Join Us Monday, March 24 As We Discuss “How To Find Active DMR Talkgroups”

Posted on March 21, 2025

Every Monday night, join us on the DMR Tech Net as we try to make Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) easier to understand and fun to use!

Monday night, March 24th, the DMR Tech Net team will go over and discuss “How to find Active DMR Talkgroups.”

Join us on Brandmeister Talk Group 31266 (Michigan Nets channel) for the DMR Tech Net on Monday, starting at 7:30 PM ET.

The net will conclude at 8:25pm to allow time for you to QSY over to BrandMeister talk group 3126 for the Michigan One DMR Net (which begins at 8:30 PM ET).

 

Upcoming (tentative) DMR Tech Net topics:

  • March 24          How to find Active DMR Talkgroups
  • March 31          Codeplug Best Practices – Organizing channels, zones, and talkgroups
  • April 7                 Benoit Sylvestre VE2VB discusses the BrandMeister Canada network
  • April 14              Troubleshooting common DMR issues & how to resolve them
  • April 21              Steve White N2RWE discusses APRS & how you can set up an APRS digipeater
  • Tuesday, April 22    DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Steve White N2RWE explaining APRS.to
  • April 28              DMR etiquette and best practices
  • May 5                  Using Software-Based Radios (like DroidStar or BlueDV) to connect to DMR
  • May 12               Robert Bretzman K4WZV and Steve Smith KWØZ answer your questions about the      TGIF Network & TGIF Products Store
  • May 16-18        Dayton Hamvention
  • May 19               Dayton Hamvention 2025 recap
  • Tuesday, May 20   DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Steve Smith KWØZ about the TGIF Network
  • May 26               How to learn more about DMR
  • June 2                 What is HamShack Hotline & Hams Over IP?
  • June 9                 WB8QJZ explains AllStarLink
  • June 16              Antennas for DMR radios
  • Tuesday, June 17  DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Benoit Sylvestre VE2VB from BrandMeister
  • June 23              Using a Bluetooth headset with DMR
  • June 30              DMR mobile radios hints and tips
  • Jul 7                      DMR apps to use on your cellular phone

If you have a topic suggestion for a future DMR Tech Net, please let us know!  Send the email to Dana@dmrtechnet.net

To read this week’s complete newsletter, open the attached .pdf or go to our website: https://dmrtechnet.net/

 

Finding active DMR talkgroups can be done in several ways, depending on your radio system and network. Here are some effective methods:

  1. Use Online Dashboards & Scanners
  1. Check Repeater & Network Listings
  • RepeaterBook (RepeaterBook) – Lists DMR repeaters and their supported talkgroups.
  • Local Club Websites – Many clubs post their active talkgroups.
  • DMR Network Websites – Networks like DMR-MARC, TGIF, and BrandMeister have talkgroup lists.
  1. Monitor Talkgroups on Your Radio
  • Use a Promiscuous Mode (Monitor Mode) – Some radios, like the AnyTone D878UVII+, can listen to all talkgroups on a timeslot.
  • Scan Function – Program multiple talkgroups and scan for activity.
  1. Ask the Community
  • Join DMR groups on Facebook, Reddit, or Discord.
  • Check with local hams or DMR clubs for active talkgroups in your area.

Promiscuous Mode (also called Digital Monitor on some radios) allows your DMR radio to listen to all talkgroups on a frequency, even if they’re not programmed into your codeplug. This is useful for discovering active talkgroups.

How to Enable Promiscuous Mode on an AnyTone D878UVII+

  1. Turn on the radio.
  2. Enter the Digital Monitor menu:
    • Press the Menu button.
    • Go to Digital Monitor (under the Optional Settings menu).
  3. Select a mode:
    • Single Slot – Monitors only the current timeslot.
    • Double Slot – Monitors both timeslots (best for discovering talkgroups).
  4. Exit the menu – Your radio is now in Digital Monitor mode.

Quick Method (Using a Hotkey)

You can assign a button to quickly toggle Digital Monitor mode:

  1. Go to the radio’s menu.
  2. Select Key Function → Side Keys or PF Keys (depends on your radio).
  3. Set a button (e.g., Side Key 1) to “Digital Monitor.”
  4. Now, pressing this button will enable/disable Promiscuous Mode instantly.

How to Use Promiscuous Mode

  • Tune to an active repeater or hotspot frequency.
  • Enable Digital Monitor.
  • Your radio will now receive all talkgroups on the timeslot(s).
  • When you hear a conversation, check the display for the talkgroup number.
  • If you want to talk back, manually switch to that talkgroup or program it into your codeplug.

To listen to BrandMeister Talkgroup 312366 (Michigan Nets Channel) using Promiscuous Mode (Digital Monitor Mode) on your AnyTone D878UVII+, follow these steps:

Step 1: Set Your Radio to the Right Frequency

Since you’re listening to BrandMeister, you need to be on a frequency connected to the BrandMeister network:

  • If using a repeater: Find a nearby DMR repeater connected to BrandMeister. You can check RepeaterBook for local repeaters.
  • If using a hotspot: Set your radio to the hotspot frequency (e.g., 438.800 MHz, simplex, TS2).

Step 2: Enable Promiscuous Mode (Digital Monitor)

  1. Turn on your radio.
  2. Enter the Digital Monitor menu:
    • Press Menu → Digital Monitor.
  3. Select a mode:
    • Single Slot Mode (monitors only one timeslot)
    • Double Slot Mode (monitors both timeslots – best for scanning talkgroups)
  4. Exit the menu. Your radio is now in Digital Monitor mode and will receive all talkgroups on that frequency.

Step 3: Listen for Talkgroup 312366

  • When someone transmits on Talkgroup 312366, your radio will receive the signal, even if it’s not programmed in.
  • The talkgroup number will appear on the screen when a transmission is received.
  • If you hear traffic and want to reply, you’ll need to manually switch to Talkgroup 312366 (explained below).

Step 4: Program Talkgroup 312366 for Quick Access

If you want to transmit on Talkgroup 312366 after hearing it in Promiscuous Mode:

Option 1: Manually Select TG 312366

  1. Press the PTT button once (lightly) to wake up the screen.
  2. Press the “#” key (or use the keypad) to enter Manual Dial Mode.
  3. Enter “312366” and press PTT.
  4. You can now transmit on Talkgroup 312366.

Option 2: Program It into Your Codeplug

For frequent use, it’s best to add TG 312366 into your codeplug:

  1. Open the AnyTone CPS Software on your computer.
  2. Find the Channel list and create a new channel with:
    • Frequency: Repeater or Hotspot Frequency
    • Color Code: Match the repeater/hotspot
    • Time Slot: Usually TS2 for BrandMeister hotspots
    • Talkgroup ID: 312366
  3. Save and write the updated codeplug to your radio.

Final Tips

✅ Use Promiscuous Mode to listen for unknown talkgroups.
✅ Watch the display to see the talkgroup number when activity occurs.
✅ Program TG 312366 if you want to reply easily.

Setting up the Scan function on a Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) allows you to monitor multiple channels for activity automatically. Here’s how to set up and use the scan function on most AnyTone DMR radios (like the AnyTone D878UVII+):

Step 1: Create a Scan List

Before using the scan function, you need to create a Scan List that includes the channels you want to monitor.

  1. Enter the Menu
    • Press the Menu button.
    • Navigate to Scan → Scan List.
  2. Create a New Scan List
    • Select Add or Create New (depends on your radio model).
    • Give the list a name (e.g., “Local Repeaters”).
  3. Add Channels to the List
    • Select Add Channels and choose the ones you want to scan.
    • You can add both Analog and Digital channels.
  4. Save and Exit

Step 2: Assign the Scan List to a Channel

Now, you need to link the scan list to a specific channel.

  1. Go to the Channel Settings:
    • Menu → Channel → Select a Channel to Edit.
  2. Scroll Down to “Scan List”
    • Select the scan list you just created.
  3. Save and Exit

Step 3: Start Scanning

Once you have a scan list set up, you can start scanning:

  1. Using a Menu Command
    • Press Menu → Scan → Start Scan.
  2. Using a Programmed Button (Recommended)
    • Go to Menu → Settings → Key Function.
    • Assign a Side Key to “Scan.”
    • Now, pressing that key will start/stop scanning instantly.

Step 4: Understanding Scan Behavior

  • The radio will scan through the channels in the list until it detects activity.
  • If Promiscuous Mode (Digital Monitor Mode) is enabled, the radio will hear all talkgroups on a frequency.
  • If you want to stop on a specific channel, simply press the PTT button.
  • To resume scanning, press the scan button again.

Bonus: Adjust Scan Settings (Optional)

  • Scan Hold Time: How long the radio stays on an active channel before resuming scanning.
  • Priority Channel: Allows certain channels to be checked more frequently.

Now you’re set up to scan for activity on your DMR radio!

When setting up scan on a DMR radio, you often see options for CO (Carrier), TO (Time), and SE (Search) scan modes. These determine how the scan reacts when it detects activity on a channel. Here’s what each mode does:

  1. CO – Carrier Operated (Busy Channel Hold)
  • How it works: The scan pauses when it finds an active channel and stays there as long as the signal is present.
  • Resumes scanning: Once the signal drops (the transmission ends), the radio resumes scanning after a short delay.
  • Best for: Monitoring conversations in full without missing other activity.

✅ Example Use Case: If you’re listening for emergency or net traffic and want to hear the full conversation before moving on.

  1. TO – Time Operated (Fixed Hold Time)
  • How it works: The scan pauses when it finds an active channel, but only for a set time (e.g., 5 seconds).
  • Resumes scanning: After the set time expires, scanning continues even if the transmission is still active.
  • Best for: Quickly cycling through channels to check for activity.

✅ Example Use Case: If you want to monitor multiple channels quickly and don’t want to stay locked on one channel for too long.

  1. SE – Search (Stop on Active Channel)
  • How it works: The scan stops completely when it finds an active channel and does not resume scanning automatically.
  • Resumes scanning: Only when you manually restart the scan.
  • Best for: Stopping on the first active channel so you don’t miss key communications.

✅ Example Use Case: If you’re searching for a specific talkgroup or repeater and want to stay on the first active signal you find.

Which One Should You Use?

  • Use CO (Carrier) if you want to listen until a conversation ends.
  • Use TO (Time) if you want to move through channels quickly, even during active transmissions.
  • Use SE (Search) if you want the scan to stop when it finds activity, requiring a manual restart.

Comparing a Police Scanner vs. a Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) for Scanning Active Channels

Both a police scanner and a DMR radio with a scan list can monitor radio activity, but they work differently and have distinct advantages.

  1. How They Work

📡 Police Scanner

  • Designed to scan a wide range of frequencies (VHF, UHF, P25, DMR, NXDN, etc.).
  • Can decode trunked radio systems used by police, fire, EMS, and public safety.
  • Pre-programmed or software-configurable with large channel lists.
  • Typically faster scanning speeds than a DMR radio.

🔊 DMR Radio (Scanning with a Scan List)

  • Can only scan programmed channels and talkgroups (not full frequency bands like a scanner).
  • Works on DMR networks (BrandMeister, DMR-MARC, TGIF, etc.) and analog repeaters.
  • Uses a scan list (preset channels/talkgroups) rather than scanning entire frequency bands.
  • Can use Promiscuous Mode (Digital Monitor) to listen to all talkgroups on a frequency.
  1. Speed of Scanning
Feature Police Scanner DMR Radio (Scan List)
Scanning Speed Fast (can scan 50-100+ channels per second) Slow (limited by DMR system)
Trunking Support Yes (for P25, NXDN, and some DMR networks) No (only pre-programmed DMR talkgroups)
Wideband Scanning Yes (can search whole bands for signals) No (only scans saved channels)
Digital Mode Support Yes (if digital-capable scanner) Only DMR (some radios also do analog)
  • 🏆 Winner for Speed & Wideband Scanning: Police Scanner
  • 🏆 Winner for Active DMR Monitoring: DMR Radio (if using Digital Monitor)
  1. Finding Active Channels

📡 Using a Police Scanner

  • Scans public safety, business, and ham radio frequencies.
  • Can search entire bands (e.g., 144-148 MHz for ham repeaters).
  • Uses Close Call (Uniden) or Signal Stalker (Whistler) to detect nearby signals.

🔊 Using a DMR Radio (Scan List or Promiscuous Mode)

  • Must pre-program repeaters, simplex channels, or talkgroups into a scan list.
  • Can use Promiscuous Mode (Digital Monitor) to hear all talkgroups on a frequency.
  • Works best for monitoring specific networks like BrandMeister or a local repeater.
  1. Use Cases – Which One Should You Use?
Scenario Best Choice Why?
Monitoring police, fire, EMS, and public safety 📡 Police Scanner Can track trunked systems, law enforcement is encrypted in some areas
Scanning DMR repeaters for activity 🔊 DMR Radio Can listen to active talkgroups on repeaters
Searching for unknown frequencies near you 📡 Police Scanner Can search the entire spectrum, not just pre-programmed channels
Listening to BrandMeister or TGIF talkgroups 🔊 DMR Radio Works on amateur radio DMR networks
Hearing all talkgroups on a repeater frequency 🔊 DMR Radio (Digital Monitor) Can listen to all active talkgroups without programming them
Fast scanning across multiple bands 📡 Police Scanner Scans hundreds of channels per second
  1. Conclusion: Which is Better?
  • Use a Police Scanner if you need to scan a wide range of frequencies, monitor trunked systems, or search for unknown signals.
  • Use a DMR Radio if you want to scan specific repeaters, listen to amateur radio DMR networks, or use Promiscuous Mode to monitor talkgroups.

If you’re an amateur radio operator and mainly use DMR, a DMR radio with a well-configured scan list is best. If you need broad scanning capabilities for public safety, a police scanner is the way to go.

If you can’t join us live for the DMR Tech Net, you can always listen to us via BrandMeister’s mobile Hoseline app or their Hoseline desktop software: (https://hose.brandmeister.network/).

We do record the show, so if you miss out and want to listen, or re-listen, to it, you can.  The audio link is located at the very bottom of this post (after the show ends) on our website, along with the AI interpretation of the audio so you can read along.

 

 

You can always chat with the DMR Tech Net team on TGIF talk group 31268, the DMR Tech Net channel or Brandmeister talk group 31266, the Michigan Nets channel.

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To see previous newsletters, check out our website: https://dmrtechnet.net/

The DMR Tech Net team is assisting Dustin N8RMA with NCS duties on the Michigan One DMR Net, Monday nights at 8:30 PM ET on BrandMeister Talk Group 3126, the statewide Michigan calling channel.  Here is the list of the upcoming NCS (Net Control Stations) for the Michigan One DMR Net:

  • Mar 24  Rick AD8KN or Dana KCØMYP
  • Mar 31 6-year anniversary show with Dustin N8RMA
  • Apr 6 Steve KC8WXM
  • Apr 13 Dustin N8RMA or Al N4ALK

https://www.michiganonedmr.net/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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