Joined the DMR revolution today

Ikarus1

Avtomat Krishna-kov
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Amazon had a flash sale on the TYT MD-380 UHF, so now I get to discover the world of talk groups and code plugs.

That is all.

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If you scrounge or build a code plug for NC or better, RTP area, please share!
 
If you scrounge or build a code plug for NC or better, RTP area, please share!

That's probably a ways on down the road for me. I managed to teach myself how to CHIRP the chicom radios fairly fast and easy, but this may take me a while.

I know one thing, and that's TYT makes a quality product. My UV-8000E is solid on both bands, and other 'non-authorized' uses of my radio (GMRS) work pretty well.

I was on an hour QSO after a GMRS net on Saturday, just using the TYT connected to my J-pole turned for about 10Mhz lower than ideal, and it began to barely get warm on high power.

I hope the MD-380 is cut from the same cloth!
 
CHIRP is great but the DMR stuff is another kettle of fish. Doesn't seem to be as standardized and well supported.
 
CHIRP is great but the DMR stuff is another kettle of fish. Doesn't seem to be as standardized and well supported.

I look at it kinda like AOL vs 'the internet' in the 1990s. Sure AOL was easy to use and had everything you could ever want right there in one package. But the internet was wide open :D

DMR seems to be fairly open standards as long as you get a Tier II radio, find someone with a decent codeplug, and a current copy of the user database.

Full disclosure: I am an IT guy first and foremost.....so most of the stuff comes natural.
 
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Amazon had a flash sale on the TYT MD-380 UHF, so now I get to discover the world of talk groups and code plugs.

I have a code plug for my area Stanly Co) that I will gladly share. I did not create it, but it is pretty comprehensive. PM me for details.
 
I understand that you bought a radio...that is all...lol

DS

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
its a digital mode tier II radio, not a basic FM Baofeng type, so you can speak to anyone worldwide if you can hit a repeater or have an internet DMR hotspot
 
its a digital mode tier II radio, not a basic FM Baofeng type, so you can speak to anyone worldwide if you can hit a repeater or have an internet DMR hotspot
Dmr hotspot?

Forgive my ignorance...

DS

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
 
Digital mobile radio? That's what my Google-fu says....

DS

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
 
Digital mobile radio? That's what my Google-fu says....

DS

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
yep. Similar to digital satellite TV vs local Analog, with improved audio and nearly unlimited distances. Its a huge leap in technology from the Marconi era 'wireless telegraphy' technology in use for the last century
 
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Digital mobile radio? That's what my Google-fu says....

DS

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
It can use a hot spot, much like WiFi, to connect to the internet where they can talk in chat room channels. Similarly, the repeaters connect to the internet so if you can hit one with a radio signal it can get on the internet that way.
 
It can use a hot spot, much like WiFi, to connect to the internet where they can talk in chat room channels. Similarly, the repeaters connect to the internet so if you can hit one with a radio signal it can get on the internet that way.
I should be able to hit several local repeaters in Charlotte and Albemarle, but I am looking at Raspberry Pi based hotspots
 
I should be able to hit several local repeaters in Charlotte and Albemarle, but I am looking at Raspberry Pi based hotspots
In that area you'll find lots of machines you can hit.

You might want to take a look at the Shark Open Spot. They just came out with a new edition that is portable and fits in your pocket, no PC required. It works with DMR, D-Star, and C4FM as well as other protocols. The cross platform compatibility has been where they're making a lot of progress.
 
My UV-8000E is solid on both bands, and other 'non-authorized' uses of my radio (GMRS) work pretty well.

Not to hijack the thread, but why do so many hams see the rules as black or white and get so bent when someone ventures a little outside the established rules?
 
because they're dbags?
Most of the ham community are friendly, frequently get together in person, and help others (especially when it comes to a ham project), and actively participate and volunteer in community service endeavors. While, yes, there are a few dbags, they are the exception rather than the rule.
Not to hijack the thread, but why do so many hams see the rules as black or white and get so bent when someone ventures a little outside the established rules?
Question, what do you mean by "ventures a little outside the established rules?"

Trying to answer what I think you're asking:
First, please understand that interference, intentional or otherwise, with other radio services is something that the FCC takes very seriously, and for good reason. Not only are you stepping on someone else's toes, it really is possible to prevent other services, including emergency services and air traffic control from functioning. People who have gotten caught doing so have faced massive fines and jail time. I am no fan of govt, but I do see that the RF spectrum, which is limited - though the ability to use higher and higher frequencies is growing with technology, is one of the few areas where some sort of allocation scheme is necessary or else it wouldn't work for anybody. Consequently, in pretty much every country in the world, there is some sort of national standard and entity; and when it comes to amateur radio there is quite a bit of international treaty and coordination too.

That being said, amateur radio operators enjoy great leeway and latitude in their ability (privilege) to operate their radios. They are allocated a sizeable portion of the RF spectrum across many bands, each of which have different properties and with large amounts of power. In some cases they are allowed to share spectrum with other services on the understanding that they don't interfere with other operations. Pretty much everything related to ham radio, from the licensing through rule enforcement is handled by volunteers. About the only thing that the FCC gets involved in is issuing an FRN and the license (station and operator identification, aka call sign - much like commercial radio and tv stations) and this is done by a computer. Outside of the US, most countries not only permit communication with US hams, but allow US citizens to operate their radios in their (foreign) country. To put it succinctly, govt involvement is very limited and very hands off. We would like to keep it this way. The best way to invite govt intrusion is to violate the rules.
 
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Great comments and explanations, but that still doesn't explain the cliqueyness that I have already discovered in my short time as a licensed operator. I heard the term "children's band" today referring to CB.

Put it this way: I am a Microsoft certified, CCNA, A+ Net+ Linux+ certified IT tech. If I spoke down to the large amount of older hams who don't know how to use a PC as well as I do like the way I have seen read and heard many speak down to new hams, nobody would use a PC....
 
Don't you have to have a HAM license or something to talk over HAM radios...
on Amateur only frequencies, yes.

The general consensus and current controversy: Some cheap chinese radios can use the license-free bands, and the knock is that the FCC has rules about using those bands with certain power limits, antenna limits, etc.

Kinda like you can't shoulder a pistol brace, green tip bullets are bad mmmmkay, and slidefire stocks are the debil.
 
Great comments and explanations, but that still doesn't explain the cliqueyness that I have already discovered in my short time as a licensed operator. I heard the term "children's band" today referring to CB.

Put it this way: I am a Microsoft certified, CCNA, A+ Net+ Linux+ certified IT tech. If I spoke down to the large amount of older hams who don't know how to use a PC as well as I do like the way I have seen read and heard many speak down to new hams, nobody would use a PC....
I don't get the CB hate either. As a fairly new ham, I encountered a bit of the cliqueyness, often accompanied by comments about "children" saying indecent things on the air. I haven't experienced it(*). I think there is also a bit of the "I don't know you syndrome", most prevalent on the VHF/UHF repeaters, but I found that with time and persistence I got past that. Remember that the ham clubs tend to meet in person, often monthly, and I think this creates a familiarity but at the same time makes it more difficult for newbies.

(*)I've heard that there is a group hanging out on 14.313 MHz that engages in this behavior. I was jokingly told to tune to that frequency, call CQ and ask if this frequency is in use and I'll get an earful.

Don't you have to have a HAM license or something to talk over HAM radios...
Yes, you need to be licensed to transmit on the ham bands. The licensure process is easy and cheap (~$12-$15) that covers the costs incurred by the VE team for supplies and expenses.
 
@noway2 Honestly, I've not really experienced too much of that condescension, and I have been invited to several nets when I called into different repeaters. Quite honestly, I am blessed to live in this area and be able to hit so many different repeaters by different clubs in different counties. And I am 5 miles away from the W4DEX repeater which is an excellent multiband setup. The owner is a world-record-DX holding amateur who's son graduated with my wife. He works for the NC VIPER project. So I have some good resources and was able to hit the ground running.

Thursday night I am going to attend the Stanly County amateur club's meeting. Gonna tote my DMR radio, my laptop, several programming cables, and a good attitude :D
 
well the same day I got my MD380, I got a codeplug from a local club website GCARS, and got it up and running.

Then I flashed th MD380tools software. No bueno. My RX was basically nonexistent.

I could use an echo test on DMR but I had no analog reception, but could transmit. IE: the radio went deaf. So after a few hours time I figures out my radios firmware was incompatible with the older version of 380tools. Sucks because I like it makes thimgs look better on screen and gives you 'promiscuous' mode so you can monitor the repeater across talk groups. Sucks.
Oh well I'm sure they'll update it soon ;)
 
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