Anytone Multiple Servers in an "Anytone" Codeplug?

[TimInMN]

I thought I was somewhat comfortable with programming codeplugs until this question and now I realize I have a lot to learn. I am successfully using my Anytone 878 with my Brandmeister Server. I'm only using a hotspot as there are no DMR repeaters near me. I also travel a lot and have connected my pi-star to my cell phone hot spot and all it good. I also have local, analog repeaters programed that work great.

Here is my question... I live next to a large company that uses DMR for their operations. I would love to program that into my radio/codeplug but realize that their TG numbers are the same as BM's and therefor, I can't duplicate a TG number. Can it be done? I'm thinking I might have to create it's own Codeplug and only listen to one or the other. Not sure where to go from here.

 

[bharvey2]

I entered the DMR game on the ham radio front before Brandmeister came about. As Brandmeister was gaining steam, I had the same problem but with a different radio. Since DMR is only looking at the talkgroup number, I used two abbreviated talkgroup descriptors in the name. Since I had the the "servers" in different programmed zones on my radio, I only needed to remember which zone I was in to decipher the actual name of the talkgroup in the display. Not the cleanest way of doing things but it worked in my case.

 

[TimInMN]

I'm trying really hard to open my mind up to what you are saying and I might need some guidance. So, in the Codeplug, i have TG/DMR ID column and the number 1. The name is "World" and this is the BM system. In the "Other" system I want to listen to, the Talkgroup is listed as 1 and the name is "Mill Ops"

I think you're saying to change the name of "World" to something like "World/Mill".

Assuming I got that part correct, I'm not understanding any further. You had the "Servers" in different programmed zones... How? I was under the impression that the pi-star was the only way to tell the radio which system you are communicating with. Is there a place in the codeplug where I enter the "Server"?

 

[bharvey2]

With regard to the names in the talkgroup, I believe you are understanding correctly. The Talkgroup number is what is used by the DMR protocol. The name you associate with it in your codeplug is so that you can identify it more easily. So, in your case, the World/Mill example is fine assuming the "/" is a permissible character.

I used the term "servers" because I thought it was term that you used but it seems as I misread your post. "Systems" would have been a better choice. (There is no "server" entry in your codeplug) When you are using your hotspot, your hotspot is the system (communicating with the Brandmeister server group) with which your radio is communicating. The frequency, color code and timeslot are governed by hotspot settings. The talkgroup number acts as a filter to permit only the desired members of that group to be heard on your radio ( a simplified description to be sure)

In order to listen to the local DMR system near you, you will have to obtain and program the frequencies, color code and timeslots of the nearby system into your radio on a different channel or channels. This can be done easily enough if the nearby system is not trunked. If it is, this will complicate matters as the Anytone 878 is not a trunking radio. I mentioned placing the nearby system in a different zone on you radio only as a means to separate this system from the hotspot system solely as a means of organization. The channels can be in the same zone if you'd like.

I hope this clears things up but feel free ask further questions of needed.

 

[TimInMN]

Thank you. Yes, that did clear it up. I started to realize that after I posted my last post. Did a little more digging into the pi-star configuration. I guess the main thing is that you have to "Join" a server before you have any hopes of connecting to one. I can pick up this server on my scanner and I guess that's all I really need to do.

 

[bharvey2]

Thank you. Yes, that did clear it up. I started to realize that after I posted my last post. Did a little more digging into the pi-star configuration. I guess the main thing is that you have to "Join" a server before you have any hopes of connecting to one. I can pick up this server on my scanner and I guess that's all I really need to do.

You'd only be joining a server while using employing your hotspot. In most cases, such as if you were communicating through a typical ham DMR repeater, you're justing programming up one or more channels. If you can pick up the local system on your scanner, can you determine if the talkgroup is always transmitting on the same frequency? If it is, you may be able to program up a receive channel on your Anytone to monitor it. If it seems to move between frequencies, more than likely, you're monitoring a trunked system and that will be hard to do with your Anytone. Always fun to try though.