Learning to
use DMR is not that hard
/ Basic
minimum computer skills necessary 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
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
DMR
doesn't have to be super expensive, for
around $200 to $225
you can buy a
complete DMR setup
TYT
MD-UV390 GPS
10 watts preloaded OpenGD77 firmware DMR HT $110 / MMDVM hotspot MMDVM
pi-zero hotspot with a LAN port for $116
Here
you can find a starter code plug for the 390 w OpenGD77 / I recommend this duplex hotspot from CQ
Radios
Here
are some on line DMR
retailers
Are
there any DMR
repeaters near you?
The BrandMeister DMR Repeater Network Map
/ The DMR MARC DMR Repeaters Network Map
If you
live in Arkansas look here
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 (Note: can take up to 2 weeks
for delivery from China)
There are a bunch of them
to choose
from
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?
More advanced pi-star configuration settings
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
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
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
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
