Btech DMR 6X2

[taco6513]

Hello, I am having a problem with my radio. I am not sure who to ask for help.

 

I bought this radio because it is part 90 certified. I will use it for GMRS and HAM operations.

 

Here is what I am having problems with. I am wanting to monitor the local police dept. They are DMR.

I have the Group number, Color Code, and Slot programmed. I receive parts of the traffic. We programmed

in another channel with the same result. I am thinking it is a firmware problem.

 

Has anyone else had problems like this?

 

Thanks

WRCW870

WI5GXD

[BoxCar]

It sounds as if the PD is using two frequencies similar to a repeater operation. Check the frequencies assigned to the PD using ULS. You may find the mobiles sending on a MO while the base is sending on another channel.

[Radioguy7268]

It could be a programming issue, or it could be a "privacy" issue. Most of the CCR "radios on a chip" don't have all the extras that Motorola puts into their radios, like Basic or Enhanced Privacy.

 

If the Police have certain departments or talkgroups that are using the Privacy function, you would have trouble picking up those transmissions in the clear. 

 

You could also be experiencing a CCR moment, where for no good reason, the radio just decides to stop decoding. If turning the radio off, and turning it back on during one of those missing conversations, gets you decoding the same DMR datastream, you can pretty much blame your radio firmware.

 

I can also tell you that the receive selectivity on most of the CCR radios is nowhere near what most commercial Part 90 radios from Kenwood or Motorola would give you. In other words, expect that the CCR will stop receiving as soon as another decently strong transmitting unit on any nearby frequency keys up. That could be another portable in your immediate vicinity, or a high powered base radio even a half mile away.

[WRAF213]

Use promiscuous mode to ensure you have the right settings. One thing I've found is that CCRs won't unmute to DMR systems with RAS enabled, which is commonly set on public safety channels (who probably shouldn't be on DMR anyways). Since you are getting bits and pieces, it may not be the issue. Scrambling/encryption is a possibility as well, and SDR software can indicate what type of traffic is going across the system. I would expect any scrambling to be full-time, so it's probably not that. You can check by going into monitor mode when the receive LED is going, it'll sound like a bunch of weird noises.

 

[Edit] RAS works by altering checksums and including some other types of CSBKs. Because the checksums are altered, radios that verify checksums won't recognize RAS data. This is the case for pretty much every commercial radio out there, since checksums ensure the right data is received. Scanners and SDR software know better, and will work with RAS traffic.

[alex911]

The Police department usually on a "trunk system", so nobody can listen to the entire conversation.

[taco6513]

The problem was the firmware in the radio. Btech put out version 1.07. After I installed it I can hear everything I should.

Been real happy with this radio. The speaker is much louder that the GMRS-V1.

WRCW870

KI5GXD

[A12345a]

I also have this radio.  Very nice.. the extended battery lasts for 2 days for me.  The new firmware now supports APRS so you have APRS and DPRS.  The price of the radio just increased also due to the new features.  I bought mine when it was 140, its now selling for 200.  Ive never seen an appreciation in a radio.

[gman1971]

Usually is firmware related, like taco6513 stated... Anytone has been fairly quick to fix things for the 878, not sure about Btech tho...

 

I ended up with the Alinco MD5 b/c of the much smaller size; however, the simplex repeater on the 6x2 might tip me to get one too. 

 

You should try the Anytone 578 mobile... has a few teething issues but its going to be a real winner once they iron out the bugs...

 

G.

[Lscott]

The site below has some good info on the Anytone, Alinco and Btech DMR radios.

 

http://members.optuszoo.com.au/jason.reilly1/868mods.htm

 

Oh, mode 00014, the password is "878#" typed in without the quote marks.

[gman1971]

Very nice. Thank you for the password, now it is interesting they managed to get the 220 added on the latest firmware.... My 578 had no password to enable Band plan or mode 00014, but I am running mine on Band plan 0, US Commercial mode no VFO. I can switch it, but I prefer to run it so it is "legal"

 

Wish they fixed some of the bugs I am running into on the 578, other than that I am hopeful. It is a pretty decent radio otherwise.

 

G.

[Lscott]

Yeah, I know about the software bugs with the D878UV. Hardware wise it's a nice radio. At least the front end seems better at rejecting out of band or off frequency signals compared to the other cheap Chinese radios I have. The downfall is the firmware and the customer programming software. If you look about every 1 to 3 months they come out with a new version of both ever since the radio was first released. They fix something in one version, then it's broken in the next. I don't understand why when they fix a bug it doesn't stay fixed in later releases. The last one, V1.17, that just came out a few weeks ago I just sent off another bug report about a couple of things that don't work I stumbled a cross or just plain annoying until they get fixed.

 

Now by contrast my TH-D74A has only a few updates and when the bugs get fixed they stay that way. Yes its an expensive radio but you get what you pay for too.

[gman1971]

Agreed, the MD5 is way better than all CCR's I have, even better than the Anytone N-STG8R...

 

The MD5 has been (prior to losing it) pretty reliable, it has never frozen on me, maybe Alinco did something on their own firmware and why they are slow to put the firmware, to deal with bugs coming back... not sure. I hope they get the bugs worked out (and keep them out) on the 578, b/c like you said, the hardware is really nice, even nicer than the 878/MD5... 

 

 

G.

 

Yeah, I know about the software bugs with the D878UV. Hardware wise it's a nice radio. At least the front end seems better at rejecting out of band or off frequency signals compared to the other cheap Chinese radios I have. The downfall is the firmware and the customer programming software. If you look about every 1 to 3 months they come out with a new version of both ever since the radio was first released. They fix something in one version, then it's broken in the next. I don't understand why when they fix a bug it doesn't stay fixed in later releases. The last one, V1.17, that just came out a few weeks ago I just sent off another bug report about a couple of things that don't work I stumbled a cross or just plain annoying until they get fixed.

 

Now by contrast my TH-D74A has only a few updates and when the bugs get fixed they stay that way. Yes its an expensive radio but you get what you pay for too.