Trials & Errors #63 (8/10/25): A Digital Radio Plug 'n Play Experience

This is the forum for discussing all things digital and whether or not they fit the definition of "radio." Dave (W7DGJ) had an interesting startup experience with DMR, and it is related in this new chapter of Trials and Errors. Please join our forum discussion to talk about DMR or any of the digital voice modes. Was it easy for you to get up and running? What are the differences you found in day-to-day operating in that mode? And most importantly, how do you answer the question, "Is it really radio?"

 

Hmmmmm, maybe try sending/receiving CW? There is no need for a screen, no keyboard necessary, no flashing lights, and no glitter, just communication controlled by your hand and wrist, translated using the brain, perhaps a pencil and piece of paper, and very simple equipment that even the poorest ham can afford.

 

Thanks Mike. CW is the "original digital mode," right? Thanks for the reminder. DMR isn't too expensive, though. If you have a DMR repeater near by, just the $200 HT from Anytone and you're on your way. Yes, more expensive than a Baofeng, but in the great scheme of things, not bad. Dave, W7DGJ

 

Someone recently suggested this analogy and I should have put it into the article. . . For us "old timers" out there, do you remember what it was to call into a "Party Line" telephone number? You could dial in and there would be dozens of people there, all having something to say and trying to engage in conversations. People listening in to everything you said, others jumping in with comments, and so on. Well, the "Party Line" is much like the sound of DMR on a busy talk group (like Brandmeister TG-91). Hams are very polite and forgiving. Occasionally, you get a couple of big talkers who just won't move aside until they've discussed every aspect of their radio shack, or every game of their favorite team, but for the most part people who want to really ragchew can move aside to another TG. It's fun to monitor the TG and you can do so without investing a dime, by hitting up the URL I provided in the article for Brandmeister's "Hoseline." Dave, W7DGJ

 

And yet you are posting this here, likely using something more powerful than a Cray-1 supercomputer, plus a keyboard, pointing device, and high resolution monitor. Posting to qrz.com, instead of putting pencil to paper and taking a letter to the editor to the post office, which the poorest who can't afford a computer can still do. Operating amateur radio has followed a similar path of using technology far more advanced than using spark and coherers for RF comms. You still get to use your hand and wrist on the mouse or touchpad of some mobile device to operate a digital mode such as CW or something more modern.

 

Great analogy Ron, Dave

 

I can't say that I've ever used a spark set up, but I do use a bug, single paddle, and straight key, and it would be nice to learn to use a cootie key one of these days. Obviously, I do use a computer, but it's not my life, anymore than a cell phone.

CW is an acquired personal skill, much like playing a musical instrument, or writing a fine letter. But once proficient, no one can take it away from where that skill is lodged in the brain. That can't be said of ever changing ham radio technology, which of course has its place, but is transient in nature.

So, go have your fun with technology, and I'll keep enjoying a personal CW chat, perhaps with an op who just added another bug to his collection, or a blind ham, a new CW op patiently improving his sending /receiving, a 40 m bug net, a juvenile op who just got on the air, a /M CW, or even a /MM station. Like fishing, 'ya never know what you are going to get when you call CQ. You are welcome to join the fun anytime.

WA6JJM

 

Thanks Mike. You might enjoy this article I wrote about dangling that fishin' pole into the ether . . . Dave https://www.qrz.com/articles/node_1671146116

 

I don't mind using modern tech. It's generally easy and effective unless another Carrington event happens. Then Code proficiency and tubes could be the only thing that remains operational

 

MY story with digital? D-Star was very easy indeed, with and without a hotspot. I barely needed to read the instructions.

DMR was that different story. My attitude was, "Did D-Star; this will be easy!" 'Twarn't so. I got a DMR handheld, a decent one (but not top of the line like the Anythone 878), a Radioddity GD-88 (Kydera 880), and had at it, and failed. I set the radio aside for almost a year. I could have gotten one of the DMR gurus here to help, but didn't want that. I wanted to learn it myself from the ground up. No borrowed code plugs.

I am now happily on the mode. How did I do it? I got the simplest radio with the simplest CPS software I could find, a Baofeng DM-32. I'd leave hotspots out of the mix; just get on the local DMR repeater network at first. But before getting started with another radio, I sat down and cracked the books. Not concerning any radio, but concerning the DMR system itself. The secret was knowing how the system works, and more than anything else, what a few simple (but poorly named) things are: color, zone, contact, time slot. When I actually understood those things, writing a code plug was the proverbial duck soup. When I got confused, I referred to a little e-book Radioddity had sent me with the radio I bought from them, Getting on the Air with Your New DMR Radio. I don't know who wrote it, but it is done in a clear and conversational manner and it helped. A tip 'o the W4NNF derby to Radioddity!

the final impediment was that I had lost confidence in my ability to get DMR working--I wasn't sure I could do it. What a relief it was the morning I pushed the PTT and had an OM come right back to me!

Then, I went on to get my "good" radio working, which seemed strangely easy. I still haven't set the hotspot up and may not. It turns out that I'm having fun "just" working the local fellers on the repeaters. I rarely use the D-Star Reflectors, and the idea of Talkgroups just didn't light my fire either, so maybe that was another reason it took me so long to get my radio working. Anyhoo, I'm happily using both the Baofeng and the Radioddity. The Radioddity is a much more complicated and feature rich HT, and I think that was part of my original problem.

In retrospect I'm glad I held out and DID IT MY WAY when I was ready. What's kinda sad is the OMs and YLs who got a code plug from somebody and are now afraid to change it, even to add channels, because they might break it.

 

There isn't one way to do ham radio, and I do not worry at all about how somebody else enjoys it. I happily go from working 20 CW with my McElroy to chatting on the local DMR network, OM, and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Thanks Rod! Another interesting digital radio startup story. It's nice to know that there are some inexpensive radios out there that feature DMR and which, from your experience, seem to work well. I've used both the hotspot and repeaters and agree with you that either is fun. It's clear communication at its finest! I don't know why DMR is so complicated . . . I bought the code plug (programming) but I am certainly not afraid to adapt/modify or add stuff via the programming interface. I'm a Mac user, which means I'd need to load a program on top of Mac called Parallels, but that gives me a perfect copy of Windows 11 and that should work fine. Still early on my DMR journey, but it's a barrel of fun, for sure. Dave, W7DGJ

 

Good article! Nuttin' wrong with QRP, although it can be a little hard on the ears at the receiving end at times. When you find that the 579 station from across the country is only running 5 watts, QRP can be a big pleasant surprise! With a good antenna, I prefer a minimum of 25 to 50 or so watts. The old Ten Tec Century series, the Viking Adventurer, etc., are proof that a lot can be done/fun with lower power. The CW Academy sounds like a great way to improve CW skills. I'm sure that even this old goat could learn a lot from it.
Best 73,
WA6JJM

 

Well, Rod, you must be a REAL ham radio operator then, and not one of them digital wannabe's! Dave, W7DGJ

 

Hi Mike, I'm sure you'd like the CW Academy. Really helped me. There's also the Long Island CW Club organization, and while they aren't as welcoming, they're also a fine bunch of hams. Dave, W7DGJ