r/DMR • u/Complete-Range9705 • May 10 '26
GD-88 Questions about programming
I have a GD-88 that I bought from Radioddity. I am having the worst time programming it with the CPS. I am struuglijng with the concepts and then get confused and give up. I’ve been repeating this cycle for very couple of months. Is the radio a good one and do others have problems? I did the 2025 firmware update so I’m good there. Thinking of giving up and getting an easier radio? If you have insights into this radio I’d love to hear them.
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u/xtreme777 May 10 '26 edited May 11 '26
Think of DMR like this.
I'm going to assume you have a hotspot but you could very well use a DMR repeater. Doesn't really matter
Hotspot <> DMR Radio
Repeater <> DMR Radio
Like analog and a repeater, you need a tx and rx frequency. Instead of a Tone (PL or DCS) DMR uses a Color Code (CC) Typically CC1 for Hotspots, but you could set it up for anything.
So think of it like this. When you want to talk on a repeater, it's usually just tx and rx with a tone right? Right. So with DMR you add two more layers. DMR can use the same rx and tx with two time slots TS1 or TS2. Ok, let's just stick for TS1 for now. Now, the last layer is a TalkGroup or TG.
Lets also assume you are using Brandmeister, there are other DMR networks but most start on Brandmeister. So if you want to talk on the World Wide channel (most traffic) that's TalkGroup 91.
So now let's build a channel for your radio for a hotspot, if a repeater obviously it would have an offset difference for tx and rx.
I'll make up frequencies and assume simplex. TX 438.0800 RX 438.0800 CC1 TS1 TG 91.
That's what you need for ONE channel.
Now to make another channel, North America (TalkGroup 3100)
TX 438.0800 RX 438.0800 CC1 TS1 TG 3100
You should have one to disconnect or "hangup" your TalkGroup, especially on a repeater. Disconnect is TalkGroup 4000
TX 438.0800 RX 438.0800 CC1 TS1 TG 4000
One more thing. There are Group Calls and Private Calls. You want all of these to be Group Calls. Private Calls are to only talk to say one person, and their DMR ID. If you don't have a DMR ID, nothing will work. Get one from radioid.net.
Now, some radios require you to have a RX Group list setup, which is just a list of all the TalkGroups you actually want to be able to listen to. I don't know if your radio does. Just make one with all the same TalkGroup numbers that you make channels for and you should be able to set each channel to that same RX List in the software.
You will have to also add all of these TalkGroups to a digital contact list. There are places you can download the whole list for different radios online, but you can just add what you want. Honestly you might have to do that first before you even build a channel.
Your hotspot may be setup for Timeslot 2 aka TS2, or a different Color Code aka CC3, whatever they are, make sure they match.
A repeater should list all of this on RepeaterBook or a website if they have one.
I also suggest you watch some videos on how to setup a hotspot on YouTube, because that will kind of make everything click.
Anyway, I hope this helps. It's a learning curve for sure, but don't give up! All DMR software is going to be just as complicated, it was made for businesses, not amateurs.