Monday Night FreeDMR Net 6th March 2023

1. A Few Notes from the Net
2. Topics and Questions
3. FreeDMR has Many Servers
4. Kerchunk

Participants

1. VK4LEZ Les
2. VK4PK Glenn
3. VK4MWL Michael
4. VK4DMB Doug
5. VK4MPS Karl
6. VK4NSP Shaun
7. VK2FBRU Michael
8. VK4MCU Martin
9. VK4EHT Bruce
10. VK4DU Glenn
11. VK3QB Chris
12. VK4GWR Graheme

A Few Notes from the Net

1. Another successful net with operators learning more about FreeDMR
2. Bruce VK4EHT has done some research on Dial-a-TG and User Activated TG's and is going to write this up for publication.
   Bruce's notes can be found here: FreeDMR Dial-a-TG by VK4EHT
3. VK2WAY is improving the functioning of the Motorola repeaters VK4DU (under test) and VK3RAA on the FreeDMR network.
4. Shaun VK4NSP has also done some homework on Dial-a-TG using information on the FreeDMR-UK website. How about a short writeup, Shaun?
5. Doug, VK4DMR with the help of Ian, VK4LIP has developed a FreeDMR codeplug for his MD380 and joined the net.
6. Graham VK4GWR put in a big effort to get his radio configured and eventually succeeded.
7. Shaun, VK4NSP advised that VK4RJW repeater in Rockhampton, has both Time Slots on FreeDMR.

Topics and Questions

1. How are you finding FreeDMR? Are you enjoying the new DMR Network?
2. How are you accessing the Network, Simplex hotspot, duplex hotspot, or Repeater? What radios are you using?
3. Is FreeDMR truly open? Have you tried more than one Repeater and Server? How do they differ? Do you like peer-to-peer architecture?
4. How do you find the documentation for FreeDMR? Where do you find the best docs?
5. Have you used Dial-a-TG and how do you find it works for you?

FreeDMR has Many Servers

REMEMBER that FreeDMR has many servers to choose from (three in Australia) and each may be configured slightly differently. Each Repeater or Hotspot can connect to any of these servers world wide, can also be configured differently. Try to be aware of these differences. For example, FreeDMR allows you to configure Talk Groups as you see fit. (Where you have administration rights. For example, your hotspot.) There is no matrix to say what TG's are allowed or to specify a time slot.

Kerchunk

In common usage kerchunk definition is, "with a sudden heavy blow or thump". (Wiktionary) For amateur's in general the term kerchunk means to key up the repeater to see if it is there. For amateur's in the digital world is means to open a User Activated repeater to gain service.

It just takes a few seconds on Push-to-Talk (PTT) button on the transceiver to user activate most repeaters, resulting in a kerchunk sound. Then the successive Push-to-Talk's will allow communication to occur until the timer expires which is configured on the repeater or the hotspot you are accessing. This is usually 10 to 15 minutes.