Post-Flash Setup Guide

Unplug the USB cable, then power on your radio normally. You should see the ClearDMR splash screen, followed by the main channel display.

FM operation works immediately — you can scan and receive FM channels straight away. DMR operation requires additional setup covered in the steps below.

Before making any changes, save a copy of the current firmware so you can restore it if something goes wrong later.

How to back up

1. Put your radio into DFU mode: hold PTT + SK1 simultaneously, then turn the radio on. The LED will flash red/green to confirm.
2. Open the Web Flasher, select your radio model (Step 1), and connect (Step 2). No donor file is needed for backup.
3. The Back Up Current Firmware card will unlock — click Read & Download Backup.
4. Save the downloaded .bin file somewhere safe.

To restore from a backup, flash the saved .bin file as though it were a normal firmware image using the flasher.

Every DMR operator needs a unique numeric ID. This is a 7-digit number assigned to your callsign and used to identify you on DMR networks worldwide.

How to register

1. Visit radioid.net and create an account using your licensed amateur radio callsign.
2. Submit the registration form. Approval typically takes 24–48 hours.
3. Once approved, your DMR ID will appear in your account dashboard. Note it down.

A codeplug is the configuration file stored on your radio. It holds your callsign, DMR ID, channels, talkgroups, and zones. You edit it with a Codeplug Programming Software (CPS) tool on your computer.

ClearDMR is based on OpenGD77 and is compatible with the OpenGD77 CPS. Download it from the OpenGD77 releases page (Windows and macOS builds are available).

Read your codeplug

1. Connect your radio via USB with the radio powered on normally (not DFU mode).
2. Open the CPS and choose Radio → Read from Radio.
3. Save the read codeplug as a backup before making any changes.

Your callsign and DMR ID need to be programmed into the radio so that other operators can identify you on digital voice calls.

In the CPS

1. Open your codeplug in the CPS.
2. Go to General Settings.
3. Enter your callsign in the Callsign field and your 7-digit DMR ID in the DMR ID field.
4. Write the updated codeplug back to the radio via Radio → Write to Radio.

ClearDMR can display the name and callsign of incoming callers on the radio screen. This requires loading a callsign database, which maps DMR IDs to names.

How to load it

1. Download the Full DMR ID Database from radioid.net/database/download. The file is named user.bin or similar.
2. In the CPS, go to Extras → Install DMR IDs Database.
3. Select the downloaded file and write it to the radio.

The database is large (300,000+ entries). Repeat this step periodically to keep it current.

A channel defines a frequency, mode (DMR or FM), and for DMR channels, which talkgroup to use. You need at least one channel per repeater or simplex frequency you want to use.

DMR channel settings

• Frequency: the repeater’s output (RX) and input (TX) frequencies.
• Color Code (CC): a 0–15 value set by the repeater operator. Must match exactly.
• Time Slot (TS): 1 or 2. DMR splits each channel into two logical slots.
• Contact / Talkgroup: which talkgroup this channel defaults to.

Talkgroups are logical groups that route DMR calls across a network. Common examples: TG 91 (Worldwide), TG 235 (UK), TG 505 (Australia). Your local repeater’s administrator will tell you which talkgroups it carries.

Adding talkgroups

1. In the CPS, open Digital Contacts.
2. Add each talkgroup as a new contact: set the name, call type to Group Call, and the DMR ID to the talkgroup number.
3. Assign contacts to channels as the default contact.

Organising with zones

Zones group related channels for easy navigation on the radio. A common approach is one zone per repeater site, containing all the talkgroup channels for that site.

1. In the CPS, open Zones and create a new zone.
2. Add the relevant channels to the zone.
3. Write the codeplug back to the radio.