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Digital Amateur Radio

Posted on by VA3DBJ

The following are the different digital modes being used the the Durham Region area. Some of the repeaters are in multi-mode, where different modes are available in addition to regular FM voice.

DMR – Digital Mobile Radio

DMR, or Digital Mobile Radio, is explained in more detail, via my scanner DMR page, but a more simplistic explanation follows:

Tier I

DMR Tier I products are for license-free use in the 446 MHz band in the European Union.

This part of the standard provides for consumer applications and low-power commercial applications, using a maximum of 0.5 watt RF power. With a limited number of channels and no use of repeaters, no use of telephone interconnects, fixed/integrated antennas, and a talk timer of 180 seconds, Tier I DMR devices are best suited for personal use, recreation, small retail and other settings that do not require wide area coverage or advanced features.

Tier II

DMR Tier II covers licensed conventional radio systems, mobiles and hand portables operating in PMR frequency bands from 66-960MHz. The ETSI DMR Tier II standard is targeted at those users who need spectral efficiency, advanced voice features and integrated IP data services in licensed bands for high-power communications. ETSI DMR Tier II specifies two slot TDMA in 12.5 kHz channels.

DMR Tier II is based on the following ETSI standards.

  • ETSI TS 102 361-1 Air interface
  • ETSI TS 102 361-2 Voice and generic services and facilities
  • ETSI TS 102 361-3 Data protocol

Tier III

DMR Tier III covers trunking operation in frequency bands 66-960MHz. The Tier III standard specifies two slot TDMA in 12.5kHz channels. Tier III supports voice and short messaging handling similar to MPT 1327 with built-in 128 character status messaging and short messaging with up to 288 bits of data in a variety of formats. It also supports packet data service in a variety of formats, including support for IPv4 and IPv6.

Talk Groups

Talk Groups (TG) are a way for groups of users to share a time slot, without distracting and disrupting other users of the time slot. It should be noted that only one Talk Group can be using a time slot at a time. If your radio is not programmed to listen to a Talk Group, you will not hear that Talk Group’s traffic.

The DMR-MARC Mototrbo™ network supports a number of Talk Groups on TS1 including World Wide (TG1, PTT), North America (TG3), and World Wide English (TG13). TS2 is for local, state, and regional Talk Groups. The DCI/TRBO network uses TG3163 for North America and TG3161 for World Wide, and TG3 for World Wide English on TS2.

The DMR standard also supports private calls (one-to-one), encryption, and data. Private calls are not allowed by most of the amateur networks and many consider private calls not amateur friendly; private calls tie up a large number of repeater time slots across the network. Encryption is not legal on amateur radio in the USA but is allowed in Canada! Data and text messaging is supported on some networks.

For simplex traffic, the accepted standard in the amateur community is to use TG99 on TS1 with CC1.

DMR Repeaters

The following DMR repeaters are available in the Durham Region area:

BrandMeister Network

VE3OBI – Courtice – 442.1375 – CC1
VE3SBX – Ajax – 442.3625 – CC3
VE3LBN – Oshawa – 443.9875 – CC3
VA3WIK – Toronto – 442.1875 – CC4
VE3NUS – Toronto – 444.2875 – CC1

TalkGroups
9 = Local/Region
91 = Worldwide
93 = North America
99 = Simplex
302 = Canada
310 = TAC-310
311 = TAC-311
3023 = Ontario

DMR-MARC Network

VA3XPR – Toronto – 442.3375 – CC1 (Disabled due to jamming)

The following are the different digital modes being used the the Durham Region area. Some of the repeaters are in multi-mode, where different modes are available in addition to regular FM voice.

DMR – Digital Mobile Radio

DMR, or Digital Mobile Radio, is explained in more detail, via my scanner DMR page, but a more simplistic explanation follows:

Tier I

DMR Tier I products are for license-free use in the 446 MHz band in the European Union.

This part of the standard provides for consumer applications and low-power commercial applications, using a maximum of 0.5 watt RF power. With a limited number of channels and no use of repeaters, no use of telephone interconnects, fixed/integrated antennas, and a talk timer of 180 seconds, Tier I DMR devices are best suited for personal use, recreation, small retail and other settings that do not require wide area coverage or advanced features.

Tier II

DMR Tier II covers licensed conventional radio systems, mobiles and hand portables operating in PMR frequency bands from 66-960MHz. The ETSI DMR Tier II standard is targeted at those users who need spectral efficiency, advanced voice features and integrated IP data services in licensed bands for high-power communications. ETSI DMR Tier II specifies two slot TDMA in 12.5 kHz channels.

DMR Tier II is based on the following ETSI standards.

  • ETSI TS 102 361-1 Air interface
  • ETSI TS 102 361-2 Voice and generic services and facilities
  • ETSI TS 102 361-3 Data protocol

Tier III

DMR Tier III covers trunking operation in frequency bands 66-960MHz. The Tier III standard specifies two slot TDMA in 12.5kHz channels. Tier III supports voice and short messaging handling similar to MPT 1327 with built-in 128 character status messaging and short messaging with up to 288 bits of data in a variety of formats. It also supports packet data service in a variety of formats, including support for IPv4 and IPv6.

Talk Groups

Talk Groups (TG) are a way for groups of users to share a time slot, without distracting and disrupting other users of the time slot. It should be noted that only one Talk Group can be using a time slot at a time. If your radio is not programmed to listen to a Talk Group, you will not hear that Talk Group’s traffic.

The DMR-MARC Mototrbo™ network supports a number of Talk Groups on TS1 including World Wide (TG1, PTT), North America (TG3), and World Wide English (TG13). TS2 is for local, state, and regional Talk Groups. The DCI/TRBO network uses TG3163 for North America and TG3161 for World Wide, and TG3 for World Wide English on TS2.

The DMR standard also supports private calls (one-to-one), encryption, and data. Private calls are not allowed by most of the amateur networks and many consider private calls not amateur friendly; private calls tie up a large number of repeater time slots across the network. Encryption is not legal on amateur radio in the USA but is allowed in Canada! Data and text messaging is supported on some networks.

For simplex traffic, the accepted standard in the amateur community is to use TG99 on TS1 with CC1.

DMR Repeaters

The following DMR repeaters are available in the Durham Region area:

BrandMeister Network

VE3OBI – Courtice – 442.1375 – CC1
VE3SBX – Ajax – 442.3625 – CC3
VE3LBN – Oshawa – 443.9875 – CC3
VA3WIK – Toronto – 442.1875 – CC4
VE3NUS – Toronto – 444.2875 – CC1

TalkGroups
9 = Local/Region
91 = Worldwide
93 = North America
99 = Simplex
302 = Canada
310 = TAC-310
311 = TAC-311
3023 = Ontario

DMR-MARC Network

VA3XPR – Toronto – 442.3375 – CC1 (Disabled due to jamming)

TalkGroups
1 = World Wide
2 = Local 1
3 = North America
8 = Golden Horseshoe Area
9 = Local 2
13 = WW English
113 = UAE 1
123 = UAE 2
302 = Canada
310 = TAC310
3023 = Ontario
3022 = Quebec
3024 = Manitoba
3026 = Alberta
3029 = New Brunswick
3027 = British Columbia
9998 = Parrot
9999 = Audio Test

Presently, all Toronto area DMR-MARC repeaters have been disabled due to jamming/interference.

NXDN – Next Generation Digital Narrowband

The NXDN (Next Generation Digital Narrowband) common air interface protocol, which was developed jointly by ICOM and Kenwood, uses Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), employing a 4-level FSK modulation scheme. These companies and others together form the NXDN Forum.

Kenwood’s brand for NXDN equipment is “NEXEDGE”, while Icom’s brand for NXDN equipment is “IDAS”, or Icom Digital Advanced System. For a more detailed information via my scanner NXDN page.

NXDN Repeaters

The following NXDN repeaters are available in the Durham Region area:

TalkGroups
1 = World Wide
2 = Local 1
3 = North America
8 = Golden Horseshoe Area
9 = Local 2
13 = WW English
113 = UAE 1
123 = UAE 2
302 = Canada
310 = TAC310
3023 = Ontario
3022 = Quebec
3024 = Manitoba
3026 = Alberta
3029 = New Brunswick
3027 = British Columbia
9998 = Parrot
9999 = Audio Test

Presently, all Toronto area DMR-MARC repeaters have been disabled due to jamming/interference.

NXDN – Next Generation Digital Narrowband

The NXDN (Next Generation Digital Narrowband) common air interface protocol, which was developed jointly by ICOM and Kenwood, uses Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), employing a 4-level FSK modulation scheme. These companies and others together form the NXDN Forum.

Kenwood’s brand for NXDN equipment is “NEXEDGE”, while Icom’s brand for NXDN equipment is “IDAS”, or Icom Digital Advanced System. For a more detailed information via my scanner NXDN page.

NXDN Repeaters

The following NXDN repeaters are available in the Durham Region area:

Work in progress..

Durham Radio Closes Business

Posted on by VA3DBJ
RAC – We have received the sad news that Durham Radio Sales & Service Inc has decided to cease operations. 

A message on their website made the following announcement:

“We regret to inform you that Durham Radio Sales & Service Inc., after nearly 25 years in the industry – closed its doors forever at 3:00 PM on Saturday, April 14th. We would like to thank our dedicated staff, loyal customers and friends for your continued support and for many great years in this hobby.

Unfortunately, times have changed and it has become impossible to remain competitive in this industry without making drastic changes to our business model. We have decided that it would be better to close the business rather than change the products we carry and reduce customer service.”

Radio Amateurs of Canada was formed around the same time as Durham Radio began and we enjoyed a great relationship with them during the years. They were a regular advertiser in The Canadian Amateur magazine for much of that time.

Thank you Keith and Alma and all your staff for everything.

For more information please visit: https://durhamradio.com

Revised Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Revised Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations now includes additional 15 kHz for 60 Metre Band with the same power limits as earlier allocated spot frequencies.

RAC – In August 2017, the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) issued “Proposed Revisions to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations”. These proposed changes followed decisions made at the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2015 (WRC-15) that included a 15 kHz-wide allocation for the Amateur Service in the 60 metre band. The proposed revisions to the Table would retain the original five 5 MHz spot frequencies with 100 watts of effective radiated power, but restrict the new 15 kHz allocation to only 15 watts (eirp), the agreement at WRC-15 that accommodated concerns of a few countries over possible interference to their domestic communications. Decisions these days at World Radio Conferences require unanimous consent of all member nations.  

Radio Amateurs of Canada noted in its response to the proposed changes that there had been no reports of interference from Amateur Radio operations on the existing five 60m spot frequencies following their use in Canada since 2014 and in the USA for even longer. Further, the rationale for allocating the spot frequencies had been based on the value of 60m for emergency communications and the low power limit adopted at the WRC would seriously limit this use. Other responses from the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (of which RAC is a member organization), the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club, the Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland and several individual Radio Amateurs also recommended 100 watts. The new allocation will be more effective and manageable for domestic SSB communications and consistent with the existing use of the band on the five spot frequencies now enjoyed by Canadian Amateurs. The responses can be read at: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf11346.html  

We are happy to report that in their release of the Revised Table of Frequency Allocations (http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10759.html) issued on April 13, 2018, ISED has addressed the concerns of the Canadian Amateur Radio community. The Revised Table now allocates the band 5351. kHz5 – 5366.5 kHz (which overlaps one of the previous 60m spot frequencies) and the four previously allocated spot frequencies (5332, 5348, 5373 and 5405 kHz). The conditions for the use of the band and spot frequencies remain the same as those governing the spot frequencies previously: maximum effective radiated power of 100 watts PEP,  2.8 kHz emission bandwidth and permitted modes telephony, data, RTTY and CW. The Table notes that the Amateur 60m allocations are not in accordance with international frequency allocations and that Canadian Amateur operations shall not cause interference to fixed or mobile operations in Canada or other countries. As in the previous allocation of the spot frequencies, the Table notes that if interference occurs the Amateur Service may be required to cease operations. This is a standard condition of domestic allocations and as noted previously by RAC has not occurred during operation on the previously allocated and authorized spot frequencies.  

Even though the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations now identifies this new 60 metre allocation for the Amateur Service, Canadian Amateurs must await authorization by ISED before using the new 15 kHz segment. Such authorization is normally effected via a revised issue of document RBR-4 – Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service(https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10650.html). Radio Amateurs of Canada will be urging ISED to authorize the new 15 kHz segment as soon as possible.  

Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
RAC President and Chair
[email protected]

HAM Radio Operators Still Have Role To Play

Posted on by VA3DBJ

ANNE FARRIES – The people who keep communication lines open when disaster strikes are looking for new talent.

That’s amateur radio clubs, and they’re increasingly filled by people above the age of 50, who would like to prepare the following generation to help in a crisis, says Mike Johnson, emergency management co-ordinator for Cumberland County.

“We have so much technology that we rely on, and when it’s taken away, it creates a problem,” Johnson said Thursday. “There’s no question we need new blood.”

Once licensed, amateur radio operators — or HAM operators — can “set up a radio with a 12-volt battery and transmit to the world, to let them know how things are,” Johnson said.

In a crisis, if the servers that look after cellphone and landline transmission are down, “getting hold of emergency responders gets to be difficult, because people who live in, say, a 661 prefix can’t call a 667 prefix, so they can’t get through to the emergency service,” Johnson said.

So in Cumberland County, for example, “ (HAM) radio members go to the various fire departments where we’ve already arranged equipment,” Johnson said.

“We broadcast to the public: If you have an emergency, please call the local fire department. From the local fire department that information is passed on to the amateur radio member, who relays it through to a central location where the appropriate organization — ambulance, fire, police — is able to respond to the incident.”

That system was formalized in 2008, after a backhoe on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway in Amherst cut the fibre-optic cable, Johnson said.

“All digital communication east of that point to Newfoundland went down. ATMs, all 1-800 numbers, 911 — even TMR (trunk mobile radio, used by police and fire services) linking is done by Internet, so the communication between TMR towers went down.

“It was a major communication loss.”

During that incident, fire departments radioed emergency calls to a central location, where the appropriate agency was notified.

That led to amateur radio clubs agreeing to provide service to several fire stations in Cumberland County and now, “they’re deeply entrenched with us,” Johnson said.

“They have offices in here . . . with high-frequency radios for worldwide communication, as well as VHF for local communication.

“We purchase equipment, they maintain the process. So we get a lot of free work out them and they get some equipment out of us. It works out very well.”

There are about 35 people in the Westcumb Amateur Radio Club, one of 29 clubs in the Maritimes. Members share technical tips and run field days, including fox hunts, where a low-power transmitter is hidden and the person who finds it first wins a free radio.

They also help in fundraisers, such as athletic races through areas where cellphone service is not available.

“We have a very active organization here, a forward-looking group of people, and we have a great relationship with the municipality,” Johnson said.

A list of clubs in Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and New Brunswick is available at http://www.maritimeamateur.ca/