A DMR hotspot is a small, personal device that serves as your own mini-repeater for Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). It uses low-power RF to connect your handheld DMR radio (HT) directly to the internet, giving you access to the global DMR network (such as BrandMeister) from locations where no local DMR repeater is available.

In the same way that Echolink extends access to analog FM repeaters for users who are too far away or out of range, a DMR hotspot extends access to DMR talkgroups for users who are distant from DMR repeaters. Both use the internet as a bridge to connect local RF communications to a wider network of users.

Key Points About DMR Hotspots

• You transmit and receive with your DMR handheld radio over a short-range RF link (usually simplex, low power ~10–50 mW).
• The hotspot receives your signal and forwards the digital DMR packets over the internet to the BrandMeister (or other DMR) network.
• The network routes your audio to everyone else listening on the same talkgroup — whether they are on:
• Their own hotspot
• A local DMR repeater
• Another user’s hotspot anywhere in the world
• Replies come back the same path: internet → your hotspot → your HT.

This creates the experience of talking on a global or regional talkgroup as if you were using a local repeater — even if you’re at home, traveling, or in an area with no DMR coverage.

Simplex vs. Duplex Hotspots

Hotspots are built in two main configurations:

• Simplex Hotspots
• Use a single frequency for both transmit and receive.
• Can only send or receive at one time (half-duplex).
• Common hardware: Raspberry Pi Zero + simplex MMDVM “hat” (e.g., JumboSpot style boards).
• Advantages: Inexpensive, compact, low power consumption.
• Duplex Hotspots
• Use separate transmit and receive frequencies (like a true repeater).
• Can transmit and receive simultaneously (full-duplex).
• Advantages: Smoother for group conversations, no blocking if multiple people key up close together.
• Common hardware: Raspberry Pi 3/4/5 + duplex MMDVM board (e.g., dual-hat or ZumSpot duplex).

Many users start with a simplex hotspot and later upgrade to duplex for better performance on busy talkgroups.

Mobile / Portable Use (No Fixed WiFi Needed)

A very popular setup for travel or areas without home WiFi:

1. Your DMR HT transmits to the hotspot over RF.
2. The hotspot connects via WiFi to your phone’s personal hotspot.
3. Your phone provides internet through its cellular data connection.
4. The full path becomes: HT → hotspot (RF) → phone hotspot (WiFi) → internet → BrandMeister network.

This allows true mobile DMR operation anywhere you have cell service.

Club Support for Hotspot Building

Many club members have built their own hotspots, and the club holds regular work sessions to help anyone who has purchased:

• A Raspberry Pi (Zero for simplex, 3/4/5 for duplex)
• An MMDVM board (simplex or duplex)
• A microSD card (usually pre-loaded with Pi-Star or WPSD software)

During these sessions, experienced members assist with assembly, flashing the SD card, configuring the hotspot (frequency, DMR ID, BrandMeister login), and testing with a DMR HT (often starting with Parrot TG 9990).

Summary of Benefits

• Provides DMR access in places without nearby repeaters — just like Echolink does for analog.
• Uses your own DMR HT directly — no phone app or computer required for basic operation.
• Connects you to worldwide talkgroups (e.g., TG 91 Worldwide, regional, or local nets).
• Low-power, private, and portable.
• Easy to build and configure with club support.

A DMR hotspot is essentially your personal gateway that brings the global DMR network to wherever you are — making distant talkgroups feel local through the combination of short-range RF and internet linking.