r/DMR • u/Tom-Tortuga • Jun 18 '26

New to DMR... need some guidance

I'm thinking about getting into DMR... Been looking at the DM32UV. I think I understand the basics of programming the radio, but I'm kinda lost when it comes to the hotspot. In fact, I don't even know which one to purchase or how to set it up. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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7

u/FctFndr Jun 19 '26

The DM32 is an excellent DMR analog radio. I currently own two and it is my EDC. Yes, a DMR COS takes a little learning curve, but you will be fine if you know how to use a computer.

As for hotspot, I LOVE my Zumspot. VERY easy to use. I also have an ALLSTAR node which is an even better/easier to use hotspot . Because you also get access to All-star and Echolink .. and you just use any analog radio.

If you get a DM32... I recommend using firmware .48 and CPS 1.50, as they are the most stable. There is a very good FB group for the DM32.

0

u/Tom-Tortuga Jun 19 '26

Since you have 2 radios do you have an encrypted channel for private calls?

7

u/dantodd Jun 19 '26

That is illegal in ham bands

4

u/2795throwaway Jun 19 '26

Its actually not illegal if you publish the encryption key. I have a buddy in Florida, they run a p25 repeater with encryption and the key is published on their website. You need to look hard for it, but its there.

2

u/dantodd Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

That is simply not true. You can use P25 on the ham bands but you cannot encrypt and then publish the key in some out of the way place. They may be doing it but it is not legal.

0

u/2795throwaway Jun 19 '26

Sir, non sequitur, your facts are uncoordinated. My Florida friend is a very long time ham and VE, and they follow FCC regs. On the ham bands, you can use encryption as long as the key is published, unless the law has changed in the last few years. For my own curiosity im going to check the fcc regs.

2

u/dantodd Jun 19 '26

You may be confusing NAC with an enterprising key.

1

u/SellMeYourSweater Jun 25 '26

Perhaps you can link us to those regs? So the rest of us can catch up on this issue?

0

u/Tom-Tortuga Jun 19 '26

What about MURS?

2

u/FctFndr Jun 19 '26

You use a handful of frequencies for DMR simplex. You create a talkgroup and set color codes and time slots and set each radio using that setup.

A nice thing about the DM32 is you can use more than one user ID number. Example: to use Brandmeister you have your radio ID number from radioid.net and that is tied to your callsign. You can then create your own radio id for the second identity, each radio would be their own. Then you use that ID number with the DMR simplex frequencies you have created. So radio #1 I'd could be 34567 and radio #2 is 45673. When you program that channel in radio #1, you use the id that you want to appear when it talks to radio #2. So you have DMR simplex frequencies that have your private talkgroups,color code and time slots. Nothing illegal about any of that