DMR in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club

Presented by Anthony Marcin, W7XM

Sponsored by 12VoltPower.com

Revised: 02/27/2025

TODAY’S

DISCUSSION

• Brief Overview of DMR
• Basic DMR Terminology
• Getting on the Air
• Accessing the Network
• Systems in Las Vegas

TOPICS �TO �COVER

What is DMR?

• Digital Mobile Radio
• Digital Voice Communications
• European Telecommunications Standards Institute
• Goal:create digital systems that are:
• Low Cost
• Low Complexity
• Interoperability between Vendors

DMR Standard

Protocol

Air Interface Between Radios

TDMA

2-Slot Time Domain Multiple Access

12.5kHz

Narrow Bandwidth

4FSK

Digital Modulation

AMBE Vocoder

AMBE +2

Error Correction

Forward Error Correction

Tiers

Tier I

Tier II

Consumer, license-free typically usage. European use.

Tier III

Licensed Conventional Radio systems. Two Slot TDMA, 12.5 kHz channels

Trunking operations, voice data support.

• It’s Digital
• 2 Channels through a Single Repeater
• Improved Audio Performance over Analog
• Efficient Use of Radio Spectrum
• Longer Battery Life vs Analog
• SMS (Text Messaging)
• GPS Capabilities
• Many Manufacturers of Radios

DMR Features

Improved Voice Performance

Efficient Use of Radio Spectrum

12.5kHz

25kHz

12.5kHz

Provides 4x as Many Voice Conversations Using the Same Spectrum as One FM Repeater @25kHz

• DMR (FSK/TDMA) - AMBE+2
• System Fusion (FSK, FDMA) - AMBE+2
• DSTAR (GMSK) - AMBE
• M17 (FSK, FDMA) - Codec 2
• P25 - AMBE+2
• NXDN - (FSK, FDMA/TDMA) - AMBE+2
• TETRA (Europe) - AMBE+2

Digital Systems

Longer Battery Life

• Upwards of 40 percent in talk time compared to analog radios�
• Radio Transmits half the time due to TDMA (30ms, On-off)

DMR vs Analog

Slot 1

Slot 2

Slot 1

Slot 2

Slot 1

Slot 2

30ms

30ms

30ms

30ms

30ms

30ms

1 Voice Channel

Analog Repeater

DMR Repeater

2 Voice Channels

30-ms window per slot, 27.5-ms frame and 2.5-ms gap = 60ms

DMR

Terminology

Virtual Channel by Topic, Region

Talk Group

Color Code

Radio ID

Timeslot

CPS

Zones

Slot 1 or Slot 2 - interval of data

Access ID (1-15) - Like a PL Tone

Unique ID assigned to Call Sign

Customer Programming Software

Grouping of Individual Channels

Getting on the Air

• Request a Radio ID (https://radioid.net)
• Get a DMR Radio
• Program your DMR Radio
• Code Plugs from Friends, Groups, Etc.

Getting on the Air

• Radios Must have an ID
• Voice ID Every 10 Minutes
• Pause, Pause, Pause
• Parrot, Web Monitor Available

12VoltPower.com | Ham Radio Outlet | GigaParts

DX Engineering

Radio Options

Hotspots

Zum Radio: HamRadio.com

DVMega:�GigaParts.com

OpenSpot 4 | M1KE:�sharkrf.com

MMDVM Boards:

N5BOC.com

Computer

DVStick 30: GigaParts

BlueDV:�http://www.pa7lim.nl/bluedv-windows

Repeaters

Repeaters in Vegas

• Angel - WB6TNP 448.925 - 15 CB
• Potosi - KB6XN 449.975 - 15 BM
• Potosi - KB6XN 146.790 - 15 BM
• Las Vegas - N7YOR 446.625 - 15 BM
• Las Vegas - N5VAE 446.950 - 1 BM
• Red Mtn - NX7R - 449.6250 - 15 BM

Finding Repeaters

• https://lvrac.org -> Repeaters List
• https://RadioID.net
• https://RepeaterBook.com
• https://BrandMeister.network
• Groups/Clubs

Web Listening

Hose.BrandMeister.Network

Talk Groups

Virtual Channel - Topic, Region Based

Finding talk groups on the Repeater Profile or Group website.

​

Slot 1 - Out of Area Talk Groups

Slot 2 - Local Talk Groups

Talk Groups

Common Talk Groups in Nevada

3132 - Nevada - Statewide

31321 - TAC Channel

31324 - Eastern Nevada

31325 - HXO

31327 - Las Vegas

31328 - SNARS (Reno/Tahoe)

​

Talk Groups

Notable Talk Groups

3100 - USA Bridge Nationwide

91 - World Wide

93 - North America

973 - SOTA

3181 - POTA

918 - YOTA

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DMR Networks

• BrandMeister.network (Largest 45 +)
• CBridge Systems - (DMR ONLY)
• IPSC2 / DMR+
• HBLINK (FreeDMR/FreeStar)
• XLX Multiprotocol Gateway Reflector
• TGIF (Single Server)

Questions?

Contact

Radio: TG3132 | TG31327 | TG31328

Telegram: @w7xm_nv

Discord: w7xm_nv

Email: w7xm@w7xm.com

Phone: 702.984.9589

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