Static and Dynamic Talkgroups on Each DMR Network: Set Up
Every DMR network decides two things for your hotspot or repeater: which talkgroups stay connected all the time, and what happens when you key up one that is not. The answers differ from network to network. This guide covers USA settings.
The two kinds
Static: connected all the time. Traffic on it reaches your hotspot whether or not you have keyed up.
Dynamic: connected because you keyed up on it. On most networks it drops after a set time with no local transmission, and keying up again restarts the clock.
Each section below carries a label saying how the information was found. Documented means the network says so itself. Inferred means it is worked out from the software the network runs, because the network does not spell it out.
How to send TG 4000
One-time setup in your codeplug:
Add a talkgroup contact: number 4000, call type Group Call, named something like "Disconnect".
Make a channel for it: the same frequency and color code as your hotspot, Timeslot 2 on a simplex hotspot, and Contact 4000.
To send it:
Switch to the 4000 channel. On radios with manual dial, such as AnyTone, you can instead enter 4000 as a Group Call.
Key up for about a second and let go. You do not need to speak.
The hotspot dashboard shows the call to 4000.
Using DMRGateway with a prefix? If your hotspot adds a digit in front of a network's talkgroups, for example 4 for TGIF so that TGIF 31665 is dialed as 4031665, dial 4000 with the same prefix: 4004000 for TGIF.
You can add and remove statics in either of two places:
BrandMeister SelfCare, on the BrandMeister website, for each hotspot or repeater.
Your hotspot's Admin screen, in Pi-Star (the BrandMeister Manager) or WPSD (its BrandMeister static talkgroup list). Both use a BrandMeister API key, which you create in SelfCare and enter on the hotspot.
A static stays connected until you remove it in one of those places.
Dynamics
Key up any talkgroup and it is linked dynamically. Several can be linked at once; each key-up adds one.
A dynamic drops after 15 minutes with no local transmission on the USA master. Keying up on it restarts the 15 minutes.
Auto-static (simplex hotspots only)
On a simplex hotspot, the talkgroup you key up becomes an auto-static: it stays with no timeout. Keying up a different talkgroup makes that one the new auto-static.
Clearing
Key a short group call to TG 4000 on the slot your hotspot uses, TS2 on a simplex hotspot. It drops the auto-static and all dynamics. See How to send TG 4000.
The first talkgroup you key after TG 4000 becomes the new auto-static.
If a talkgroup comes back after TG 4000, it is a true static. Remove it in SelfCare or on your hotspot's Admin screen in Pi-Star or WPSD.
TGIF
Documented by TGIF
Statics (since October 2026)
Set in TGIF Self Care.
Only for hotspots, repeaters and bridges that connect with their TGIF Security Key, not the old shared password. Radio users behind a secure repeater do not need their own TGIF accounts.
TGIF reports a limit for each device; its own example shows up to 5 per timeslot.
Simplex hotspots get statics on TS2 only. Duplex hotspots and repeaters can use both timeslots.
TG 9, 777, 4000, 9990 and 31000 cannot be made static.
Dynamics
One dynamic per timeslot. Keying up a new talkgroup on that slot replaces the old one rather than adding to it.
No timeout. The dynamic stays up until one of these happens:
you key TG 4000, which drops it, and the slot shows 4000 in Self Care. With a DMRGateway prefix of 4, dial 4004000. See How to send TG 4000;
you key a different talkgroup on the same timeslot, which replaces it;
you change it in Self Care, by clicking the TS1 or TS2 button and choosing another talkgroup or 4000.
Statics are not affected by any of these. They stay connected regardless.
AmComm
Documented by AmComm
Statics
Set in your hotspot's Options line with TS1= and TS2=, for example TS2=3100,31665;.
Each AmComm server dashboard has an Options calculator that builds the line for you. Several servers also offer Self Service.
The same talkgroup cannot be static on both timeslots.
Dynamics
AmComm states "No Time Limits on any talkgroup."
Dial-a-Talkgroup on TG 9 is turned off on most AmComm servers.
Joining
No sign-up, registration or hotspot security password is needed. Point the hotspot at an AmComm server and talk.
FreeDMR
Documented by FreeDMR
Statics
Set in your hotspot's Options line, for example TS2=3100,31665;. No account or registration is needed, and the Options follow you to any FreeDMR server.
FreeDMR's Options calculator has room for 5 statics per timeslot.
The same talkgroup cannot be static on both timeslots. Duplex hotspots can use TS1 and TS2; simplex hotspots use TS2.
Dynamics
How long a dynamic lasts is your choice, set with TIMER= in minutes. FreeDMR recommends 5 or 10; TIMER=1440 holds a talkgroup for 24 hours. Keying up resets the timer.
Single Mode, on by default, lets only one talkgroup through on a timeslot while it is active, even when several statics are set. This keeps you from being cut off mid-conversation by another talkgroup.
Dial-a-Talkgroup is on TG 9, TS2.
System X (FreeSTAR)
Documented by FreeSTAR
Statics and the timer are set in the hotspot's Options line, as on FreeDMR, for example TS2=3100,31665;TIMER=60.
FreeSTAR offers an Options Generator to build the line.
How long a dynamic lasts is set by TIMER=.
ADN Systems and Ham United
Documented by their server dashboards
Neither network explains its static and dynamic rules on a web page, but both server dashboards include an Options calculator that builds the hotspot Options line, the same method AmComm and FreeDMR use:
statics with TS1= and TS2=;
dynamic hold time with TIMER=;
Dial-a-Talkgroup with DIAL= and Single Mode with SINGLE=.
QuadNet
Inferred
QuadNet does not document its static and dynamic rules, and its DMR server dashboards have no Options calculator. Its servers use FreeDMR-family software like the networks above, so the Options line with TS1=, TS2= and TIMER= is the likely method. Test on one hotspot before relying on it: set an Options line, then check the server's dashboard to see whether the statics appear.
DMR+ (IPSC2)
Community sources
Statics are set in the hotspot's Options line in DMR+ format, written as TS1_1= followed by the talkgroup. Statics go on network slot 1 whatever the RF slot.
StartRef and RelinkTime set a default reflector to return to.
Dynamics are on demand by keying up and last up to 10 minutes.
DMR-MARC and c-Bridge networks
Community sources; varies by repeater
These networks serve repeaters rather than personal hotspots. Talkgroups are set up by the repeater owner or network, not by users.
Full time talkgroups are the statics: always on.
PTT or on-demand talkgroups come up when a local user keys up on them, and drop after usually 5 to 15 minutes with no local keying, set per repeater and talkgroup.
Only one talkgroup can be active on each timeslot.
The repeater usually gives no announcement when a PTT talkgroup opens or closes, so a listener can lose it without noticing.
Options calculators
On the networks that use a hotspot Options line, a calculator saves typing the line by hand. Enter your talkgroups and settings, then copy the result into the Options field of Pi-Star or WPSD.
AmComm: on each server dashboard, for example Los Angeles 3105. Use the dashboard of the server your hotspot connects to.
ADN Systems: on its server dashboards, for example 3105 USA West.
Ham United: on its server dashboards, for example 3104.
System X (FreeSTAR): FreeSTAR's Options Generator, referred to on its System X page.
QuadNet: none found.
BrandMeister and TGIF do not use an Options line. Their statics are set in SelfCare and Self Care.
Things that apply everywhere
Timeouts are server settings. A particular server or repeater can be set differently from the numbers here.
Simplex hotspots carry one timeslot. On most networks, statics on a simplex hotspot go on TS2.
A busy static fills your hotspot. Traffic on a static always comes through, so a very active talkgroup set as static can keep a quieter one from being heard.