Post : The Cacophony of Digital Voice Continues (Part 1)
URL : http://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2016/1...tinues-part-1/
Posted : October 22, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Author : Bob K0NR
Categories : DMR

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It wasn't that long ago that I commented on the state of digital voice on the
VHF/UHF ham bands: Digital Voice Balkanization (
http://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2015/1...balkanization/ ) . We
have three main competing (incompatible) standards in the running: D-STAR (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR ) , DMR (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_mobile_radio ) and Yaesu System Fusion
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Fusion%E2%84%A2 ) (YSF). At a high
level, these three formats all do the same thing but there are significant
differences in implementation (See Comparison of Amateur Radio DV (
http://www.charlottedstar.org/Compar...Radio%20DV.pdf ) by
Roland Kraatz W9HPX.) All three of these are (arguably) open standards,
allowing anyone to implement equipment that supports the standard. However,
the reality is that D-STAR is still largely an ICOM system (with Kenwood
joining the party ( http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/4074.html ) ),
YSF is mostly a Yaesu system and DMR is...well, DMR is not deeply embraced by
any large amateur radio equipment supplier. Instead, DMR is promoted heavily
by Motorola for the commercial market via their MOTOTRBO (
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_.../mototrbo.html
) product line. Another big factor is the availability of DMR radios from
some of the low cost providers in the ham market: Connect Systems (
http://connectsystems.com/amateur.html ) , Tytera MD-380 (
http://www.buytwowayradios.com/produ...d-380-vhf.aspx ) . Baofeng
has also announced a DMR radio but it has some potential shortcomings (
http://www.va3xpr.net/baofeng-dm-5r-...and-dmr-radio/ ) .

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