Monday, July 28th We're Going Over Simplex and Duplex Hotspots

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!

Starting at 7:00pm ET before the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net, James N8TMP and Bob KB8DQQ will discuss the very popular amateur radio hobby of photography. Tune in to learn more about DSLR, mirrorless, and mobile camera features, techniques, photography terms, and skills.

The MichiganOne DMR Tech Net is on Brandmeister Talkgroup 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.

Monday night, July 28th, the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net team will discuss Simplex & Duplex Hotspots. Share what you use, mobile or at home, and any tips you have.

MichiganOne DMR Tech Net upcoming topics:

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 &
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.
Dec 7 Crossband Repeat on your 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 28 Steve KC8WXM
Aug 4 Rick AD8KN
Aug 11 Allan N4ALK
Aug 18 Brad KE8WNV

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

📡 MichiganOne DMR Tech Net: All About Simplex and Duplex Hotspots

💬 What Are Simplex and Duplex Hotspots?

Simplex Hotspots:

Use one frequency for transmit and receive (single time slot).
Only one user or stream at a time.
Great for personal use and portable/mobile ops.

Duplex Hotspots:

Use two separate frequencies (like a repeater).
Allow both time slots (TS1 and TS2) to be active—supporting simultaneous connections.
Ideal for net control, shared hotspots, or heavy traffic.

🤔 Why Use a Hotspot?

Access talkgroups when you’re outside repeater coverage.
Operate on your own schedule, anywhere with internet.
Travel-friendly: use in hotels, vehicles, RVs, remote cabins.
Connect with specific groups (like TGIF 31268—used by this net).
Customize which talkgroups are available and when.

🌍 Where Can You Use Them?

At Home: Connect via Wi-Fi or Ethernet for stable, always-on access.
Mobile: Tether your hotspot to your smartphone’s Wi-Fi hotspot feature.
On the Go: Use in the car, field, or while traveling—just power it and connect to the internet.

⚙️ How to Use a Hotspot

Choose the Right Hotspot:
- Simplex for solo ops or mobile.
- Duplex for simultaneous traffic or home base.
Choose Your Interface:
- Pi-Star: Reliable, widely supported.
- WPSD (Wireless Professional Services Dashboard): A modern, user-friendly upgrade with a cleaner layout.
Setup Your Hotspot Wi-Fi with a Cell Phone (Step-by-Step):
- Step 1: Enable the mobile hotspot feature on your phone.
- Step 2: Give it a simple SSID (e.g., “HamHotspot”) and password (no special characters).
- Step 3: Insert the SD card into your computer.
- Step 4: Use Pi-Star or WPSD’s Wi-Fi builder tool to enter your phone’s hotspot credentials.
- Step 5: Save the file as wpa_supplicant.conf to the SD card’s boot directory.
- Step 6: Safely eject the SD card, place it into the hotspot, and power it on.
- Step 7: Your hotspot should now connect to your phone’s hotspot.
Configure Your Radio:
- Set the correct TX/RX frequencies, Color Code (usually 1), and time slot (TS2 is most common for simplex).
- Add your favorite talkgroups (e.g., TG 31268, TG 91, etc.) to a hotspot zone.
Use Best Practices:
- Identify with your callsign when keying up.
- Leave 2–3 seconds between transmissions.
- Disconnect unused talkgroups (Group Call TG 4000).
- Adjust mic gain for clean audio.

💾 🔌 Backups & Safe Shutdown

🔧 Why Backups Matter:

Your hotspot’s SD card stores all your settings, logs, and scripts.
Corrupt cards can cause boot failures or loss of configuration.

✅ How to Back Up:

Use the “Backup/Restore” tool in Pi-Star or WPSD.
Download your backup file and store it on your PC or cloud drive.
Back up before updating, or after any major configuration change.

❌ Avoid This: Pulling the Power!

Never unplug your hotspot without first shutting it down.
Use the “Power Off” or “Shutdown” button in Pi-Star/WPSD before disconnecting power.
Abrupt power cuts can corrupt the SD card and cause boot errors.

🛠️ Features That Matter

Key Features to Look For:

Support for multiple networks (BrandMeister, TGIF, DMR+, etc.)
Nextion or OLED display for real-time monitoring.
Built-in Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and/or Bluetooth options.
Compatibility with Pi-Star or WPSD interfaces.
Clean, ventilated design with good thermal handling.

Home Use Priorities:

Stable Ethernet or strong Wi-Fi.
Duplex functionality for multi-slot use.
Larger display (like 2.4” Nextion) for status at a glance.

Mobile Use Priorities:

Lightweight, battery-capable or USB-powered.
Internal antenna and compact form.
Wi-Fi that pairs easily with your cell phone or mobile hotspot.

📈 Pros and Cons

Feature	Simplex Hotspot	Duplex Hotspot
Time Slots	1	2
Ease of Use	Beginner-friendly	More advanced
Cost	Lower	Higher
Portability	Very portable	Less portable
Simultaneous QSOs	No	Yes
Best Use Case	Solo or mobile ops	Net control, base station
Examples	TGIFspot, SkyBridge	LoneStar Duplex, OpenSpot 4 Pro

🛒 Popular Hotspots

🔹 OpenSpot 4 Pro – Full-duplex, mobile, fast switching between networks.
🔹 SkyBridge MAX – BrandMeister-optimized, simplex, plug-and-play.
🔹 TGIFspot w/ 2.4” Nextion – Popular among TGIF Network users, clean UI, full MMDVM support.
🔹 ZumSpot (Simplex/Duplex) – Highly customizable, runs Pi-Star or WPSD.
🔹 LoneStar Duplex – Home base favorite with 2-slot operation and rugged design.

🌐 Pi-Star vs. WPSD Interface

Feature	Pi-Star	WPSD
Interface	Functional	Modern, user-friendly
Setup	Well-documented	Easier for new users
Dashboard	Text-based	Visual and intuitive
Backup Tool	Yes	Yes
Network Support	Wide	Wide

Note: WPSD is quickly becoming the preferred choice for many new users due to its streamlined setup and user interface.

💡 Final Takeaways

Simplex is great for beginners or mobile ops—low cost, easy to use.
Duplex is best for power users or net control—simultaneous traffic and better flow.
Use a TGIFspot with 2.4” Nextion for a visually rich simplex experience.
Always back up your settings and shut down properly to protect your SD card.
Learn both Pi-Star and WPSD—choose what works best for your setup.
Whether you’re operating via BrandMeister, TGIF, or DMR+, hotspots put the entire DMR world in your pocket.

You can chat with the MichiganOne Tech Net team on TGIF talkgroup 31268, the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net channel or Brandmeister talkgroup 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

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

Below is the link to hear the recording of this net along with the audio transcription of the whole net by Zoom:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WMxLtnVVL8veUNMWa6nQdRL2EI9iyqmJ/view?usp=sharing

Meeting summary

Quick recap

The Michigan DMR Tech Net weekly meeting was led by Steve KC8WXM, who welcomed amateur radio operators for check-ins and discussions about equipment testing and fellowship. The group shared various personal and technical updates, including technology issues, photography forums, and experiences with simplex and duplex hotspots. The conversation ended with detailed discussions about hotspot functionality and future meeting topics, including the time-out timer feature.

Summary

DMR Tech Net Weekly Net Meeting

Steve, the net controller for the Michigan DMR Tech Net, led a weekly meeting where amateur radio operators checked in and shared updates. The meeting began with check-ins from mobile and short-time stations, followed by general station check-ins. Steve announced that the purpose of the meeting was to share news, test DMR equipment, and engage in fellowship with other operators. He also mentioned that the session was being recorded and would be posted on their website for later listening.

Technology Troubles and Campaign Planning

Lucille KD8PTE discussed her ongoing issues with technology, particularly her solar app and iPad, and mentioned contacting Peninsula Solar for assistance. She also shared updates on the upcoming photography forum and encouraged participation. Bob KB8DQQ and James N8TMP discussed the goal of keeping the campaign approachable and non-technical, with plans to use Telegram for sharing pictures. Stan WB8QJZ shared his experience of a comfortable day in Calumet and mentioned preparations for a hamburger breakfast.

Meshtastic Networking Exploration Discussion

Stan discussed the exploration of Meshtastic, a mesh networking system, and noted the lack of nodes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, expressing interest in potentially changing that. John N2UTV shared personal updates, including receiving a router for an antenna to enhance communication range and mentioned his daughter’s husband’s decision to leave the Navy due to a medical issue, which led to a brief discussion about military experiences. The conversation ended with a check-in of participants and a reminder about an upcoming photography event.

Health Updates and Tech Insights

Dana shared updates about his health journey, including ongoing tests for a potential diabetes cure, and mentioned he might miss the upcoming Tech Net discussion on simplex and duplex hotspots, for which Steve volunteered to cover. The group discussed advancements in medical research, including stem cell treatments and potential DNA-based cancer therapies. James shared his experience photographing a recent wedding and described his workflow for editing and delivering photos to clients.

DMR Tech Net Overview Meeting

The meeting began with Steve sharing personal updates about his recent day off and James with his upcoming trip to Las Vegas. He then introduced the second half of the Michigan 1 DMR Tech Net, welcoming participants and outlining the evening’s agenda. Dana, the net control operator, provided an overview of the Tech Net’s purpose, which is to explain and demystify DMR (Digital Mobile Radio). He introduced the team members present and mentioned that Tom N8TJ and Rick AD8KN were absent due to personal circumstances. Dana encouraged participants to visit the Tech Net’s website for more information and to subscribe to their email list for weekly updates.

Photography Discussion Group Meetings

Dana organized a photography discussion group that meets on Monday nights, with two separate sessions – one at 7 PM led by Bob KB8DQQ and James N8TMP. Bob explained that the 7 PM session helps warm up repeaters for the MichiganOne DMR Tech net, while James described their 7 PM photography discussion as an informal, casual gathering where participants can share questions and knowledge about photography, with James himself often learning from YouTube tutorials about lighting techniques for wedding photography.

Hotspot vs. Repeater Discussion

Dana led a discussion on simplex and duplex hotspots for the Michigan DMR Tech Net, explaining their functionality and benefits. He noted that hotspots, which require internet connectivity, allow users to access talk groups and operate independently of repeaters. Stan shared his experience with duplex hotspots, highlighting their similarity to repeaters but mentioned challenges with timing delays that can affect transmission. The discussion aimed to explore the use of hotspots versus repeaters and encourage feedback from participants.

Hotspot Setup and Management Tips

Dana discussed the use of simplex and duplex hotspots, sharing his experience with different Raspberry Pi models and the Nextion screens. He highlighted the convenience of using WPSD for easy shutdown and the challenges he faced setting up a duplex hotspot compared to a simplex one. Dana also emphasized the importance of backing up the microSD card to prevent data corruption and provided tips for safely powering down hotspots.

Hotspot Experiences and Best Practices

The meeting focused on simplex and duplex hotspots, with participants sharing their experiences and tips. Dana emphasized avoiding loops by not using multiple simplex hotspots on the same frequency near each other. Chip N9KIW discussed his experiences with different hotspots, including a DV Mega stick and an M1KE. Stan and Steve shared their positive experiences with the M1KE radio, highlighting its versatility and ease of use. Dana concluded by providing tips on selecting hotspots, including support for multiple networks, real-time monitoring capabilities, and good thermal handling.

DMR Hotspot Discussion Meeting

The Michigan 1 DMR Tech Net meeting focused on simplex and duplex hotspots, with 16 participants checking in. John shared his limited experience with simplex hotspots and expressed interest in learning more about duplex options. The group discussed the upcoming topic for next week’s meeting, which will be the time-out timer (TOT) feature. Dana thanked everyone for participating and reminded listeners to support the owners and trustees of repeaters and link systems. The conversation ended with the announcement that the next week’s topic would be TOT, the time-out timer feature.

MichiganOne DMR Tech Net