WRYS709

I had 0 problems with programming my DM-1701 for the brief time I owned it. Link for me the CPS that you are using. How did you find it? Was it included in the box; I suspect not. What computer do you use? Which flavor of Windows? If you get this frustrated with programming, working with DMR programming will not get better. With all due respect, you need to take a few deep breathes, relax and give it more than 2 hours for help to arrive!

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You need a codeplug specifically configured for your DM-32 and the DMR repeaters in your area. Since the DM-32 is relatively new and each radio's codeplug is different (except for OpenGD77, which are interchangeable), you need to contact some Ham or Ham Club in your area that has a DM-32 and has written a codeplug. When I was "younger" I used to look forward to these challenges to help strangers; now not so much, especially for radios that I have little or no respect for.

Go to: https://www.mygmrs.com/map and enter your city and state:

You probably clicked the website button twice after thinking the first time it did not go through...

Yes, it will be good "out of the box" and available to you to upgrade the firmware to OpenGD77 when you are more comfortable with that process. In my experience, I could not get the DM-1701 to transmit on GMRS, but @BoxCar responded that they can be "opened." Perhaps he will reply with more information. My RD-5R and DM-5R both easily work on GMRS and MURS (analog, of course!)

Another option is the TYT - MD-390 with OpenGD77 already installed for $119 with free shipping from Los Angeles, but this might be out of your price range: https://letsgetreadyinc.com/opengd390plus [NOTE: I do not get a commission; I am only a satisfied customer of this company]

Yes. Do you have access to a DMR repeater from your home or will you use a hotspot (which acts like a "mini-repeater" and connects to the internet through WiFi)?

Ok, you have moved this discussion to this thread and I will answer all of your questions here: I have not read L.Scott's attachment paper about DMR and I suspect that it is chocked full of helpful information. I will try to read it later. My experience with DMR is specifically Ham Radio and Brandmeister. There is a whole world of DMR use in the Business Bands that pre-date all this, but that is not my experience. Brandmeister is the protocol that took a primarily business radio format and converted it into a Ham Radio friendly style. I discovered the Baofeng UV-5R in 2016 on Amazon and given the price point I quickly started to build a small collection: 5 watts, then tri-band, then 8 watts and then I started buying accessories, primarily higher capacity rechargeable batteries. Remember accessories can add up in cost, so this became a factor when I decided to jump into DMR in 2018. I discovered that Radioddity took the electronics of their GD-77 model and reformulated them to fit in a UV-5R case and sold it as the RD-5R. As the then cheapest DMR HT available at that time, I purchased one to experiment with; in the event it bored me and I put it up on the shelf. The other importance of that model, other than price, was that my collection of UV-5R accessories, primarily my high capacity batteries, fit on and worked with the RD-5R. The initial problem with DMR is the learning curve to write your own "code plug" which tells the radio all of the necessary parameters are needed. Chirp and most analog radios are programmed like a "flat" database (think of a spreadsheet, where each column tells the analog radio what channel number, channel name, frequency, offset and tones are needed for each channel). DMR is programmed like a "relational" database which creates separate groups of related information and the software, as directed by the codeplug, tells each channel how to utilize the important factors needed to communicate with a specific TalkGroup. Once you understand the underlying definitions, DMR gets easier and easier to use. Hence, getting a codeplug from a ham radio group or "Elmer" in your area is a great way to start and modify it from there for your needs. The problem with the cheaper, starter DMR radios, is that they are missing more advanced features and more complicated to program. The OpenGD77 project developed a new firmware for many of these "cheapies" so that they acquire the more advanced features of radios hundreds of dollars more expensive and ease up the required codeplug, since a codeplug for one OpenGD77 radio will work in all of your OpenGD77 radios. The problem with my historical experience is that Radioddity stopped manufacturing the RD-5R so Baofeng stepped in and came out with their version, the DM-5R Model 2, but now that one is out of production too. Earlier this year I purchased the Baofeng DM-1701, the now cheapest of their DMR HTs available, to see how easy it was to install OpenGD 77. It was about $50 from AliExpress and OpenGD77 installed very easily and my existing codeplug worked immediately. Not being interested in using that radio over my RD-5R and DM-5R, I gave it away to a local new Ham who made a donation to our analog and DMR Repeater Group. There is much "excitement" about the DM-32 just released by Baofeng, but since it is not OpenGD77 compatible, I have no interest in it as an "inexpensive" DMR radio. That all being said, you have made your choice and I have no experience with that radio. It will of course work for you with the limitations of "cheapie" features and more complicated programming. But both disadvantages can be overcome and you will enjoy DMR. Good luck!

Unfortunately you’ve picked one that is not capable of using the OpenGD77 firmware, which adds ease of use and more capable functions to the more inexpensive DMR radios.

Consistent and reliable, non-emergency communication, all around the world. You can’t rely on the internet in a true emergency.

Remind me again: what DMR radio are you wanting to learn to program?

Well at least you won it, and didn’t have to spend, say, $97 for it!! Sounds like it’s a DMR dud!

I am sending this one back! It requires unscrewing and screwing the two screws each time.

Congratulations! Get your easy to pass Tech soon. Look for an available DM-32 codeplug from a local Ham Radio club to modify for your needs. That is easier than starting to program one from scratch.

This thread is exactly the reason I recommend never using “Technical Discussion:” Now it is a popularity contest rather than an intelligent chronological discussion of the issues!

Yes in Los Angeles If you want to send it to me at my address here on myGMRS with a prepaid return label, I woukd be happy to do it for you. Let me know your digital ID, too Is there no Ham Radio club nearby you in GA? Another option is to just purchase a preloaded OpenGD77 on a TYT-390 from Lets Get Ready Radios for $119 free shipping from Los Angeles (I do not get any commission): https://letsgetreadyinc.com/opengd390plus

Ok,thanks; no good for me then. I am looking for an upgraded 5200 MAh USB-C battery for my DMRs; I just ordered the 3800 high capacity one with USB-C from Amazon:

Opens fine now. That one has different connectors than the classic UV-5R models

Still having problems with this link; even on my Mac in addition to my iPhone. Is it just me? Do these work with the older style format: UV-5R, DM-5R and RD-5R?

Typically it is a driver problem. Have you programmed any other radios with this computer/Windows 10? Do you have the "official" USB to K-1 cable that is designed for this radio? Similar to Baofengs DMR RD-5R and DM-5R radios, the USB chip is inside the radio and hence the cable does not have a USB chip, so that Baofeng cables for the UV-5R and other analog radios will not work here. I purchased a few extra cable from AliExpress for less than $3 apiece and they work fine! I did have problems attempting to install OpenGD77 on a DM-1701 in Windows 11, so I went back to Windows 10 and it installed flawlessly. BTW: I personally hate the "flaw" in these Technical Discussions posts that rank them by "popularity!" In the future, I would suggest these types of questions be posted on the Ham Radio subtopic here on myGMRS.

Why are you telling this to OP who already IS a licensed Ham?!? I am convinced that some of the members of this Forum think they get paid by their sheer number of posts!!

"The Smiley "5/8 wave" duck antenna is not a true 5/8 wave antenna in terms of physical length. It's an electrically 5/8 wave antenna achieved through the use of a loading coil. This means the antenna is physically shorter than a true 5/8 wave antenna but still resonates at the desired frequency. "Here's a more detailed explanation: • True 5/8 Wave Antenna: 
A true 5/8 wave antenna is physically 5/8 the length of the wavelength of the desired frequency. 
 • Smiley "5/8 Wave" Duck Antenna: 
This antenna uses a loading coil to shorten its physical length while maintaining the electrical characteristics of a 5/8 wave antenna. 
 • Loading Coil: 
The loading coil acts as an inductor, effectively increasing the electrical length of the antenna without increasing its physical size. 
 • Performance: 
While the Smiley duck is designed to perform like a 5/8 wave antenna, it may not achieve the same gain and performance as a true 5/8 wave antenna, particularly in open terrain. 
 • Advantages: 
The compact size of the Smiley duck antenna makes it ideal for handheld radios, and some users say it can provide better performance than a standard 1/4 wave antenna. " Let the buyer, beware!

Says the disparager...

Proves again, that by keeping the original thread title, every new post here falsely disparages Radioddity!!