Good cheap radios for DMR that work

[Daleb49]

Since I don't know what you're trying to monitor and I am not familiar with that radio or its software I don't know how much more I can help. Also probably might want to start a new thread as to not highjack this one.

That being said you need 3 things on DMR for it to work properly. The frequency, the color code and the talk group #. You need all three of those programmed correctly. Also some ratios have a receive list that has to be set up also with varying information.

Assuming the frequencies you posted are the ones you're trying to receive, if you have that info it should work.

I sent you a PM.

 

[Spider255]

I'm using the Anytone AT-D578UV as a base and it's been fantastic. Easy to program and has great audio and the price is pretty reasonable. I recommend it.

I did think about that radio a while ago but I don't really like the way it looks, I have seen used Hytera MD785 Radios going for around 200-250 and those look more professional and a cleaner look.

 

[Spider255]

Huh? I monitor commercial frequencies all the time and never touch a PTT button.

The way Amateur DMR is setup, its user activated, so if your using an Amateur DMR repeater or a DMR Hotspot you have to push the PTT button to monitor.

With Ham digital simplex you do not need to push the PTT to activate or commercial in order to monitor.

It has to be setup like that otherwise there would be way too much traffic making the network unusable.

 

[rf_patriot200]

I'm wanting to build up my collection of DMR handhelds I only need a couple more just so I've got a good selection.

After buying the problematic Boafeng DR-1801UV its really put me off buying anymore DMR handhelds but I know I can't give up on my DMR dream because of one problematic radio. I guess its a question of live and learn when buying such radios.

I've been interested in the Boafeng DM1701 I know a few people have those radios but I'm just wondering if I should expect to have issues with it, when it comes to connecting it to a PC?

I'm also interested in buying the Boafeng DM32 so those are the two I want to get.

Those prolific drivers, finding the correct driver that works and finding the right cable it can be a real problem and a headache. I never have such issues with other brands like Motorola or Hytera its just the cheaper Chinese Boafeng types I get these issues with.

Does anybody have any advice for the Boafeng DM32 & the Boafeng DM 1701 such as what USB drivers to use?

Anytone 878 UVII or III is your most Reliable, Economic choice. There ARE better, but the Price, Reliability and Durability are the concerns.

 

[dazey77]

I did think about that radio a while ago but I don't really like the way it looks, I have seen used Hytera MD785 Radios going for around 200-250 and those look more professional and a cleaner look.

View attachment 197988

I managed to pick up a simplex HM785 with GPS/BT for €300. Have to have a bit of patience and luck to find them at that price of course. The HM has a few advantages, the screen is much nicer (and larger). The Bluetooth is built in (so one doesn't have to remove the bluetooth dongle to programme it), chassis is a bit lighter. Strangely it is also much more picky on power supplies. I can run the MD785 on small 12v PSUs, the HM needs a much beefier one.
Note that the new HM785s are now coming out as full duplex (so you can also get a SFR licence for them).
HM785s can also IP connect via their ethernet port (the MD doesnt have)(again a licence), allowing for 2 of them to connect over IP or for them to connect to a repeater network.
If you get either the SM27W1 Bluetooth speaker mic is a really handy way to control them.

he price of the HM785 full duplex is good compared to what it was in MD785 times. MD785 full duplex was 2x the price of the MD785 (about €1000), the HM785 full duplex is replacing the simplex at a similar price point €600 ish, price went up for the normal version of course in the 10 years. Going to be some time before the HM785 full duplex is available second hand but there should also start being a few simplex ones floating onto the market as people upgrade.

 

[K9KLC]

The way Amateur DMR is setup, its user activated, so if your using an Amateur DMR repeater or a DMR Hotspot you have to push the PTT button to monitor.

With Ham digital simplex you do not need to push the PTT to activate or commercial in order to monitor.

It has to be setup like that otherwise there would be way too much traffic making the network unusable.

I understand this but he posted business frequencies, nothing in the ham bands. I'd like to think a business isn't using a "hotspot" where you have to use PTT to activate it, that would be inconvenient. I dabbled in hot spots long enough to know it's not for me (at the present time at least) and what DMR I do is either simplex or listed as "always on" in the repeater I do use for DMR. Even the two friends I helped set up hotspots for, (only reason I did it) have long abandoned that endeavor now, it was senseless for them to use it simply to talk to each other using that when a phone call was much simpler.


My comment was directed directly addressing what the gentleman asked, given the frequencies he asked about. Also in further off thread conversation he's using a scanner, not a radio. No PTT gonna happen there on the Frequencies he listed. A blanket statement "In order to activate a talkgroup, you must push the push to talk button briefly. " is not always correct. I can monitor 7 Talk groups off my local"ish" repeater that are always "on" and never need to push the PTT button. I simply go to that TG on my radio and can hear them.

 

[K9KLC]

I'm using the Anytone AT-D578UV as a base and it's been fantastic. Easy to program and has great audio and the price is pretty reasonable. I recommend it.

When I'm not on one of my Motorola's, I agree, the 578 is a great radio, works fine on DMR and analog both. Also one of the only radios I've ever found that you can cross band DMR to analog FM and visa versa. Also for those where applicable, the tri -band version does 5 watts 220 so there's that too. While only 5 watts, during some testing we get 20 ish miles simplex or so, on them.

 

[Spider255]

When I'm not on one of my Motorola's, I agree, the 578 is a great radio, works fine on DMR and analog both. Also one of the only radios I've ever found that you can cross band DMR to analog FM and visa versa. Also for those where applicable, the tri -band version does 5 watts 220 so there's that too. While only 5 watts, during some testing we get 20 ish miles simplex or so, on them.

The thought of linking talk group 91 to an analog simplex gateway had crossed my mind.

 

[K9KLC]

The thought of linking talk group 91 to an analog simplex gateway had crossed my mind.

Back when I was helping some friends get on a couple of hotspots, we cross banded one fellow in from 317 out to a simplex 2 meter frequency after he moved out of range. Worked great.

 

[Spider255]

I understand this but he posted business frequencies, nothing in the ham bands. I'd like to think a business isn't using a "hotspot" where you have to use PTT to activate it, that would be inconvenient. I dabbled in hot spots long enough to know it's not for me (at the present time at least) and what DMR I do is either simplex or listed as "always on" in the repeater I do use for DMR. Even the two friends I helped set up hotspots for, (only reason I did it) have long abandoned that endeavor now, it was senseless for them to use it simply to talk to each other using that when a phone call was much simpler.


My comment was directed directly addressing what the gentleman asked, given the frequencies he asked about. Also in further off thread conversation he's using a scanner, not a radio. No PTT gonna happen there on the Frequencies he listed. A blanket statement "In order to activate a talkgroup, you must push the push to talk button briefly. " is not always correct. I can monitor 7 Talk groups off my local"ish" repeater that are always "on" and never need to push the PTT button. I simply go to that TG on my radio and can hear them.

That is because on the repeater somebody else has already activated it.

 

[sallen07]

That is because on the repeater somebody else has already activated it.

That might not be true. A DMR repeater (or hot spot) can have static talk groups which are linked all the time and don't need to be "activated". Any traffic on that TG will always be transmitted by the repeater (or hot spot).

 

[K9KLC]

That is because on the repeater somebody else has already activated it.

Not as far as monitoring no. Always on means just that. Obviously someone has to be talking on those talk groups (NOT LOCAL) but as far as activating from the receive end on my local repeater here no. As I said above 7 are "always on". NO PTT required. Virtually no one uses the local DMR repeaters these days but when I have the urge I do monitor a couple statewide nets. Again there is NO intervention required on the local repeater for 7 always on talk groups.

 

[K9KLC]

That might not be true. A DMR repeater (or hot spot) can have static talk groups which are linked all the time and don't need to be "activated". Any traffic on that TG will always be transmitted by the repeater (or hot spot).

Finally someone who knows. Thanks.

 

[K9KLC]

That might not be true. A DMR repeater (or hot spot) can have static talk groups which are linked all the time and don't need to be "activated". Any traffic on that TG will always be transmitted by the repeater (or hot spot).

Actually the short time I was in hot spots I remember having set one group to static. I heard it just fine and never pushed the PTT button till someone called me. I had forgotten about that.

 

[Spider255]

Finally someone who knows. Thanks.

I don't really know how the US DMR repeaters are setup. I'm in the UK.

 

[K9KLC]

I don't really know how the US DMR repeaters are setup. I'm in the UK.

And that's fine. I have no idea how they're sent up there or frankly how others are set up in the US. I know of the one near me and about 10 others in areas I travel too. Each repeater may have varying amount of static (always on) or dynamic (the PTT to activate) ones. My comment was to mention the blanket statement of you need to PTT to activate any talk group is not 100% on all TGs on all repeaters in the world pertaining to ham usage. FWIW, even simplex has a TG, many times it's 99 although others obviously may be used. Since simplex doesn't go out over the internet it could really be anything. I know guys that use oddball numbers to lessen the chance others hear them. Obviously a radio that can do the promiscuous mode would anyway but you know how people live to be sneaky.

 

[Spider255]

And that's fine. I have no idea how they're sent up there or frankly how others are set up in the US. I know of the one near me and about 10 others in areas I travel too. Each repeater may have varying amount of static (always on) or dynamic (the PTT to activate) ones. My comment was to mention the blanket statement of you need to PTT to activate any talk group is not 100% on all TGs on all repeaters in the world pertaining to ham usage. FWIW, even simplex has a TG, many times it's 99 although others obviously may be used. Since simplex doesn't go out over the internet it could really be anything. I know guys that use oddball numbers to lessen the chance others hear them. Obviously a radio that can do the promiscuous mode would anyway but you know how people live to be sneaky.

I've heard hams asking others if they want to do private calls on the DMR network which isn't really what ham radio is about, its supposed to be public and open to licensed users, if a ham wants to have a private conversation over the DMR network then there are other forms of communication for that outside of the hobby.

 

[buddrousa]

The DMR repeaters near my location you key with a Talkgroup and it will carry the Talkgroup for 10 minutes and then you have to rekey to listen for 10 minutes again.

 

[K9KLC]

Here is a mostly up to date list on the Chicagoland DMR network of repeaters. If it says "on", for that repeater, you do not need to "kerchunk" it to activate that particular talk group, it's simply there if you have your radio programmed correctly with that TG and tune to that "Channel" in your radio without having to PTT to activate it. This would be a memory channel with the correct frequency, CC, TS and TG programmed into it.
I use a local repeater on this network close enough to me to use, albeit I predominantly use "local 9" for that repeater only but I have used other TG's on it.

ChicagoLand Talk Groups – ChicagoLand Control Center.
I know there are other systems that operate similarly.

 

[K9KLC]

I've heard hams asking others if they want to do private calls on the DMR network which isn't really what ham radio is about, its supposed to be public and open to licensed users, if a ham wants to have a private conversation over the DMR network then there are other forms of communication for that outside of the hobby.

Ya using a different TG on simplex isn't exactly private call, it's simply a different TG#. I have mixed feelings on that private call stuff, if I need to be "private" I pick up my phone and call someone. (or text). A couple of us, have messed with that on Simplex but honestly, like I said, if I need "private" I pick up the phone.

Using a different TG on simplex is akin to simply using a different simplex frequency that isn't commonly used. Anyone with that TG can obviously hear and join in (and we'd likely enjoy that) but it's just different than what is commonly used in the area. I don't think using private call on a repeater would be appropriate, especially a busier one. Would make it hard to know if the repeater was in use and just a mess for everyone.

The vast majority of people don't even know you can do DMR simplex. We have an event here a couple times a year here which is simplex only and there are frequencies on both 2 meters and 70cm involved. I remember the first year that all got started, people said "no DMR is Internet only" and no, it's simply a mode like SSB, FM or AM, and it's how people choose to use it that makes it go out over the internet. Internet stuff has been around a long time on ham radio. Echo link or IRLP did analog a long time on FM long before DMR became popular with ham radio. About 20 or so years ago, I remember an analog repeater I was involved in, and we had IRLP on that machine.

A few guys lately in my area are using All Star to link some lower profile 900 MHz repeaters together, and they're all analog (for now) we may throw a DMR into the mix on that, only time will tell.