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73 N5RVT - Randy
I wanted to participate in the net, but couldn’t find a cBridge repeater in my area. My question has most likely been asked and answered, but for my info I’ll ask it again. Why is the STX ARES DMR Net limited to cBridge?
- STX ARES encompasses many districts beyond the gulf coast and where cBridge isn’t available.
- There are more Brandmeister connected repeaters than cBridge in the STX ARES Regions.
- Many areas in STX ARES regions don’t have any DMR repeaters, but could connect via a Brandmeister talkgroup and hotspot.
- There is even an android app (DroidStar) where you can use you cell phone to connect to Brandmeister talkgroups.
- As an alternative to using Brandmeister is it possible for the cBridge networks to cross connect with Brandmeister for the net?
- If the net was opened to Brandmeister, I’m confident you’d see a much higher participation rate.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Paul Bennett
K5BFR
STX ARES District 7
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Hiya Paul!
Hopefully, I can answer your questions, and, no, you certainly are not the first to bring these things up!
Let me give you some history:
The cBridges in Texas are owned an operated by individuals who decided a long time ago to NOT connect in any way to BrandMeister, as there were historically many folks NOT in Texas that would randomly have LONG QSO’s on TX StateWide, thus activating and keying up dozens and dozens of machines throughout the State with, say, 2 Hams in Florida having a conversation. i.e.: they did not respect the rules of the road. So, the cBridge owners decided years ago to isolate from BM.
Even if we DID use a BM TalkGroup for the Net, 8686 is not carried by BrandMeister, at least as the SETECG (more on that later).
If we DID use a BM talkgroup for the SETECG/STX ARES net, this would preclude any Ham in STX who does NOT have a HotSpot from joining the Net, as there are VERY few BM-Connected repeaters in STX.
I was a DEC in STX and very involved in ARES development, and I proposed that we implement a DMR component as part of our ‘toolbox’. I was told (and recently was REMINDED) that DMR is NOT part of the comms plans for STX ARES. I kinda forged ahead anyway and approached Tracy, N5LUY, who was one of the ‘owners’ of the South East Texas Emergency Communications Group (SETECG) and requested permission to use the talkgroup for a monthly STX ARES Net. He agreed, and we tarted the monthly net on the first Friday, giving the caveat that the net was NOT an ‘official’ STX ARES DMR net, but held in conjunction with the SETECG.
All that being said, I am a co-admin of the dmrtexas.net web site, which lists the DMR repeaters in the whole state. I can tell you that with few exceptions, most of the DMR Repeaters in STX carry 8686. Those that do not do not follow the geographic intended purpose of the SETECG, which was primarily formed for Houston-Galveston-Liberty-Montgomery area.
NOW- Most all of this was decided long before I came to TX in 2019 and gave up my Yankee Ways. I do NOT speak for STX ARES, nor do I speak for the cBridge owner/operators who spend their money on HW and SW to keep the systems running. But – I CAN tell you that Jason, KC5HWB (owner of cBridge2.0 and one of the biggest YouTube Ham Radio proselytizers), has intimated that there MAY be some limited connectivity between cBridge TX TalkGroups and BM TalkGroups in the future.
Once again, the DMR component of Ham Radio is NOT part of the communications plan for STX. (You would have to talk to Jeff Walter, the STX SEC, and Stuart Wolfe, the SC, to get that changed. I gave up) With all due respect to Jeff and Stuart, whom I have great respect for, I have become uninvolved in attempting to get ARES in South TX to adopt more AUXCOMM-Centric modalities, such as DMR, P25, VARA P2P, etc… All it did was gain me enemies and brand me as a rebel. Lol
In summation, hopefully there will come a day when ARES starts to adopt newer technologies and does not insist on the ‘when all else fails’ frame of mind vis’ a vis’ Emergency Communications. The existing current Public Service radio infrastructure has gone beyond the immediate need for Ham Operators to be immediately needed when something bad happens. I don’t want to see Ham Radio become an anachronism for AHJ’s (Agencies Having Jurisdiction) that we have historically served.
Anyway, I hope that gives you a basic idea of why the DMR 8686 net is what it is. I wish I could do more, but it is basically out of my control.
Peace & 73….
WA5LEE
Lee Glassman, ARRL/ANCHORAGE VE, COM-L, COM-T, AUXC,
**RADO, ITSL, NREMT #**E3525310
Tomball, Texas
Pronouns: Him/He
HCOHSEM AUXCOMM
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Somebody came up with this long before I came along. I support last the mile of communication, not first line of communication that is set up to fail.
Everyone is included. No ownerships, hotspot, internet, or any other connectivity needed.
Certain exclusions do apply for those that can’t behave right. No exclusions occur because you have Brand A radio instead of Brand B or Brand C.
Let’s not bring up the problem of using WinLink on DMR.
Jeffery A Walter – KE5FGA
ARRL STX SEC
RACES 16-201-U
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If I can add a comment since the current ARES Emergency Response plan came about when I was Section Manager. Here is the thoughts behind why we do not have DMR , DSTAR etc in the plan –
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Hello everyone. I have a Kenwood TM-271A (2m mobile) and I am looking for a programming cable (USB on the computer end) that I can use with CHIRP. Does anyone have a cost-conscious recommendation?
73,
Dave Coles
WD5JIM
I found one and purchased it; I think on Amazon.com, but it could also have been on Gigaparts. Check both. Prices are not high less than $30, if I remember correctly.
73 de KA7SSR
Jim Vineyard
@ Philip and @ Jim:
Thank you for your suggestions. I purchased the Fumei 8-in-1 cable ($11.99). My Icom T7H programmed without a hitch on Chirp. I could not get Chirp to recognize my Kenwood TM271A (despite Chirp saying it is on their list), but the cable worked fine on Kenwood’s MCP-1A (free) programming software. Bottom line: the cable worked fine and all is good. I’ll keep tinkering with the Kenwood on Chirp just for the experience… maybe I’m doing something wrong. Anyway, THANKS Philip and Jim.
73,
Dave Coles
WD5JIM
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