1. DMR: A NEW MODE FOR AMATEUR DIGITAL RADIO
DMR – Digital Mobile Radio a new standard for amateur radio
David Andrews, N1ESK, West River Radio Club
10 Feb 2016 CCDX, Keene, NH

2. K1KU sends his regards…
Darrel Daley, Putney’s aging, but still Premier Pontificating Pundit, could not make it. He just received his new portable radio and is busy testing it out..

3. Analog Repeaters Expensive Not Spectrum Efficient Static – Not Nimble
Standalone repeaters
Difficult to Link for Wide Area coverage
Expensive
Not Spectrum Efficient
Static – Not Nimble
Who Knows the Codes??
Who Really Knows What is Linked to What??

4. Digital Mobile Radio An ETSI published worldwide standard
Over a DOZEN manufacturers of radios (Connect Sysems,Tytera, Vertex, Motorola, Kenwood and Alinco)
Superior voice quality (AMBE+2) vs older digital modes (AMBE, IMBE, GMSK)
Longer battery life! Automatic Roaming!
Supports multiple talk groups on one freq.
Supports data applications (txt, ,gps)

5. Time For a Few Definitions
ETSI – European Telecommunications Standards Institute
Vocoder – A category of voice codec that analyzes and synthesizes the human voice signal for audio data compression multiplexing, voice encryption, voice transmission, etc.

6. Vocoder Progression AMBE (D-Star, Inmarsat, Iridium, XM Radio)
IMBE (P-25 Phase 1)
AMBE+2 (P-25 Phase 2, Fusion, DMR)

7. Modulation Schemes GMSK – Gaussian minimum shift keying D-Star
FDMA – Frequency division multiple access
System Fusion / P25 Phase 1
TDMA – time division multiple access
P-25 Phase 2 / DMR

8. DMR Association Equipment Mfg Members

9. DMR Standard-ETSI TS 102 361 Tier 1 (Unlicensed) Tier 2 (Conventional)
FDMA, Consumer applications, .5 watt
dPMR (446 MHz European unlicensed service)
Tier 2 (Conventional)
2-slot TDMA
IP Site Connect (Vendor specific)
Tier 3 (Trunked)
Multi-channel, Multi-Site

10. Amateur Digital Voice Systems
D-STAR (Icom)
GMSK/AMBE Vocoder
P25 Phase 1 (Multi-Vendor)
FDMA/IMBE Vocoder
P25 Phase 2 (Multi-Vendor)
2-slot TDMA/AMBE+2 Vocoder
System Fusion (Yaesu)
FDMA/C4FM/AMBE+2 Vocoder
DMR (Multi-Vendor)

11. TWO Repeaters in One! Lower infrastructure cost, 1 box in rack]
You save on antenna networks or combining systems by having 2 repeaters in one box with one antenna.
Lower infrastructure cost, 1 box in rack
TWO voice/data channels from one repeater

12. Half the Channel Bandwidth
16K0F3E
7K60FXE fc fc fc
fc – 6.25 fc fc
Traditional Analog
25 kHz
Channel Bandwidth
1 Channel
1 Repeater
DMR
12.5 kHz
Channel Bandwidth
2 Channels
1 Repeater

13. More Spectrum Efficient than Older Digital Modes
Two 6.25 KHz repeaters (like D-Star) need Guard Bands between them if located near each other to co-exist without interference, thus taking more spectrum! The actual FCC emission designator for DMR is actually 7K6 or 7.6 KHz Bandwidth.
fc – 11.25 fc fc fc fc fc
Guard Band
as large as 10 kHz
between channels
Total BW= 22.5 kHz
No Guard Band
between 2
channels
Total BW= 12.5 kHz

14. Better Signal Quality No hiss, popping, or static
Better RF range than older digital technologies
Forward Error Correction and Cyclic Redundancy Check coders

15. So What Does It Sound Like?
TG 9998 (more to come on this in a few minutes) is a Parrot Channel, used for testing systems and radios. You transmit to the parrot server, and it time delay repeats your audio.

16. Better Audio Quality
Listen for yourself. DMR does sound better than older digital technologies.

17. How about a real conversation?
Short QSO with K9VO outside Chicago, using TAC310

19. Longer Battery Life Older Digital Modes (FDMA) DMR (TDMA)
“For each hour of usage the TDMA radios show between 19% and 34% less battery capacity is required than for the FDMA models.”
“40 percent improvement in talk time in comparison with analog radios “

20. Data and Voice at the Same Time
Slot 1 Voice
Slot 2 GPS Location
(or second channel voice when not sending GPS data)
Give your location WHILE talking!

21. IP Site Connect 1 or 2 slots (channels)
Link statewide/regionwide systems
Peer
Peer
Bridging
Hardware
Peer
Peer
Master
Master
Peer
Master
Peer

22. IP Site Connect A peer can participate with one or both time-slots
Peers register with the Master
Master keeps peers informed about other peers
Master/Peers function as a fully meshed network for voice and data traffic
If the Master fails, the full mesh network continues to operate, but new peers can not join nor are changes announced
A third-party bridge (c-Bridge or SmartPTT) is used to interconnect IP Site Connect networks

23. c-Bridges Links master repeaters (groups of 15-20), and bridges
Mfrs: Rayfield Communications, TL-Net
Provides arbritration. If two users key up simultaneously, one gets denied and immediately is notified to prevent dual transmissions.
C-Bridges and SmartPTT devices offer methods of bridging and patching repeaters, time slots and talk groups.

24. C-Bridge

25. New England Digital Networks
DMR-MARC
EWARN
MIT
HYTERA

28. Dynamic Mixed Mode: First in – First Out
Analog
Analog OR
Slot 1 TDMA
Slot 1 TDMA
Slot 2 TDMA
Slot 2 TDMA
Repeater dynamically detects the type of input
IP site connect is supported on digital modes
This is an option for a phased migration from analog to networked DMR repeaters.

29. Free Text Messaging Send to one person, or a group of people.
- Weather Alerts
- Club Meetings
- Announcements

30. Motorola Amateur Radio Clubs and other private repeater owners
500+ site network in 47countries
Also bridged to other networks DCI, NorCal, AZ, NC, MI, KS, CO and Texas DMR networks
100% Pure Digital
More than 24,000 registered users
To register or learn more

31. Go to Google Networks Map
DMR-MARC Networked Repeaters
(use group call ID 1 on slot 1) Click on city for coverage maps. green=portable and blue=mobile                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Go to Google Networks Map
More than 80 repeater sites in New England and growing fast!

32. Local DMR Repeaters VT – Brattleboro WR1VT 444.400
VT – Mt. Ascutney W1UWS
VT – Pico W1IMD
NH – Hudson K1MOT
NH - Hudson K1MOT
NH – Derry K1QVC
NH - Chester K1OX
NH - Manchester W1RCF
NH - Goffstown N1PA
NH - Bow K1OX
More sites are planned!

33. New England and Maritimes
Recent Network Expansions
Fredericton, NB
Moncton, NB
St. John, NB
Calais, ME
Bangor, ME
Augusta, ME
Mt. Ascutney, VT
Pico Peak, VT
Keene, NH coming soon!
More sites welcome!

35. Amateur DMR is Trending
Jan 2013 = 2511 Users

36. Amateur DMR is Trending
Jan 2013 = 2511 Users
Jan 2014 = 4618 Users

37. Amateur DMR is Trending
Jan 2013 = 2511 Users
Jan 2014 = 4618 Users
Jan = 9802 Users

38. Amateur DMR is Trending
Jan 2013 = 2511 Users
Jan 2014 = 4618 Users
Jan = 9802 Users
Jan = 24,388 Users
This past year, a 149% increase. Primarily fueled by the competition among radio manufacturers and features offered.

39. Customer Programming SW
CPS is a windows program for loading channels and features into your radio.

40. XPR4550 Mobile
Here is a typical Motorola mobile radio.

41. MD782 mobile
Here is a typical Hytera mobile radio.

42. DMR Radios

43. SL+XPR7550 Portables
Here is are typical Motorola portable radios.

44. PD782 portable
Here is a typical Hytera portable radio.

45. MTR w.Repeater
This is a high tier 100 watt repeater

46. XPR w. Repeater
Here is a mid-tier 50 watt repeater.

47. SLR watt Repeater

48. K1MOT Hudson Site 145 and 447 MHz MotoTRBO 50 watt Repeaters on
1400 VA UPS
Kohler 14 KW Auto-start Generator

49. WR1VT Site 146.865 Analog 444.400 MHz DMR 50 watt Repeaters on
1500 VA UPS
Kohler 30 KW Auto-start Generator

51. Tait TB9300 DMR Repeater Dual 50W Repeaters Dual 100W Repeater
1000 Channels; uses modules of TB9100 for P25 to DMR conversion!
Should support Conventional DMR (Tier2) in 2nd firmware revision!

52. Consult www.nedecn.org for current Hierarchy
Talk Group Hierarchy
Consult for current Hierarchy

53. Talkgroups Planned for Keene
Time Slot #1 - Group Call 1 = World Wide (Sat. Net) Time Slot #1 - Group Call 13 = WW English Time Slot #1 - Group Call 3 = North America Time Slot #1 - Group Call 3172 = Northeast Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3181= New England Time Slot #2 - Group Call 8 = Region North Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3150 = VT Statewide Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3133 = NH Statewide (PTT) Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3125 = MA Statewide (PTT) Time Slot #2 - Group Call 9 = Local Site Note: All New England repeaters also have TAC310, TAC311, UA113, UA123

54. Talkgroups Planned for Keene
Time Slot #1 - Group Call 1 = World Wide (Sat. Net) Time Slot #1 - Group Call 13 = WW English Time Slot #1 - Group Call 3 = North America Time Slot #1 - Group Call 3172 = Northeast Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3181= New England Time Slot #2 - Group Call 8 = Region North Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3150 = VT Statewide Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3133 = NH Statewide (PTT) Time Slot #2 - Group Call 3125 = MA Statewide (PTT) Time Slot #2 - Group Call 9 = Local Site Note: All New England repeaters also have TAC310, TAC311, UA113, UA123 (All on TS1)

55. Ham Friendly Dealers Sandy’s Comm., contact Jeff, 866.993.9011
TwoWayDigitalRadio.com, contact Ken
Connect Systems
E-Bay or Local Dealers
TRBO DMR radios are DMR–and-Analog monoband

56. Some DMR Web Sites (check out the links below)
(WW Net)
(New England)

57. How To Get Started
Amateurs must register with the central DMR database to obtain a Subscriber ID. An amateur cannot operate a DMR radio without the Subscriber ID.
Each radio must be defined with a subscriber ID.
Amateurs normally will not register no more than two IDs. ◦
1) Portable radio ◦
2) Mobile radio
Encouraged to register up two subscriber ids per call sign only.
Radios with the same Subscriber ID – only one can be in use at the same time.

58. Important: Do, Don’t, & Never
If you purchase radio from Connect Systems, use their firmware updates ◦ DO NOT USE MANUFACTURES FIRMWARE UPDATES – YOU WILL LOOSE AMATEUR RADIO FEATURES Never use encryption settings on a radio ◦ Forbidden by the FCC – Part 97 Never use GPS ◦ Unless the repeater is specifically configured to a data channel. Never use Private Call ◦ Occupies a TS which blocks fellow hams. Never make a DMR emergency call ◦ No emergency systems are configured in this network Never use Lone worker settings

59. DMR: A NEW MODE FOR AMATEUR DIGITAL RADIO
Spectrum Efficient !
Supported by multiple manufacturers!
Automatic Roaming for Safe Driving!
Longer Battery Life!
3 Year Warrantees on many radios
Resilient Networks (no servers needed at sites)
To learn more
To Summarize…

60. Questions?
Contact David Andrews, N1ESK,