Basics
Basics: 35 guides.
Reception & quality · 2DMR without a radio · 1Private calls & encryption · 1Choosing a radio · 0IDs, callsigns, law · 1Standards & modes · 6Talkgroups · 4Data: SMS, GPS · 3DMR basics · 2
01
Amateur Radio Licence Classes in Russia and the Exam
Amateur radio classes in Russia: how the 4 classes differ, where a beginner should start, how to prepare for the SRR exam, where it is taken, and how to get a callsign and register your radio station.
Basics
02
APRS and GPS on DMR: beacons, map positions and how to set it up
How DMR radios send GPS coordinates over the air: how it works, the BrandMeister → APRS-IS gateway, configuring the Anytone D878UV and TYT MD-9600, codeplug parameters, intervals and common tracking mistakes.
Basics
03
A radio in your smartphone: how a DMR app works
How a DMR radio app is built: login by callsign, PTT over the internet (PCM → server vocoder → air), background receive, private calls and DMR-SMS, echo test. How it differs from a radio + hotspot setup.
Basics
04
Best DMR Radios 2026: From Budget to Top Tier
An honest review of 2026 DMR radios: budget Baofeng DM-1801 and Radioddity GD-77 on OpenGD77, mid-range TYT MD-UV380/UV390 and Retevis, and top-tier AnyTone D878/D578. Pros, cons, and who should buy what.
Basics
05
BrandMeister or your own DMR network: which to pick as a beginner
An honest comparison of BrandMeister and a private DMR network for beginners: the strengths of the global network, the downsides of openness, when you need your own system and how to combine them.
Basics
06
Callsign and amateur licence in Russia: how to get one and why
Why a radio amateur needs a callsign and equipment (RES) registration to transmit legally in Russia: the qualification exam and categories, filing through Gosuslugi and the GRChC…
Basics
07
Color Code Made Simple: Why Your Radio Stays Silent
Color Code 0–15 in DMR is the digital equivalent of CTCSS. A CC mismatch means the radio won't open and the hotspot stays silent. We break down the causes and how to set it correctly.
Basics
08
CTCSS and DCS: tone squelch explained in plain words
What CTCSS and DCS are in analog radios, why you need a sub-tone, typical frequencies, how to set the tone on a Baofeng and on LPD/PMR, and why it is not over-the-air encryption.
Basics
09
Digital or Analog Radio: Which to Choose in 2026
How a digital DMR radio differs from an analog one: vocoder versus modulation, clean audio, two conversations on one frequency via TDMA, the pros and cons of each, and who should pick what in 2026.
Basics
10
DMR, D-STAR, C4FM (System Fusion) and NXDN: which digital standard to choose
DMR, D-STAR, C4FM and NXDN — a comparison of four digital standards: AMBE codecs, TDMA/FDMA, networks and reflectors, radio prices, the MMDVM ecosystem and hotspots.
Basics
11
DMR from scratch: timeslots, talkgroups, Color Code and why you need a hotspot
A plain-language explanation of DMR digital radio: what TS1/TS2 timeslots, talkgroups, Color Code and DMR ID are, how DMR differs from analog, and why you need a hotspot…
Basics
12
DMR Glossary: TG, TS, Color Code, ESSID and Other Terms
A clear DMR glossary for beginners: TG, TS, Color Code, DMR ID, ESSID, MMDVM, BER, the AMBE vocoder and other abbreviations explained in plain words with examples.
Basics
13
DMR ID: how to get and register one (RadioID and DMRhub)
What a DMR ID is and why it must be unique, how to get a worldwide ID on RadioID.net with a confirmed callsign, how the format works (country prefix + number), timelines…
Basics
14
DMR-SMS: how to send and receive text over your radio
DMR-SMS: how to send and receive text over your radio. How data frames work, addressing by DMR ID and talkgroup, setup in TYT/AnyTone/OpenGD77 CPS, and troubleshooting.
Basics
15
DMR Tier I, II and III: how they differ and what amateurs use
DMR Tier I, II and III — how the three tiers of the ETSI TS 102 361 standard differ. Tier I — licence-free 446 MHz without repeaters, Tier II — two TDMA time slots, repeaters and talkgroups for amateurs, Tier III — trunking for large systems.
Basics
16
DMR vs C4FM, D-STAR and NXDN: how the digital modes differ
A clear comparison of four amateur digital modes: DMR, Yaesu System Fusion (C4FM), Icom D-STAR and NXDN. AMBE and AMBE+2 vocoders, two-slot TDMA…
Basics
17
DMR without a radio: get on the digital air from your phone
How to get on DMR without a radio or hotspot: software clients, POC stations and the DMRhub app with PTT, private calls by DMR ID and DMR SMS right on your phone.
Basics
18
Encryption in DMR: Basic Privacy, Enhanced and AES
Security in DMR: the Basic Privacy scrambler, Enhanced ARC4 40-bit and AES-128/256. How they differ, what amateur radios can do, and why encryption is forbidden on the air.
Basics
19
Frequencies and the law: ham, LPD, PMR — where you may transmit (Russia)
Where a beginner in Russia can legally get on the air: amateur bands (you need a callsign, a qualification category and station registration), licence-free LPD…
Basics
20
Ham radio from scratch: how to get started in 2026
How to get into ham radio: callsign, licence classes, the 2m/70cm bands, your first radio, analog vs DMR, a hotspot and getting on the air without a repeater nearby.
Basics
21
How a private DMR network works: master, hotspots, app and vocoder
What a digital DMR network is built from: the master server and talkgroup routing, hotspots, the radio app and a server-side AMBE vocoder. How a call travels from radio to radio.
Basics
22
How to choose your first DMR radio: what a beginner should buy
How to choose your first DMR radio: single-band or dual-band, budget and top-tier models (Baofeng, TYT, Retevis, AnyTone), open firmware and compatibility with…
Basics
23
How to Listen to DMR Online: Last Heard, Web Audio and App
How to listen to DMR online without a radio: BrandMeister Hoseline, Last Heard in the browser, the DroidStar app, the SDR approach. We break down the Last Heard table, the etiquette of listening, and what DMRhub offers — air recordings, a map and reception in the Android app.
Basics
24
LPD and PMR frequencies: full channel and CTCSS table
Full channel table for LPD (433.075–434.775 MHz, 69 channels) and PMR446 (446 MHz, 8 channels) with channel spacing, a breakdown of CTCSS/DCS subtones and the legal status of licence-free radios under spectrum-regulator rulings.
Basics
25
PoC stations and the app: DMR from a phone and Android radios
What PoC stations (PTT over Cellular) are — Android-based 4G «walkie-talkies» that work over the cellular network and the internet rather than on a radio frequency.
Basics
26
Private DMR network vs public: why your own
How a private DMR network differs from BrandMeister and TGIF: your own talkgroups, private IDs, an allow-list on the master, full control over the air — and why it is not about…
Basics
27
Private (individual) calls by DMR ID: how it works
How a private DMR call differs from a group call: FLCO, addressing by DMR ID, why reflectors barely support them, and how to make an individual call radio→radio, radio→app and app→app.
Basics
28
Radio range: what it depends on and why it's less than advertised
Why a radio rated «for 10 km» only reaches 2 km: we break down line of sight, antenna height, frequency, terrain and power. Real numbers and ways to extend your range.
Basics
29
Radios for the Forest and Hunting: How to Choose and the Real Range
Which radio to pick for the forest and hunting: why VHF beats UHF, the honest 2–5 km range instead of the advertised “up to 20 km,” water resistance, battery, LPD/PMR and DMR.
Basics
30
Reflector vs talkgroup: what's the difference and why it matters
How a reflector differs from a talkgroup in DMR: history, the principle of routing through the master, static and dynamic subscriptions. For a private network — without the clutter.
Basics
31
Server-side AMBE vocoder: digital DMR audio without a dongle
Why DMR voice is AMBE+2, why a DMR↔phone bridge needs PCM↔AMBE transcoding, and how a software vocoder on the server replaces the hardware AMBE dongle, unlocking the app, a SIP phone and voice services.
Basics
32
Simplex and Duplex Explained in Plain Words
Simplex, half-duplex and duplex — what's the difference and how it works in DMR. We explain TDMA, the two time slots, repeater frequency offset and choosing a hotspot in plain words.
Basics
33
Talker Alias in DMR: a callsign name instead of a numeric ID
Talker Alias (TA) in DMR — sending the speaker's name and callsign together with the voice. Why it matters, how it is packed into frames, how to enable it on Anytone, and its link to Last Heard.
Basics
34
Talkgroups in DMR: static vs dynamic, subscribing
How static talkgroups differ from dynamic ones, how to subscribe to a group with a short PTT tap, and why after 10–15 minutes of silence it drops out.
Basics
35
The AMBE Vocoder: How Voice Becomes DMR Data
How the AMBE+2 vocoder works in a DMR radio: the MBE algorithm, bit rates, FEC, hardware chips, DVSI patents, and transcoding between modes.
Basics