DMR

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Morally Flexible

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Nov 27, 2025, 5:03:18 AM (3 days ago) Nov 27
to rad...@googlegroups.com
Thank you to Marnoch (Min ?) for sending me the information on the DM-32V. I was inspired to write a quick email stating the obvious about how things have changed, since when I started in the business. I was a trainee at London communications in 1981 we were affectionately called snots, as in 'get the young snot to do that'. I worked in a hostile environment with two so-called engineers who weren't really engineers but they know all the stock faults. They were pleasant enough, but I do remember being told when I was talking to one of the real engineers about radio, 'I don't mind you talking about football or women, but leave your fucking haming till lunchtime'.

I spent my days making up wiring looms and eventually graduated to becoming a trainee engineer. This basically involved refurbing GEC and Pye radios that I guess have been withdrawn from service because they were due to start going faulty. It was called crystalling up and we did our best to make them reliable to sell to London minicab companies. I developed a deep dislike for numerous old PMR radios, mainly UHF, that had been poorly modified to operate on the new 1/2 kHz channel spacing. They were generally not fit for purpose and if they were stable from an RF perspective, they were really stable from a frequency perspective.

Of course now things have changed for the better. I much prefer being able to program a radio with the computer and it just works and I really don't miss crystals and tuning things up. But I do miss the old days of amateur radio, where the bands were busy and all the repeats were full...... but we must move on.

Back in 2013 I had a Motorola DM 4400 programmed up on GB7NS, and I followed the expansion of the network but eventually gave up. Whilst the DMR is amazing for business radio, and correctly set up can do some clever things. I personally found the amateur implementation to be slightly problematic. Possibly due to a new breed of radio amateur that was unaware of the difference between a poor signal into a repeater, and a poor signal received from the repeater. I also found the endless discussions about code plugs and traffic to be a bit tedious.

But i'm not giving up, I'm gonna give it a go, and I also understand that there's a new breed of radio amateur who are more IT savvy than me who've done some amazing things.

I was gonna get a T-shirt that says IP is killing amateur radio, I'm pretty certain people used to say that about repeaters. Hopefully, I might work some of you on DMR

regards

--
Mick Davies
AKA mickyears

Chris Smith

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Nov 27, 2025, 12:11:32 PM (2 days ago) Nov 27
to Morally Flexible, rad...@googlegroups.com
Mick

You should be a good signal into the DMR repeater GB7BK now it is located in Tilehurst.

Give it a try when you get the radio programmed up and running.

Just need to work out all the talk groups that I still struggle with otherwise you end up shouting out around the world…

All the best

Chris

Chris Smith  MIET (G0JTN)

35 Allendale Road

Earley

Reading

RG6 7PD

Mobile 07809707056

email: christophe...@gmail.com




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Marnoch Standen

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Nov 27, 2025, 2:16:35 PM (2 days ago) Nov 27
to Chris Smith, Morally Flexible, Reading and District Amateur Radio Group
There is a dummies guide and a step by step how to build your code plug with even my code plug CP for the BK repeater..
It includes all the local FM repeaters..

Min G0JMS 👍 

Best regards from

Marnoch (Min) Standen

mins @ Talktalk.net

Morally Flexible

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3:35 AM (19 hours ago) 3:35 AM
to Chris Smith, rad...@googlegroups.com
Hi

Massive thanks  for your help, The information was perfect. I’m embarrassed to admit that I just loose the will to live with some of this kit when i have too many problems. I’m sure, we have all had similar problems, but I’ve spent days in the past working on things that I had to get going, And I can honestly say I don’t think the addition of computers has really made anything that much easier.

Thankfully I didn’t have any issues with the USB lead and I’ve programmed the radio. It doesn’t seem to work as such and as far as I can’t access any repeaters yet, but I’m not in a great location and I need to put an area up again. 

I did have a dual band collinear At the front of the house, but I replaced it with a three element band to yagi to go with my lovely old Revox tuner that  I listen to radio four on. I’ve got all the bits to get the dual band back up but it’s a bit wet for aerial work.

I need to read up on the different networks available, i think I understand the talk groups. So hopefully I should be able to get on the air soon

Thanks

Mick Davies
AKA mickyears


Marnoch Standen

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5:07 AM (17 hours ago) 5:07 AM
to Morally Flexible, Chris Smith, Reading and District Amateur Radio Group
That's for the update and if you can't find a repeater other than BK to use then hotspot may be required..which opens up further fun and games...
Most common network is Brandmiester and you can see and here what is going on if you look at the Hosepipe on their website.. it shows the TGs that have /being used and click on on and listen.
Good on you for the step into DMR .. and kept your sanity.....

Best regards from

Marnoch (Min) Standen

mins @ Talktalk.net

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