MichiganOne DMR Tech Net

Every Monday night, join us on the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net as we try to make Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) easier to understand and fun to use!

Monday night, July 21st, the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net team will discuss Hot Keys on your radio.  Do you use them and if so, for what purpose?

The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net is on Brandmeister Talk Group 31266 (Michigan Nets channel) every Monday night, starting with check-ins and comments at 7:30 PM ET, followed by the DMR Tech Net portion after that.

MichiganOne DMR Tech Net upcoming topics:

• 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 DMR radio
• Aug 18             Tom N8TJ will discuss and go over Q-codes
• Tuesday Aug 19 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom about using your radio outside your home area/country
• Aug 25             Using your Digital ID to make a Private Call or create a talkgroup
• Sep 1                How to use the Parrot, Disconnect, and Hotspot Power-Off features
• Sep 8               Front-panel programming on your DMR radio
• Sep 15              Using DMR in disaster response scenarios
• Tuesday Sep 16 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom about the Open GD-77 firmware
• Sep 22             How to update your DMR Digital Contacts
• Sep 29             Encouraging newcomers and more women to participate in DMR
• Saturday Oct 4      The DMR Tech Net team is at the Kalamazoo Hamfest for a discussion of DMR
• Oct 6                Organizing on-air contests and trivia nights to increase engagement
• Oct 13              Open forum about Digital Mobile Radio for your comments & questions
• Oct 20             Pros and cons of Plug-n-Play packages versus customizing the radio yourself
• Tuesday Oct 21 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom discusses using BrandMeister Selfcare & Hoseline
• Oct 27             How to use Promiscuous Mode and/or Digimon on your radio and why
• Nov 3              What is the Maidenhead Grid System and how is it used?
• Nov 10            Exploring VoIP integration with amateur radio using Hams Over IP & other programs.
• Nov 17            Cross-mode communication with DMR/YSF/NXDN/P25
• Tuesday Nov 18 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom looks at different DMR Networks, what they offer, and how to access them
• Nov 24           Logging Software such as HAMRS, Netlogger, Ham Radio Deluxe, QRZ, & others.
• Dec 1              The Phonetic Alphabet with amateur radio.

If you have a topic suggestion for a future MichiganOne DMR Tech Net, please let us know! Send an email to: [email protected]

The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net starts at 7:30 pm with the check-in portion for your comments.
After all check-ins, comments, and re-checks are completed, we switch over to the DMR Tech Net segment (we estimate 8:00 pm-8:15 pm ET).
The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net NCS schedule is:

• Jul 21 Brad KE8WNV
• Jul 28 Steve KC8WXM
• Aug 4 Rick AD8KN
• Aug 11 Allan N4ALK

To read the whole newsletter, open the attached .pdf or visit our website: https://michiganonedmrtech.net/

Newsletter Table of Contents

✅ Using Your Digital Mobile Radio’s Side/Hot Key Buttons. 3

🔹 What Are Side/Hot Key Buttons?. 3

🔹 Short Press vs. Long Press. 3

🔹 What Can They Do?. 3

🔹 How to Set Them Up (CPS Setup). 3

🔹 Why Use Them?. 4

🔹 Pros and Cons. 4

🔹 Recommended Hot Key Assignments. 4

🔹 Where to Learn More. 5

🔹 Questions for you about hot keys?. 5

✅ Using Your Digital Mobile Radio’s Side/Hot Key Buttons

🔹 What Are Side/Hot Key Buttons?

Side buttons—often called hot keys, function buttons, or programmable keys—are physical buttons typically found on the side, top, or front of your Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). You can assign them to perform quick tasks without needing to scroll through menus. Most radios include at least two side buttons (SK1 and SK2) and sometimes a top button or front-panel key.

🔹 Short Press vs. Long Press

Many DMR radios support different actions depending on how long you press a button:

• Short Press: A quick tap of the button (usually under 1 second).
  → Ideal for frequent, immediate tasks.
• Long Press: Holding the button down (typically for 1.5–2+ seconds).
  → Great for less frequent, intentional actions (to prevent accidental activation).

Some radios also support a double press, though this varies by model and CPS software.

🔹 What Can They Do?

Hot keys can be configured to perform functions such as:

• Zone Switch – Cycle through your zone list.
• Scan Start/Stop
• Monitor Mode – Open squelch for weak signals.
• Talkaround Toggle – Switch to direct (simplex) mode.
• High/Low Power Toggle
• Battery Voltage Check
• Emergency Alarm – Sends a distress signal (use with care).
• Backlight On/Off
• Quick Call to Contact or TG
• ✅ Talkgroup Disconnect – Disconnect from your current talkgroup (especially useful on BrandMeister or TGIF networks).

🔹 How to Set Them Up (CPS Setup)

1. Open your radio’s Customer Programming Software (CPS).
2. Locate the “Optional Settings” → “Key Function” menu.
3. Select functions for each key under:
   • Short Press
   • Long Press
4. Look for a function like “TG Disconnect”, “Group Call Hang Up”, or “Clear Time Slot”—naming varies by radio.
5. Save and write the codeplug back to your radio.

🔹 Why Use Them?

• Instant access to key features
• Faster response time during nets or emergencies
• Safer operation while mobile
• Less menu-diving, especially in high-noise environments

🔹 Pros and Cons

✅ Pros:

• Speeds up routine tasks
• Helps in emergencies or fast-moving nets
• Improves overall radio usability

❌ Cons:

• Limited number of physical keys
• Risk of accidental presses (especially Emergency or TG Disconnect)
• Can be confusing if functions overlap or aren’t clearly documented

🔹 Recommended Hot Key Assignments

Here’s a solid default layout for general DMR users, now including Talkgroup Disconnect:

🔸 Talkgroup Disconnect should be considered essential on BrandMeister or TGIF, to free up the time slot after a QSO or net check-in. It ensures others can key up, and you’re not accidentally holding the TG open.

🔹 Where to Learn More

• 📘 Your Radio’s Manual – Look up “programmable keys” or “function keys”
• 🖥️ YouTube Tutorials – Search for “DMR Hotkey Setup” with your radio model
• 📡 BrandMeister Wiki – Great for talkgroup etiquette & disconnect info
• 🔊 TGIF Network Docs – Covers use of TG disconnect and hotkey mapping

🔹 Questions for you about hot keys?

• Which functions do you assign to your hot keys?
• Has a hot key ever saved you time or improved your on-air experience?
• Do you use the TG Disconnect button? Why or why not?
• Any tips for avoiding accidental button presses?

You can chat with the MichiganOne Tech Net team on TGIF talk group 31268, the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net channel or Brandmeister talk group 31266, the Michigan Nets channel.

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 the MichiganOne 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 subscribe now!  It’s easy to join the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net email distribution list.  Send an email to: [email protected] 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

• Monday, July 21st, We’re Discussing Your Radio’s Hot Keys
• MichiganOne DMR Tech Net TV Tonight from 8pm-9pm ET, Ed W8EMV Discusses “Tailscale” & How To Use It With Amateur Radio On DMR Tech Net TV On Zoom
• Allan KD8VJD Shared Two SSTV Images From The International Space Station
• Why Do You Need A Ham Radio License for Flying FPV Drones?
• The U.S. Ham Radio Market: Is It Dying?
• List of US States by Ham Radio Licenses per Capita
• M17 And WPSD
• Ed W8EMV Explains “Tailscale” On The July 15 DMR Tech Net TV On Zoom Broadcast
• July’s Tower Talk from RepeaterBook
• Amateur Radio Volunteers Serving During Texas Floods

To join the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom meeting on August  19th, click the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84447664395?pwd=djZMbFZaWVRkRDRudkRFeWc2WWV4UT09

Another option is to go to https://zoom.us/, then select “Join” (in the top right-hand corner), and input the following details to connect to the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net TV Zoom meeting:

• Meeting ID: 844 4766 4395 
• Passcode: 370040

To join with only your phone’s audio, dial (312) 626-6799 and input the following:

• Meeting ID: 844 4766 4395
• Passcode: 370040

To watch any of the previous 19 MichiganOne DMR Tech Net TV episodes, visit https://www.youtube.com/@DMRtechnetTV