The watchword for October was DMR…. Basically a continuation of my exploration of this up and coming digital mode. I’ve added a couple of new DMR radios to my collection, sold a couple and traded a couple….. All the updates on various models can be found on my website (www.nf9k.net). If you have any questions surrounding a particular radio that I’ve worked with, please reach out and I’ll be happy to answer any questions that I can. I’m also happy to provide a sample code plug to get you started.
The culmination of October was my acquisition of a new XPR8400 DMR repeater. I’m currently exploring a couple of different options for sites around Indianapolis, but for now, it’s running from my QTH along with my 70cm and 33cm analog machines.
Since we have one high-profile DMR machine here in Indy already, it made very little sense to offer the exact same options, so in the spirit of our hobby and experimentation, I’m doing things a little different.
As mentioned last month, DMR offers up two time slots allowing two simultaneous QSO’s at a time. I’m going to leave my second time slot (TS2) connected to the DMR-MARC network, so initially it will be offering the same talkgroups:
Local, TG #2
IN Statewide, TG #3118
Midwest, TG #3169
Randy (WB9VLE), Dave (N9CZV) and I have a vision for a true statewide talkgroup that does not have contention for a time slot like the current setup. With the current setup, anyone talking on Local or Midwest will busy out the time slot and make TS2 unavailable resulting in a, “Bonk” if you try to key up statewide.
As we move forward over the next few weeks/months, we’ll be rolling out our statewide talkgroup on TS2.
My time slot 1 (TS1) will not be network via DMR-MARC and will instead be joined up with my two analog machines as well as those of Ed (K3HTK) in Noblesville via the W9ICE IRLP Reflector #9737. I will be offering a single talkgroup on this time slot:
Metro Indy, TG #6395
Info for my new DMR machine:
441.025+, Color Code 1, with the above listed talkgroups. The IRLP link is not in place yet as I’m waiting on the link radio and the IRLP board, but I expect them this week.
As proof that DMR is growing: On October 29th, 2014 the 10,000th DMR Radio ID was issued to Blane Wilson (K3LYE) of Jacksonville, FL.
I also received an email from a Ham in Richmond, IN (Howard, W6IDS), who is getting into experimenting with the Broadband HamNet solution. Ed (K3HTK) and I have worked with the Broadband Hamnet stuff and continue to play around as time permits. We’re currently listed as the Broadband Hamnet Elmers for Indiana. Howard’s questions were around how to flash his router with the new image as well as a primer in how the network routing functioned.
Lots of stuff going on and it’s been a lot of fun so far!
