Plain-English definitions of the terms used in this guide.
BrandMeister — One of the largest worldwide DMR networks, and one of the two networks this guide connects your hotspot to.
Callsign — Your unique, FCC-assigned identifier as a licensed ham (for example, N6JET). You use it on the air and when registering for DMR services.
Channel — A single entry in your radio's memory, set to one talk group. You switch channels to switch talk groups.
Code plug — The complete set of programming inside your radio — its channels, zones, talk groups, and settings. You build it on the computer and write it to the radio.
Color code — A number from 0 to 15 that acts like a DMR “lock.” Your radio and your hotspot must use the same color code to talk to each other — think of it like a CTCSS/PL tone in the analog world.
CPS — Customer Programming Software: the manufacturer's program (here, AnyTone's) you use on a PC to build your code plug and write it to the radio.
Crossmode — A bridge that lets your DMR radio reach a different digital mode. DMR2NXDN, DMR2YSF, and DMR2XLX let one DMR radio talk to NXDN, Fusion (YSF), and XLX systems.
Dashboard — The web page (the WPSD interface) you open in a browser to see and control your hotspot.
DMR — Digital Mobile Radio: the digital voice mode this whole guide is built around.
DMR Gateway — Software in the hotspot that lets it connect to several DMR networks at once and route each talk group to the right one. It's what makes two networks (and the crossmodes) work together.
DMR ID — A unique number (usually 7 digits) tied to you and your callsign. Every DMR network uses it to identify who's talking. Free from radioid.net.
DMR network — A worldwide system of internet-linked DMR servers, repeaters, and hotspots. BrandMeister and TGIF are two such networks.
ESSID — Extra digits added to the end of your DMR ID so you can run more than one hotspot or device on the same ID without conflict. (Not the same as a WiFi SSID.)
FRN — FCC Registration Number: your account number with the FCC, used to log in and download your official license.
Hotspot — The small device in your home that links your radio to DMR networks over the internet — your own personal, low-power gateway.
Hotspot security password — A personal password you set in BrandMeister SelfCare so no one else can connect using your DMR ID. You choose this one.
MMDVM — Multi-Mode Digital Voice Modem: the board inside the hotspot that does the actual radio work. WPSD is the software that runs it.
NXDN — A digital voice mode used by some systems and repeaters, reachable from your DMR radio through the DMR2NXDN crossmode.
Parrot — A test service that records your transmission and plays it right back, so you can confirm your hotspot is working and hear how you sound.
Raspberry Pi — The small single-board computer the hotspot runs on. WPSD is written to its SD card.
Reflector — A “meeting room” that links many hotspots and repeaters together so everyone connected hears the same conversation. XLX is a type of reflector.
RX group (Receive Group List) — A list in your code plug of which talk groups a channel will receive. It controls what you actually hear on a given channel.
Security key — A long code that TGIF generates for you (you don't pick it). Your hotspot uses it to connect to TGIF as you.
SSID — The name of a WiFi network. One of the four things you supply so the hotspot can join your WiFi. (Not the same as the radio's ESSID.)
Talk group — A channel of conversation on a DMR network, identified by a number (for example, 91 = Worldwide). Pick a talk group and you join everyone talking on it.
TGIF — Another worldwide DMR network — the second one this guide connects your hotspot to. Known for easy talk group switching.
Time slot — DMR splits one channel into two simultaneous “lanes” called time slots (1 and 2). Most hotspots use slot 2.
WPSD — The hotspot software this guide uses (originally “W0CHP-PiStar-Dash”). It runs the hotspot and provides the dashboard.
XLX — A type of multi-mode reflector your DMR radio can reach through the DMR2XLX crossmode. XLX reflectors can also transcode between modes.
YSF (System Fusion) — Yaesu's digital voice mode, reachable from your DMR radio through the DMR2YSF crossmode.
Zone — A folder of channels in your radio, used to keep things organized (for example, a BrandMeister zone and a TGIF zone). You pick a zone, then a channel within it.