VoxDMR Setup Guide

VoxDMR is a software DMR client that allows amateur radio operators to connect to DMR networks such as BrandMeister without using a physical DMR radio.

This makes it an interesting way to get started with DMR, especially if you want to explore digital amateur radio before buying a DMR transceiver or setting up a hotspot.

This guide focuses specifically on installing and configuring VoxDMR. A few background sections explain the most important concepts along the way, but you do not need to understand the entire DMR ecosystem before getting started.

What is VoxDMR?

VoxDMR is a software application that provides a DMR client on your computer or Android device.

Instead of this:

DMR Radio → Repeater/Hotspot → Internet → DMR Network

VoxDMR can connect directly to the DMR network:

VoxDMR → Internet → BrandMeister

Your smartphone therefore becomes the DMR endpoint. You use its microphone and speakers or a connected headset for the audio.

Your computer or smartphone therefore becomes the DMR endpoint. You use its microphone and speakers or a connected headset for the audio.

A few things you need before starting

Before installing VoxDMR, you should have the following:

  • An amateur radio callsign
  • A valid DMR ID
  • A BrandMeister account
  • A BrandMeister Hotspot Security Password
  • An Internet connection
  • A microphone
  • Speakers or a headset

The DMR ID is important because it identifies your station within the DMR network.

If you do not have a DMR ID yet, see my separate guide:

How to Get a DMR ID

You do not need a physical DMR radio or MMDVM hotspot for this setup.

A note about BrandMeister

BrandMeister is a worldwide DMR network that connects DMR repeaters, hotspots and software clients.

Communication is organized using Talkgroups. A Talkgroup can be thought of as a logical conversation channel within the DMR network.

VoxDMR connects to BrandMeister over the Internet and lets you select and use these Talkgroups directly. You therefore do not need to configure an RF frequency, repeater offset or antenna when using VoxDMR.

You can listen before you start

There is another interesting way to explore BrandMeister before configuring anything.

BrandMeister provides Hoseline, a web-based service that allows anyone to listen to active Talkgroups.

You do not need a DMR radio or amateur radio licence simply to listen to publicly available amateur radio traffic.

This is possible because amateur radio communication is not intended to be private or encrypted.

You can find Hoseline here:

https://hose.brandmeister.network

It is a nice way to get a first impression of DMR before installing anything.

Set an BrandMeister Hotspot Security Password

This is where your BrandMeister account becomes relevant. VoxDMR requires the BrandMeister Hotspot Security Password for the connection.

This is important because the Hotspot Security Password is not the same as your normal BrandMeister website password.

There are therefore two different credentials:

CredentialPurpose
BrandMeister account passwordLogging into the BrandMeister website
Hotspot Security PasswordAuthenticating your DMR client with BrandMeister

The Hotspot Security Password is configured in BrandMeister SelfCare.

  • Log in to your BrandMeister account and open the SelfCare area.
  • Locate the Hotspot Security settings and create or change your Hotspot Security Password.
  • Then enter this password into the corresponding VoxDMR setting.
  • VoxDMR’s own installation documentation specifically points out this distinction.

Installing VoxDMR

VoxDMR is available for several platforms.

  • Download the appropriate version from the official VoxDMR website: https://www.voxdmr.com
  • The Android version is on Google Playstore here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jcalado.voxdmr&pli=1
  • The available installation packages depend on the platform you are using.
  • Install VoxDMR using the normal installation procedure for your operating system.
  • After installation, start the application.
  • The exact appearance may change between VoxDMR versions, but the information required for the configuration remains essentially the same.

Configure Your Callsign and DMR ID

The first important step is to identify your station.

Enter your:

  • Callsign
  • DMR ID

Use the callsign exactly as it was assigned to you.

The DMR ID must also be entered correctly. It is not a username and it is not your BrandMeister account number.

It is the numeric identity used by the DMR network to identify your station.

VoxDMR for Android

Accelerator Service on Android

On Android, the Accelerator Service provides the background functionality required by VoxDMR for reliable audio and voice communication. It needs permission to run in the background and should not be restricted by Android’s battery optimization. The following settings show the required configuration.

Tap “Agree”.
Tap “Installed Apps” in the menu.
In the dialog, tap “VoxDMR”.
Tap “Allow” to allow VoxDMR full control of the phone.
Check that the status of “VoxDMR” is set to “On”, then leave the menu.

Initial VoxDMR Setup

Once the Accelerator Service has been enabled, you can start the initial VoxDMR setup. The following steps configure the basic settings required to connect VoxDMR to the DMR network and use the app for the first time.

To start the initial setup, first tap the red “Get started” button at the bottom.
The vocoder is required to encode and decode the digital voice data used by VoxDMR. Before using VoxDMR, the required vocoder must be downloaded and installed. Tap “Download” to download the vocoder from the Internet and install it automatically.
After the installation is complete, a confirmation message indicates that the vocoder has been successfully installed and verified, as shown in the screenshot above.
In the next step, you enter your station details: your official amateur radio callsign and your DMR ID. The DMR ID can be obtained from RadioID and must be entered here.
Next, select the digital network you want to use. For this guide, we use “BrandMeister” and select it from the list. If you are using a different network, select the appropriate one instead.
Next, VoxDMR asks you to select a Master Server. The Master Server is the BrandMeister server that your VoxDMR client connects to. Select a server that is geographically close to your location for a suitable connection.
In Germany, two BrandMeister Master Servers are available: 2621 and 2622. Both servers are equivalent and provide access to the German BrandMeister network. Select either server depending on your location and connection. For this example, we use the server with the better connection from our location.
Next, you can preselect the Talkgroups you want to use. It makes sense to keep Parrot selected, as it allows you to record a short transmission and play it back so you can check your own audio.
For this example, we also select VoxDMR Worldwide and Europe. This selection is optional and can be left empty; Talkgroups can be added or changed later.
The next and most important step is “Link to BrandMeister”. Here, you need to enter the Hotspot Security Password you previously configured in your BrandMeister account.
Important: This is a separate password and is not the same as your BrandMeister account password used to log in to the website.
Android will now ask whether VoxDMR is allowed to access the microphone. Confirm this by selecting “While using the app”, as VoxDMR needs microphone access to transmit your voice.
In the next step, you can test your microphone to make sure your audio is working correctly. Once the test is complete, tap “Launch radio” to enter VoxDMR.
Android will ask for permission to send notifications from VoxDMR. Confirm this by tapping “Allow”.
Most people find it difficult to remember DMR IDs. It is much more convenient to see the official callsign and name alongside the DMR ID. In the following dialog, you can download the Callsign Database. The database can also be refreshed periodically from within the app to keep it up to date. Tap “Download”.
Depending on your Internet connection, it may take a moment for the database to download. Please wait until the download has completed.
You can now perform a Parrot test. Parrot records your transmission and plays it back to you, allowing you to check whether your audio is working correctly. Make a short transmission and wait for the recording to be played back.
If everything works as expected, tap “Go to the Radio”.
Talkgroups are an important part of BrandMeister, and not every Talkgroup will be relevant to everyone. Select the Talkgroups that match your region or country. For this example, we select the Talkgroups for the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate and mark them with the star to add them to our favorites.
Once the setup is complete, select a Talkgroup using the menu in the top-right corner of the app. In our example, we select 26269, the Hessen/Rhineland-Palatinate Multigroup.
You can now listen to ongoing conversations or participate using just your smartphone – no physical DMR radio is required.

Making Your First Transmission

Before transmitting for the first time, listen for a while. Make sure the Talkgroup is appropriate and not already being used.

When it is clear, press the PTT control in VoxDMR and make a short call.

For example:

CQ, this is DN9BEF monitoring the Talkgroup. Anyone available for a short QSO?

Release PTT and wait for an answer.

There is no need to make a long introduction during your first test. Keep the transmission short and give other stations enough time to respond.

Conclusion

VoxDMR provides a relatively simple way to explore DMR without immediately investing in a DMR radio or hotspot.

Once you have your DMR ID, BrandMeister account and Hotspot Security Password, the basic setup consists of configuring your identity, selecting BrandMeister, setting up authentication and configuring your audio devices.

After that, you can select a Talkgroup and start exploring the BrandMeister network.

For an experienced FM operator, this provides an easy introduction to digital networking. For someone who is completely new to DMR, it removes much of the hardware and RF complexity and lets you concentrate on the network side first.

Once that works, the step to a real DMR radio is a lot less mysterious.

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