The DMR discussion at the last activity meeting was insightful. I've been trying to piece the puzzle together since that meeting. Since we have another discussion at this month's activity meeting on the topic I'll probably table a few of the questions below at that meeting. I've been an early adopter of too many technologies over the years and will probably wait until the dust settles on this technology.
Some puzzling questions/observations:
1. CT seems to be ahead of the game with about 26 repeaters active today on UHF and none on VHF, MA with 10 (8 UHF and only 2 VHF), RI with 1 UHF, NY with 21 (3 UHF), 9 in NJ (1 UHF).
2. Connect Systems radios are either UHF or VHF, pick when you purchase. With the disconnect of common bands across Northeast states a dual band radio is really needed INHO.
3. Why did CT pick UHF? Was it due band congestion on VHF? My FM experience with VHF is shorter communication distance verses UHF and more directional.
4. CS700 UHF radio is 20% lower power output than VHF model (FM HT's do the same).
5. CT currently has two networks; CT-ARES and DMR-MARC. I'm still trying to sift through how these Networks and talk-groups work. My interpretation (which is probably wrong), that DMR-MARC can only talk to other DMR-MARC Network nodes, e.g. Wallingford DMR-MARC network could not talk to DCI network in Oregon?
6. I like the idea of the CS-7000 and the protocol update possibilities, proof will be when this device ships how successful it will be.
7. A DMR repeater without cloud connection probably is not a good idea.
8. This is a good reference; http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf
Some puzzling questions/observations:
1. CT seems to be ahead of the game with about 26 repeaters active today on UHF and none on VHF, MA with 10 (8 UHF and only 2 VHF), RI with 1 UHF, NY with 21 (3 UHF), 9 in NJ (1 UHF).
2. Connect Systems radios are either UHF or VHF, pick when you purchase. With the disconnect of common bands across Northeast states a dual band radio is really needed INHO.
3. Why did CT pick UHF? Was it due band congestion on VHF? My FM experience with VHF is shorter communication distance verses UHF and more directional.
4. CS700 UHF radio is 20% lower power output than VHF model (FM HT's do the same).
5. CT currently has two networks; CT-ARES and DMR-MARC. I'm still trying to sift through how these Networks and talk-groups work. My interpretation (which is probably wrong), that DMR-MARC can only talk to other DMR-MARC Network nodes, e.g. Wallingford DMR-MARC network could not talk to DCI network in Oregon?
6. I like the idea of the CS-7000 and the protocol update possibilities, proof will be when this device ships how successful it will be.
7. A DMR repeater without cloud connection probably is not a good idea.
8. This is a good reference; http://www.trbo.org/docs/Amateur_Radio_Guide_to_DMR.pdf
73, Steve - KC1SA
![[-]](https://www.w1nrg.com/forum/themes/corporate/collapse.png "[-]")
