Developing an efficient comms plan for day to day use can take time to do it right. Mapping out (DMR) repeaters involves work, research and a plan. If you don’t take these steps you end up with a mess in your codeplug.

This is all of the DMR repeaters in North Carolina, and shows what DMR cluster/network they are on, the common talkgroups, their time slot and what are full time.

Developing a good naming scheme helps develop out the zones, as you have a limited number of characters on a screen and you need to know what repeater and the talkgroup are before you key up your radio. For the DMR network that is in my state I use 2 letters to indicate the repeater followed by a space then the name of the talkgroup. The Interstate DMR repeater network is almost 100 repeaters, maintained by 3 C-Bridges and covers PA, MD, DC, VA, DE and NJ.

It includes zone maps and scan list. In the comms field we call this a fleet map.

The next phase is to either add to an existing codeplug or create a file (csv) so that they can be added to an existing codeplug. In this case I’ll be doing both as I had some in already (the I-95 corridor) but I had thrown them in the existing codeplug without a lot of planning, so this is a cleanup as well as additions. When complete my patreon members will be able to download the csv file from my site to load into their radios.

There is a map that goes with this, it was the 1st phase of mapping where the repeaters are. I’ll have to scan it as it was hand marked on a map.

I have a fleet map for Virgina done they are all in my update, except for the zones and scan list. Once complete I will made that available. A fleet map for South Carolina is mostly completed and again when I have all the repeaters and talkgroups in the codeplug I’ll make that available.

I also do this for analog repeaters. I know which ones I can reliable reach from locations I normally travel. I know which have backup power, which are connected or linked to other repeaters (either by RF or Allstar), which have IRLP or Echolink and which are ‘wide-area coverage’ (wac). I also know which ones are used by/for ARES/RACES/AUXCOMM.

I also have this for GMRS repeaters. Depending where you live you can find GMRS repeaters that are linked by various means. I can reach 5 GMRS repeaters from my home with just a handheld. A couple of them reach over 50 miles!

Doing this helps you develop a solid comms plan for disasters. Remember 99% of the emergencies are not SHTF events, they are local disasters. In most instances you will be able to reach one or more repeaters even if local power and cell service is out.

This is something that all of you should be doing. You do not need a ham or other license to do research.

Once I get these codeplugs developed I’ll write a more in-depth article on the exact steps to do this research.