be tying up hundreds of repeaters on Wide Area Talkgroups that are Nationwide, Regional, and Statewide Talkgroups. Use these as calling talkgroups and consider moving to a TAC channel for longer QSO's. This is common DMR courtesy for everyone to adhere to.

442.450 - KD0BQS - Arnold, Mo

443.2500 - N0KQG - St. Charles, Mo

443.43125 - K7QLL Dragon Fly Acres Amateur Radio Club website - Greenville, IL

443.550 - K0MDG Missouri Digital Group website - St. Louis, MO

444.6500 - WB0HSI  - St. Charles, Mo

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