Brandmeister DMR 2021 : A year-in-review

2021 has been a great year at Brandmeister DMR. The development team once again spoiled the DMR Amateur Radio community with many great features. Let’s review the most significant ones:

A new hoseline on steroids – QSOs on Brandmeister DMR talkgroups can be heard using a web browser on virtually any device, using the brand new Hoseline with improved audio, volume normalizing, multiple talkgroups listening, instant play, and many other features described in detail in this article.

Enhanced repeaters coverage plots – The coverage plots are more precise than they used to, and are updated minutes after making a change in repeater’s data.

Users and Repeaters Self Service– The days of the default “passw0rd” for hotspots and repeaters are over. The registration process on Brandmeister ensures that ham’s IDs are protected, and the traffic is not disturbed by rogue devices or gateways. Most new users are now automagically approved, and it only takes 5 minutes now for a new repeater to become available and manageable on Brandmeister DMR! Thanks to the collaboration of Brandmeister and RadioID developers, the repeater data is imported in Brandmeister, and sysop rights are automatically added. No need to ask and wait for this to be done manually!

A faster dashboard – The dashboard became a lot more responsive, repeater owners can set passwords on their own, hotspot and repeaters list display twice as fast as they used to, and the last-heard is faster than it has ever been!

Brandmeister Core updates – the core Brandmeister software has seen 48 updates in 2021, bringing lots of performance improvements as well as amazing new features such as the Asterisk’s AudioSocket protocol, TextCapture, and the optimization of Wires-X bridging.

We recognize that all these improvements would not have been possible without:

• The time and devotion of the developpers involved in the many aspects of Brandmeister
• Hams contributing their time to testing and reporting issues to the development team
• Master administrators maintaining, troubleshooting, and updating the servers that make Brandmeister accessible to ham radio operators worldwide
• Support teams spending countless hours helping fellow ham operators

We have more to come for 2022 … so stay tuned, and Happy New Year!

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Net Report 27-DEC-2021

Check In Count: 21 stations

Duration: 58 minutes

Net Newcomers:

Callsign	Name
N5AMD	BEN A
WB8Q	BILL
WA6WV	SERGIO
KC0MYP	DANA F
WB8QJZ	STAN
K8PD	PAUL
N8DMH	DRAKE M
N8VOX	ANTHONY
WB8HS	BRUCE
N8YUI	RANDY
AD8BU	FRANK M
KB8GFF	STEVE
WA3TUU	RICK
N8TJ	TOM
N4ALK	ALLAN
KD8GTX	MIKE
KE8SUO	RICKY D
KD8VJD	ALLAN
WQ8A	JAMES
KD8KBH	PHIL
N8RMA	DUSTIN

This was the last net of 2021. Dustin N8RMA will have the net again next week.

Michigan DMR Repeater / Talkgroup Matrix

Borrowing an idea and format from our Hoosier friends to the south, there is now a Michigan DMR Repeater / Talkgroup Matrix. In a nutshell this is a one stop shop that lists every DMR repeater in Michigan, regardless of the ISPC network. This list indicates how to connect to each repeater and the talkgroup / timeslot configurations. Instead of scouring the vast internet for details on DMR repeaters around the state, this list has you covered.

Includes repeaters on:

• BrandMeister
• DCI / DMR-MARC
• DMR+
• Mi5 / W8CMN
• TGIF
• Chicagoland
• Crossroads DMR
• and more!

This data has been gathered from a variety of sources, include repeaterbook, BrandMeister, W8CMN, DCI / DMR-MARC, radioid.net, and scores of various websites. The most valuable resource however is YOU, the regional experts and repeater owner / operators.

Filters

You can use the filter funnel to quickly show just a certain type of DMR repeater (e.g. Mi5 only, BrandMeister only, etc) or limit the list to just "on air" repeaters. More filters will be added as the list matures.

Something wrong? Report it!

If you don't find a repeater on this list, or you find information that needs added / corrected, use the link on the form to request the change. This will go to the regional admins so that the list can be updated.

Talkgroup Key

FT | Full Time | Static

• TG is always on designated TS
• Cannot be disconnected

PT | Part Time | Dynamic

• TG is published as available or suggested
• Will be active for duration (e.g. 15 minutes) once used

SK | Scheduled

• TG will be set as static during scheduled period
• TG will revert to dynamic outside of scheduled period

BM | On BrandMeister

• TS is open to any BrandMeister TG
• May not be published, but is still available

Net Report 20-DEC-2021

Check In Count: 20 stations

Duration: 56 minutes

Net Newcomers: 

Callsign	Name
WB8HS	BRUCE
K8PD	PAUL
KD8NPV	JEFFREY R
KE8FJW	BRAD
KD8VJD	ALLAN
N4ALK	ALLAN
AD8BU	FRANK M
KE8SUO	RICKY D
KC0MYP	DANA F
AC8ZD	DAVID P
W8EO	ED
N8RMA	DUSTIN
N8VOX	ANTHONY
WB8QJZ	STAN
WA3TUU	RICK
N8APX	ADAM
N9WYD	DOUGLAS M
WQ8A	JAMES
N8TJ	TOM
N8YUI	RANDY

Net Report 13-DEC-2021

Check In Count: 20 stations

Duration: 42 minutes

Net Newcomers: 

Callsign	Name
KD8NPV	JEFFREY R
KC0MYP	DANA F
AC8ZD	DAVID P
KE8SOV	DAN
KB8GFF	STEVE
N8APX	ADAM
N8YUI	RANDY
N4ALK	ALLAN
W8EO	ED
WB8QJZ	STAN
WA3TUU	RICK
WA6WV	SERGIO
N8NIF	DICK
N8TJ	TOM
KE5XD	DAVID M
KD8VJD	ALLAN
KD8PBE	DAVID M
N8LNU	REZA
WQ8A	JAMES
N8RMA	DUSTIN

Sorry for a bad night of connections - we had issues in Kalamazoo and on BrandMeister.

Adam N8APX is looking for some help in crafting a Michigan Super Codeplug!

Net Report 6-DEC-2021

Check In Count: 24 stations

Duration: 54 minutes

Net Newcomers: K8PDJ

Callsign	Name
KD8NPV	JEFFREY R
WA6WV	SERGIO
KD8GTX	MIKE
KE8FJW	BRAD
KE8SUO	RICKY D
KC0MYP	DANA F
N9WYD	DOUGLAS M
N8TJ	TOM
N8RMA	DUSTIN
K8PD	PAUL
WB8QJZ	STAN
WA3TUU	RICK
N8VOX	ANTHONY
N4ALK	ALLAN
KD8VJD	ALLAN
AC8ZD	DAVID P
KD2OFD	Steven P
K8PDJ	DORIAN
KB8QJF	MARK E
WQ8A	JAMES
VE3SB	DAVID
WA8RSA	DAVID
N8NIF	DICK
N8YUI	RANDY

Net Report 29-NOV-2021

Check In Count: 16 stations

Duration: 31 minutes

Net Newcomers:

Callsign	Name
WA6WV	SERGIO
N8APX	ADAM
KE8SUO	RICKY D
KD8GTX	MIKE
N8YUI	RANDY
K8PD	PAUL
WB8QJZ	STAN
N9WYD	DOUGLAS M
N4ALK	ALLAN
KD8VJD	ALLAN
KC8VDQ	GREG
KE8SOV	DAN
WB8HS	BRUCE
W8TVR	GARY
N8NIF	DICK
N8RMA	DUSTIN

Net Report 22-NOV-2021

Check Ins: 22 stations

Duration: 44 minutes

Net Newcomers: N2OII

Callsign	Name
K8PD	PAUL
N8DMH	DRAKE M
KE8SOV	DAN
KD8NPV	JEFFREY R
KE8FJW	BRAD
KC0MYP	DANA F
N6DBF	JOHN E
N9WYD	DOUGLAS M
WB8QJZ	STAN
WB9RXK	JOHN W
WA3TUU	RICK
KD8GTX	MIKE
N4ALK	ALLAN
N8TJ	TOM
N2OII	WILLIAM
KE8TET	DORIAN
WB8HS	BRUCE
N8NIF	DICK
KB8GFF	STEVE
N8RMA	DUSTIN
KD8KBH	PHIL
N8YUI	RANDY

Zero Configuration Radio - Let's put an end to programming radios, codep...

via YouTube - William Franzin

Net Report 15-NOV-2021

Stations Checked In: 18

Duration: 47 minutes

Net Newcomers: KE8TET

Callsign	Name
N8TJ	Tom
KE8FJW	Brad
KE8GRY	Eric P
KC0MYP	Dana F
WA6WV	Sergio
N8YUI	Randy
KE8TET	DORIAN
WA3TUU	Rick
KE5XD	DAVID M
KE8GRY	Eric P
KD8VJD	Allan G
KD8GTX	Michael F
WB8QJZ	STAN
N4ALK	Allan L
WQ8A	James
N8NIF	Dick
WA8RSA	David
N8RMA	Dustin A

DMR 101 for 2021 Intro to DMR for Ham Radio

via YouTube - Ham Radio 2.0

Net Report 8-NOV-2021

Stations Checked In: 16

Duration: 40 minutes

Net Newcomers: KE4UYD

Callsign	Name
KE8FJW	Brad
KE8QLA	Nevin J
KC0MYP	Dana F
N4ALK	Allan L
KE4UYD	MICHAEL E
KD8VJD	Allan G
N8TJ	Tom
WB8QJZ	STAN
N8NIF	Dick
N8RMA	Dustin A
W8EO	Ed
WA3TUU	Rick
KD8GTX	Michael F
WB8HS	Bruce
N6WY	David J
N8YUI	Randy

Best DMR Handheld Ham Radio for 2021 | Top 10 DMR HT Radios

via YouTube - Ham Radio 2.0

Net Report 1-NOV-2021

Stations Checked In: 20

Duration: 45 minutes

Net Newcomers:

Callsign	Name
N8NIF	Dick
KC0MYP	Dana F
WB8HS	Bruce
N6WY	David J
WA6WV	Sergio
WA3TUU	Rick
WB8QJZ	STANLEY F
KD8GTX	Michael F
N9WYD	DOUGLAS M
N8YUI	Randy
W8EO	Ed
N4ALK	Allan L
KD8VJD	Allan G
N8TJ	THOMAS E
W8MAT	Matthew
WQ8A	James
N8TSP	Anthony K
WA8RSA	David
KD8KBH	Dennis W
N8RMA	Dustin A

Announcements:

• SATERN Net, Wednesday @ 8PM
• DMR BrandMeister TG 31269
• Cross-mode with YSF
• Don McLain (KB8RAD) became a silent key on 21-OCT-2021
• Don was very active in the Central Michigan / Lansing area

There was a couple of announcements for eyeball QSO's, but I missed the details - keep letting us know on the net!

Brandmeister Worldwide “TAC” talkgroups

Three new TAC talkgroups have been added to the Brandmeister talkgroups list:

901	WorldWide TAC 1
902	WorldWide TAC 2
903	WorldWide TAC 3

They have been created to allow finishing long QSOs started on the 91~95 worldwide talkgroups, while allowing new calls to take place on the wide-audience groups.

What is a TAC talkgroup?

TAC stands for TACtical. They are designed to off-load large audience talkgroups.

When a QSO starts on a talkgroup that is known for being static on a very large number of repeaters (and often used as a call channel), and the participants feel that the conversation will be longer than a couple of minutes, they decide to move to a TAC in order to free the original talkgroup so other calls can take place.

What’s special about these talkgroups?

Just like the USA TAC talkgroups 310~319, these three new worldwide TACs cannot be made static on repeaters and hotspots. They are designed to be strictly dynamic, which increases their chances of stay available after a QSO is over.

How to use a Worldwide TAC talkgroup?

If you have started a QSO on talkgroup 91 for example, and you’d like to talk for a long time without monopolizing this very large audience talkgroup, check the talkgroups 901, 902, and 903 for activity (this can easily be done using the dashboard’s lastheard, or your radio), and ask your party to QSY to one free TAC talkgroup. You can then continue your QSO for as long as you’d like. Other hams who wish to participate to this QSO can follow you, while new calls can take place on 91.

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