DMR Page

Talkgroup 3026 AB exists on several DMR networks but they were not linked together. Thanks to the leadership efforts of Jeff VE6DV and the cooperation of the administrators of various DMR networks, links have been built to tie TG 3026 together on the following DMR networks: TGIF, Quadnet, System X, IPSC2-Canada (DMR+). Users on 5 different DMR networks can talk to each other now. We hope that these links among the various 3026 talkgroups will generate more activity on all of our Alberta talkgroups! Hams with Yaesu digital radios and hotspots with YSF to DMR capabilites are welcome to join in by connecting to TG 3026 on any of these DMR networks on the DMR side of their YSF2DMR connection. Due to a link between CAN-TRBO-MARC TG3026 and Brandmeister TG 30261, we have not been able to include CAN-TRBO MARC TG3026 as yet, as Brandmeister objects to any connection to TGIF.

Usefull Links

  • DMR Talkgroups A page with links to various web sites where Talkgroup names and numbers are listed for the various networks.

  • DMR-MARC Worldwide Network The Motorola Amateur Radio Club are leaders in the use of DMR technology for amateur radio.

  • CAN-TRBO Home provides general information about the DMR-MARC Canada CAN-TRBO Amateur radio network

  • VE6PLC's DMR presentation to the Calgary Communications Club

  • QuadNet Array This site has information on the QuadNet Array, which can be used to connect operators on Talkgroup 320 on various DMR networks, D-Star (URF 307A or 587A), and Fusion (YSF reflector 31001) together. Check it out if you have access to any of those digital networks through a repeater or hotspot.

  • TGIF Network Started in 2018, TGIF's goal is to be less formal than other DMR networks. It is already supported in Pi-Star hotspots and by the SharkRF Openspot.

  • FreeStar Network One of the newer networks, FreeStar bridges analog and digital modes. FreeStar has analog and digital repeaters, gateways, and servers for hotpots and includes several HF gateways.

  • VE6PLC's Hotspot presentation to the Calgary Amateur Radio Association

  • Pi-star Hotspot Many hotspots use the Pi-star software maintained by Andy Taylor MW0MWZ in collaboration with many hams around the world. Pi-star based hotspots combine a Raspberry Pi small board computer with an MMDVM board (multi mode digital voice borad) and the Pi-star software. Pi-star has a DMR Gateway that makes it possible to connect to multiple DMR networks at once.

  • Pi-star Forum is a great place to find answers and ask questions about Pi-star.

  • Shark RF Openspot is another popular hotspot package with some nice features.

The Tytera MD-380 DMR UHF radio was popular as an entry level DMR radio with hams around the world. The codeplug below includes configuration for the CAN-TRBO-MARC Repeaters in Calgary and Edmonton.

The MD-380 has multiple Zones with up to 16 Channels in each Zone. The Calgary codeplug above has 4 Zones: Calgary, Test, Edmonton, and Simplex. The channels provide access to the local Calgary DMR repeater and to its various Talkgroups, as well as to 2 local Calgary FM repeaters (VE6EHX and VE6OIL). The Talkgroups include Canada, North America, and World Wide. These Talkgroups are always linked. There are several other Talkgroups that are linked only when activated by a user. User activated links include TAC310 (a sort of "chat room"), Quadnet Array, UAE1 and UAE2 (which are English language world wide "chat rooms"), and several provincial Talkgroups (AB, BC, MB, ON, QC, and NB).

OpenGD77 Firmware and CPS

Roger Clark, a ham from Melbourne, Australia, developed custom firmware for the GD-77 radios. The OpenGD77 firmware project has been expanded to include several other models of DMR radios that are currently available, like the TYT MD-UV380, and the Baofeng DM-1701. OpenGD77 is customized for hams. It features easier codeplug programming and easier radio operation. This firmware also allows the radio to be connected to a Rasberry Pi via its USB cable, turning the it into the MMDVM board for Pi-star hotspots. With its better spectral purity and ability to run more than 10 to 15mW, it is able to extend the range of your hotspot. Check out the details at OpenGD77 Forum. There is also an active OpenGD77 group on Facebook.
OpenGD77 firmware now includes the ability to track and work through various FM satellites and the ISS. It includes automatically adjusting the frequencies for doppler shift as the satellite passes overhead. The latest user guide is at OpenGD77 User Guide. There are version of the firmware for Radioddity GD-77 and GD-77SS, Baofeng DM-5R (RD-5R), TYT MD-9600, MD-UV380, Baofeng DM-1701, Retevis RT3S, RT84, and RT90. The same CPS and codeplug can be used for all models. Example OpenGD77 codeplug for Calgary repeaters and a hotspot.
Condensed information on uploading the Open firmware, programming a codeplug, and operating the radio is available in a PDF file OpenGD77, created by VE6PLC.

Radioddity GD-77 dual band (2m/70cm) DMR/FM analog handheld was available for around $100CDN, including programming cable. The OpenGD77 firmware made it even more popular. While it is no longer being sold, there is still a fairly active Facebook Group for the stock GD-77 radio.
GD-77 codeplug with settings for MARC repeaters plus settings for Brandmeister, DMR Plus, and Fusion connections to a hotspot.

Another popular radio is the Anytone AT-D878UV dual band radio. AT-D878UVii
An example codeplug for Calgary plus an Openspot hotspot: Example Codeplug for AT-D878UV

Enhanced Firmware and CPS for the MD-380

There are a lot of clever hams in the world! Some of them, in particular Travis Goodspeed, have turned their attention to the MD-380 DMR radio. The capabilities of the MD-380 have been greatly expanded through their efforts to create "experimental" firmware. There are several branches of firmware available.
KD4Z has created a Virtual Machine environment under Windows for flashing the Tools (with an s, not a z) firmware and updating the user database. He has provided an excellent guide. It requires some computer skills. See MD380 Tools for all the details.
For users who want something simpler, the TyteraFlashTool will upload the Tools firmware and do user database uploads. MD380-390 FlashTool NOTE: version 2.00a has been released.
There is a Facebook Support Group for the KD4Z Toolkit KD4Z Toolkit Support Group
There is also software available that can create and modify a codeplug, flash the Tools firmware, and program the user database: EditCP by Dale Farnsworth. This software included several enhanced features that are not available in the standard CPS, including drag and drop reordering of entries!