New ham - trying not to enrage the brandmeister moderators by accident

[KE9BXE]

So I just got my DMR hotspot set up and I’m making contacts on brandmeister. I thought everything was going well?

I started seeing posts/complaints that brandmeister is banning/censuring people that use servers outside their country?

I want to make sure I understand proper etiquette. If I live in the USA, do I set my server to the 3100 USA Bridge for all purposes, then simply select the talk groups around the world? Presently, I’ve been connecting to the foreign server to then use the foreign talk group but I’m now wondering if I’m running afoul of proper practice.

Thank you for your advice. I don’t want to violate “band plan” protocol so once I learn the right way, I’ll reprogram to conform to the rules.

 

[lviper]

Yes, since you are in the US, use any of the USA servers. Then you can connect to any talkgroup you wish.

 

[KF6DGN]

If you’re located in the US pick the server closest to your location. (Best practice) you can use any server, even outside the states:

3102	3102.repeater.net	74.91.114.19	Dallas, Texas
3103	3103.repeater.net	74.91.118.251	San Jose, California
3104	3104.repeater.net	162.248.88.117	Chicago, Illinois

United States of America - BrandMeister

wiki.brandmeister.network

3100 Talk Group is US nationwide, just one of many talk groups. You can connect to any Brandmister server and go to any of the hundreds of talk groups.

Brandmister has time limits on the state wide talk groups, 3112 Florida for example. They also frown upon free speech, so be careful what you talk about.

I prefer the TGIF DMR system. A lot easier to use, no one restricts what you say and they allow connections to other systems. Free Speech 2021 is a great TG on TGIF. Another group is DroidStar 1717, they also talk about hotspots, open spots etc.

In summary, Brandmister stuffy, full of rules and will kick you off the system. TGIF, fun, easy to use, and a great group of people running it. There are other DMR systems too, AmComm, FreeStar, explore all of them!

Welcome to DMR.

TGIF Network

TGIF Network

tgif.network

AmCommm DMR Wiki

Get connected and join us today

www.amcomm.network

235 Alive - useful links

This wonderful collection of amateur radio-related links has been compiled and is maintained by Ken, M1DYP.

www.235alive.com

On 235 scroll down to DMR section

 

[k6cpo]

There are alternatives to Brandmeister and DMR...

 

[AC5A]

AmComm Network is far more superior and friendlier than BM.

 

[kayn1n32008]

There are alternatives to Brandmeister and DMR...

The local, stand alone, P25 repeater I use comes to mind.

 

[K9KLC]

The local, stand alone, P25 repeater I use comes to mind.

What? You use Digital modes without the internet??? Wow who'd a thunk it. (sorry couldn't resist). D*, DMR, and C4FM simplex used here too. 73

 

[kayn1n32008]

What? You use Digital modes without the internet??? Wow who'd a thunk it. (sorry couldn't resist). D*, DMR, and C4FM simplex used here too. 73

I know right? Its amazing. Using digital modes and not having it connected to everything else is nice.

 

[K9KLC]

I know right? Its amazing. Using digital modes and not having it connected to everything else is nice.

Yep almost every day I use one or the other. Sometimes all of them depending who's on the air.

 

[kayn1n32008]

So I just got my DMR hotspot set up and I’m making contacts on brandmeister. I thought everything was going well?

I started seeing posts/complaints that brandmeister is banning/censuring people that use servers outside their country?

I want to make sure I understand proper etiquette. If I live in the USA, do I set my server to the 3100 USA Bridge for all purposes, then simply select the talk groups around the world? Presently, I’ve been connecting to the foreign server to then use the foreign talk group but I’m now wondering if I’m running afoul of proper practice.

Thank you for your advice. I don’t want to violate “band plan” protocol so once I learn the right way, I’ll reprogram to conform to the rules.

Honestly, once you get over the novelty if these huge networks and you don't talk to someone regularly via a linked, wide area talkgroup, it wears off quickly. I've found it tends to be infested with poor operators, lousy audio(I have used properly set up LMR DMR and P25 networks with vendor locked subscribers that sound great.)

The ham DMR networks suck for audio. This is mostly due to hams buying the bottom of the barrel, garbage radios and also having no clue how to set up their audio settings.

I ended up removing majority of the linked, wide area talkgroups. Living in Alberta, I keep 3026(Alberta), 302(Canada) and local for both Brandmiester and DMR-MARC. I no longer have any of the TAC, NA, or WW talkgroups. I found them to be cesspools of lousy audio and operators that have little regard to others.