DMR in message very incomplete

[ka3jjz]

There is a message in this entry saying that only the TRX1, 2, BC436 and 536HP scanners with updates will copy DMR in the Misc System Information area

Bay City Governmental Services Trunking System, Bay City, Michigan - Scanner Frequencies

This list is not complete. The Whistler WS1080, 1088, 1095 and 1098 scanners also got updates for copying DMR, per this...

https://whistlergroup.com/blogs/news/whistler-launches-dmr-capable-scanners

In addition, you can use DSD or DSD+, for example with either a tapped scanner or a SDR (The AOR DV-1 doesn't do DMR trunking yet, so it's not applicable here)

In order to have a standardized way to capture all of this, templates were developed for use in the wiki. Specifically, this one covers DMR / Mototrbo

Template:Tracker DMR - The RadioReference Wiki

Perhaps a standardized message put into the Misc System Information area pointing to the DMR and MOTOTRBO entries in the Glossary could be coded to cover this. That way if a new scanner comes out with DMR/Moto, then it's a snap to enter it into these 2 articles. No need to add it to each and every db entry

Mike

 

[Ronaldski]

I added the rest in the text.

 

[AK9R]

My suggestion would be to delete the text all together. Not sure the DB is the place to make specific buying recommendations for types of scanners. Mike's suggestion is more generic and less prone to being wrong at some point down the road.

 

[ka3jjz]

I wouldn't suggest putting this sort of thing in the Misc System Information area to necessarily 'sell' scanners; taken from a strictly newcomers perspective, it's good information to know that certain scanners are needed to pick up specific modes. The DMR/Trbo mode is one, and another that comes to mind is ProVoice (unencrypted, of course). And this will come up again when NXDN trunking comes along.

In addition, tying the description area to the wiki is a no-brainer, since the database and wiki are already tied together anyway (via the wiki button). If the message uses a wiki artifact - in this case, the DMR and MOTOTRBO definitions in the Glossary- then if a new scanner comes along that copies these modes, it only takes 2 wiki page changes to handle this. No database impact at all.

Is there a precedent to this? Is this already being done? The answer is a resounding YES. Look at what is done when the database indicates a Phase 2 scanner is needed for P2 trunking. For example, see...

Prince George's County Trunking System, Various, Maryland - Scanner Frequencies

And see where the link goes? To the P25 article in the wiki.

There's no reason at all something like this can't be done for other modes - maybe someday...

Mike