(Click photos to enlarge Sample Templates)

STEP 1) ADD DIGITAL CONTACT (TG99)

DIGITAL CONTACTS SETTINGS

Contact Name: Simplex

Call Type: Group Call

Call ID: 99

Receive Tone: No

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.

FLOWCHART STEPS FOR PROGRAMMING

PARROT CHANNELS

ON THE TYT MD-380/390 (GPS)

(Click photos to enlarge Sample Templates)

STEP 1: CREATE THE PARROT DIGITAL CONTACT

 NOTE: Parrot Call Type (Brandmeister uses TG 9990 Private Call, Repeaters uses TG 9998 Group Call)

DIGITAL CONTACTS SETTINGS:

Contact Name: Parrot 9990 (For Repeaters-Use Parrot 9998)

Call Type: Private Call (For Repeaters-Use Group Call)

Call ID: 9990 (For Repeaters-Use 9998)

Receive Tone: No

 NOTE: Be sure to include Local 9 (Group Call) in your talkgroups for your Openspot

STEP 2) 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 3) ADD THE PARROT CHANNEL

CHANNEL SETTINGS

Band Width: 12.5kHz

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

Power: Low (Repeaters=High)

Channel Name: Parrot 9990

RX Frequency: 434.000

TX Frequency: 434.000

Admit Criteria: Always (or Channel Free)

Allow Talkaround: Yes

Emergency System: None

Contact Name: Parrot 9990

Group List: Openspot

Color Code: 1

Repeater Slot: 2

Privacy: None

In Call Criteria: Always

STEP 4: ADD PARROT CHANNEL TO 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:

Channel Member: Parrot 9990

SECTION 4

APRS TRACKING

ADD APRS TRACKING TO YOUR TYT MD-380/390 (GPS)

Have a TYT MD-380/390 with GPS?  Add APRS Tracking function to link with APRS.fi

Easy Instructions available for download:

Setup APRS GPS on TYT MD380/390.pdf

FLOWCHART STEPS FOR PROGRAMMING

APRS TRACKING

ON THE TYT MD-380/390 (GPS)

STEP 1: ADD APRS IN DIGITAL CONTACTS

APRS TG 31099 (Private Call)

REFLECTOR DISCONNECT TG 4000 (Group Call)

REFLECTOR DISCONNECT DIGITAL CONTACTS SETTINGS

Contact Name: Reflector Disconnect

Call Type: Group Call

Call ID: 4000

Receive Tone: No

APRS DIGITAL CONTACTS SETTINGS

Contact Name: APRS-31099

Call Type: Private Call

Call ID: 31099

Receive Tone: No

STEP 2) ADD A APRS GPS-ON CHANNEL

NOTE: Send GPS Info: Checked

NOTE: Receive GPS Info: Checked

NOTE: GPS System: 1

CHANNEL SETTINGS

Band Width: 12.5kHz

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

Power: Low (Repeaters=High)

Channel Name: APRS GPS-ON

RX Frequency: 434.000

TX Frequency: 434.000

Admit Criteria: Always (or Channel Free)

Allow Talkaround: Yes

Send GPS Info: Yes

Receive GPS Info: Yes

Emergency System: None

Contact Name: APRS-31099

Group List: Openspot

Color Code: 1

Repeater Slot: 2

Privacy: None

In Call Criteria: Always

GPS System: 1

STEP 3) ADD A APRS GPS-OFF CHANNEL

NOTE: Send GPS Info: Checked

NOTE: Receive GPS Info: Checked

NOTE: GPS System: None

CHANNEL SETTINGS

Band Width: 12.5kHz

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

Power: Low (Repeaters=High)

Channel Name: APRS GPS-ON

RX Frequency: 434.000

TX Frequency: 434.000

Admit Criteria: Always (or Channel Free)

Allow Talkaround: Yes

Send GPS Info: Yes

Receive GPS Info: Yes

Emergency System: None

Contact Name: APRS-31099

Group List: Openspot

Color Code: 1

Repeater Slot: 2

Privacy: None

In Call Criteria: Always

GPS System: None

STEP 4) SETUP GPS SYSTEM

GPS SYSTEM (GPS-1) SETTINGS

GPS Revert Channel: Select Current CH

Default GPS Report Interval: 600 (10 Minutes - Smaller Intervals=faster battery drain )

Destination ID: Select Talkgroup APRS-31099

STEP 5) ADD APRS GPS CHANNELS TO 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:

Channel Member: APRS GPS-ON

Channel Member: APRS GPS-OFF

STEP 6) SET APRS BUTTON DEFINITION

Adds APRS SMS Text Messaging button function

RADIO BUTTONS SECTION

Side Button 1 (Short Press): One-Touch Access 1

Side Button 2 (Short Press): One-Touch Access 6

ONE TOUCH ACCESS SECTION

Mode: Digital

Call: APRS-31099

Call Type: Text Message

Message/Encode: SMSGTE @

NUMBER KEY QUICK CONTACT ACCESS SECCTION

Number Key 1: APRS-31099

Number Key 2: Reflector Disconnect

STEP 7) Setup Brandmeister Self Care Settings

https://brandmeister.network/

BRANDMEISTER SELF CARE SETTINGS

Brand: Chinese Radio

APRS Interval: 60 Seconds

Language: English

APRS Callsign: Select appropriate callsign to display on APRS.fi

APRS Text: Any desired random broadcast text

STEP 8) ACTIVATE YOUR APRS-GPS

Turns on Radio GPS and shows your location on APRS.fi

CHANNEL: APRS-GPS ON

Select the APRS-GPS ON Channel

Press PTT to activate

Locate MD-380/390 in an outside area for about 10 minutes. GPS icon to show a solid Globe icon when radio has locked on the Satellite.

Check your coordinates in the radio Menu. (Menu/Utilities/RXGPS Info)

Check your Map location on APRS.fi website

STEP 9) TURN OFF YOUR APRS-GPS

Turns off the radio GPS function and disconnects channel from the talkgroup

METHOD #1 - CHANNEL SELECTOR: APRS-GPS OFF

Switch Channel selector to APRS-GPS OFF Channel

Press PTT to deactivate GPS function

METHOD #2 - SIDE BUTTON 2 (bottom button)

Do a Short Press of Side button or Keypad Button #2

Press PTT to deactivate GPS function and disconnect from the talkgroup

NOTE: Can also be used to disconnect any of your channels from any connected talkgroups

Optional: You can also create a separate Reflector disconnect Channel and add it to your zones for talkgroup disconnects

SECTION 5

APRS SMS TEXT BUTTONS

AND QUICK DISCONNECT BUTTON

Send a 1-way SMS text to Cell phones and Email address using an APRS SMS Side Button

Also create a Quick Disconnect side button to disconnect your channel from Talkgroups.

NOTE: The Quick Disconnect side button can also be used to disconnect any of your channels from any connected talkgroups

FLOWCHART STEPS FOR PROGRAMMING

APRS SMS TEXT MESSAGING AND QUICK DISCONNECT SIDE BUTTONS

FOR TYT MD-380/390 (GPS)

STEP 1) ADD APRS SMS TEXT MESSAGING AND QUICK DISCONNECT SIDE BUTTONS

Adds SMS Text Messaging AND Side Button Quick Channel disconnect functions

TEXT MESSAGE SETTINGS

Add SMSGTE @ (Note CAPS and space between SMSGTE and @ symbol)

STEP 2) SET APRS BUTTON DEFINITION

Adds APRS SMS Text Messaging button function

RADIO BUTTONS SECTION

Side Button 1 (Short Press): One-Touch Access 1

Side Button 2 (Short Press): One-Touch Access 6

ONE TOUCH ACCESS SECTION

Mode: Digital

Call: APRS-31099

Call Type: Text Message

Message/Encode: SMSGTE @

NUMBER KEY QUICK CONTACT ACCESS SECCTION

Number Key 1: APRS-31099

Number Key 2: Reflector Disconnect

STEP 3) ACTIVATE APRS-GPS AND SEND SMS MESSAGES

Turns on Radio GPS and send a 1-way SMS Text Message via APRS

CHANNEL: APRS-GPS ON

Select the APRS-GPS ON Channel

Press PTT to activate

Locate MD-380/390 in an outside area for about 10 minutes. GPS icon to show a solid Globe icon when radio has locked on the Satellite.

Sending your APRS SMS text message

To send an SMS message via APRS, you need to address your message to SMSGTE and use the correct format. The format for sending a message from an APRS station is as follows:

Address your message to SMSGTE with the destination phone number or alias followed by the message body. For example, if you want to send a message to a phone number, you would use the format: @phonenumber This is the message body

To initiate a conversation from SMS to an APRS station, you would address your message to the gateway number with the following format: @callsign This is the message body. The @ symbol signifies that the following characters represent the destination for the message

it's important to note that the gateway telephone numbers are not published to prevent spam messages being sent into the APRS network. You will learn the gateway�s number when you send your first message from APRS to SMS.

Additionally, conversations initiated by an SMS user will only be permitted to callsigns that have previously used SMSGTE, which has been implemented to mitigate potential spam and simplify the parsing of SMS messages received by SMSGTE.

For confirmation that your message was delivered, you can add a question mark (?) to the end of the callsign or SMS number. If the message is destined for APRS, a confirmation message will be sent to the SMS user only once an Ack was received on APRS. If the message is destined for SMS, a confirmation message will be sent when SMSGTE confirms from the SMS service.

If you encounter issues with receiving replies, ensure that your APRS station is active on the network so the SMSGTE can find the station. If the station isn�t active on the network, the messages will die without ever leaving the APRS-IS data stream.

Lastly, the SMSGTE service is provided for no charge to amateur radio operators, but it isn't free. There is an expense to keeping the service running, including the cost of sending and receiving the text messages. So if you use this service regularly, please consider donating to support it.

SENDING MESSAGES FROM APRS TO SMS (From SMSGTE website)

Do a Short Press on Side Button 1 (top button) or Press Keypad Button #1

SMSGTE @ will display on Radio screen

Enter in the destination phone number after the @ sysmbol (e.g. SMSGTE @1235551212)

Use Keypad to type in a short message (e.g. No cell coverage here, ping me on radio)

Press PTT to Send SMS Message

When the message is delivered to the destination SMS number (usually a cell phone), the message will appear as follows:

@WA9XXX-10 No cell coverage here, ping me on radio

Of course, the callsign at the start of the message will be your callsign. The originating number will be the gateway number for your region.

STEP 4) TURN OFF YOUR APRS-GPS

Turns off the radio GPS function and disconnects channel from the talkgroup

METHOD #1 - CHANNEL SELECTOR: APRS-GPS OFF

Switch Channel selector to APRS-GPS OFF Channel

Press PTT to deactivate GPS function

METHOD #2 - SIDE BUTTON 2 (bottom button)

Do a Short Press of Side button or Keypad Button #2

Press PTT to deactivate GPS function and disconnect from the talkgroup

NOTE: Can also be used to disconnect any of your channels from any connected talkgroups

Optional: You can also create a separate Reflector disconnect Channel and add it to your zones for talkgroup disconnects

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!

	K7QLL/R (Greenville, IL) - TYT MD-UV390 (10w Dual-band)		K7QLL/R (Greenville, IL) - TYT MD-380 / MD-390(GPS)
	Basic Brandmeister - TYT MD-UV390 (10w Dual-band)		Basic Brandmeister - TYT MD-380 / MD-390(GPS)

St Louis Area DMR Repeater Listing (by Frequency)