DMRVA+HEARS Codeplugs

A DMR codeplug is a complete configuration file for a radio, containing all of the contacts, channels, zones, and other settings required to access DMR talk groups.  Codeplug file formats vary by manufacturer and occasionally by model.  As different radios have various channel selection mechanisms and bank capacities, different RF band support, and other variations in capabilities and programming, proper code plugs are essentially unique to each model of radio.  Many users prefer to start from a pre-built codeplug since it can sometimes eliminate many hours of tedious programming which may not be fully understood.

As of August 2022, DMRVA no longer furnishes pre-built codeplugs for its network.  In December 2023, RATS stepped up to fill the gap by offering codeplugs for a handful of models which can be converted to support many other radios using a conversion utility.  You will find those codeplugs on this page.

For more information about DMR codeplugs and programming, see our Get Started with W4RAT DMR guide.

RATS Members:  Sign in to this web site to view all available DMR Codeplug-related content.

RATS Official & Member-Contributed Codeplugs

Full Codeplugs:  RATS is maintaining three official "full" master codeplugs that cover the entire DMRVA+HEARS repeater network.  These are built for the Connect Systems CS750, Connect Systems CS800D, and Alinco DJ-MD5T.  These codeplugs are in a format that can be easily converted to support over 40 other radios using the N0GSG DMR Contact Manager.  These files are a starting point.  You will need to perform some further editing to set your radio ID and any additional repeaters, configure various radio settings, build scan lists to your preferences, etc.

Limited Codeplugs:  RATS is also maintaining a small number of "limited" codeplugs that support certain popular radios which cannot be converted using the N0GSG tool.  These LTD codeplugs usually contain only the repeaters within the Richmond Metro cluster (RIC, BEA, GCH, NKC, PBG, POR, POW).

Member Contributed Codeplugs:  Some RATS members have contributed their own codeplugs to this effort.  These codeplugs may not follow the same zone and channel layouts, geographic area, or zone naming conventions of the official RATS codeplugs.  Some may date back to older DMRVA talkgroup lineups and could contain outdated configurations.  Use at your own risk.

Why is my radio marked "do not use on the RATS repeater" in the list of supported hardware?   A very limited number of models commonly exhibit defects that are detrimental to other users of the system.  Some are not true dual-timeslot radios and may interfere with users on the other timeslot.  Others have some serious issues with spurious emissions.  Please do not use these radios on the RATS DMR repeater.  Learn more about these problems.

• Current list of supported hardware & codeplug download links
  
• Channel list for RATS official codeplugs
• HOWTO:  Converting RATS codeplugs with N0GSG

Please take note of the following important caveats:

• You will need to set your radio ID in the codeplug before loading to your radio.
• Unless otherwise noted, codeplugs are designed for use with the manufacturer's official CPS.  Your mileage may vary using third party CPS or conversion tools.
• No private contacts are included in these codeplugs but these may be manually added by the user.
• These files are dependent on the accuracy and completeness of information furnished by DMRVA and the other repeater operators around the region.  If you find an error or other problem in the RATS codeplugs, please send a note to codeplug-request@rats.net.  We appreciate your feedback!