Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Anytone AT D578U, Tri-Band Mobile DMR Ham Radio Review

Last year Josh KI6NAZ posted a great review of the Anytone D578, probably the hottest DMR mobile unit on the market today. He covers how it performs on analog and digital, across the bands.

If you are considering picking up this radio with your sweet stimulus check, this is worth a watch.



Monday, March 29, 2021

Net Report 29-MAR-2021

 Great net as usual.

Call SignName
N8YUIRandy
N8VOXAnthony M
KD8VJDAllan G
N8RMADustin A
N4ALKAllan L
N8YADBenjamin R
WA3TUURichard E
KD8KBHPhilip
N8HEEJeff
KC8WVZJohn
N4KAJAnna
KE8FJWBrad
KD8NPVJeff
N4BYURoy
N6WYDavid J
WB8HSBruce

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Guide to Understanding Static & Dynamic Talkgroups

Some of the most common questions I see posted here are regarding dynamic & static talkgoups, and what that means for actually operating your DMR radio. It's a concept us old grizzled DMR veterans know so well, yet we don't often stop to think about the new operator trying to understand an unfamiliar concept within the mode and hobby.


I will attempt to break down these concepts and place them into real world scenarios, in the hopes that future operators can read and understand how they work. I am not a DMR expert, but I am a big fan with some decent experience in the mode and some great teachers.


About me - I own and operate a DMR repeater in the state of Michigan, a Motorola XPR8300 running on UHF. I'm one of the NCS for the MichiganONE Statewide DMR Net and have a dozen or so DMR radios. I've had the pleasure of traveling around the state to give presentations on DMR and why it's the best mode in amateur radio hands down.

Monday, March 22, 2021

Net Report 22-MAR-2021

 

Call SignName
N8RMADustin A
KD8KBHPhilip
N8HEEJeff
KD8GTXMichael F
WA3TUURichard E
N4ALKAllan L
WQ8AJames
N8VOXAnthony M
N8YUIRandy
KD8VJDAllan G
KE8GRYEric P
N6WYDavid J
K8NCHNEALE
KC8WVZJohn
KE8FJWBrad

Friday, March 19, 2021

New testing talkgroup for BrandMeister!

 

From Oliver F4BWG:

There is now a dedicated international talkgroup on BrandMeister for all your tests: TALKGROUP 98.

You can test the audio on your new radio or software as many times as you want, for as long as you want, without worrying to disrupt a QSO.

If you like helping fellow digital ham operators, please stand-by on this talkgroup whenever you can to provide assistance and feedback.

73’s and happy tests on talkgroup 98!

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Two ways of creating a "local talkgroup" for a BrandMeister DMR repeater

 

Oliver F4BWG has a great write-up on a few strategies to create a local talkgroup for your repeater. The two methods he outlines should cover any use case you might have.

We have used option #2 for the local Kalamazoo repeater (KM8CC) and it's worked out fairly well. It allows a local TG to be accessible by the network, which is perfect for snowbirds or those who have hotspots but who cannot quite hit the repeater.

BrandMeister DMR repeater sysops: how to create a “local talkgroup” on your repeater


Monday, March 15, 2021

Net Report 15-MAR-2021

 Great net tonight - we were one check-in shy of breaking the record!

Call SignName
N8YUIRANDY
N8RMADUSTIN
KD8KBHPHIL
N8HEEJEFF
N8YADBen
KD8GTXMIKE
KD8VJDALLAN
N4ALKALLAN
W8EOEd
WA3TUURichard
KE8QGXChris
K8PDPAUL
KE8FJWBRAD
KE8PPBMike
N8LNUReza
VE3SBDavid
KR8UDennis
N8TJGTodd
KC8AFWKevin
kd8npvJeff
aa8rkRalph
WA6WVSergio
KC8WVZJohn

Monday, March 8, 2021

Net Report 8-MAR-2021

Tonight the BrandMeister network seemed to have other ideas for the net - lots of network and latency issues this evening. A huge thank you to everyone who stuck it out to make it a great net.

Call SignName
N8RMADUSTIN
WB8HSBRUCE
N8HEEJEFF
N4ALKALLAN
N8YUIRANDY
WQ8AJames
N8LNUReza
W8EOEd
KD8VJDALLAN
KD8GTXMIKE
WA3TUURichard
KD8KBHPHIL
KE8FJWBRAD
N8YADBEN
W9BCDCHAD
N6WYDave
N8TJGTodd
N8GYTOM
KE8QZUNEALE

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Warrantless Search Of Ham Radio Operators? No Fourth Amendment Rights?

KI6NAZ has an interesting video on the topic of government searches as it relates to ham radio.

Does being a duly registered amateur operator mean we forfeit search & seizure protections?

Monday, March 1, 2021

Net Report 1-MAR-2021

 Congratulation to N4ALK on getting his extra upgrade!


Call SignName
N8YUIRANDY
KD8KBHPHIL
WD8CRQARMIN
N8RMADUSTIN
N8RAWMICHAEL
WD6ZJHKEVIN
KD8GTXMIKE
WQ8AJames
KD8VJDALLAN
N4ALKALLAN
N8LNUReza
N8TJGTodd
KE8GRYERIC
WA6WVSergio
WA3TUURichard
N6WYDave