YSF to DMR Cross mode on Pi-Star

The Pi-Star has the capability of working across digital modes. This means you can use a C4FM¹ (YSF) radio to talk on DMR and vice-versa. You can find the complete list of cross mode capabilities on your Pi-Star configuration page.

In this post, I am going to focus on YSF to DMR because several of my friends who own a Yaesu radio have asked me to help them configure their hotspots.

In some cases you don't need to do anything to talk with people on DMR. Some of the YSF rooms are already linked to their DMR counterparts. For example, the room AmericaLink, (room number 89804) is already linked to the DMR talk group #31656. If you call on AmericaLink on the YSF network, someone with a DMR radio might reply to your call.

Before anything else, you will need a DMR identification number. If you don't already have one, you need to create an account on radioid.net. Once your account has been validated, you will be able to request a DMR ID. It will take from a couple of hours to a couple of days to get your id. You cannot do anything without this id.

Configuration

With your DMR ID in hand, you can now configure the YSF to DMR gateway on your hotspot. Go to the Pi-Star configuration page and make sure the right modes are selected.

Since you are using a Yaesu radio, YSF Mode: should be selected. This will tell Pi-Star to listen for a YSF signal. You also need to select the YSF2DMR:. This will tell Pi-Star that you intend to use your YSF Radio to talk to the DMR network.

Once you have selected the YSF mode and YSF2DMR, press the button Apply Changes. The page will reload with new fields to configure the YSF2DMR gateway. Scroll down until you find the Yaesu System Fusion Configuration table.

YSF Startup Host:

In this field enter the YSF room you want your hotspot to connect to when it starts up. I spend most of my time monitoring the room YSF00043 BAYAREA-YSF. You are welcome to come to hang out on BAYAREA-YSF, or you can select your favorite room in that field.

UPPERCASE Hostfiles:

This field is not important for working cross mode. Some radios are not capable of displaying lowercase characters on their screen. By selecting this field all the room names will be converted to upper case.

WiresX Passthrough:

This option should be left disabled. When this option is enabled, WiresX commands from your radio are not interpreted by the hotspot but passed through to the service your hotspot is connected to. If you enable this option, you won't be able to use your radio to connect or disconnect from rooms.

CCS7/DMR ID:

This field should be automatically populated with the DMR ID you entered into the General Configuration table. If you haven't entered your DMR ID, go to the make configuration table and enter your ID. You can leave the pull-down menu to None. If you have other DMR devices you can choose the number you want to assign to this hotspot.

DMR Master:

For this field, you need to choose the DMR brandmeister master server you want to connect to. If you live in the U.S. choose one that is close.

Hotspot Security:

Leave this field blank. This field is only used when you have an account on brandmeister.

DMR TG:

In this field, enter the talk group you want to connect to. In the example in the screenshot, I am connecting to the talk group 31075 (BayNet). You can find the list of talk groups on the Pi-Star web site.

Once you have configured all the fields, click on Apply Changes to save your modifications and to restart the service.

Usage

Now you can use your hotspot the way you were using it before. If you press on the PTT you will be talking to the room you have selected in the YSF Startup Host: field.

FT-70

You can change the room as you did before. Press the key F followed by the key AMS to connect your radio to the hotspot. Once connected, turn the dial knob situated on the top of your radio until the input screen is displayed. Enter the room number you wish to connect to and press the AMS key to connect to that room.

To talk to the DMR talk group you have selected in the field DMR TG:. Just connect to the room number YSF00002 (Link YSF2DMR). Press the F and AMS keys, go to the input screen. Then enter 00002 and press the AMS key to connect. The hotspot will now connect to the DMR talk group.

FT-2D, FT-3D, or FTM-400

On these radios, it is even easier. Just press the WiresX key to connect your radio to the hotspot. Scroll down the list or rooms until you find the room you like. To connect to the DMR talk group you have chosen in the configuration, select Link YSF2DMR in that list. You are now ready to make your QSO.

Final note

This post describes how to do cross mode between YSF and DMR, but everything described here also applies to YSF to NXDN or YSF to P25, and vice-versa. You will need to go to radioid.net and request an NXDN or a P25 id. It is not possible with Pi-Star to do cross mode with D-Star.