Bridging BrandMeister to Other Modes (YSF, D-STAR, NXDN, P25, etc.)

Bridging BrandMeister DMR to other digital modes allows you to connect with users on YSF (Fusion), D-STAR, NXDN, P25, AllStar, Echolink, and even analog networks. There are two main ways to achieve this:

1. Using a Hotspot (Software-Based Bridging)
2. Using a Hardware-Based RF Bridge (Repeater or RF Gateway)

Method 1: Bridging BrandMeister with a Hotspot (Most Common & Easiest)

If you’re using a hotspot such as Pi-Star (MMDVM), OpenSpot, or DVSwitch, you can create cross-mode links between DMR and other digital networks.

🛠 What You Need:

• A hotspot that supports cross-mode (Pi-Star, OpenSpot, or DVSwitch).
• An active BrandMeister DMR ID and hotspot setup.
• The correct talkgroup-to-room bridge settings for your target mode.

🔗 Step-by-Step: Using Pi-Star to Bridge BrandMeister to Other Modes

1. Access Your Pi-Star Dashboard:
   • Open a web browser and go to http://pi-star.local/ or your Pi-Star IP address.
2. Go to Configuration -> MMDVMHost
   • Enable DMR Mode and the other mode you want to bridge to (e.g., YSF, D-STAR, NXDN).
3. Select a Cross Mode Option:
   • If using YSF, set YSF2DMR.
   • If using D-STAR, set DSTAR2DMR.
   • If using NXDN, set NXDN2DMR.
   • If using P25, set P25Gateway.
4. Enter the Appropriate Talkgroup or Reflector ID:
   • For DMR to YSF, use BrandMeister TG 31000 (YSF Bridge) or select a YSF Reflector.
   • For DMR to D-STAR, use TG 4000 (D-STAR XRF Bridge).
   • For DMR to NXDN, use TG 1200-1299 (NXDN Bridge).
5. Apply Changes & Reboot Your Hotspot.

🌐 BrandMeister Reflector Talkgroups for Bridging

Method 2: RF Bridging via Hardware (Repeaters or RF Gateways)

If you want to bridge DMR repeaters to other digital modes, you’ll need an RF-to-RF connection using hardware like:

• A duplex MMDVM-based repeater
• A hardware RF cross-band gateway (e.g., using AllStarLink)

🛠 What You Need:

• Two radios (one for each mode) connected via audio interfaces.
• A control system like AllStarLink or DVSwitch.
• A way to manage PTT & audio levels between the systems.

Example RF Bridging Setup:

1. Connect a DMR Radio to an Analog Node (e.g., AllStar or Echolink).
2. Use a Second Radio (YSF/D-STAR/NXDN) to Connect to the Other Network.
3. Link Both Radios via Audio & PTT Management Software.

💡 Use Case: Many repeater owners bridge a DMR repeater to an analog AllStar node, allowing analog and DMR users to communicate.

Which Method is Best for You?