MichiganOne DMR Tech Net

Join us on the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net as we make Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) easier to understand and fun to use!

The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net is heard on BrandMeister Talkgroup 31266 (MichiganOne Nets channel) Monday night, starting with check-ins and comments at 7:30 PM ET, followed by the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net technical segment after that.

Join us on Monday, March 16 as we discuss “Is DMR real amateur radio?”  We want to hear from you about: When did you first try DMR?  What surprised you most about it?  What advantages does DMR offer?  Where does analog still shine?  Do you consider hotspot contacts real QSOs and why or why not?  What was hardest about learning DMR?  What advice would you give a newcomer?  What excites you most about the future of digital amateur radio?

The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net starts at 7:30 pm with the check-in portion for your comments.
We switch over to the technical segment (we estimate 7:55 pm – 8:10 pm ET), after all check-ins, comments, and re-checks are completed.
The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net NCS schedule is:

• Mar 16      Brad               KE8WNV
• Mar 23       Steve              KC8WXM
• Mar 30       Curt                KFØCQN
• Apr 6         Rick                AD8KN

You can chat with the MichiganOne Tech Net team on TGIF talkgroup 31268, the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net channel or BrandMeister talkgroup 31266, the MichiganOne Nets channel.  After Monday’s MichiganOne DMR Tech show, you can chat with us on Hams Over IP (HoIP) MichiganOne DMR Tech Net Conference Room 10098.

Join the MichiganOne 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 MichiganOne DMR Tech Net team on Discord:  To join us, click this link: https://discord.gg/EV82GNuCaS.  To download Discord, go to https://discord.com.

If someone else forwarded you this newsletter, why not subscribe now?  It’s easy to join the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net email distribution list.  There are two ways.  The first method is to go to our website and click the “Subscribe to our Newsletter” red button on the top right side.  Or second, you send an email to: [email protected]t with your name and callsign. That’s it!  If you need to unsubscribe, follow the previous procedure but put “unsubscribe” in the subject line.  We will miss you!  To see previous newsletters, check out our website: https://michiganonedmrtech.net/

These are the articles posted over the past week on https://michiganonedmrtech.net

• Join us on Monday, March 16 as we discuss “Is DMR real amateur radio?”
• DMR Introduction
• How DMR Radios Connect to PoC Radios
• 6 Most Popular Allstar Hotspots Among Ham Radio Operators
• it: Monday’s check-ins, net summary, transcription, and audio replay
• Monday, March 9 we’ll discuss APRS & GPS

(Tentative) MichiganOne DMR Tech Net topics:

Is DMR Really “Amateur Radio?” — And Why Use It?

Among amateur radio operators exploring digital voice, one question often comes up:

“Is Digital Mobile Radio really amateur radio?”

The answer is yes—without question.

But the confusion is understandable. Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) originated as a commercial land-mobile radio standard, and some operators assume that because it uses digital networking and sometimes hotspots, it somehow falls outside traditional amateur radio.

In reality, DMR fits perfectly within the experimental, technical, and communication-focused spirit that defines amateur radio.

Where DMR Came From

DMR was developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) as an open digital radio standard for professional communications systems.

Because it is an open standard, multiple manufacturers produce compatible radios. Amateur operators frequently use radios from:

• AnyTone
• Motorola Solutions
• Hytera
• TYT Electronics

Amateur operators then connected repeaters and hotspots together through worldwide networks such as:

• BrandMeister DMR Network
• TGIF Network
• FreeDMR Network

These systems allow operators to communicate locally, statewide, nationally, or worldwide.

Why DMR Is Amateur Radio

Organizations like the American Radio Relay League recognize digital voice modes as a legitimate part of the amateur service because they promote the fundamental goals of the hobby:

• Technical experimentation
• Advancement of radio communication
• Operator education
• International goodwill

DMR operators experiment with:

• RF propagation
• Digital audio encoding
• Repeater networking
• Codeplug programming
• Talkgroup routing

All of these activities represent the technical curiosity that amateur radio encourages.

What Makes DMR Unique

Two Conversations on One Frequency

DMR uses Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology.

This allows one repeater frequency pair to carry two simultaneous conversations, called Time Slot 1 and Time Slot 2.

This doubles spectrum efficiency compared with analog FM.

Talkgroups Create Communities

Talkgroups allow operators to join specific communication groups such as:

• Local clubs
• Statewide groups
• Nationwide channels
• Worldwide networks

With a handheld radio, operators can talk to stations thousands of miles away.

Digital Identification

Each operator receives a unique digital ID from RadioID.net.

When you transmit, radios can display:

• Call sign
• Name
• Location

This adds a data layer to voice communication.

DMR Myths vs Facts

Myth: “DMR isn’t real ham radio.”

Fact:
Every new technology in amateur radio has faced skepticism—FM repeaters, packet radio, satellites, and digital modes all went through the same debate.

DMR is simply the latest evolution.

Myth: “It’s just the internet.”

Fact:
Your radio still transmits RF energy to reach a repeater or hotspot.

The internet only links systems together—similar to repeater linking technologies used for decades.

Myth: “Hotspot contacts don’t count as real QSOs.”

Fact:
A hotspot is essentially a low-power personal digital repeater.

Your communication path looks like this:

Radio → RF → Hotspot → Network → RF → Other Radio

Because RF transmission is involved on both ends, this absolutely qualifies as a radio QSO.

Myth: “DMR is too complicated.”

Fact:
Programming a codeplug requires some learning, but once configured, operation is often simpler than managing dozens of analog repeater memories.

Analog vs DMR Comparison

Most operators enjoy using both.

Analog remains excellent for local simplex and emergency communication, while DMR excels at wide-area connectivity and experimentation.

Why Hotspot QSOs Are Legitimate

Some operators believe a QSO only counts if it is radio-to-radio with no linking systems.

However, amateur radio has long accepted communication methods that combine RF with linking systems.
Examples include:

• EchoLink nodes
• IRLP systems
• Linked repeater networks
• Satellite contacts

In every case, RF transmission still occurs.

A hotspot functions the same way—it simply replaces a distant repeater with a very small personal one.

If your signal leaves your radio and travels over RF on amateur frequencies, you are operating amateur radio.

Visual: How a DMR Hotspot Works

Think of a hotspot as a tiny digital repeater connected to the internet.

Both stations transmit real RF signals, which is why the contact qualifies as a legitimate amateur radio QSO.

Timeline: Digital Voice in Amateur Radio

Digital voice didn’t begin with DMR. Amateur radio has experimented with digital modes for decades.

1990s

Early experiments with digital audio and packet radio voice.

Early 2000s

D-STAR developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League.

This was one of the first widely adopted digital voice systems in amateur radio.

Late 2000s

System Fusion introduced by Yaesu.

Focused on easier digital adoption for amateur operators.

Early 2010s

Amateur radio operators begin adapting DMR commercial radios for ham use.

Mid-2010s to Today

Large global DMR networks emerge, including BrandMeister and TGIF.

Thousands of amateur repeaters and hotspots now support DMR worldwide.

“DMR Skeptic Survival Guide”

When discussing DMR with skeptical operators, respectful conversation goes a long way.

Tip 1: Acknowledge Analog’s Strengths

Analog radio remains simple, reliable, and effective.

DMR isn’t replacing analog—it’s another tool in the toolbox.

Tip 2: Focus on Experimentation

Amateur radio is about learning and experimentation.
DMR offers new opportunities to explore digital communications.

Tip 3: Share Personal Experiences

Stories often change minds faster than technical explanations.

Example:

“My first worldwide contact on a handheld radio was through DMR.”

Tip 4: Invite Them to Try It

Nothing convinces someone faster than getting on the air themselves.

Why Discussions Like This Matter

Amateur radio has always grown through curiosity and experimentation.

Every new technology—from FM repeaters to satellites—was once viewed as controversial.

Today, those technologies are simply part of the hobby.

DMR is following the same path.

And conversations like this one on the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net help operators understand not just how these technologies work—but why they matter to the future of amateur radio.

Summary

Digital Mobile Radio began as a commercial radio standard but has become a powerful platform for amateur radio experimentation.

DMR provides:

• Efficient spectrum usage
• Global connectivity
• Digital identification
• Opportunities to experiment with networking and RF

Whether using a repeater or a hotspot, operators are still transmitting real RF signals on amateur frequencies.

That makes DMR not only real amateur radio—but an exciting part of the hobby’s future.

MichiganOne DMR Tech Net Quiz

1. Who developed the DMR standard?

A. FCC
B. ARRL
C. ETSI
D. Motorola
E. Bridgecom

Answer: C

2. ---

   What technology allows two conversations on one DMR repeater frequency?

A. FM multiplexing
B. TDMA
C. Packet switching
D. Color codes
E. APRS

Answer: B

3. ---

   Who assigns unique IDs to DMR operators?

A. RadioID.net
B. Brad KE8WNV & Rick AD8KN
C. FCC
D. BrandMeister
E. QRZ

Answer: A

4. ---

   Which of the following are DMR networks?

A. BrandMeister
B. TGIF
C. FreeDMR
D. All of the above
E. Digital 17

Answer: D

5. ---

   Why does a hotspot contact count as a real QSO?

A. Because it uses internet audio only
B. Only if you use a Yagi antenna
C. Because it bypasses repeaters
D. Because it replaces amateur radio
E. Because RF transmission occurs between the radio and hotspot

Answer: E