READ THIS BEFORE ASKING ME FOR DMR OR MMDVM HELP!
I'm getting burnt out with the upkeep of this web page and configuring DMR, MMDVM, codeplugs for everyone and his cousin, spending an unhealthy amount of my ham radio and free family time messing with it
Despite the detailed DMR information this web page provides there are some hams who don't want to take the time to read and research for the answers to fix their issues
kind of like that guy who doesn't read the manual yet asks a ton of questions on the Facebook Groups that are explained in the manual if they would just bother to take the time to read it
I deal with people like this a lot, they would rather bombarded me with questions that are clearly answered in this web page
I don't mind helping people out, that's what I have been doing for years spending most of my ham radio time with everyone needing help
I'm just getting tired of spoon feeding people spending hours on the phone or text and or emails with people who are clearly looking for the easy way without being compensated for the time I spent on these jobs
after awhile it gets old and I'm tired of it, please throw a bone to your old pal "the Soup"
For those of you who are impatient and can't wait to get on DMR, don't want to read and understand your DMR gear manual, BridgeCom offers their "Plug N Play" package starting at $800 to $1,600
This is the easy way if you can afford it, it requires very little learning or understanding of how DMR works
My personal time is of value to me, recently I suffered a life threating medical event that had me hospitalized in the ICU for awhile
Now I'm recovering and relaxing at home, I have the time to help with short questions but I do not want to get into complex "can of worms" configurations that take a lot time
DMR is time consuming and a labor intensive for someone who knows very little to nothing about it and has no intention of spending the time to learn or do some research of their own
Check out the tech support rates BridgeCom charges $80 per hour to speak with them on the phone
If you want to save some money or can not afford all this inflated tech service charges from dealers I will do it for a small one time donation. I configure MMDVM hotspots and make codeplugs
Everything I know about DMR code plugs and MMDVM pi-star hotspot configuration is in the text of this web page
Over the years I have gained a ton of knowledge messing around with these very picky little devices
I have a great collection of tips, tricks, and "how to's" here. If I learn something new I add it to this page sharing it with everyone
If I don't know I will ask Google, Facebook Groups, my ham friends and others who know as much if not even more than I do and then I relay this info to everybody right here
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!
if you can get a ham ticket you can learn DMR
Learning to
use DMR is not that hard
/
Basic
minimum computer skills helpful to have 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 / More details about DMR radio
Note: Important message for Brandmeister USA hams using a Radio ID starting with 1
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
How to setup your FCC account and get an FRN number
RepeaterBook is a great resource however they have a lot of unverified "paper repeaters" as well
The BrandMeister DMR Repeater Network Map (Note this map is accurate if the repeater is not connected to a DMR server it's not listed here)
The DMR MARC DMR Repeaters Network Map (Note this site lists a lot of paper repeaters and is inherently inaccurate)
RadioId.Net search for DMR repeaters (Note this site lists a lot of paper repeaters and is inherently inaccurate)
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 / SkyBridge Max / eBay / RF Shark OpenSpot M1KE
BrandMeister & TGIF
require an account and a network password for access to their
networks
XLX DMR Reflector network / QuadNet System-X DMR network / AmComm DMR network / FreeStar DMR network / System-X DMR network / FreeDMR network / DMR+
The DMR networks below are restricted to RF Only! (No Hotspots) and most require permission to use!
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?
Run a backup before you begin
More advanced pi-star configuration settings
Warning! messing around with advanced settings can have undesired results and could render the device useless requiring reconfiguration
How to enable DMR Gateway to add more DMR networks like TGIF to your hotspot / How to add talkgroup rewrites to your code plug
How to add the BrandMeister talkgroup manager to your pi-star dashboard
(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
For some the BrandMeister password is removed whenever you tinker with it so make sure you re-add it then hit "apply changes"
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
D4D What is a DMR hotspot / D4D Learn more about DMR here / More details about DMR radio
Note: Important message for Brandmeister USA hams using a Radio ID starting with 1
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
How to setup your FCC account and get an FRN number
RepeaterBook is a great resource however they have a lot of unverified "paper repeaters" as well
The BrandMeister DMR Repeater Network Map (Note this map is accurate if the repeater is not connected to a DMR server it's not listed here)
The DMR MARC DMR Repeaters Network Map (Note this site lists a lot of paper repeaters and is inherently inaccurate)
RadioId.Net search for DMR repeaters (Note this site lists a lot of paper repeaters and is inherently inaccurate)
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 / SkyBridge Max / eBay / RF Shark OpenSpot M1KE
.
There are a bunch of them
to choose
from
XLX DMR Reflector network / QuadNet System-X DMR network / AmComm DMR network / FreeStar DMR network / System-X DMR network / FreeDMR 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?
Run a backup before you begin
More advanced pi-star configuration settings
Warning! messing around with advanced settings can have undesired results and could render the device useless requiring reconfiguration
How to enable DMR Gateway to add more DMR networks like TGIF to your hotspot / How to add talkgroup rewrites to your code plug
How to add the BrandMeister talkgroup manager to your pi-star dashboard
(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
For some the BrandMeister password is removed whenever you tinker with it so make sure you re-add it then hit "apply changes"
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,XLSX download
This list here is getting pretty old, as I find the time or by special request I can make you a starter codeplug to get you going or you can buy a complete one for your radio from me
Download a zip file with my default / starter codeplugs for multiple radios
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 here
If this web page didn't help you with your issue and
you're still not able to get your DMR working I can do it all for you
Donations are very much needed and very appreciated
Last Update 25 Dec
Email me for help
You're welcome to copy, repost, share anything you find on this web page
This is a bare bones meat and potatoes HTML text web page, just basic text nothing fancy here, I'm no web master just trying to relay information