When thinking about getting into digital modes for amateur radio, the DMR vs D-Star vs Fusion debate is front and center. While everyone has their opinion, I wanted to present a more balanced approach, hopefully.
Looking at the current state of amateur radio, DMR has quickly become the go-to digital voice mode for many operators. The reason is simple – you can get started with DMR for around $100, yet still access advanced features typically found in $1000+ radios. While D-Star kicked off digital ham radio back in the early 2000s and Fusion joined the party in 2013, DMR’s low cost has made it the clear favorite among hams getting into digital modes.
I’ve spent considerable time helping new operators choose between these three digital modes. Each one brings something unique to the table. DMR lets you have two separate conversations on one frequency (pretty neat trick). D-Star connects you worldwide through its reflector system. Fusion switches between digital and analog automatically, which can be really handy.
Let me walk you through what makes each of these digital modes different. We’ll look at how they work in real-world situations and figure out which one might work best for your operating style and budget. Having used all three extensively, I can help you avoid some common pitfalls and make a choice you’ll be happy with.
Understanding Digital Voice Modes in Ham Radio
I remember when analog FM was pretty much all we had for voice communications in ham radio. These days, digital voice has completely changed the game. Having used both extensively, I can tell you the difference is pretty dramatic.
What makes digital voice different from analog
The easiest way I can explain digital voice is to think about old vinyl records versus modern MP3s. With analog FM, your voice directly modulates the radio waves – like a needle following the grooves in vinyl. Digital voice chops your voice into data packets before sending it – more like how MP3s store music as ones and zeros.
Here’s what really stands out when you use digital: The audio is crystal clear, even in noisy environments. With analog FM, every bit of background noise comes through the mic. When signals get weak, analog gets scratchy and distorted at the edges of coverage.
Digital signals are totally different. They stay perfectly clear right up until they drop out completely. One of my radio buddies describes it perfectly: “Analog gets really scratchy out on the fringes. It’s hard to listen to, but our brains/ears can often do a pretty good job of extracting useable info from a garbled message… Digital, on the other hand, will usually decode just fine out to the edges, then there’s a brief time where the bit error rate gets high and the audio gets lousy. Then it’s just gone”.
I call this the “digital cliff” – you either get perfect audio or nothing at all. The error correction in digital modes is pretty amazing, keeping things clear even when signals aren’t perfect.
The technical stuff behind digital voice is fascinating. Your voice gets converted to digital bits, then squeezed down by something called a vocoder. Most radios use the AMBE codec, though there are some open-source options like Codec 2 in systems like FreeDV and M17.
Here’s another huge advantage – digital signals need way less bandwidth. Where analog FM needs 25 kHz (or 12.5 kHz for narrow FM), digital can squeeze into just 6.25 kHz. DMR even lets two conversations happen on one frequency using something called TDMA.
Plus, digital modes can send extra data along with your voice. Your callsign, GPS location, text messages, even pictures in some cases – all while you’re talking. Try doing that with analog!
Comparing DMR vs D-Star vs Fusion: The Basics
Having owned and used radios from all three digital voice systems, I can tell you each one has its own personality. Let me break down what makes each one unique and help you figure out which might work best for you.
DMR: The commercial standard adapted for ham use
DMR is interesting because it wasn’t originally made for ham radio at all. It started as a commercial standard from ETSI, meant for business and public safety users. But we hams are pretty good at adapting things for our use, and DMR has really taken off in our community.
The coolest thing about DMR is how it handles frequencies. Using something called TDMA technology, it basically plays a clever trick – splitting each channel into two time slots. Your radio transmits in quick 30ms bursts, switching back and forth between slots. This means two separate conversations can happen on one frequency, plus your battery lasts longer since your radio only transmits half the time you’re holding that PTT button.
DMR is more structured than other digital modes. Instead of just punching in frequencies, you need to deal with:
- Radio IDs: Every radio needs its own ID number
- Color Codes: Think of these like the old PL tones in analog
- Talkgroups: Virtual chat rooms for different interests
- Zones: Folders to organize your channels
The talkgroup system is pretty slick – instead of calling specific people, you join these virtual rooms where folks with similar interests hang out. Big networks like BrandMeister, DMR-MARC, and TGIF have tons of these talkgroups set up.
One huge advantage of DMR is choice in equipment. Unlike D-Star or Fusion, you’re not stuck with one manufacturer. I’ve used radios from Motorola, Hytera, AnyTone, TYT, and others. All this competition means you can get into DMR for under $100.
There’s a catch though – programming these radios can be tricky. Most were designed for commercial use where a technician does all the programming. You’ll need to learn about “codeplugs” – basically configuration files for your radio. The good news is newer radios from Connect Systems, TYT, and Hytera are getting easier to program.
D-Star: The OG of digital voice communications
D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocol developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) and used primarily in amateur (ham) radio. It utilizes digital voice (DV) and digital data (DD) modes, providing enhanced communication capabilities compared to traditional analog FM.
D-STAR operates on VHF, UHF, and microwave bands and supports internet-linked repeaters, allowing global communication. It uses 4.8 kbps voice encoding with AMBE vocoder and 128 kbps data rates on 1.2 GHz bands.
One nice feature is that D-Star uses only 6.25 kHz of bandwidth instead of the 12.5 kHz of both DMR and Fusion. While this allows for more channels in a given range of frequencies it also means there is less data for voice, and hence lower voice quality than Fusion and sometimes even DMR.
Another interesting feature is that D-Star is not limited to rooms or groups, you can route calls directly from one radio to another anywhere in the world.
While DMR seems to have limitless inexpensive options for people to get started with, D-Star is limited to Kenwood and Icom radios. That being said, you can always use an adapter like the DVMEGA DVStick 30 plugged into your computer instead of a radio. There are all kinds of D-Star radios available including some of the best handhelds on the market such as the Icom ID-52a and Kenwood TH-D74a. This situation may be about to get better as now you can get the Alinco DJ-X100T which is the first D-Star radio outside of Kenwood and Icom I have seen.
Fusion (C4FM): The newcommer
System Fusion is a digital voice and data communication mode developed by Yaesu for amateur (ham) radio. It uses C4FM (Continuous 4-Level Frequency Modulation) for clear voice quality and features both digital and analog FM capability, making it easy to integrate with existing analog repeaters and radios.
System Fusion is often used with Wires-X, Yaesu’s internet linking system that allows worldwide communication through linked repeaters and digital “rooms” (similar to DMR talk groups or D-STAR reflectors).
Fusion has the best audio quality of any of the digital voice modes, which is to be expected given it is the newest. It also support native FM analog on their equipment which can automatically and seemlessly switch between digital and voice. It also does not require user IDs or callsign routing.
One down side is that the only fusion radios available are from Yaesu so you have less of a selection. The other side of that is that Yaesu makes a less expensive fusion radio than any D-Star radio currently available, the Yaesu FT-70.
Getting Started with Digital Voice: Practical Considerations
Before you rush out and buy that shiny new digital radio, let me save you some potential headaches. I’ve helped dozens of hams get started with digital voice, and there are a few things you really need to check first. Even if you are positive on which system you prefer to use, DMR vs D-Star vs Fusion, there is something else to check first.
Checking repeater availability in your area
Here’s something I learned the hard way – just because RepeaterBook shows a digital repeater in your area doesn’t mean anyone’s actually using it. Looking at the numbers from November 2022, we had:
- 2,100 DMR repeaters
- 1,200 D-STAR repeaters
- 2,300 System Fusion repeaters
Pretty impressive numbers, right? Well, not so fast. I’ve found that up to half the listed repeaters in some areas are either dead or collecting dust. One old-timer at my club told me, “Before you decide on whether to get a D-Star or Fusion or DMR radio, make sure people are actually talking on the repeaters you see listed”. Smart advice.
Here’s a tip – call your local ham club. They’ll know which repeaters are actually active. Also, if you’re planning to work with groups like ARES, check what they’re using. For example, Georgia ARES runs everything on D-STAR. You don’t want to be the only one with a DMR radio when everyone else is using D-STAR!
Equipment costs and entry points for each mode
Let me break down what you’ll need to spend on a system for DMR vs D-Star vs Fusion:
DMR is the budget-friendly champion here. It’s “the cheapest digital standard to get into”, and I’ve seen solid DMR handhelds going for under $100. You’ve got tons of choices too – Motorola, AnyTone, TYT, Radioddity – the competition keeps prices low.
D-Star? That’s a different story. Mostly made by Icom, with some Kenwood options, these radios aren’t cheap. Entry-level handhelds start around $300-400, and the fancy ones can hit $600+. Ouch!
Fusion sits in the middle. You can grab something like the Yaesu FT-70D for about $170. Not as cheap as DMR, but easier on the wallet than D-Star.
Don’t have any repeaters nearby? No problem. Grab a hotspot for $100-$150. I use a custom built MMDVM model, but there are plenty of good options like ZumSpot, and SharkRF.
Conclusion on DMR vs D-Star vs Fusion
After playing with all three digital modes over the years, I can tell you they’ve completely changed how I think about ham radio. The crystal-clear audio alone is worth the price of admission, but being able to chat worldwide through hotspots? That’s just icing on the cake.
There is no “winner” in the DMR vs D-Star vs Fusion debate, each system has its sweet spot. DMR wins the budget battle hands down – I’ve helped plenty of new hams get started with $100 radios that work surprisingly well. D-Star’s call sign routing is pretty slick when you want to track down specific operators. And Fusion? Well, it’s just plain nice not having to flip between analog and digital manually.
Here’s the thing though – don’t get too hung up on which repeaters are in your area. I remember being disappointed when I first got my DMR radio because the nearest repeater was 50 miles away. Then I discovered hotspots, and suddenly the whole world opened up. These days, I run a hotspot in my shack and another in my truck, giving me worldwide access wherever I go.
My advice? Pick one system that fits your budget and operating style, then jump in. Whether you go with DMR’s bargain approach, D-Star’s routing flexibility, or Fusion’s auto-switching convenience, you’ll be amazed at what digital voice can do. Trust me – once you try digital, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
