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Cheap DMR Radios Out There?

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rapidcharger

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Now, can I use the radio to listen to businesses that are DMR that use an individual frequency?


Individual frequency... as in not going through a repeater??? If so then yes but you'll have to know the color code. That can be a bit of a guessing game as there is no CSQ in DMR. But if it IS going through a repeater, you'll also need the group ID. And encryption... is super easy with DMR, obviously that would prevent listening.
 
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Why is everybody talking about Ham Capable? The OP did NOT say anything about ham use, it simply asked for a cheaper model. Perhaps he wants one to use on the system at his place of employment?
 

SCPD

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Why is everybody talking about Ham Capable? The OP did NOT say anything about ham use, it simply asked for a cheaper model. Perhaps he wants one to use on the system at his place of employment?


Well I'm looking to use it for listening to businesses I'm my area that are DMR
 

Thunderknight

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Individual frequency... as in not going through a repeater??? If so then yes but you'll have to know the color code. That can be a bit of a guessing game as there is no CSQ in DMR. But if it IS going through a repeater, you'll also need the group ID. And encryption... is super easy with DMR, obviously that would prevent listening.

It's not really a guessing game. Use DMR Decode to gather the necessary info.
 

Kirk

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Also FYI, unless I'm missing something, DMRDecode won't work on non-repeated (direct) DMR. Only repeaters.
 

Kirk

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Yes. Just like you can only talk to people on a Motorola for whom you have an entitlement key.
 

Kirk

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You will need to use other tools to obtain the programming information, but yes, a CS700 can be used to monitor unencrypted DMR/Trbo. Keep in mind if you don't have a ham license, the radio is more expensive.
 

SCPD

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That Hytera is probably going for $350, but more importantly, doesn't cover the ham band. Maybe it can go out of band, but the CS700 is a very good radio.

It lacks a few features of the Motorola, but for the money it is a steal. In addition, new firmware is coming which may add some great features that even the other radios don't have (FPP) for one.





Hyteras will cover the ham bands, if you buyt the right model. Trust me. I use mine on ham as well as multiple analog and DMR public safety agencies i do work for, and on a DMR network we own.
 

SCPD

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Look at the new Hytera PD362. I have been carrying an X1p as my daily radio, since they first released. I bought the PD362 for its size. Only features its missing is pseudotrunk and roaming. But for the price its great.
 

avascan522

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DMR Capable radios

I've been trying to gather some info from this page about listening to dmr.

My campus PD uses Mototrbo radios (XPR 6550/7550) and they are un-encrypted. They are on a VHF conventional frequency and use a repeater.

QUESTION: Would I be able to buy a radio (Motorola, Vertex, or Connect Systems) and program the frequency to listen?

NOTE: I am aware that I will have to find out the color code and time slot. Is that all?

Thanks for any responses.
 

msingewald

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As long as they are not encrypted, yes. However, you will also need to figure out the group ID that they are using.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

avascan522

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DMR Capable radios

I do not believe they call radios individually, so would setting the group code to "All Call" work? All the officers can hear radio chatter no matter who is talking (kind of like analog), so I don't believe they use a private call, dispatch call, or PC call.

I don't know how knowledgeable their programmer was (knowing them, the chief did it herself), but I could just play around with the settings until I get the right combo, right?
 

msingewald

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All Call is for transmitting. If you transmit on All Call, everyone will here you regardless of whatever group call they are monitoring. There is no All Call for receive.

You can keep guessing at the group call ID, or you can try a decoding program like DSD+.
 

avascan522

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Monitoring DMR

I've watched several videos on XPR 6550s, would I be able to find out the group code by looking at the screen while a radio is transmitting? One radio I saw in a video said "all call", and the other has the name of the group code.
 
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