Draft 20160326 VA3WM MD380 howto

Tytera MD_380 DMR howto with VE3YYZ BrandMeister Repeater as Example
Page 1 of 6
My recent dive into DMR has resulted in some frustration in not being able to locate any howto information, specifically
pertaining to my entry level Tytera MD_380. Ok, I know Motorola is better, but I do have a budget for this fine hobby.
With the implementation of BrandMeister on VE3YYZ, I am quite interested in the bridging to Dstar XREFLECTORS. Yes, I
do like Dstar as I have had Dstar radios for a few years now. So in the spirit of amateur radio progress and taking
advantage of innovation, I am now using DMR as well. It seems that the integrated multi-mode radio promised by
Connect Systems may not come to fruition. In the meantime, the flood gates have opened with affordable DMR radios
like the well-received Tytera MD_380. And now BrandMeister is in the Reflector game offering bridging to XREFLECTORS.
All for the better. I expect C4FM bridges will soon come.
So this is my motivation for creating this howto. It is a living document that I encourage readers to poke at so it can be a
better work for other newcomers or old timers to learn. I will keep the pen and please send me your improvements
and/or clarification questions. I can be reached at: va3wm @ outlook.com.
Here’s my step-by-step in how to create a code plug from scratch, or modify one, to do what you want. VE3YYZ,
BrandMeister, turned up on March, 20, 2016, is used as an illustrative example. This howto is equally applicable to any
DMR radio-repeater configuration, although screens of the MD_380 CPS Software V1. 30. 0, are sure to be different for a
Motorola radio.
Note that the left hand menu is not arranged in a logical order for configuration. I have tried to put order to this step-bystep. Also suggest viewing the document on screen as the screen grab prints are quite small.
Enjoy!
John Lorenc /VA3WM
1
Draft V 0.1 20160326 – John Lorenc /VA3WM
Radio ID is required to be changed from default
to your assigned DMR ID
Tytera MD_380 DMR howto with VE3YYZ BrandMeister Repeater as Example
Page 2 of 6
2
After required configuration of your DMR ID in
General Settings, configure talkgroups, which =
Call ID. Call Type can be Group or Private.
Generally use Group for rag chews and to be
heard by all. Call Receive Tone is set to Yes.
Call sign – Names with DMR ID are entered in this
list as well with Call Type set to Private and Call
Receive Type set to No. You can use contact
import / export utilities such as N0GSG’s DMR
Contact Manager, to massage your code plug
with data from
http://www.foxhollow.ca/DMR/Contacts/ to
relieve the heavy lifting of putting them in one by
one.
3
Digital Group List configuration is required. You
will use it in the Channels (sic) Information.
4
Here’s the beef. You are required to complete the
information pertaining to each channel you wish
to use. Pay careful attention to RX and TX
frequencies, Admit Code, Group Name, Group
List, Color Code and Repeater Slot. Optionally, if
you wish to have the channel included in a Scan
List, you must specify the Scan List from the drop
down.
DMR repeaters use Color Codes (CC) much like analog repeaters use
CTCSS or DCS. To access a repeater, you must program your radio to
use the repeater's Color Code (CC).
Similarly Time Slots (TS) matching the repeaters are required to be
configured.
The Admit Criteria determines when your radio is allowed to
transmit. The recommended setting for repeater channels is
Color Code. This configures your radio to be polite to your own
digital system. Simplex channels should be configured as Channel
Free to avert talk over.
Draft V 0.1 20160326 – John Lorenc /VA3WM
Tytera MD_380 DMR howto with VE3YYZ BrandMeister Repeater as Example
Page 3 of 6
4a
Here’s how to configure an analogue channel.
Screen shot is taken from another code plug.
4b
Here’s how to configure a simplex channel.
Screen shot is taken from another code plug.
5
Each defined Zone is a collection of up to 16
channels. Generally all channels within the Zone
are on the same frequency and aligned with the
DMR repeater of interest, but are not required to
be. You may mix analog repeater channels in with
digital repeater and simplex channels.
Draft V 0.1 20160326 – John Lorenc /VA3WM
Tytera MD_380 DMR howto with VE3YYZ BrandMeister Repeater as Example
Page 4 of 6
6
Convenient use of two side buttons above and
below PTT. Note up to 4 functions are possible
depending on short press and longer button hold
7
Default – no changes required
8
Draft V 0.1 20160326 – John Lorenc /VA3WM
Default – change as you may wish
Tytera MD_380 DMR howto with VE3YYZ BrandMeister Repeater as Example
Page 5 of 6
9
Scan List is used to configure the channels you
wish to scan within the selected Zone.
10
DMR for amateur radio use generally does not
require this to be configured. Leave as default.
11
Left as default.
Draft V 0.1 20160326 – John Lorenc /VA3WM
Tytera MD_380 DMR howto with VE3YYZ BrandMeister Repeater as Example
Page 6 of 6
Useful Resources:
http://www.dmr-marc.net/
http://www.info4u.us/DMR.pdf
http://www.va3xpr.net/
http://ve3yyz.org/
http://youtu.be/sDBosrVDrOA
http://md380.blogspot.ca/p/tytera-tyt-md-380-dmr-handheld-digital.html
http://www.ve2ums.ca/documents/DMR-FAQs.pdf
http://brandmeister.network/index.php
http://brandmeister.ca/brandmeister-reflectors-talkgroup-mapping/
http://brandmeister.ca/brandmeister-live-traffic-traffic-temps-reel/
http://www.gb7dd.co.uk/using-brandmeister-reflectors/
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TYT-TYTERA/info
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DMR-Ontario/info
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BrandMeister/info
https://ca.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BrandmeisterUSA/info
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DMR-quebec/info
Acknowledgements:
Eric Meth /VE3EI, for driving the creation of another DMR repeater in the GTA.
Andre Vanier /VA3AGV for helping me better understand DMR in general and introducing me to Rene Champagne
/VE2RI.
Rene Champagne /VE2RI and Ontario Tytera dealer, for putting polish on my ‘from scratch’ code plug used as example in
this howto.
Draft V 0.1 20160326 – John Lorenc /VA3WM