Ham radio operators using DMR your opinions

[Ogandydancer]

Been thinking of messing with DMR a little and I have been researching radios. I have almost narrowed it down to either a Radioddity GD 77 or a Baofeng DM1701.

Let me first say I know nothing about code plugs or how to make one but, I guess this old dog could learn new tricks if need be.

Anyway anyone using either radio or for that matter any other DMR unit your thoughts and ideas.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have a couple of older TTY radios with updated software and a hotspot at home. For my use, it is more of a novelty than anything else, and I don't really see how it would fit into my emergency plan due to reliance on the internet.

 

[LennyLames]

I looked at DMR a few years ago. One area that I recognized was TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) which I recognized as one of the cellular multi-user technologies before GSM took over the world.

I'll have to re-visit it now that radio prices have gone down quite a bit. There's a Baofeng DM-1702 that has GPS receiver built-in.

Digital sounds promising. For the radio prices, it's worth a try. It's a lot less expensive than the Pactor IV that I've been thinking of experimenting with.

Between the Baofeng and the Radioddity, I think the Baofeng has 120K contacts but even that may not be enough since there's supposedly more than 150K IDs now.

"Codeplugs" seems challenging but after reading about it, it's very similar to programming my Baofeng analog handheld by entering/updating data in a .csv (comma separated values) file then downloading to the unit. Just need to get the correct formats.

I'm not really an expert in VHF/UHF. I've spend more time in HF, Extra-class.

 

[moosedog]

I've been wondering how people are going to communicate when the grid goes down. Any suggestions?

 

[jeffrefrig]

I've been wondering how people are going to communicate when the grid goes down. Any suggestions?

Morse code. Do the Cub Scouts still learn it?

 

[jdh]

SPARK FOREVER!


I have one System Fusion capable radio. The local club has a Fusion repeater. But some GOB whined about the noise coming out of his radio so the officers decided to limit it to analog FM only.

If the grid goes down there is always smoke signals.