Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) is best known as a digital voice protocol for commercial and amateur two-way radio, but it's also a capable bearer for low-bandwidth IP traffic — useful when you need applications in the field to talk to each other without cellular, WiFi, or internet infrastructure.
Alex introduced the DMR protocol from the ground up: what it is, how it differs from analog FM and other digital modes, and the basics of time slots, talkgroups, and color codes. From there, he walked through how DMR can be used to move IP packets between devices in the field, what the practical bandwidth and latency look like, and what kinds of applications actually work over that pipe.
Software-Defined Radio has never been more accessible — or more capable. In this session, Scott explored how a modest hardware investment and open-source software can turn a browser into a full-featured radio monitoring station reachable from anywhere on the internet.
The presentation opened with a live demo of a working remote SDR installation, accessible directly from a browser — no plugins, no special client software required. From there, we walked through the complete hardware and software stack, covered the key installation and configuration steps, and discussed signal path considerations and antenna choices (along with their real-world limitations).
The bulk of the session dove into practical signal monitoring across a wide swath of the spectrum: APRS packet traffic, ADS-B flight tracking, VHF and UHF activity, GMRS, CB, and HF — and what OpenWebRX+ makes visible that used to require dedicated hardware for each band.
WiFi HaLow (802.11ah) is a low-power, long-range variant of WiFi designed for IoT and embedded applications. Operating in the sub-GHz band, it trades raw speed for dramatically better range and penetration—making it a compelling option for sensors, remote monitoring, mesh-style networks, and projects where traditional WiFi falls short.
In this talk, Alex walked through what HaLow is, how it works, and where it fits alongside other wireless technologies.