Digital Mobile Radio (DMR)INTRODUCTION TO DMR

Don Price – KB5VP

AgendaThis is an introduction (not radio programming) to operating amateur radio DMR. Minimum needed to start having fun!Covers the use of repeaters which are connected via NEDECN C-Bridge serviceTo be covered:

Status of DMR

Getting started in DMR

DMR Talk Groups

DMR Zones

Scan Groups

Useful and interesting DMR tools and information resources

What is DMR - Digital Mobile Radio100% digital only radio communications over the VHF, or UHF frequencies.

Based on open public standards world wide accessible to any manufacture

Technology is extensively used through out the world

Authorized by the FCC for amateur use ~5 years ago.

Growing in use by amateurs around the world.

Supports Voice, Text, and Data over VHF and UHF

Most repeaters are linked over the Internet and world wide accessible

DMR Summary – Registered UsersUnited States 9,100World Wide 20,263Germany 2,844United Kingdom 1,775

DMR Subscribers by State35 UNITED-STATES ALABAMA

324 UNITED-STATES ARIZONA

80 UNITED-STATES ARKANSAS

965 UNITED-STATES CALIFORNIA

575 UNITED-STATES COLORADO

338 UNITED-STATES CONNECTICUT

4 UNITED-STATES DELAWARE

5 UNITED-STATES DISTRICT-OF-COLUMBIA

554 UNITED-STATES FLORIDA

111 UNITED-STATES GEORGIA

1 UNITED-STATES GUAM

113 UNITED-STATES HAWAII

16 UNITED-STATES IDAHO

397 UNITED-STATES ILLINOIS

349 UNITED-STATES INDIANA

28 UNITED-STATES IOWA

112 UNITED-STATES KANSAS

21 UNITED-STATES KENTUCKY

6 UNITED-STATES LOUISIANA

31 UNITED-STATES MAINE

120 UNITED-STATES MARYLAND

197 UNITED-STATES MASSACHUSETTS

502 UNITED-STATES MICHIGAN

32 UNITED-STATES MINNESOTA

12 UNITED-STATES MISSISSIPPI

86 UNITED-STATES MISSOURI

9 UNITED-STATES MONTANA

73 UNITED-STATES NEBRASKA

244 UNITED-STATES NEVADA

116 UNITED-STATES NEW-HAMPSHIRE

277 UNITED-STATES NEW-JERSEY

DMR Subscribers by State37 UNITED-STATES NEW-MEXICO

580 UNITED-STATES NEW-YORK

589 UNITED-STATES NORTH-CAROLINA

262 UNITED-STATES OHIO

184 UNITED-STATES OKLAHOMA

7 UNITED-STATES OREGON

147 UNITED-STATES PENNSYLVANIA

12 UNITED-STATES RHODE-ISLAND

303 UNITED-STATES SOUTH-CAROLINA

2 UNITED-STATES SOUTH-DAKOTA

142 UNITED-STATES TENNESSEE

295 UNITED-STATES TEXAS

55 UNITED-STATES UTAH

22 UNITED-STATES VERMONT

168 UNITED-STATES VIRGINIA

94 UNITED-STATES WASHINGTON

40 UNITED-STATES WEST-VIRGINIA

93 UNITED-STATES WISCONSIN

56 UNITED-STATES WYOMING

New England Repeaters*

1JCL-Coventry

W1LAS-Prospect

G2K-Bridgeport

1JCL-Colchester

K1JCL-Killingly

W1NLK-Norwalk

1OFJ-Northford

A1HCX-Seymour

KA1OAN-Northampton-U

K1IMD-Mattituck

WA2VNV-Selden

K1DQ-Shapleigh

W1IMD-Portland

AE1C-Southboro-V

KA1QFE-Northampton-V

N1IW-Chelmsford

KE1V-Reading

W1JFR-Walpole

K1XML-Marblehead

K1LVA-Malden

NE1B-Eastham

K1QVC-Derry

K1MOT-Hudson-U

K1RE-Gilford

K1OX-Bow

K1OX-Chester

K1JC-Sanbornton

W1RCF-Manchester

W1IMD-Sargents Purchase

W1WNS-Madbury

K1MOT-Hudson-V

KM3T-Amherst-U

AE1C-Southboro-U

K1RE-Boston-U

W1BOS-Boston-U

N1IPA-Topsham

WR1VT-Brattleboro-U

W1LH-Calais

W1UWS-Mt. Ascutney-U

W1IMD-Pico Peak-U

K1RE temporary for Wunder repair

* http://nedecn.org/

Other interesting DMR infoVermont has gone from 0 to 3 DMR repeaters in 2015!

Coverage is a good 1/3 of the state or more

Near solid coverage from MA border to north of WRJ on I-91

Near Solid coverage from WRJ to Exit 8 I-89

More in the works in Vermont!

DMR conceptsINTRODUCTION TO CONCEPTS AND GETTING STARTED

TerminologyCode Plug (CP)

Digital radio requires more information than a tradition analog radio. This programming gives the operator new features and muchgreater flexibility when operating, and use resource efficiently. In the early days to program a radio, the radio shop would use a memory stick called a Code Plug, which was inserted into the radio, to program the features. Today this programming is done on our laptops using specialized programs provided by the radio manufacturer. The program file in the radio is now referred to as the Code Plug (CP)

Code Plug Software (CPS)Customer Programming Software program provided by the manufacturer of the radio to create a Code Plug file and program the radio. Each CPS is unique to each manufacture and often unique to each radio.

Talk Group (TG)A virtual radio channel on a DMR repeater or radio. IE: Vermont State Wide TG

ZoneChannels on a radio are organized into Zones. A Zone is selected to access the Talk Groups (TG) stored in the zone.

Scan Group (SG)CPS allows the operator to define different Scan Groups and what TG are defined in the group. When the Scan Group is selected and scanned those TG are monitored.

TerminologyTalk Around

Same as Simplex on analog radio.

ChannelA definition on a DMR radio which contains all the required data (TG, CC, TS, freq) to use a TG on a specific repeater or mode. IE: TG3. One Channel is normally defined for each TG defined on a specific repeater.

ContactsA directory on a radio which contains the definition of each TG numeric value, or definition of amateur radio calls signs and the subscriber ID assigned.

Color Code (CC)Coding of the repeater Time Slide for frequency sharing.

Getting startedAmateurs must register with the central DMR database to obtain a Subscriber ID. An amateur cannot operate a DMR radio without the Subscriber ID.

http://www.dmr-marc.net/cgi-bin/trbo-database/register.cgi

Each radio must be defined with a subscriber ID.

Amateurs normally will not register no more than two IDs.◦ 1) Portable radio◦ 2) Mobile radio

Encouraged to register up two subscriber ids per call sign only.

Radios with the same Subscriber ID – only one can be in use at the same time.

ate

Subscriber ID number structureriber ID is structured some what like worldwide phone numbers

3150007

Unique assigned number

State

United States

North America

DMR RepeaterAssigned to a coordinated frequency pair on UHF, or VHF.

Each repeater is configured to support around 8 different channels (Talk Groups). Sometimes more.

Services◦ Voice◦ Text (Some limitations)◦ Call alerting (Some limitations)

Pause for Questions

W1UWS - Talk Groups1,000+ World Wide (WW)* World Wide calling frequency

500+ World Wide English (WWE)* World Wide English only calling frequency

100+ North America (NA) Mexico, United States, and Canada

50+ North East Region (N East Region) PA, NJ, NY, CT, VT, RI, MA, NH, ME

50 New England Wide (NE Wide) CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME, New Brunswick

30+ New England Region (Region North) RI, MA, VT, NH, ME

3 Vermont State Wide (VT) State of Vermont

15+ New Hampshire State Wide (NH) State of New Hampshire

15+ Massachusetts (MA)* State of Massachusetts*

25+ Southern New England(Region South) RI, CT**

1 Local W1UWS Only

1 Parrot Record and Replay

2+ TAC 310* Tactical 310* (Ragchew)

TT Channel (OnDemand) Only in used when demanded on repeater – 5 min timer ** Future PTT Demand C

Geo A

Wide AreaRegional/Lo

Other Vermont Repeaters Talk GroupsWR1VT – Brattleburo◦ Same as W1UWS Except: MA fulltime channel

W1IMD – Pico Peak◦ Same as W1UWS Except: NH PTT, No MA

DMR Operating ConventionsUse the smallest area (Talk Group) needed to support communications

On very wide channels (Talk Groups) call and move to smaller area. (WW, WWE, NA)

Announce yourself – Do not Ker’chunk the repeater◦ You subscriber ID is transmitted on every transmission◦ Seen on every radio monitoring the Talk Group◦ Seen on every web site monitoring the network◦ Logged into the network logs.

Never Call CQ

To announced yourself:This is <your call sign> monitoring < Talk Group>

◦ For those scanning it is best to announced your Talk Group so that others can find you.

Other Operating ConventionsTo make a call to another station

N5ITU this is <your call sign> on North America.W1RFQ this is <your call sign> on Region North

To test or check your radio

This is <your call sign> for a radio check on Local.

To Transmit on DMR Repeater1. Select the Zone you want to use.

2. Select the channel (Talk Group) you want to use

3. Press the PTT

4. Wait for the confirmation tone that you have the repeater

5. Make your transmission

6. Release the PTT

7. Hear the confirmation tone – end of transmission (optional)

Notes:Transmission are done on one channel (Talk Group) at a time. No encryption is used – encryption prohibited by FCCNo private calls – others cannot use the repeater time slot when private calls used

Demonstrate a DMR transmissionUSE THE NETWORK MONITOR

Pause for Questions

Other concepts unique to DMR

Zones and Talk Groups

Comparing Analog FM to Digital DMRANALOG FM REPEATERS

One repeater one channel one frequency

Most often repeater stand-alone, not linked

If linked may require link to be brought up.

No hierarchy or repeater not organization by purpose – wide open for any use and fixed geography

DMR DIGITAL REPEATERS

One repeater and one frequency

One repeater many Talk Groups (Channels)

Most DMR repeaters are linked via Internet

Operating across repeaters is seamless and automatic

ONDemand PTT Talk Groups easy to bring up

Talk Groups can be dedicated to one purpose◦ IE: language, Events, Public Service, etc.

Talk Groups by design◦ Can be limited by geography◦ Or, not limited by geography

Can roam across states and access the same Talk Group

Talk about ZonesMost radios arrange access around ZONESZone are much more flexible on DMR than memories used oAnalog FM repeaters◦ More options to arrange by repeater, geographical area, and by

Group purpose.

Zones – A group of channels (Talk Groups). ◦ Zone – 16 memories – which you organize◦ Radio can support from 1 to over 50 zones. Dependent on mem

Organized and defined by the radio programmer – independthe repeaterZones can be designed for a single purpose ◦ By language◦ Purpose – Skywarn, Events◦ By geography or coverage area

More on ZonesDefining Zones◦ One Zone can be assigned to one repeater to cover all the Talk

Groups on the repeater (More Traditional)◦ One Zone can cover one Talk Group but over many different

repeaters (Roaming)◦ One Zone can cover one type of repeater

◦ IE All analog repeaters in one zone

◦ One Zone can cover all conventional simplex frequencies

Radio ChannelsTalk Groups in the radio are defined in the channel.

A Channel contains all the data need to◦ Use a Talk Group (TG)◦ On a specific frequency and frequency split◦ Channel Band◦ Scan Group◦ Color Code (CC)◦ Time Slice (TS)

Channel Name◦ Every Channel is given a name◦ Name refers normally to the TG defined in the channel.

Essential Information shown here

Each CPS will be arranged differently

Some radios can import Channel Definitions

DMR Zones by all Talk GroupsOne repeater ---- Many Talk Groups

W1UWSZone

W1IMDZone

WR1VTZone

– W1UWS Mt Ascutenyalk Groups 1 - 16

– W1IMD Pico Peakalk Groups 1 - 16

– WR1VT Brattleburoalk Groups 1 - 16

WWWWENANE USNew England WideRegion NorthVTNHMALocal

TAC 310TAC 311Parrot

WWWWNANE UNewRegiVTNHMALoca

TAC TAC Parr

WWWWENANE USNew England WideRegion NorthVTNHLocal

TAC 310TAC 311Parrot

DMR Zones by same Talk GroupOne Zone ----- Many Repeaters & Talk Groups

VTZone

NHZone

REG NORZone

– Vermont State Widealk Groups 1 - 16

– New Hampshire State alk Groups 1 - 16

– New England Regionalk Groups 1 - 16

W1UWS VTW1MD VTWR1VT VT

K1MOT NHKM3T NHMT WSH NHK1RE NHAE1C NHW1UWS NHW1MD NHWR1VT NH

K1KMMTK1AEWNWWAGK1K1K1NIW

DMR Zones for same type of repeaterOne Zone ----- By Repeaters type

SimplexZone

AnalogZone

EventZone

– Simplexalk Groups 1 - 16

– Analog FM alk Groups 1 - 16

– Special Eventalk Groups 1 - 16

446.075D433.450D441.000D446.500D446.000S

W1IMDW1BOSN1DASW1FNKA1UAGKU1RW1ET

44

UWS W1IMDPIC

WR1VTBRAT

MT WSH K1MOTHUD

AE1CSBOR

W1BOSBOS

NE REG VT STATE

NH STATE

ME STATE

FM

W WW WW WW WW WW WW W1UWS W1UWS W1UWS

WE WWE WWE WWE WWE WWE WWE W1IMD W1IMD WR1VT

NA NA NA NA NA NA WR1VT WR1VT W1IMD

US NE US NE US NE US NE US NE US NE US K1MOT K1MOT

WID NE WID NE WID NE WID NE WID NE WID NE WID AE1C MT WSH

GR

REG NOR

REG NOR

REG NOR

REG NOR

REG NOR

REG NOR

MT WSH W1BOS

310 TAC310 TAC310 TAC310 TAC310 TAC310 TAC310 AE1C

CAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCALROT PARROT PARROT PARROT PARROT PARROT PARROT

VT VT NH NH NH MA

NH NH MA MA NH

MA NHEMER

hat could be define on a typical radio

Demonstrate Talk Groups USE THE PEER WATCH

NW.NEDECN.ORG PEER

Pause for Questions

Scan Groups

Scan ListUse to define what Talk Groups are scanned when scan button pressed

Scan list are defined and controlled at the radio – nothing in the repeater

Most radios support multiple scan lists

Scan list function and behavior will vary across radios - features

Most common scan list – Scan all the Talk Groups on a repeater. ◦ The scan list would match the Talk Groups in the Zone

Other common Scan List used◦ Scan all the Talk Groups defined in a Zone◦ Only scan DMR Talk Groups (exclude analog and simplex (Talk Around))◦ Scan only Wide Area Talk groups – avoid listening to nonsense chatter

Zone and the Talk Groups in the zone

Scan only Wide Area

Scan all Talk Groups – Exclude Simplex (Talk Around)1

2

Examples of Scan List (Group)

Scan all Talk Groups – Exclude Simple (Talk Around)

me type of Talk Group is defined in a zone then scanned.

raveling in an area this is a method to continue monitoring a Talk Group as you travel

Scan by Talk Group

Talk Groups in the zone different repeater

Talk Groups in the zone different repeater

Talk Groups in the zone different repeater

YOUR RADIO DMR REPEATER

CHANNEL IS A CONCEPT CREATED AND DEFINED ON THE RADIO (LIKE MEMORY ON ANALOG)

CHANNELS ARE NOT A REPEATER CONCEPT

WHEN CREATING A CHANNEL MUST USE THE FREQUENCY DEFINED ON THE REPEATER

FREQUENCY USED IS DEFINED ON THE REPEATER

TALK GROUPS ARE CREATED ON THE RADIO TO MATCH THE REPEATER

TALK GROUPS ARE DEFINED ON THE REPEATER

TALK GROUPS WHEN USED MUST USED THE TIME SLOTS DEFINED ON THE REPEATER

TIME SLOTS ARE DEFINED ON THE REPEATER

ZONES ARE DEFINED ON THE RADIO (LIKE MEMORY BANKS ON A SCANNER)

ZONES NOT A REPEATER CONCEPT

SCAN GROUPS ARE DEFINED ON THE RADIO SCAN GROUPS ARE NOT A REPEATER CONCEPT

WHEN CREATING A CHANNEL ON THE RADIO THE COLOR CODE DEFINED ON THE REPEATER IS USED

COLOR CODE IS DEFINED ON THE REPEATER

Digital Channel

Repeater RX Group

TXContact

DMR Data

Color Code

Slot

TX Contact Name

RX Group

Channel Name

Frequency

Zone

Scan

Pause for Questions

Useful Web Sites

NW.NEDECN.ORG (Minimal Netwatch)

NW.NEDECN.ORG (Peer)

Technical Web Siteshttp://trbo.org/ Fantastic Web Site Full of DMR information

http://DMR-MARC.ORG National DMR Coordinating group

http://NEDECN.ORG New England Region DMR Coordinating Group

http://Yahoo.com Yahoo Groups for your radio manufacture

http://nw.nedecn.org Live status and activing on the DMR network

ETSI reference

ConclusionLearn to make or change your own code plugs.

DMR repeaters are much more busy and active over conventional analog repeaters

Can stay in touch of friends, and home every where there is DMR service

Embrace the new – this won’t be the same as a legacy analog repeater

Support the efforts of local clubs DMR projects, getting others active, and the NEDECN.

Can guarantee you’ll be thinking about many more new radios that you need!

Above all ----- HAVE FUN

AcknowledgementsKM1T – Dave Pascoe

K1JC – Joe Ciarcia

AB1NZ – Sid Johnston

AG1A – Wayne Wagner

K1KQI – Barry Allen

Others whom were great help but my failure to remember

Special thank you to NE1B - Bill BarberI could not have done so much so quickly without his clear answers to my questions and patience to help.

l the errors on these slides are my own

The EndCN Sept 2015 picnic and mming party

ckup Slides

Basic structure of radio programContacts◦ Lists all person and group contacts

Zones◦ Is a group of talk groups (channels) on one repeater

Scan list◦ Is a list of talk groups (channels) which are scanned.

Digital Channel◦ A talk group which has been assigned to one repeater

RX Group◦ A group which contains a receive talk group. Group contains one talk group.

TX Contact◦ A group defined in the contact list

Digital Channel

Repeater RX Group

TXContact

DMR Data

Color Code

Slot

TX Contact Name

RX Group

Channel Name

Frequency

Zone

Scan

Digital Channel

Repeater RX Group

TXContact

DMR Data

5

2

Vermont

VT_State

W1UWS VT

448.475

Zone

W1UWS

Scan

W1UWS

Zone ChannelName

Frequency RX Group TX Contact Slot ColorCode

W1UWS Mt Ascuteny

W1UWS VT 448.475 VT_State Vermont 2 5

W1UWS NH 448.475 NH_State New Hampshire 2 5W1UWS Local 448.475 Local Local 2 5W1UWS

Digital Channel

Repeater RX Group

TXContact

DMR Data

5

2

Vermont

VT_State

W1UWS VT

448.475

Zone

W1UWS

Scan

W1UWS