How to get on DMR without having to Program a Radio

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Transcript:

- Hi, this is Sebastian, KBØTTL. So you wanted to get on DMR, but you didn't wanna worry about programming a big, long, hood plug, and you didn't wanna have to go through 30 or 40 steps to get on DMR. I can't say that I blame you there. We do have a product here that makes that easy, and that is our DVMEGA Bundle, as it comes pre-programmed with the 12 most frequently used talkgroups, plus, your local state talkgroup that we put in there here for you. When you order the DVMEGA Bundle, we just need your call sign, and your DMR ID number, which you can obtain free from RadioID.net.

You can get a handheld pre-programmed with our DVMEGA Hot Spot, or you can get a mobile pre-programmed with our DVMEGA Hot Spot. There's no need to enter your own code plug because it comes with a code plug which includes the most frequently used talkgroups which interact here with your mobile. Also, if you have a look at that code plug that we put on your radio via the CPS programming, you'll see how easy it'll be to throw in a frequency pair, maybe, and to use a local repeater, as well, so it's a great entry-level, startup package for those of you that want to get into DMR, but wait, there is more. We do have our BridgeCom University courses that come free with the package, and it goes into great detail on how to create your own code plug, and how to expand on your enjoyment, the enjoyment that is DMR.

We're gonna step over to the computer right quick. I'm gonna show you this code plug right quick just to show you what a great opportunity this is to get started in DMR, and this is the easy way to do it. For those that are new to DMR, you almost do yourself a disservice by not going ahead and getting the pre-programmed DVMEGA, so let's step over to the computer, and we'll have a look.

Right now, we're looking at the sample code plug that goes on our DVMEGA bundles, and what this code plug does is, this code plug allows the radio that you purchased to interact with the DVMEGA Bundle, and the DVMEGA Bundle is a Simplex device, that is, a Simplex repeater, so we're going to use Simplex frequency pairs on all of the channels that go to the DVMEGA Bundle. Later on, if you were to go in and program in a local digital repeater, you would simply add channels, you would put in your frequency pair, and you would use a very similar protocol as to what we used for these DVMEGA channels, except, of course, you'd be using a duplex pair with the appropriate color code and time slot, and I'll go into some of that here, as well.

As you can see, we have 12 of the most used channels, plus a statewide talkgroup for whatever state that you're in. So 13 channels total in the plug and play package. You can add more channels if you like. In our sample code plug, we include a talkgroup list that has, I won't say all of the talkgroups, but pretty much all of the mainly used talkgroups, including all of the state talkgroups, Europe, Asia, we have some SKYWARN frequencies in here, we have some Canadian frequencies in here, we have some special interest group talkgroups in here. Basically, the talkgroup list that we include has pretty much everything that the new person would wanna start out with, and then, of course, plus some here, so you can really explore with the talkgroups that are included right here in our code plug, and these are all BrandMeister talkgroups that are included in the talkgroups list that comes on your code plug.

Okay, so we're looking at our Simplex frequency here, which interfaces with our hot spot. This is our talkgroup disconnect, or basically, the channel that we use to switch between talkgroups, where talkgroup 4,000 is talk group disconnect. Looking at a few of the other channels here, the USA, that is nationwide talkgroup. The tech talkgroups 310, 311, and 312, a worldwide talkgroup, worldwide English talkgroup, North America, the parrot, which is used for testing. Basically, if you are successfully connected to the network and you key up on the parrot, whatever you say gets repeated back to you, so you can test your audio on the radio, the whole shebang right there when in parrot mode.

We have the net one and two talkgroups, we have a statewide talkgroup. This particular customer had their radio programmed for the state of Tennessee. The talkgroup disconnect feature, which I just showed you, and you can also put in local or special interest talkgroups like SKYWARN Net, or Ares, or anything else that you're a member of in your talkgroup. If you'd like a few additional talkgroups programmed, just let us know. We'll do up to three additional talkgroups, as well as the 12 that are included if you prefer. Most people just have surrounding states. If you're here in Missouri, and you want Kansas, and Oklahoma, and Nebraska, and Iowa put in, we'll go ahead and do that here for you, as well.

The one thing that we don't do is, we don't place in frequencies for your local repeaters, as we wouldn't have a way to test them out, but we do offer BridgeCom University courses that show you how to go in, and how to add a channel by putting in your frequency pair, your CTCSS settings, and then, of course, if you wanna use a digital frequency pair, what color code, what time slot to put in, and how to find that information, basically. It differs by repeater. So, we do have videos that show you how to enter all of the information, websites like Repeater Book, or the website for the Digital Repeater Club itself should have all of the information you need, and we have videos, tutorials available in our BridgeCom University, which do show you how to add extra channels later. What your mega bundle does is, it gives you the framework behind it all. It gives you the framework to look at. It gives you an example of how the channels are programmed, and it makes it much easier for you, then to build onto the code plug that we send you, so exploratorily, it is, really, the way to go with the DVMEGA Bundle.

I've been a Ham operator since 1995. When I started working here, that was my first real exposure to DMR. I was basically sat down and told, here, learn this, and see how much of this you can enter yourself without having a DVMEGA Bundle built up, and I literally spent hours building my first code plug, and I had to reference a bunch of different websites, and a bunch of different information, and I still only had a halfway working, or semi-working code plug. It literally took me hours to get a decent, working code plug, literally days and hours to get a good, working code plug because I didn't have the root example to go off of here, and that's what we've created for our customers, a plug and play deal. You get the box, you plug in your DVMEGA hot spot to your home router, you turn on your radio, and you're ready to go, so all the homework is done for you, and then, when you have time, simply login to your CPS or programming software, go through your code plug, and gradually add on until you get the code plug that you like, so that is the beauty of the DVMEGA Bundle.

Thank you for watching today's video. If you like our video, be sure to hit that like button and subscribe to our YouTube channel, and we hope to see you on DMR very quickly here in the coming days. This is KBØTTL, and 73.