📡 Hotspots
Building, configuring and connecting an MMDVM hotspot to the network.
Why digital DMR audio breaks up and how to fix it
A practical walkthrough: why digital DMR audio breaks up and how to find and fix the cause layer by layer across RF, network and application.
HotspotsWi-Fi or Ethernet for a hotspot: why the audio drops
We break down why Wi-Fi kills DMR audio on a hotspot even with a perfect BER, and how to fix it.
HotspotsopenSPOT vs a DIY MMDVM hotspot: which to choose
A ready-made openSPOT or a DIY MMDVM on a Raspberry Pi — an honest comparison and the criteria for choosing.
HotspotsHow to flash the RadioStar image to a microSD and bring up a hotspot in 10 minutes
From downloading the .img.gz to a working hotspot: what to write the card with, how not to kill the filesystem with a fake card, and what to do on first boot.
HotspotsYour own MMDVM hotspot: hardware, simplex vs duplex and why we don't use Pi-Star
Which Pi and which MMDVM modem to get, how a single ADF7021 differs from a dual one, and how to bring up a node without manual fiddling.
HotspotsFrom Pi-Star to RadioStar: moving your hotspot to the DMRhub network
Why RadioStar is more convenient than manual Pi-Star and how to migrate: SD backup, our image, automatic configuration from the portal.
HotspotsA hotspot behind NAT and on the road: do you need port forwarding and LTE
A hotspot initiates the outbound connection to the master itself — port forwarding is usually not needed; it works behind NAT, on LTE and when you're a guest.
HotspotsOLED display for an MMDVM hotspot: wiring and what it shows
A small 0.96″ OLED (SSD1306, I2C): which 4 wires go where, address 0x3C, how to enable it in the config and what the screen shows — status, last heard, frequency, IP, BER. Common mistakes: SH1106 instead of SSD1306, flipped image.
HotspotsPi-Star from scratch: configuring a hotspot for the DMRhub server
First-time Pi-Star setup: writing to SD, Wi-Fi, choosing a modem and connecting to the master. How to enter the DMRhub server — and why our RadioStar image is simpler.
HotspotsDroidStar: getting on DMR without a radio — from your phone and PC
DroidStar gives you digital comms without a radio over the internet. How it works, what's going on with the vocoder — and why our Android app is more convenient for the DMRhub network.
HotspotsWPSD: a modern replacement for Pi-Star on an MMDVM hotspot
WPSD is an actively developed fork of Pi-Star with a new dashboard. How it's better, how to install it on a Raspberry Pi and point it at the DMRhub network master.
HotspotsDuplex hotspot: who actually needs one
How a duplex MMDVM hotspot differs from a simplex one, when it's justified and when simplex on TS2 is enough — as in most nodes on the DMRhub network.
HotspotsMMDVM_HS_Hat or Dual_Hat: which modem to choose
Single ADF7021 or dual: the difference between HS_Hat and Dual_Hat, simplex vs duplex, TCXO and firmware. What to get for a DMRhub network node.
HotspotsNextion display for a hotspot: wiring and firmware
A touch Nextion instead of an OLED: which wires go where (mind the 3.3V!), how to flash the .tft firmware and enable the display in the hotspot config.
HotspotsSeveral hotspots on one DMR ID: ESSID without conflicts
Two or more hotspots under one number: what an ESSID suffix is, how to avoid session conflicts — and how it works with private IDs on the DMRhub network.
HotspotsHotspot won't connect to the DMR network: systematic troubleshooting
Systematic hotspot troubleshooting: power and voltage sag, modem not detected, frequency and Color Code, TX/RX out of sync, NAT and port forwarding, watchdog. We work top to bottom and find the cause.
HotspotsDIY DMR hotspot: the complete 2026 guide
A complete guide to building a DMR hotspot: hardware, the RadioStar image and setup in 10 minutes.
HotspotsWhat MMDVM is: modem, firmware and boards in plain words
What MMDVM is: the modem, firmware and boards for a DMR hotspot in plain words.
HotspotsDMRGateway: several DMR networks on one hotspot
Several DMR networks on one hotspot via DMRGateway: rules, TG prefixes and alternatives.
HotspotsDMR repeaters in Russia: how to find them on the map (BrandMeister)
Finding working DMR repeaters in Russia via BrandMeister and directories. And if there's nothing nearby — we bring up our own hotspot.
HotspotsWhich DMR hotspot to choose in 2026: simplex or duplex, MMDVM, Jumbospot
MMDVM Hat, Jumbospot or Dual Hat — we break down what to build in 2026 and how not to make a mistake.
HotspotsPi-Star: login, default password and dashboard access
Everything about logging into Pi-Star: default login and password, access via pi-star.local, SSH, changing the password and resetting it if lost.
HotspotsHow to connect a hotspot to your own DMR network in 10 minutes
Master address, port, DMR ID, password — what to enter into the hotspot so it joins the network. And how auto-provisioning does it for you.
HotspotsBridging DMR networks: linking your network with XLX, HBlink and BrandMeister
How to link your DMR network with XLX, HBlink or BrandMeister: what a bridge is, how it rewrites talkgroups and where it's best to host it.