THE DMR SCOTLAND WEBSITE WILL CLOSE FOR GOOD AT THE END OF JANUARY 2024.
The aim of this website is to collate as much information as possible in one place regarding what is happening on DMR in Scotland and also to make it easier for DMR Operators or those interested in getting involved in DMR to find the right information.
DMR is for licensed radio amateurs and you must hold a valid amateur radio licence before you apply for a DMR Radio ID number and most definitely before you attempt to press the PTT button. Saying that, there is absolutely no reason why you cannot listen in to DMR and in this case you should ensure that your radio has the TX inhibited.
If you have ideas as to what you would like to see on here then drop me a note direct or visit the DMR SCOTLAND FaceBook Group. Likewise if any of the information you find on this site happens to be out-of-date I welcome an email or FB post to set me right and allow the displayed information to be as accurate as possible.
de Martin MM0DUN
TG 23558 - HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS The DMR Highlands & Islands Group have their own website presence which you should visit by going to CLICK HERE > https://gm-radio.com/web/ < CLICK HERE
Donations are welcomed to contribute towards the £6 per month it costs MM0DUN to make this website content available to all.
To find out what DMR is click on the Menu Item Q & A’s – What is DMR?
The DMR Repeaters detailed on this website connect to the world-wide DMR network using Brandmeister with the allocation of Talk Groups for the UK shown below. Note that a large number of repeaters in England have moved to a new network called FreeDMR – a simple Google search will take you to their website.
Brandmeister Talk Group Information paper *Update 08-08-20 *
The Brandmeister DMR UK Talk groups have been restructured with additional regional talk groups for Scotland.
The named geographic talk groups that are listed on the BM Global TG Directory System are:
- 2355 TG for Scotland Wide
- 23550 TG for Scotland Chat
- 23557 TG for Scotland East
- 23558 TG for Scotland Highlands & Islands
- 23559 TG for Scotland West
- 23551 TG Linked to NXDN Scotland
The other 235xx Scottish allocated TG’s are not specifically listed on the Brandmeister Global TG Directory but are being used have the current “custom and practice / existing use.
- 23551 TG * Scotland Multi Mode NXDN, D-Star & DMR linked
- 23552 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom and practice use.
- 23553 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom and practice use.
- 23554 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom and practice use.
- 23555 TG * Lothian Raynet New Use by this group.
- 23556 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom and practice use.
The informal Black Isle Chat (B.I. Chat) on TG 235475 and Edin Chat on TG 235444 will remain although it is anticipated that most activity will move to Scot H & I and Scot East respectively.
The BM system gives repeater keeper complete autonomy over static TG’s to be carried on the repeater, all other BM TG’s can be dynamic, that is “User Activated” **
“User Activated” TG’s as the name implies, require the user to activate them with a short burst of R.F. which then allows all traffic on the TG to be relayed over R.F. If there is no local RF activity on the selected TG for a predetermined period, the TG will deactivate.
Static TG’s allow all traffic on the TG to be relayed over R.F. by the repeater all the time that they are active.
Brandmeister Connected Repeaters in Scotland (14) Update 08-08-20 *
Scotland H&I
GB7BB, GB7BI, GB7II, GB7SS, GB7OR & GB7EI
Scotland West
GB7EA
Scotland East
GB7DD, GB7DE, GB7EC, GB7EE, GB7JD, GB7LS & GB7SQ
Plans for *Glasgow central area & Mid Lanark ARC
The BM system gives repeater keeper complete autonomy over static TG’s to be carried on the repeater, all other BM TG’s can be dynamic, that is “User Activated”. This configuration can be very easily changed on a web page dashboard by the keeper and sysops.
For an up to date overview of the TG’s on individual repeaters look at the excellent DMR Scotland Site or check the Brandmeister Network pages for the specific repeater.
The new Talk Group’s in detail:
Scotland (Scot Wide) TG 2355
This could be the centre of activity for DMR and can be connected to by any BM repeater or hot spot. This BM TG can be linked from the Phoenix network but a BM network user cannot initiate the link. Currently used mostly by the Edinburgh / East Repeaters.
Scotland Chat (Scot Chat) TG 23550 This could be the centre of activity for DMR nets or club chats and can be connected to by any BM repeater or hot spot. This BM TG can be linked from the Phoenix network but a BM network user cannot initiate the link. The highlight of the week is the Wednesday evening Mid Lanark ARC Rag Chew net
Highlands and Islands TG 23558 The TG 23558 talk group is intended as a replacement for the locally provisioned talk group 235475, which is the repeater ID for GB7BI Muir of Ord and is used to link GB7BI, GB7II, GB7SS, GB7EI, GB7BB & the Gateways MB6OR, MB6FU as well as the new Orkney repeater GB7OR which connect the remoter parts of the Highlands and Islands together on the BM network. The TG will be used by operators in the area covered by the repeaters and gateways listed above. In addition, any operator out with the area who has a connection with the Scottish Highlands and Islands can also find and use it as it will be on the BM talk group list, which the current TG 235475 is not.
Scotland East TG 23557 The TG 23557 talk group is intended as a replacement for the locally provisioned talk group 235444, which is the repeater ID for GB7EE in Edinburgh and is used to link GB7EE, GB7DE and GB7SQ to give enhanced coverage of Edinburgh City and the Lothian’s. The TG will be used by operators in the area covered by the East of Scotland repeaters GB7EE, GB7DE, GB7SQ, GB7DD and GB7EC in addition to any operator out with the area who has a connection with Edinburgh and the East of Scotland, as it will be on the BM talk group list, which the current TG 23544 is not.
Scotland West TG 23559
I have never been sure why there has been such a slow provisioning of DMR repeaters in the West of Scotland as opposed to hot spot use. Other than the lightly used GB7GG and GB7AY on the DMR + network there is only one Brandmeister connected repeater, GB7EA. When other BM linked repeaters are commissioned, they can connect to this TG
TG 23551 Adopted by Scotland Multi Mode The TG 23551 talk group is a multi-protocol TG that has a Brandmeister administrator approved bridge with the XLX-604M reflector that is hosted by Ian GM4UPX in the Borders. This also links with the NXDN TG 23551 which is hosted on the NXDN servers here in Dundee & Edinburgh and the P-25 Scottish TG 23551 will also be linked to this multi-protocol TG. We have been involved in work with Jonathan G4KLX who has developed a “Soft bridge” which allows the GB7EU Kenwood NXDN repeater in Edinburgh to be connected directly to the NX core and this will also be part of the TG 23551 multi-protocol talk group. There are several NXDN capable repeaters in the Scottish Central belt / East Coast Area that are well supported by an enthusiastic local user group. There is scope to add additional DV modes to this talk group and offer direct user IP linking with appropriate safeguards in the future. Scot-Multi allows users of DMR, D-Star, NXDN, P25 & YSF to communicate seamlessly on one Talkgroup. For the best audio quality, please connect using the mnode of your radio and avoid using cross-mode options on your hotspot where possible. Remember to leave a 2 second gap between overs to allow others to join in, this also allows time for the network to catch up. LINKING INFORMATION FOR TG23551 DMR use TG23551 on Brandmeister Network D-Star use XLX 604 Module M NXDN use TG23551 NXDN Scotland P25 use TG23551 P25 Scotland YSF use YSF-66571 Room: XLX604
TG 23555 Adopted by Lothian Raynet Lothian Raynet have been in discussion with the BM admins for some time to have a named regional TG for their activities with out success. When the current numbering system was agreed they decided to adopt TG 23555 as a centre of activity on the Brandmeister Network for the Lothians. Whilst no one “owns” an unnamed TG it would be good radio etiquette and common sense to “Give Way “to Raynet traffic on this TG or even better to keep “out of the way” and use one of the other unallocated TG’s such as: 23552 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom & practice use. 23553 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom & practice use. 23554 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom & practice use. 23556 TG * Unallocated / no existing custom & practice use.
Brandmeister DMR Repeater Talk group / Slot allocation.
This is decided by the repeater keeper who may have discussions with users.
As any BM Talk Group can be accessed from either slot on any BM connected repeater the principle driver will be the individual operators radio code plug configuration.
We hope this development would allow a more standardised talk group / slot option on Scottish DMR repeaters whilst retaining the best features of the BM network flexibility.
At the moment it looks like the option of the Regional TG on slot 1 and the Scot Wide TG on slot 2 is the preferred option for the Scot East repeaters.
The Scot H & I Repeaters currently have Regional TG Scot H & I on slot 1 and slot 2 is clear for user access TG’s
DMR Network security.
As with all open systems there are issues with unscrupulous individuals abusing them.
This is a particular issue in large networks that have multiple “open access” entry points like the BM network with over 4600 repeaters and in excess of 15000 IP connected devices giving 19600 access points !
The allocation of DMR ID’s to licenced radio amateurs has now reached 174748 unique ID’s and increasing at a rate of approx. 50 per day 6-10–20
There have been reports of ID theft in relation to criminal activity with cheap easily obtainable equipment being used with PAYG mobile phones that are very difficult to trace.
Brandmeister is the only amateur DMR network that offers protection against unauthorised use of your DMR ID using a feature called
“Air security”
This can be set up on your BM Self-care page and then be enabled and disabled using the page or by sms from your radio or by a mobile phone.
Details of this which are almost another breakfast presentation can be found on the Brandmeister WiKi pages .
You can protect your DMR ID by using the BM Air security feature accessed from your BM Self care page .