Baofeng Baofeng DM-1801 Questions

[E-542]

Alrighty, so I recently got this HT and I overall like it, but I have questions.

#1: For programming the Firmware, I have the software and everything. Works with the normal programming software, yet I go to the firmware updater for v2.2.5, and there's nothing on there to chose for the com port. Don't wanna brick this thing, so.

#2: How, exactly do I program stuff for DMR on this particular handheld? This is my first non-analog HT, and I kiiinda get the gist of stuff. More or less. I have it set as it is for the RX and TX freqs of my local DMR repeater, and am I correct that I then save the talkgroups as a group-call "contact"?

#3: For MotoTrbo/CAP+ Systems, is there anything else I need to worry about when programming it? Our local transit system isn't on average DMR, it's MotoTrbo or Cap+.

Thanks.

 

[K9RPL]

AFAIK the latest firmware for the DM-1801 is 2.01.09. I think the FD-77 has a later build but I don't think the firmware from one works on the other. I could be wrong. Hopefully someone here can answer that question. I'd hold off on the firmware update.

Where did you get the CPS and firmware?

I have a DM-1801 and it took me weeks of fiddling to finally get the hang of it. Part of the fun, right?

MotoTRBO is DMR. It's just Motorola's brand name for it's line of DMR compatible radios. CAP+ is trunking which these radios don't support. The DM-1801 is DMR Tier I / Tier II compatible.

You'll need to make sure you have the correct Color Code and Time Slot (TS) for the Talk Group you want to use. If any are wrong it won't work.

 

[E-542]

Gotcha, interesting..
Firmware I got from the baofeng.ca site, and the CPS I got from searching around enough. It's apparently the legit software, which is all I had for it since chirp doesn't work with the DM-1801.

Also gotcha, appreciate the info on the differences of DMR/MototTRBO and CAP+. Thanks!

 

[K9RPL]

The CPS I have is from Baofeng and shows as V1.0.5.8. It works just fine but I've not been able to find any later versions. I may have gotten it from the Canadian site.

BTW: You can create multiple zones and rename them. I have zones for Analog, DMR, GMRS and a couple others. Makes it easy to keep things organized since there's no way to sort the channel list in the CPS.

Another tip: If you have a local DMR capable repeater that supports multiple Talk Groups you might need to create a separate channel for each one. Took me a while to figure that out. It makes it easier to switch to a new talk group rather than futz around with the menu on the radio.

 

[E-542]

Another tip: If you have a local DMR capable repeater that supports multiple Talk Groups you might need to create a separate channel for each one. Took me a while to figure that out. It makes it easier to switch to a new talk group rather than futz around with the menu on the radio.

How, exactly do I do that? What I've done so far is to have my local DMR repeater (K4USD system), and I have the talkgroups through the menu and all which I programmed through the CPS, as I don't see a way to on-the-fly program a Group Call one, and private call doesn't seem to work with the DMR repeater.

 

[K9RPL]

Just create a duplicate channel. Then change the contact which is the Talk Group. In my case I have a local repeater that has multiple Talk Groups but I'm only interested in Chicago Local and Midwest so I created each as a unique channel. The contacts are Group Call not Private.

 

[E-542]

OH, that is a idea. I wouldn't have thought of that, thanks!! Will give that a try.
Also am I just dumb or is there really no way to program a talkgroup without using the software? Not a lot of documentation on this radio, so.

 

[K9RPL]

OH, that is a idea. I wouldn't have thought of that, thanks!! Will give that a try.
Also am I just dumb or is there really no way to program a talkgroup without using the software? Not a lot of documentation on this radio, so.

I've not been able to program a Talk Group from the keyboard and have it work. The good thing is there's lot's of channel space and using Zones keeps everything organized. I programmed SK2 for Zone Select so all I need to do is push that button and I can directly select the Zone I want without having to fool around with menu system. Don't forget you can rename the Zones and reorder the channels in each Zone.

 

[E-542]

I've not been able to program a Talk Group from the keyboard and have it work. The good thing is there's lot's of channel space and using Zones keeps everything organized. I programmed SK2 for Zone Select so all I need to do is push that button and I can directly select the Zone I want without having to fool around with menu system. Don't forget you can rename the Zones and reorder the channels in each Zone.

That's pretty much the way I set my side keys up, interestingly!

So far I've been trying out as was suggested instead of going to the contact menu each time, and I do appreciate that! I'm liking that considerably more than using the menu.

 

[seth21w]

Will this radio scan dmr and analog in one scan list also vhf and uhf together or not?

 

[K9RPL]

Yes. Whatever channels you assign to a scanlist.

 

[seth21w]

Is the gd77 and the dm1801 the same radio hardware wise? And will the new modified firmware for the dm1801 make it just as advanced as the gd77?

 

[K9RPL]

The GD77 and DM1801 are *very* close hardware wise from what I've learned, but not truly software compatible enough to share the same firmware. There is a group that engineered an open CPS and other GD77 software that you might want to take a look at.

Rogerclark.net

 

[seth21w]

Ok thanks I am wanting to buy a dual band dmr because my md390 only does vhf and I would like both bands. Both are under 100 but gd77 is about 20 more than dm1801.

 

[K9RPL]

If you are looking at both, I'd choose the GD77. Baofeng hasn't done anything in the way of support or software improvements for the DM-1801 but Radioddity has kept up with the GD77 and the stuff that Roger Clark is doing makes it a better choice.

In retrospect, I would have gotten the GD77 over the DM-1801 if I'd known what I know now. But the DM-1801 was a cheap way to learn DMR so I'm not losing any sleep over it. I've gone past the CCR stuff for DMR anyway.

 

[gman1971]

OpenGD77 now works for the Baofeng 1801 too. So it worth checking it out. and of course, big thanks to Roger Clark and all those who made it possible.

G.

 

[jaspence]

"Also am I just dumb or is there really no way to program a talkgroup without using the software? Not a lot of documentation on this radio, so."

Higher quality (read "more money") radios like the btech 6x2 are far more flexible in keypad programming. Due to more information needed, DMR is better done where you can see what you are doing as in the software. The GD-77 can be programmed from the keypad, but you have to use software to load the TG info first. The btech will let you add a TG from the keypad.

 

[K9RPL]

OpenGD77 now works for the Baofeng 1801 too. So it worth checking it out. and of course, big thanks to Roger Clark and all those who made it possible.

G.

That's good news. When did the support for OpenGD77 for the 1801 get released?

 

[gman1971]

I think about month ago? You can go over to their site and download it.

 

[K9RPL]

I found it. Thanks. Reflashed my DM-1801 and in the process of playing with the options. Very different from the stock firmware. I had to rebuild the code plug but that wasn't too bad. I like the new options accessible from the keyboard.

Down side is you can't program the softkeys anymore. It's all predefined but lots of options available just by using the down arrow button as a Function key.

Not as nice as my XPR 7550 but better than stock DM-1801.