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 2 as we discuss DMR Operating Etiquette and Common Sense

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 2 Rick                AD8KN
• Mar 9 James            N8TMP
• Mar 16 Brad               KE8WNV
• Mar 23 Steve              KC8WXM

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 2 as we discuss DMR Operating Etiquette and Common Sense
• DMR, trusdx, DM32UV, lots of new things
• E113 – The different digital voice modes
• DMR or DSTAR, Which way to go or not?
• Top 5 Best Dmr Mobile Radio 2026 | Best Budget Gmrs Mobile Radio.
• History of the Radio
• Introduction to DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Presentation – Ham Radio Q&A
• it: Audio replay and transcription of Monday’s MichiganOne DMR Tech Net
• How to take action and motion photos
• Join us Monday, Feb 23 as we discuss Channels, Zones, Talkgroups, and Codeplugs

(Tentative) MichiganOne DMR Tech Net topics:

DMR Operating Etiquette & Common Sense

Programming gets you on the network.
Etiquette keeps you welcome on the network.

Whether you operate on BrandMeister, TGIF Network, FreeDMR, YSF, NXDN, D-Star, or another digital network or mode, good operating habits protect repeaters, improve audio quality, and make MichiganOne stronger.

🔹 MichiganOne DMR Tech Net Preferred Talkgroups

✅ Primary BrandMeister Channel

TG 31266 – MichiganOne Nets channel

We strongly prefer members use 31266 instead of 3126 (Statewide Michigan) for extended QSOs and informal conversations.

Why?

On BrandMeister, many 4-digit talkgroups (like 3126) have a 10-minute dynamic timer.
31266 does not, making it more suitable for:

• Nets
  • Longer discussions
  • Technical help
  • Ragchews

Let’s protect statewide resources when possible.

✅ DMR Tech Net channel (TGIF)

On TGIF Network:

TG 31268 – DMR Tech Net channel

Use this for:
• Programming help
• Codeplug questions
• Troubleshooting
• DMR support

🔁 TAC Channels (Tactical or Talk Around Channel)

TAC talkgroups are designed for:

• Moving extended QSOs off busy statewide channels
  • Side discussions
  • Overflow from nets

If the QSO grows beyond a few overs:

“Let’s QSY to TAC 31264 (Michigan TAC).”

That’s good operating.

🔹 Basic DMR Operating Steps

1️⃣ Select the Correct Zone

Confirm:

• Repeater vs hotspot
• Correct network

2️⃣ Select the Correct Channel

Verify:

• Frequency
• Color Code
• Timeslot
• Talkgroup (31266 vs 3126 matters)

3️⃣ Listen First

Before keying up:

✔ Is the timeslot busy?
✔ Is there an active net?
✔ Are you interrupting?

Repeaters only have TWO time slots.

4️⃣ Key Up Properly

✔ Press PTT
✔ Wait 1–2 seconds
✔ Speak clearly
✔ Identify properly

This prevents clipped audio and failed linking.

🔊 Audio Testing & Level Adjustment

🎤 Use the Parrot Channel (9990)

On BrandMeister, TG 9990 (Parrot) allows you to:

• Test connectivity
  • Hear your own audio playback
  • Adjust mic level and technique

How to use it:

1. Select your Parrot channel
2. Key up and speak for 5–10 seconds
3. Unkey
4. Listen to playback

If you’re:

• Too loud → Reduce mic gain
  • Too soft → Increase mic gain slightly
  • Distorted → Lower gain and speak across mic
• Not heard → No connection to the repeater or your hotspot isn’t connected to a server

Digital audio punishes overdriving.
Clear and moderate beats loud every time.

🔌 How & Why to Use the Disconnect Channel (4000)

On BrandMeister, TG 4000 is the Disconnect talkgroup.

Why Use It?

When you dynamically link a talkgroup to a repeater, it stays active until:

• Timer expires (15 minutes = 900 seconds)
  • Or you manually disconnect it

If you finish a QSO on a wide-area talkgroup, it is courteous to:

1️⃣ Switch to your Disconnect (4000) channel
2️⃣ Key up briefly
3️⃣ Unkey

This clears the dynamic link and:

✔ Frees repeater resources
✔ Prevents unwanted traffic
✔ Protects network capacity

Responsible operators clean up after themselves.

🔹 Pause Between Overs

Always leave 2–3 seconds between transmissions.

This allows:

• Others to break in
  • Hang time reset
  • Emergency traffic access

Fast key-ups cause collisions.

🔹 Common Sense DMR Etiquette

✔ Use 31266 instead of 3126 for extended QSOs
✔ Move long discussions to a different channel like BrandMeister TAC 31264
✔ Use Parrot before asking “How’s my audio?”
✔ Disconnect (4000) when finished with dynamic TG
✔ Don’t kerchunk
✔ Don’t dominate a timeslot

🔹 Common Mistakes

❌ Talking immediately after PTT
❌ Overdriving mic gain
❌ Forgetting to disconnect
❌ Ragchewing on statewide TG
❌ Leaving dynamic TG linked
❌ Not listening first

❌ Kerchunking 5x within 60 seconds earns you a 1-hour timeout on BrandMeister

📌 Summary

Good DMR Etiquette Means:

• Use 31266 for Michigan Nets and QSO’s
  • Use 31268 (TGIF) for DMR Tech Net comments
  • Avoid extended use of 3126
  • Test audio on Parrot (9990)
  • Adjust mic gain properly
  • Use Disconnect (4000) after dynamic TG use
  • Move long QSOs to TAC 31264 or BM talkgroups 31262-31269
  • Leave pauses between overs

Smart operators build strong networks.

🧪 MichiganOne Quiz

1. What is the preferred Michigan Nets talkgroup?
   A) 31266
   B) 3126
   C) 91
   D) 4000
2. What does Parrot (9990) do?
   A) Connects worldwide
   B) Tests audio & playback
   C) Disconnects TG
   D) Enables texting on your radio
3. What is TG 4000 used for?
   A) Emergency only
   B) TAC channel
   C) Audio boost
   D) Disconnect dynamic TG
4. Why avoid long QSOs on 3126?
   A) Poor audio
   B) Wrong frequency
   C) 10-minute dynamic timer limit
   D) Analog only
5. How many time slots does a DMR repeater have?
   A) Unlimited
   B) 2
   C) 4
   D) 1
6. If your audio sounds distorted on Parrot, you should:
   A) Increase power
   B) Disconnect
   C) Turn on promiscuous mode
   D) Lower mic gain
7. TAC channels are for:
   A) Texting
   B) Moving extended QSOs
   C) APRS
   D) Emergency use only
8. Before keying up you should:
   A) Decrease your volume
   B) Listen first
   C) Increase your mic gain
   D) Enable digital monitor (Digimon)
9. Leaving pauses between overs allows:
   A) Network reset & break-ins
   B) Battery savings
   C) Louder audio
   D) Firmware sync
10. The most important DMR etiquette principle is:
    A) Strong signal
    B) Loud audio
    C) Courtesy
    D) Fast key-up
11. Are you required to be a Michigan resident to use BrandMeister talkgroup 31266?:
    A) Yes
    B) Only if your callsign has the FCC zone 8 location in it (like KC8WXM)
    C) Maybe
    D) You first need permission from Tom N8TJ or Stan WB8QJZ
    E) No

✅ Answers

1. A
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. B
6. D
7. B
8. B
9. A
10. C
11. E