Why do you all enjoy using DMR?

[k7ng]

No Fusion for me. Why?
Well, first there was Analog. Hard to carry radios around for all those bands at once.
Then D-Star. Since D-star radios were also analog-capable, I got a D-Star radio. Well, two radios... a mobile and a portable.
Then I started working in P25 and eventually got myself a P-25 radio for ham use, Well, two radios, one VHF, one UHF.
Then DMR... another radio. Well, two, actually. Mobile and portable.

Then Fusion came along. Too many radios already. Sorry, Fusion.

 

[alcahuete]

Use it as a convenience, yes. But to get a woody because one may feel it’s a major accomplishment that they spoke to someone around the world through the internet on a $50 CCR is crazy. It’s certainly not the same accomplishment as talking around the world on HF where the signal between the two radios travels thousands of miles in the air from one antenna to the other. .

You're absolutely right! Couldn't have said it better myself. I'm a HF guy myself, but sometimes I venture on DMR or 70cm repeaters. It's rare, but I do it.

I remember being on a ship in the middle of the Caribbean with no working satellite internet or phone at the time. I keyed up a repeater on one of the islands and was talking to friends and family in SoCal. Great! But it is NOT DX, anymore than picking up the phone, Skype, Zello, etc. is DX. What is absolutely maddening to me is the folks who call you on TG91 and then beg for your QRZ confirmation. QRZ doesn't care if you get the 100 country award on 70cm. Thankfully, the ARRL has enough sense to disallow it on DXCC.

 

[K3HY]

I was about to buy the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus, but I don't know if my DMR id being registered at an old home address will cause problems.
My callsign and DMR id show as registered, but registration shows a previous address.

 

[alcahuete]

I was about to buy the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus, but I don't know if my DMR id being registered at an old home address will cause problems.
My callsign and DMR id show as registered, but registration shows a previous address.

Should make no difference at all.

 

[K3HY]

Should make no difference at all.

Ok thanks. I was concerned the 1st 4 numbers of the id would make a difference in a new state. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Thorndike113]

If you move you just have to let radioid.net know your new address, which I would imagine is done when you change the address on your license and then send them a copy. I've heard guys get on DMR and have to let the other person know that they are not living at the address that pops up with their ID. No one seems to mind.

 

[K3HY]

If you move you just have to let radioid.net know your new address, which I would imagine is done when you change the address on your license and then send them a copy. I've heard guys get on DMR and have to let the other person know that they are not living at the address that pops up with their ID. No one seems to mind.

I'll have to also be one of those to let contact know popup address is wrong. I tried radioid.net, but unfortunately old email address won't let me get in system to even change password. Didn't want to guess my PW in case it locks everything up. Support only uses the old email address as well, so contacting them is useless. It's all good. It will just appear that I am on a lifetime vacation. LOL

 

[paulears]

Loads of people have no idea that the number entered is wrong, incomplete or maybe just the ID that the codeplug writer forgot to remove. I've done that lots of times - and people are using mine, totally unaware. I'm quite hot on keeping legit, but with a voluntary and unmonitored system, I'm not sure it really matters in this case. Can you imagine a volunteer group employing full time people to process a whole world of updates. How many must they receive every day? My guess is it's meant to be automated and sometimes it goes wrong.

 

[k6cpo]

You don't need DMR to talk on linked repeaters. Hams started linking repeaters using VOIP technology years before DMR came along.

Or UHF links, Heaven forbid! There is a four repeater system that links the San Diego area with Phoenix, AZ that doesn't use the internet. The four repeaters are all linked together with UHF radio links. It's been in place for years, even predating the internet.

 

[Thorndike113]

Or UHF links, Heaven forbid! There is a four repeater system that links the San Diego area with Phoenix, AZ that doesn't use the internet. The four repeaters are all linked together with UHF radio links. It's been in place for years, even predating the internet.

I love DMR, I loved having linked repeaters, and love using VHF and UHF, but the one gripe I have with Hams when it comes to DMR is that it is linked over the internet. I still use it because it really is amazing and works well, usually. I think with all the technology and ability given to Hams, they could incorporate digital modes and linking them, only do it wirelessly. Doing linking between towers, they could incorporate a lot of the higher bands in the GHz range. Create a system, as long as it is maintained well, that will never go down.

 

[popnokick]

II think with all the technology and ability given to Hams, they could incorporate digital modes and linking them, only do it wirelessly.

It’s all about the $$$, how long it takes to set up, and how well it works. As is often said in the IT disciplines, “Fast, cheap, good … you get to pick two of those three.”

 

[paulears]

I have two repeaters, one very local one 8 miles - handheld coverage is great. all the talk groups in my radio in the van ...... and you can still go for ages with not a thing on them. Will all this linking do anything other than increase listeners, rather than talkers? I don't know? It's a very clever comprehensive world wide system, but sadly busy. You could have a chat on TG1, worldwide and have no need to go to a different group for a chat?

 

[alcahuete]

I have two repeaters, one very local one 8 miles - handheld coverage is great. all the talk groups in my radio in the van ...... and you can still go for ages with not a thing on them. Will all this linking do anything other than increase listeners, rather than talkers? I don't know? It's a very clever comprehensive world wide system, but sadly busy. You could have a chat on TG1, worldwide and have no need to go to a different group for a chat?

Assuming the repeater is actually linked to some worldwide network, the reason you are hearing nothing is likely because repeaters are programmed with dynamic talkgroups. They turn off after 10-15 minutes. In order for you to activate that talkgroup, you need to key up in that talkgroup. Then you will hear whatever is taking place. If you don't key up again within the 10-15 minutes, it will shut back off.

I promise if you listen to Brandmeister Worldwide (TG91) there is chatter almost 24/7.

 

[paulears]

HA! I didn't know that so that explains an awful lot! Cheers

 

[Thorndike113]

Will all this linking do anything other than increase listeners, rather than talkers?

You do have a good point. I noticed that if you take the VHF/UHF bands up here in the northeast, especially on DMR, they are dead compared to Texas and California. When it comes to the talk groups, I honestly think DMR has too many of them for the small amount of activity they have in most places. I have monitored all of those tac channels, state channels, and quite a few other ones, and aside from a net and a convo now and then, my radio could sit here for days and not make a sound.

 

[KG7VG]

While I'm not a fan of DMR, I won't besmirch other hams of their enjoyment of the mode. There are many factors to consider, and everyone's situation is different. Perhaps one lives in an apartment, where antenna real estate is limited, but the internet connection is stellar. Maybe the operator has a limited income or budget and can only afford a hotspot and HT (HF and base gear is bloody expensive!). Regardless, it's still ham radio, and I applaud the folks that are actively participating in our hobby, and working to keep it alive.

 

[KK4JUG]

Regardless, it's still ham radio, and I applaud the folks that are actively participating in our hobby, and working to keep it alive.

Is it ham radio or just another VOIP?

 

[KG7VG]

Is it ham radio or just another VOIP?

Does VOIP require an amateur license to use? (other than hamshack hotline, that is)
One could argue that you still have to use a radio to get into the hotspot, in most cases.

I'm so weary of this "argument". It's not valid and it's not the same thing. Plain and simple, if you don't like the mode, don't use it. Go back to your analog repeaters and HF and leave the DMR / digital folks alone.

 

[KK4JUG]

First, you need to switch to decaf. Second, I never said I didn't like it and I never said whether I used it or not and I don't see how that simple question castigated any "DMR/digital folks."

 

[KG7VG]

Decaf won't get me through my day, man...

Why even ask the question, if you're not looking to poke the hornet's nest? All I was doing was offering a little support to others.