A simple, non-technical overview DMR / Digital Voice Repeaters 

Wow, that is a great compliment. Thank you!

It took me months on my own to figure this all out. I asked other hams and they could not give me a clear explanation on the differences. This was just one of the reasons I've done these videos. You would think someone would make it simple to understand but then again.... thanks for your encouragement!!

Great to hear! Let me know with what you went with.

Glad you think so! Check all the other videos on my channel. It is following my learning curve in Ham Radio. As I learn something new, I make a video. Have fun!!

Great catch and thanks for posting my mistake. It won't be the last one 🙂

Good choice since I have both too! I recently set up my AT-587 as both a local (private) repeater for analog and digital. I now can use my AT-878 back to my AT-578 as my own repeater. Let me know if you are interested in knowing more about this. Love my Anytones!!

@@hamradiomadesimple That's interesting. That would be a good video IMO.

@@thebnbaldwin Bridgecom did one but did not explain it clearly. If you have questions email me at HamRadioMadeSimple@gmail.com: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iWVJnGThduA.html Shows you how to set it up in Repeater Mode. Not in Digital but I figured it out. Key to understanding this is that once you enable Repeater Mode, it locks all the buttons. So, you have to have it set to the right Frequency / Repeater Setup THEN enable the Repeater Mode function. I programmed the P6 Short Press Button to turn on and off the Repeater Mode.

Thanks for letting me know!

Wow, thanks for taking the time to post this. Yep, down the road from me. Thank him for serving our country!! Your e-mail - Roll Tide??

I hope this is helping you be more proficient with Ham Radio and cutting down your learning curve time. That is what I've been trying to do with this channel. Thanks for taking the time to post this.

Watched a bunch of the videos last night. They were all great. Just got my license and bought the Anytone 578 and 878.

I have both so great choice. How are you on learning the software to program them?

@@hamradiomadesimple I programmed a few analog channels so far and have just been listening. Just installed the antenna and power cord for the mobile. I ran into an issue programming the 878. My speaking on the radio stopped working. I tried reloading the code plug and resetting the radio. Sending the radio back to be swapped out. It only works with an external speaker/mic. The radio is only a week old.

You are most welcome. Keep learning then practice what you learn. Easy to forget this stuff if you don't use it.

Send me the Repeaters Call Sign and I will look it up on Repeater Book.

@@hamradiomadesimple W4FTK 443.8000. +5 MHz DCS 315

Did the Squelch setting fix your issue?

I purchased the ICOM program kit and it worked like a champ. I still don’t know what I was doing wrong. All I know is it works now.

Document what you do right on anything going forward. As you add more apps / software, it is easy to forget key settings. I do this for everything including each radio. Glad to hear that you up and running.

You are spot on. It took me weeks to get my brain wrapped around this. I even asked seasoned Hammers and they could not explain it to me. I hope this helps you. If not, reach out and let's get on the phone to talk through. You will find some strong opinions on what system is the best (Fusion, DStar, Open). Bottom line, it is what TYPE of repeaters you can have access based on your HT Manufacture AND if you are trying to go through a Node / Gateway (Internet Connected) in order to gain access to other repeaters, rooms (chat rooms) etc. Let me know if I was able to make this simple enough to understand!!

@@hamradiomadesimple I'm gonna sleep on how to respond . In brief: yes, your video was immensely insightful . thanks for doing it, truly. I think the larger problems with the DMR (and amateur radio tbh) are a bit of a paradox : while multifaceted it's also simple. People want to know how to use the tech, but they also want to know how to do stuff with it and expand the landscape (without the school-crossing-guard, pitchfork-wielding, gatekeeping amateur radio mafia . Now, what could-be vs what will-be is a massive hypothetical at this point (Arduino, etc). Maybe we need to step away from the brand that is DMR and look at it from a different vantage point. Many of us thought this was some turnkey stuff; instead we got unassembled wobbly Ikea furniture with bamboo wrenches and a manual writen in ancient Aramaic. I realize there are a lot of moving parts to this space and backwards compatibility for analog and digital operators is a double-edged sword at this point which will either make or break its future (e.g. digital data modes). Once we figure out how to open this space I think we could see some phenomenal tech come out of it. Radio-based authentication challenge-response mechanisms, and so on and so forth. Sky's the limit. Unfortunately, if we look at where Arduino matured unless measuring the moisture levels of your pet cactus is your jam, there isn't a whole lot of stuff which manifested itself from that space, so who knows what will transpire from all of this. Give people a way to easily hook up these radios to their mobile devices or computers and do some dope stuff using their data and we might start seeing a new dawn. Alright, I obviously went way off course with this. Yes, thanks a million for doing this. I think what people really want to know is how to do stuff with this tech. DMR's future is dead-in-the-water unless its space is re-designed. But hey, that's just my opinion. I hope to god that I'm so wrong about everything I just said . Have a great evening/weekend. Whoever comes up with to bridge these to 2.4Ghz and a powered web server or mobile device and we're talking major potential. Man, the marketing brochures for these devices were sweet, tho! Take care!

@@Callmedstone GREAT INSIGHT and love your analysis! It is a mess and something better needs to come along. I agree with so much you that have stated. I don't hold out hope for something better and if it does come down the pike, I bet it cost an arm and a leg!

@@hamradiomadesimple Thanks. Since last posting I watched some of your other videos. You're one of the first instructors I've seen in this space which didn't make me want to throw my ipad through a window. You have some serious instructional chops. I'm not sure new tech (though it is a vendor-driven economy; so who knows) would have to cost more. At the end of the day, a sub-$100 wireless router is more complex than a digital handheld radio. I'd love to see that kind of wizardry we see in other industries (e.g. cellular bonding -- used in broadcast applications) applied to radio. Thanks for taking the time to respond (and acknowledging my unparalleled genius) as well as for taking the time to put these videos on youtube; something which I am certain many will find useful. have a great weekend.

@@Callmedstone Again, thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate others (like you) who can recognize the elephant in the room and state it CLEARLY!! Keep posting insights and hopefully others will benefit from your knowledge and wisdom like I have!! God Bless my friend!!

Totally agree with you!!! Finally someone who stated what I have felt for a long time. It doesn't have to be so complicated but unfortunately, the manufactures made it that way. When I was first learning all this stuff, I asked a well respected ham radio mentor some questions and he did not know the answers. I knew I was in trouble!! I had to spend many hours trying to figure all this out. Hopefully it makes sense in the videos. Stay safe my friend in the UK!!