Capital Region DMR

[LathamScan]

I've started compiling a list of DMR radio traffic that I have heard here in the Capital Region. DMR, also known as MotoTrbo (Motorola) and Momentum (Harris) is a two-slot TDMA digital format. There seems to be more and more of it showing up here in the Capital Region. I don't have the setup to decode DMR, but I am sure there are others out there who can, so I present this list.

159.5625 - SUNY Albany (Physical Plant Operations?)

451.225 - GE Global Research, Niskayuna

451.800 - unknown

452.150 - possibly Central Brown Taxi in Schenectady?

453.450 - newer, I think it is Cohoes Housing Authority (their analog 131.8 repeater doesn't appear to be on the air anymore)

453.700 - Watervliet Police Department

453.850 - Watervliet Public Works Department

460.425 - Watervliet Fire Department

461.450 - unknown, licensed to Wells Communications

461.500 - unknown, licensed to Wells Communications

463.725 - unknown, licensed to Albany Communications & Microwave

463.825 - Albany Medical Center Hospital - Security? no longer part of the hospital's LTR system

464.775 - unknown, licensed to Albany Communications & Microwave

464.875 - GE Global Research, Niskayuna

464.9375 - unknown. This is a strong signal around the Capital Region and I have heard it all the way up to North Hudson (at the I-87 rest area). The only license I can find is Saratoga Springs School District with a repeater on Willard Mountain, but not licensed for 7F60FXE.

 

[GTR8000]

464.9375 - unknown. This is a strong signal around the Capital Region and I have heard it all the way up to North Hudson (at the I-87 rest area). The only license I can find is Saratoga Springs School District with a repeater on Willard Mountain, but not licensed for 7F60FXE.

This is a long shot, but Goosetown has a 100w TRBO repeater on 464.9375 on a 1600+ foot mountain in Mamakating, Sullivan County that has a very strong signal all over the region. I know it's about 80 miles away, but it's basically all downhill from Sullivan to Albany from that peak.

If you could get ahold of a tapped scanner, or tap one you already own, decoding DMR is really easy.

 

[wten77]

DMR

Does anyone have any DMR user updates for the capital region? Such as business or amateur repeaters? I'm considering a DMR amateur repeater to put up and link via IP

 

[LathamScan]

There is more and more DMR signing on in the Capital District. More business customers that had older, non-narrowband capable equipment are making the switch.

Other than the City of Watervliet (mostly full-time) and Schoharie County (part-time) I haven't logged any other public safety licensed DMR.

Most of the DMR is MotoTrbo, though there are other DMR providers in the region signing on new equipment. Also, almost all of it is conventional. There are DMR TRS's downstate but some sites can be heard in the Capital District.

 

[LathamScan]

Here are some additions to the list...

154.3025 - unidentified - possibly Laurens Fire District in Otsego County? or Saratoga County?

154.3175 - Schoharie County Sheriff's

453.650 - very weak signal here in Albany

463.350 - unidentified

464.450 - unidentified - used to be part of the Capitaland LTR TRS.

 

[DaveNF2G]

The only digital amateur repeater I know about in the area is the 443.300 D*STAR repeater in the Helderbergs.

 

[wten77]

Thanks. I have both a VHF and UHF Hytera DMR radio. They are fully compatible with Mototrbo and Hytera actually makes the radios for Harris ( Momentum). We have two DMR ham repeaters over here that are linked in to TN, TX, and FL. Seems to work great. The Hytera is much less expensive and more feature rich than Motorola. Was just curious whats on the air over there. It would be nice to get a Albany ham club on board so we can link up.

 

[LathamScan]

Slightly off topic, and also because I can't remember, what are the regulations about Amateur Radio Service using digital voice modes? Do they have to be open-source and non-proprietary, like P-25 and DMR? Or could a club use a manufacturer-specific digital voice mode now? I've been hearing about D*STAR, and in larger metro areas, P-25 amateur radio repeaters. I didn't know that DMR was making its way into the ARS.

 

[wten77]

As long as its a open standard it's ok. dstar is dated technology with no updates since it came out. The new stuff like DMR and NXDN is becoming increasingly popular in some areas due to it's features and ability to be quickly IP linked in to other repeaters. Several groups have these types of repeaters up. P25 sounds good but the equipment is rather pricey and it's very difficult to link etc.....

 

[wten77]

Re:

I forgot to mention that with DMR and NXDN it has the ability to validate your radio ID. This eliminates alot of undesirable hams who frequent some repeaters. If they don't have he correct info than they aren't talking.

 

[JRayfield]

While the Hytera DMR radios will work on conventional MOTOTRBO repeater systems, there are some differences between them, such that they are not "fully compatible" with all MOTOTRBO equipment. There are some features that the MOTOTRBO units have that Hytera either do not have or that are 'different' in how those features are implemented, such that they won't 'work together'.

I haven't seen the 'feature set' that Hytera DMR radios offer now, so I'd be very interested in knowing what features they have that are not found in the MOTOTRBO units.

John Rayfield, Jr. CETma
W0PM

Thanks. I have both a VHF and UHF Hytera DMR radio. They are fully compatible with Mototrbo and Hytera actually makes the radios for Harris ( Momentum). We have two DMR ham repeaters over here that are linked in to TN, TX, and FL. Seems to work great. The Hytera is much less expensive and more feature rich than Motorola. Was just curious whats on the air over there. It would be nice to get a Albany ham club on board so we can link up.

 

[DaveNF2G]

DMR/MotoTRBO is now legal in the ham bands per FCC waiver, and probably an upcoming rulemaking.

 

[wten77]

Yes it's been legal for quite a while. Hams just get mad that they can't afford the gear to monitor that's why they bash it. It works quite well tho.

 

[DaveNF2G]

The waiver was only granted the other day.

 

[wten77]

DMR

Well that's great and everything but it's been around for years. Personally I have been using DMR on ham bands for two years. Theres a few groups that have had linked DMR ham repeaters for 4 years or so. Also, Repeater councils have been listing DMR repeaters for a couple years now. DMR like P25 is a open standard therefore there really wasn't any objection to it being used in Amateur radio. Only those hams complaining because they couldn't afford gear to participate in it or monitor it. Looks like the FCC is years late in issuing a waiver that nobody really cares about in the first place.

 

[DaveNF2G]

DMR as exemplified by MotoTRBO has not been legal on the ham bands until a couple of days ago. TDMA is still prohibited except under the conditions of the Waiver.

I think you are using the term more broadly than just TDMA-based protocols.

 

[mass-man]

Nope he is correct...Hams have been using DMR while it was not actually allowed on the bands. Just this week the FCC issued a notice of waiver, and hopefully later a notice of rulemaking that DMR is allowed in the ham bands. Kinda horse after the cart. Yes it is has been in use several years, yes, it was not allowed by the FCC to be used on the ham bands...yes it was used anyway, and with some success, and yes, NOW the FCC finally gets it and sayt is is OK...

Go figure....

 

[wten77]

DMR

Its just like P25 and NXDN. hams have been using despite whether its allowed or not. I listened to the DMR MARC trbo net last night. It's pretty cool.