Monday, November 6, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126:
- What are the Brandmeister rules for state talk groups? There is a 10-minute limit on Brandmeister’s state (4-digits, not 5-digits) talk groups. What about TAC channels? What rules should you follow? What happens if you break the rules and get caught? What about the rules for the TGIF network? We’ll go over our understanding of talk group etiquette and networks.
Tom N8TJ, Stan WB8QJZ, Steve KC8WXM, & Dana KC0MYP
The DMR Tech Net starts at 7:45pm ET on Brandmeister Talk Group 3126 (statewide Michigan) and runs until 8:30pm ET.
Stay on TG-3126 to join the Michigan One DMR net (the longest running Michigan DMR net) at 8:30pm, hosted by Dustin N8RMA.
We are branching out to the TGIF network. The DMR Tech Net team has our own TGIF talk group 31268 that you are welcome to use. We’ll leave the lights on and best of all, there is no 10-minute limit!
https://tgif.network/talkgroups.php
Upcoming DMR Tech Net topics
Monday, November 6, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126:
- What are the Brandmeister rules for state talk groups? There is a 10-minute limit on Brandmeister’s state (4-digits, not 5-digits) talk groups. What about TAC channels? What rules should you follow? What happens if you break the rules and get caught? What about the rules for the TGIF network? We’ll go over our understanding of talk group etiquette and networks.
Monday, November 13, 2023 from 7:45pm ET – 8:30pm ET on Brandmeister’s DMR Talk Group 3126:
- • Hot Keys. What are they, why use them, and how to set them up.
*This is our tentative schedule and it can change*
We have created a website at https://dmrtechnet.net/ for you to keep up with our DMR Tech Net topics.
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We will send out information about our weekly DMR Tech Net topics no more than once or twice a week.
Please check out our website, https://dmrtechnet.net/, and share this newsletter with other DMR users.
Michigan Brandmeister statewide Michigan DMR talk groups:
- 3126 Statewide Michigan (10-minute limit except for nets)
- 31260 Michigan WX ARES EmComm
- 31261 Mi-5 Statewide 1
- 31262 Mi-5 Statewide 2
- 31263 Mi-5 Event 1
- 31264 Michigan TAC
- 31265 Mi-5 Event 3
- 31267 West Michigan Talk Group
- 31268 UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan
- 31269 West Michigan Technical Group
Policies and Rules
BrandMeister Participation rules
Administrators of Master Servers agree to:
- Host a Linux server with a static IP running 24/7 on their country’s internet backbone
- Provide and maintain SSH root access to the BrandMeister development team for maintenance
- Update, maintain and backup the server on a regular basis
- Update the BrandMeister application as updates become available and assist BrandMeister development team and users when troubleshooting is required
- Assist repeater owners, c-bridge owners, and other gateway owners connecting to the Master Server
- Configure static talkgroups at any repeater owner’s request
- Always accept repeater owners located in their countries of operation
- Assist travelling users in accessing any dynamic talkgroups
- Promote a positive image of BrandMeister
Master Servers Administrators shall NOT:
- Interfere with FastForward traffic (between master servers)
- Block incoming or outgoing traffic from repeaters, unless specifically requested by repeater sysop
- Block private calls, unless specifically requested by repeater sysop
- Force repeater owners to use a Static Talkgroup configuration
At any time, if rules are violated, the management team can revoke the license of your system
https://wiki.brandmeister.network/index.php/Policies_and_Rules
Coordinators for a region/country:
United States of America N3FE COREY H DEAN W7XM Anthony Marcin
Operating Etiquette
General Guidelines in operating on the BrandMeister Network
BrandMeister is a worldwide platform allowing Repeaters, Hotspots and other applications to centrally connect and communicate in real-time for amateur radio operators.
These are some general tips/guidance on how to navigate and operate on the network.
- 1.
Be courteous and respectful to fellow amateur radio operators while communication on the network.
- 2.
Be mindful of your language and know there can be many ears listening, even young ones.
- 3.
Listen and Pause… allow space between your conversations to allow others to join into the conversation and to allow hotspots or repeaters to disconnect from a talk group. A good practice is between 2 and 5 seconds.
- 4.
Minimize highly charged conversations such as politics and religions. Some talk groups might be more open to politics and religions but would recommend listening and practicing common sense when talking about highly charged topics.
- 5.
Move to a TAC or Local Talk Group when using a busy or high profile talk group. Be mindful of your communication time and suggest to move to a TAC or Local talk group if the conversation is going to go long.
- 6.
Be Mindful of the Talk Group Label as this will suggest the topic or region it was designated for. Some are meant to be used for a region and when outside stations utilize the talk group be mindful and respective of its usage and time. For example , there should be no instances of two or more outside stations use a talk group designated for another region.
- 7.
Statewide Talk Groups generally in the USA are meant to be calling channels and or short conversations and should move to a local TAC channel when possible. Generally a 10 minute rule exists before some monitoring might join your conversation to politely ask you to move to another talk group. Be mindful these statewide talk groups might be set static on a large number of repeaters statewide. Nets are acceptable on state-wide talk groups.
https://help.brandmeister.us/operating/operating-etiquette
User Blocked Message
If hearing the message “User Blocked” this means you have activated the loop prevention.
What is Loop Prevention
The loop prevention will block an user radio ID for a period of 1 hour on the master the hotspot is connected to after it has been triggered. This is to prevent two or more hotspots that have been configured to be on the same Frequency, Color Code and are in proximity of each other.
What Triggers Loop Prevention
The Loop Prevention will trigger and block the radio ID for a period of 1 hour if it sees the following:
- User keys up for less than 2 seconds
- and user keys more than 5 times
- and the key ups are within a 60 second period.
I am Blocked, What Can I do to get un-blocked?
You have two options for how to resume using your hotspot.
- Option 1: You may connect your hotspot to another BrandMeister server.
- Option 2: Wait 60 minutes for the master server to automatically unblock your radio ID.
What Can I do to prevent this from happening in the future?
To prevent this refer to “What Triggers Loop Prevention” above and keep mindful of how you are interacting with the system.
https://help.brandmeister.us/operating/blocked-message
Talkgroup Block Message
If hearing the message “Talkgroup Blocked” this means the talk group is blocked.
If you here a Talk Group Blocked message this could mean possibly one of the reasons below.
- If accessing a Repeater and receiving this message this most likely means the Repeater owner has asked to block a specific talk group on the repeater from being used.
- If using a hotspot this most likely means the server admin has blocked the specific user(s), hotspot or class of users from accessing the talk group.
- If using a Terminal based system, this most likely means the user did not subscribe or unsubscribed from the talk group before transmitting. The other reason can be the server admin has blocked the specific user(s) or class of users from accessing the talk group.
https://help.brandmeister.us/operating/talkgroup-block-message
| People question some of the rules, to carry Brandmeister talkgroups we must abide by their rules, here they are scroll down. |
DMR Do’s —
- Please put, and verify your email address on QRZ.com. This will help system administrators contact you if there is a problem.
- Disable Talker Alias, or TA when using repeaters.
- Turn on the Talk Permit Tone. Wait until the Talk Permit is finished before talking.
- When making a call, identify the FULL name of the talkgroup you are on. For instance: W3xxx, W3aaa on Maryland State, not just Statewide, or only the talkgroup number. Many stations monitor multiple talkgroups. By not saying the talkgroup you are on you make life difficult for the station that may want to answer your call.
- Regional and State talkgroups are calling channels. Limit your QSOs to 10 minutes. Ragchews are welcomed, and encouraged on Local talkgroups, or acceptable TAC Channels. Here is an article that goes into more detail: DMR Rag Chewing and Hotspot Etiquette
DMR Don’ts –
- Do not call CQ. DMR is not HF. Monitoring or listening is sufficient to let stations know you would like to have a QSO.
- Most States have a designated TAC Channel for In-State QSOs. Please do not use a distant State’s TAC channel. When doing so, that channel is unavailable for the stations within that State.
- Talkgroups that set as PTT (part time) on repeaters are for having QSO’s. Do not repeatedly kerchunk to just keep the talkgroup active to monitor.
- Do not bridge, or connect a talkgroup to another talkgroup, repeater, or network without permission from the talkgroup source.
- Do not hold nets on State talkgroups (Statewide nets are permitted), or on TAC channels.
- Don’t keyup and start speaking, unkey, and then rekey. Some stations believe this prevents doubling. In DMR, it actually causes doubling.
Repeater/Talkgroup Spreadsheet Usage –
- There are separate sheets for timeslots 1 and 2. The repeater frequency is listed on the right side of the sheet of timeslot 1. If the repeater does not use color code 1, it will be noted. The repeater frequency is your receive frequency, so add the TX offset for your radio transmit frequency.
- A Green block denotes a full time talkgroup. You do not have to kerchunk to use, or monitor the talkgroup.
- A Yellow block denotes a part time (PTT) talkgroup. It requires a kerchunk to activate it. The number inside the block specifies how many minutes the talkgroup stays active after you transmit.
- A Red block denotes that the talkgroup is not available. A Red block with TS1, or TS2 denotes the talkgroup is available on the other timeslot.
- The symbol * next to talkgroup number denotes the talkgroup is connected through to the Brandmeister network. If there is no *, it is a c-Bridge accessible only talkgroup.
https://www.delmarvadmr.com/
- Brandmeister has too many rules and if you don’t do things their way they block you.
- It’s odd that you say that. Most DMR repeater owners in my area switched over to Brandmeister when it came along. However, many switched away because they saw Brandmeister as “free for all” giving the repeater owner too little control of their own repeater.
- As I said Brandmeister wants it their way.
- There are reasons for the rules. Because so many users did not use TG 310 as intended, repeater owners were having their output amps destroyed by continuous use when they were not designed for that type of duty cycles. The cost to get on the air if you don’t have to rent an antenna sight is still going to be around $2,000-$3000 for the repeater alone. Because many users choose not to learn good radio practices, the only way to protect equipment is rules and limited access. The Mi5/CMEN network has some strict rules too, so unless the complainers are willing to pay the costs, they might consider a new hobby.
- Or they can move to networks that actually want to carry their traffic. And Brandmeister can sit idle and safe from burnout.
- For one the admins and the dev team are easily accessible should you have a question or concern. They normally hang out on the TGIF talkgroup (31665). They’re getting ready to switch over to a new and improved server, in the near future, and last Friday they hosted a 4 hour long question and answer session with the person responsible for implementing it. They didn’t close the net until there were no more questions. That’s why it lasted so long. That’s something that would never happen on Brandmeister!
They have rules that they enforce, of course, but in the grand scheme of things they are a lot more laid back than what Brandmeister is. That’s because it was founded by a group that finally had enough of Brandmeister’s heavy handed tactics. One of the admins previously stated that they don’t keep their hand on the “ban” button just waiting for someone to make a simple mistake.
I like it there much more than I do Brandmeister. As with any crowd, you’ll have some exceptions, but there seems to be great group of people there for the most part.
https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/brandmeister-and-amatuer-radio.404398/
REPEATER RULES:
The repeaters are privately owned but are made available for the use of GMARS members, as well as the general amateur community. Please follow these rules so we can continue to keep these repeaters open.
EMERGENCY TRAFFIC HAS PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES
SKYWARN TRAFFIC AND SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TAKE PRIORITY OVER ANY NON-EMERGENCY TRAFFIC
No station is to transmit DTMF tones at any time unless given prior permission by a control operator.
Be polite.
Leave space before transmitting in case others need to break in.
This is a linked system. Please pause between keying and speaking to ensure the beginning of your transmission is not cut off.
If you wish to join a conversation in progress, you may announce your callsign in between the transmissions of the stations in QSO. If you have an emergency, use the word “EMERGENCY” to interrupt the QSO in progress. To avoid confusion, DO NOT use the word “break”.