Every Monday night, join us on the DMR Tech Net as we try to make Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) fun to use and easier to understand!
Monday night, April 28th, the DMR Tech Net team will discuss DMR etiquette and best practices. We’d love to hear you share your best practices.
We’re on Brandmeister Talk Group 31266 (Michigan Nets channel) for the DMR Tech Net on Monday, starting at 7:30 PM ET. The net will conclude at 8:25pm to allow time for you to QSY over to BrandMeister talk group 3126 for the Michigan One DMR Net at 8:30 PM ET until May 5th. More details about the new MichiganOne DMR Tech Net are in the newsletter further below.
DMR Tech Net upcoming topics:
- April 28 DMR etiquette and best practices
- May 5 Using Software-Based Radios (like DroidStar or BlueDV) to connect to DMR
- May 12 Robert Bretzman K4WZV and Steve Smith KWØZ answer your questions about the TGIF Network & TGIF Products Store
- May 16-18 Dayton Hamvention
- May 19 Dayton Hamvention 2025 recap
- Tuesday, May 20 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Steve Smith KWØZ about the TGIF Network
- May 26 How to learn more about DMR
- June 2 What is HamShack Hotline & Hams Over IP?
- June 9 Stan WB8QJZ explains AllStarLink (https://www.allstarlink.org/)
- June 16 Handheld & mobile Antennas for DMR radios
- Tuesday, June 17 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Benoit Sylvestre VE2VB from BrandMeister
- June 23 Using a Bluetooth headset with DMR
- June 30 DMR mobile radios hints and tips
- Jul 7 DMR apps to use on your cellular phone
- Jul 14 Maidenhead Grid Square location system
- Tuesday Jul 15 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom going over the Open GD-77 firmware
- Jul 21 Using your radio’s side/hot keys
- Jul 28 Simplex vs Duplex Hotspots
- Aug 4 TOT, the Time-Out Timer feature
- Aug 11 Brad KE8WNV goes over the Open GD-77 firmware for your radio
- Aug 18 Tom N8TJ will discuss Q-codes
- Tuesday Aug 19 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom about Maidenhead Grid Squares
If you have a topic suggestion for a future DMR Tech Net, please let us know! Send the email to [email protected]
To read this complete newsletter, open the attached .pdf or visit our website: https://dmrtechnet.net/
Table of Contents
General Etiquette
- Listen Before Transmitting: Before keying up, always listen for a few seconds to ensure the talkgroup is not already in use. On a busy talkgroup, listen for a longer period to understand the flow of the conversation.
- “Kerchunk” and Listen: On some DMR systems, especially before identifying, briefly press and release your PTT button (“kerchunk”). This ensures your radio is connected to the talkgroup. Immediately listen after kerchunking, as activity might be present.
- Identify Yourself Clearly: When you join a conversation or when there is a natural pause, clearly state your callsign, network, and talk group. It’s good practice to also briefly mention your location, especially on regional or wide-area talkgroups (e.g., “This is K1ABC in Anytown”).
- Identify Regularly: FCC rules require amateur radio operators to identify at least every 10 minutes during a conversation. Even though DMR uses digital IDs, verbal identification is still mandatory.
- Pause Between Transmissions: Allow a brief pause (1-2 seconds) after someone finishes speaking before you key up. This allows the network to reset and prevents cutting off the beginning of someone’s transmission. It also gives others a chance to break in if needed.
- Keep Transmissions Concise: Be mindful of airtime and keep your transmissions brief and to the point. This allows more users to participate and keeps the talkgroup flowing. If you have a longer discussion, consider moving to a less busy or a tactical (TAC) talkgroup if appropriate. BrandMeister created a TAC channel for each state. In Michigan, it’s talkgroup 31264.
- Use Clear and Concise Language: Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Avoid jargon or overly technical terms that might not be understood by everyone.
- Use the Phonetic Alphabet: When spelling out your callsign or other important information, especially on international talkgroups or in noisy conditions, use the standard phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.) to ensure clarity.
- Say “Out” When Finished: When you are finished with your communication and leaving the talkgroup, clearly state your callsign followed by “out,” not “clear.” (e.g., “K1ABC out”). This signals to others that you are no longer part of the conversation.
- Be Patient: DMR networks can have slight delays (latency). Allow time for others to respond and avoid double-keying or repeating yourself unnecessarily.
- Be Respectful and Courteous: Treat all users with respect, just as you would on any other amateur radio band. Be mindful of your language, as many people, including young individuals, might be listening. Avoid controversial topics like politics or religion on general talkgroups.
- Monitor Battery Life and Signal Strength: Ensure your radio has sufficient battery charge and a good signal before transmitting. Low battery or weak signals can lead to dropped transmissions or poor audio quality.
- If you hear someone on a talkgroup and you can respond, please do so: If we don’t use our voices, we could lose bandwidth and talkgroups. Besides, it’s no fun if you call out and no one responds.
- Understand Talkgroup Purpose: Be aware of the intended use of different talkgroups (e.g., local, regional, statewide, international, tactical). Use the most appropriate talkgroup for your communication.
- Use Local Talkgroups for Local Contacts: If you are communicating with someone on the same repeater, use the designated local talkgroup to minimize traffic on wider-area talkgroups.
- Move to Tactical Talkgroups for Longer Conversations: If you anticipate a lengthy conversation on a busy talkgroup, suggest moving to a tactical (TAC) talkgroup to free up the main channel.
- Be Mindful of Static Talkgroups: Some talkgroups are “always on” or static, meaning they are constantly connected to the repeater. Be extra considerate of airtime on these talkgroups as your transmission goes out to a wider audience.
- Use Calling Talkgroups Appropriately: Some networks have designated calling talkgroups. Use these to initiate contact with another station and then move to a different talkgroup for the actual conversation. With BrandMeister, all 4-digit talkgroups are state calling channels and have a 10-minute QSO limit. The Michigan Nets channel, talkgroup 31266, has no time limit or restrictions. Any and every one can use it.
- Dynamic vs. Static Talkgroups: Understand the difference between static (always connected) and dynamic (PTT activated with a timeout) talkgroups and use them accordingly. Dynamic talkgroups require activity to remain connected.
- Always Leave a Pause Between Transmissions: Why? DMR uses time slots and talkgroups on repeaters or hotspots. Leaving a 3–5 second pause between transmissions gives others a chance to break in, and lets the system reset to prevent missed messages. Bonus: It allows linked systems (like BrandMeister) time to drop or reconnect talkgroups.
- Program Smart Codeplugs: Use naming conventions that are clear and consistent (e.g., “BM MI 31266”). Avoid “channel bloat” by organizing zones by region, use, or repeater.
- Program Your Radio Correctly: Ensure your radio is programmed with the correct frequencies, repeater information, talkgroup IDs, and color codes. Incorrect programming can lead to failed transmissions or interference.
- Set the Correct Admit Criteria: For repeater channels, the “Admit Criteria” should generally be set to “Color Code Free” or “Color Code” to prevent “doubling” (transmitting over another station). Avoid using “Always.”
- Adjust Audio Levels: Ensure your microphone gain is properly adjusted so your audio is clear and not too loud or too soft. Use the “Parrot” talkgroup (if available) or ask for audio checks to fine-tune your settings.
- Use the Correct Microphone Technique: Speak clearly and at a consistent distance from your microphone. Avoid shouting or speaking too softly.
- Understand Time Slots: DMR repeaters typically have two time slots, allowing for two simultaneous conversations. Be aware that you might hear activity but not be able to transmit if your desired time slot is in use.
- Hotspot Considerations: If using a hotspot, ensure it is configured correctly with the appropriate frequencies, talkgroups, and your DMR ID. Pay close attention to audio gain settings on hotspots, as improperly adjusted levels are a common cause of poor audio.
- Log Your Contacts and Share Knowledge: Keep a log of your DMR contacts, just like HF!
- Help others get started—DMR is a team sport, and your experience helps the community grow.
By following these DMR etiquette and best practices, you can contribute to a positive and efficient experience for all users on the DMR Tech Net and the broader DMR community.
This was also our topic on April 22, 2024. If you want to see those hints and tips, click this link: https://michiganonedmrtech.net/join-us-for-the-dmr-tech-net-tonight-monday-april-22nd-at-730pm-et-on-brandmeister-talk-group-3126-to-talk-about-dmr-best-operating-practices/
If you can’t join us live for the DMR Tech Net, you can always listen to us via BrandMeister’s mobile Hoseline app or their Hose desktop software: (https://hose.brandmeister.network/).
We do record the show, so if you miss out and want to listen, or re-listen, to it, you can. The audio link is located at the very bottom of this post (after the show ends) on our website, along with the AI interpretation of the audio so you can read along.
You can always chat with the DMR Tech Net team on TGIF talk group 31268, the DMR Tech Net channel or Brandmeister talk group 31266, the Michigan Nets channel.
Join the DMR Tech Net team on Telegram. Just search for “DMR Tech Net.” To download Telegram, go to: https://web.telegram.org and/or https://desktop.telegram.org/
Join the DMR Tech Net team on Discord: To join the DMR Tech Net team, click this link: https://discord.gg/EV82GNuCaS . To download Discord, go to https://discord.com
If someone else forwarded this newsletter to you, why not get rid of the middle-man and subscribe yourself?!? It’s easy to join the DMR Tech Net email distribution list. Just send an email to: [email protected] with your name and callsign. If you need to unsubscribe, follow the previous procedure but put “unsubscribe” in the subject line. We’ll miss you!
To see previous newsletters, check out our website: https://dmrtechnet.net/
On May 5th, the MichiganOne DMR Net will be moving to BrandMeister Talk Group 31266, the Michigan Nets Channel and combined with the DMR Tech Net. The bottom line is that the DMR Tech Net and MichiganOne DMR Net are flip-flopping times.
The new combined net will be renamed as the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net. We will start the combined net with the check-in portion for your comments at 7:30pm. After all check-ins, re-checks, and comments are completed, we’ll switch to the DMR Tech Net segment (we estimate 8pm ET).
We’re looking for more net control operators to help us with the check-in portion of the combined net. If you are interested and would like to volunteer, notify any member of the DMR Tech Net team and/or send an email to [email protected]. Stay tuned as more changes are coming.
Rick AD8KN will be NCS for the final Michigan One DMR Net on April 28th beginning at 8:30pm on BrandMeister talkgroup 3126.
- May 5 Steve KC8WXM kicks off the new MichiganOne DMR Tech Net beginning at 7:30pm on BrandMeister talkgroup 31266 (Michigan Nets channel)
https://www.michiganonedmr.net/
