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Cheatsheet, Glossary & Anchor Index · Volume 25

Cheatsheet + Glossary + Canonical Anchor Index

Laminate-ready field cards, A-Z glossary, anchor index for sibling deep dives


1. About this volume

This is the closing volume of the 25-volume Scanners_and_Radios deep dive — a consolidating reference appendix that strips the prose out of the first 24 volumes and leaves the parts you reach for at the bench, in the vehicle, or in the field. Three deliverables, each with a different job:

  1. The cheatsheet cluster (Sections 2.1 through 2.10) — ten dense field cards, table-heavy and exposition-light. Each card stands on its own: print to 4×6 or 5×8, laminate, drop in the go-bag or pin to the shack corkboard. The numbers come from the deep volumes; the volumes carry the derivations. When you need to know the FIPS code structure of a S.A.M.E. message while you’re staring at the Midland WR120’s data-entry screen, the cheatsheet is what you flip to — not Vol 12 §4, which is where you learn why the leading “0” of 026093 means “entire county” in the first place.

  2. The A-Z glossary (Section 3) — ~180 entries spanning every term used across the series, alphabetized, each entry one-to-three lines with the volume where the term is treated in depth and (where useful) cross-related terms. Useful when reading sibling deep dives that cross-link in and you hit a term you forgot. Coverage spans DMR network terminology, scanner/trunking architecture, Uniden DMA codeplug objects, HF amateur fundamentals, FCC regulatory parts, hardware (connectors / batteries / displays), programming software, bench test equipment, and the WiPhone’s SIP/VoIP layer.

  3. The canonical anchor index (Section 4) — the structured cross-deep-dive link surface. Other Hack Tools deep dives (especially the Antennas series Vol 29 use-case matrix and the Hacker Tradecraft Vols 13-15 RF cluster), the Fubsy Polymath website’s planned “radios” subdomain, and external references should link to this project using the frozen vol{NN}-<slug> anchors listed here rather than authoring new ones. The list isn’t every H2 in the consolidated HTML — the consolidated HTML has 634 generated anchors at the time of writing, most of them too granular for cross-deep-dive use. The ~180 listed below are the canonical link targets: one or two per major section per volume, the ones that name something other deep dives are likely to reach for.

The cheatsheets are the half-pound paperback you actually use; the 24 volumes that precede this one are the four-pound textbook you keep on the shelf. Both have their place; neither replaces the other.

This volume follows the structural pattern established by the sibling closeouts Antennas Vol 33 (Hack Tools Antennas closeout — same author, same voice) and Hacker Tradecraft Vol 21 (Hack Tools Hacker Tradecraft closeout — denser glossary, similar anchor-index layout). Read those if you want to see how the same patterns play across the rest of the corpus.


2. Cheatsheets

Ten one-page field cards. Designed for laminate-and-keep-at-the-bench reference. Each card is dense by design; the verbose framing of the same material is in the source volumes the card cites.

2.1 The lineup at a glance

Every radio, scanner, hotspot, and bench instrument in the lineup, with its volume, class, bands, primary CPS, and where its programs/codeplugs live in the project tree. This is the canonical “what is owned and where does its stuff live” card.

Table 1 — 2.1 The lineup at a glance {#lineup-at-a-glance}

VolItemClassBandsPrimary CPSPrograms path
2Yaesu VX-8DRQuad-band HT6 m / 2 m / 1.25 m RX / 70 cmCHIRP (or RT Systems)programs/yaesu-vx8dr/
3Baofeng F8HPDual-band HT (8 W)2 m / 70 cmCHIRPprograms/baofeng-f8hp/
4Baofeng UV-B5Dual-band HT (4 W)136-174 / 400-470 MHzCHIRPprograms/baofeng-uvb5/
5AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUSDMR HT + analog2 m / 70 cm DMR + FMAnyTone CPSprograms/anytone-d878uvii/
6Xiegu X6100HF + 6 m portable0.5-30 MHz + 50-54 MHzwfView / firmware loaderprograms/xiegu-x6100/
7Xiegu XPA125B100 W HF amplifier1.8-54 MHz(DIP switches + front panel)programs/xiegu-xpa125b/
8Tecsun PL-880Shortwave portableLW / MW / SW / FM / air AM(panel only, no PC CPS)programs/tecsun-pl880/
9Midland WR120NWR S.A.M.E. weather7 NWR channels (162.4-162.55 MHz)(panel only, no PC CPS)programs/midland-wr120/
10Uniden SDS100Flagship digital HT scanner25-1300 MHzProScan + Sentinelprograms/uniden-sds100/
11Uniden SDS200Flagship digital base/mobile scanner25-1300 MHzProScan + Sentinelprograms/uniden-sds200/
12Uniden BCD536HPMid base/mobile digital scanner25-1300 MHzSentinel + ProScanprograms/uniden-bcd536hp/
13Uniden BCD396XTMid HT scanner25-1300 MHzFreeScan + ProScanprograms/uniden-bcd396xt/
14Uniden BC246TLegacy HT (Trunk Tracker III)25-956 MHzFreeScanprograms/uniden-bc246t/
15Uniden BC350ALegacy desktop analog30-512 MHz(panel only on early units)programs/uniden-bc350a/
16Uniden BC355NLegacy compact mobile25-960 MHz(panel only)programs/uniden-bc355n/
17Uniden HomepatrolLegacy zip-code-programmable25-1300 MHzSentinel (HP-2)programs/uniden-homepatrol/
18SkyBridge PlusCommercial DMR hotspot2 m / 70 cm DMRBrowser-based BridgeCom UIprograms/skybridge-plus/
19DIY WPSD HotSpotDIY DMR/D-Star/YSF/NXDN/P25/M172 m / 70 cm digitalBrowser-based WPSD dashboardprograms/wpsd-hotspot/
23Gigatronics 6060A/6062ARF signal generator0.01-2.4 / 0.01-20 GHzGPIB + front panelprograms/gigatronics-6060a/
23MFJ-419 CW ElmerCW practice generatorAudio(panel + USB text mode)programs/mfj-419/
23MFJ-422D KeyerIambic keyer + paddlen/a(panel only)programs/mfj-422d/
23RCP-665 VTVMVacuum-tube voltmeterDC + ~100 MHz RF probe(mechanical zero / cal)programs/rcp-665/
24WiPhoneSIP/VoIP phoneWi-Fi (no RF radio)Browser-based + Wi-Fi provisioningprograms/wiphone/

The cross-cutting synthesis vols (Vol 2 DMR Network, Vol 3 Programming Software, Vol 4 Frequency Planning) don’t have an item — they describe behaviors across the lineup. Vol 1 is the overview, Vol 25 is this closeout. Total: 19 RF devices + 4 bench/curio items + 1 radio-adjacent (WiPhone) + 5 synthesis/overview/closeout vols = 25 volumes.

2.2 DMR talkgroup quick-reference card

The talkgroups most likely to be keyed up, organized by network. Sources: Vol 2 §2 (BrandMeister + TGIF + WPSD overview) and Vol 2 §3 (talkgroups + routing).

BrandMeister (BM) — the default network:

Table 2 — BrandMeister (BM) — the default network:

TGNameSlot conventionNotes
1Localhotspot Slot 2repeater-local, doesn’t route off
9Local (simplex/hotspot)Slot 2community convention; hotspot default
13North AmericaSlot 1continental scope, English
91Worldwide EnglishSlot 1the global “lobby” — drop-in calling, don’t camp
92EuropeSlot 1regional
93North America (regional)Slot 1regional
94Asia/PacificSlot 1regional
95RussiaSlot 1regional
100Russia (alternate)Slot 1regional
3100USA NationwideSlot 1US-wide
3162Michigan StatewideSlot 2home state
31660Michigan RegionalSlot 2sub-state
31661Michigan SkywarnSlot 2weather spotter net
31602Michigan Public SafetySlot 2comms net
31012Michigan TACSlot 2tactical channel
31998US PoliticsSlot 2topical
3169TAC 310 (US Tactical)Slot 2the canonical “let’s QSY here” TG
31010SOTA / POTA NASlot 2parks/summits-on-the-air
310777BridgeCom Users NetSlot 2vendor-affiliated net
4000Disconnect(legacy IPSC)drops dynamic TG subscriptions
5057APRS GatewaySlot 2DMR data → APRS-IS
9050Self-Care Status(informational)BM portal channel
9990Echo Test (Parrot)Slot 2always-test-here-first
50000BrandMeister NewsSlot 2network news

TGIF Network — the lighter community alternative:

Table 3 — TGIF Network — the lighter community alternative:

TGNameNotes
2TGIF Generalmain lobby; analog to BM 91
31TGIF Fellowshipflagship Friday-night net
91TGIF Worldwideindependent of BM 91 — different TG
235TGIF UKindependent of BM 235
313TGIF Michigan-localindependent of BM 3162
1776TGIF Patriot Nettopical
4639Mid-Continentcentral US geo
38055TGIF QRPlow-power-themed

WPSD — runs upstream of BM or TGIF; small internal TG set:

Table 4 — WPSD — runs upstream of BM or TGIF; small internal TG set:

TGNameNotes
(varies)WPSD Newsinformational, WPSD-master only
(varies)WPSD Helpsupport

US state TG numbering — quick lookup (BrandMeister 31xx convention):

Table 5 — US state TG numbering — quick lookup (BrandMeister 31xx convention):

StateTGStateTGStateTG
Alabama3101Kentucky3117Ohio3139
Alaska3102Louisiana3118Oklahoma3140
Arizona3104Maine3119Oregon3141
Arkansas3105Maryland3120Pennsylvania3142
California3106Massachusetts3148Rhode Island3144
Colorado3108Michigan3162South Carolina3145
Connecticut3109Minnesota3127South Dakota3146
Delaware3110Mississippi3128Tennessee3147
Florida3112Missouri3129Texas3148
Georgia3113Montana3130Utah3149
Hawaii3151Nebraska3131Vermont3150
Idaho3116Nevada3132Virginia3151
Illinois3117New Hampshire3133Washington3153
Indiana3118New Jersey3134West Virginia3154
Iowa3119New Mexico3135Wisconsin3155
Kansas3120New York3136Wyoming3156

TBD — the BrandMeister state-TG numbering plan was substantially reshuffled in the 2018 post-FIPS-recoding update; some sources still show the older numbering (Michigan was 3126 pre-2018, 3162 post-2018). The post-2018 column above is the current standard but verify against https://brandmeister.network/?page=talkgroups before relying on a specific number for an out-of-state TG.

Etiquette discipline: TG 9990 (Echo Test / Parrot) is the always-key-here-first talkgroup — every session, verify your audio + DMR ID + network path against the parrot before keying any other TG. Camping on TG 91 (BM Worldwide English) is the canonical DMR rudeness; key, ID, QSY to a regional or topical TG. Static talkgroups load the network — keep your static count low (5-per-slot is BrandMeister’s posted ceiling, but most operators run 2-3). See Vol 2 §6 for the full etiquette protocol.

2.3 Codeplug-edit workflow per radio family

Five CPS ecosystems serve the bench. The workflow for each is structurally identical (read → backup → edit → write → test) but the buttons and the file formats differ. Sources: Vol 3 §2-7 (per-CPS coverage), Vol 3 §8 (versioning discipline).

Table 6 — 2.3 Codeplug-edit workflow per radio family {#codeplug-edit-workflow}

CPSVendorRadiosRead-from-radioBackup fileEdit then write-backBackup location
ProScanBill Davis / W6BD (paid, ~$50 lifetime)SDS100, SDS200, BCD536HP, BCD396XTUSB → “Read From Radio”; saves *.psf (ProScan codeplug file)*.psf + auto-generated *.bakEdit in-app; “Write To Radio” pushes back via same USB sessionprograms/uniden-{sds100,sds200,bcd536hp,bcd396xt}/proscan/
SentinelUniden (free, vendor)SDS100, SDS200, BCD536HP, HomepatrolUSB mass-storage → mount SD card → copy Profile.dat offProfile.dat (binary) + Sentinel project fileEdit in Sentinel; “Save” writes Profile.dat; mount + copy back to SD; eject + restart radioprograms/uniden-{slug}/sentinel/
FreeScanARC/Butel (free, third-party)BC246T, BCD396XT, BC125AT, legacy lineupSerial cable (USB-to-PS-2300/2304-protocol via PL-2303 or FTDI) → “Read”*.fsd (FreeScan project file)Edit in app; “Write” pushes back via serialprograms/uniden-{slug}/freescan/
AnyTone CPSAnyTone (free, vendor — Windows only)D878UVIIUSB (proprietary clip-on cable) → “Read From Radio”*.rdt (AnyTone codeplug bundle: channels + zones + talkgroups + contacts + at_options)Edit in CPS; “Write To Radio” pushes back. Version-match the CPS to the radio’s firmware (CPS v2.04 → fw 2.04A, etc.)programs/anytone-d878uvii/cps/
CHIRPOpen-source community (free, OSS, cross-platform)Baofeng F8HP, Baofeng UV-B5, Yaesu VX-8DR, hundreds of othersSerial cable (Baofeng K1 type or Yaesu CT-149) → “Download from radio”*.img (CHIRP image file — generic per-model binary) + auto *.csv exportEdit in CHIRP grid view; “Upload to radio” pushes backprograms/{slug}/chirp/
wfViewOpen-source community (free, OSS, GPL — cross-platform)Icom HF (no current rig in lineup — archived; useful when an IC-7300 enters the bench)CI-V (USB or RS-232) → live virtual control panel*.qsi (wfView config)Edit in app; no separate “write” step — settings push live as you change themprograms/wfview/

The non-negotiable rule across all five: before any edit, read-and-save a baseline backup named {radio-slug}_YYYY-MM-DD_pre-{purpose}.{ext}. The “I’m about to do something risky” backup costs 30 seconds and is the only thing standing between “bricked codeplug” and “10-minute recovery.” See Vol 3 §8.1 for the discipline; see Vol 13 §5 for the SDS100-specific worked example.

The Sentinel vs. ProScan decision for Uniden DMA radios: Sentinel is free and fine for basic codeplug edits; ProScan is paid and worth the $50 if you do bulk edits, want a remote web-server head, want RadioReference live integration, or own multiple Uniden radios that benefit from a shared environment. Discovery Mode (the unknown-talkgroup logging feature on the SDS100/SDS200/BCD536HP) is Sentinel-only — ProScan doesn’t have its own equivalent. The pragmatic answer is own both and use whichever serves the moment.

2.4 Frequency-by-service quick lookup

Three sub-tables. Sources: Vol 4 §2-7.

Part 97 amateur — band edges + sub-band modes (Extra-class privileges):

Table 7 — Part 97 amateur — band edges + sub-band modes (Extra-class privileges):

BandFrequency (MHz)Phone sub-bandMode notesPower ceiling
160 m1.800-2.0001.800-2.000 SSBAll modes1500 W PEP
80 m3.500-4.0003.700-4.000 SSB (Extra)CW lower, phone upper1500 W PEP
60 m5 USB channels: 5332/5348/5358.5/5373/5405 kHzn/a (channelized)USB only, secondary100 W ERP ref. half-wave dipole
40 m7.000-7.300 (Region 2)7.025-7.300 SSB (Extra)All modes1500 W PEP
30 m10.100-10.150none — no phoneCW + digital only, secondary200 W PEP
20 m14.000-14.35014.150-14.350 SSB (Extra)DX workhorse1500 W PEP
17 m18.068-18.16818.110-18.168 SSBWARC, no contests by convention1500 W PEP
15 m21.000-21.45021.200-21.450 SSB (Extra)Solar-cycle DX1500 W PEP
12 m24.890-24.99024.930-24.990 SSBWARC1500 W PEP
10 m28.000-29.70028.300-29.700 SSB; 29.5+ FM repeatersAll modes1500 W PEP
6 m50.000-54.00050.100+ SSB; 50.0-50.1 CW/EME; 51-54 FM”magic band”1500 W PEP
2 m144.000-148.000144.200 SSB DX call; 144.39 APRS; 146-148 FM repeatersLOS + repeaters1500 W PEP
1.25 m222.000-225.000 (Region 2)222-225 FMRX-only on VX-8DR1500 W PEP
70 cm420.000-450.000432.10 SSB DX call; 442-450 FM repeatersHeaviest VHF/UHF allocation1500 W PEP
33 cm902-928shared w/ Part 15 ISM + Part 90Secondary1500 W PEP
23 cm1240-1300shared w/ GPS L2Secondary; coordination needed1500 W PEP

Part 95 — GMRS / FRS / CB / MURS (no amateur license helps; each is its own regime):

Table 8 — Part 95 — GMRS / FRS / CB / MURS (no amateur license helps; each is its own regime):

ServiceFrequencyPowerLicenseNotes
CB (Citizens Band, 40 ch)26.965-27.405 MHz AM/SSB4 W AM / 12 W PEP SSBNoneType-accepted radio required
FRS (Family Radio Service, 22 ch shared w/ GMRS)462.5625-462.7250 + 467.5625-467.7125 MHz FM0.5-2 WNoneIntegrated antenna only
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service, 30 ch: 22 shared w/ FRS + 8 repeater inputs)462.55-462.7250 + 467.55-467.7125 MHz FMup to 50 W (main channels); lower on shared$35 / 10-yr license (covers family)Repeater-capable; GMRS-certified radio required
MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service, 5 ch)151.820, 151.880, 151.940, 154.570, 154.600 MHz NFM2 WNoneType-accepted radio required

Part 87 aero — civilian AM voice + military VHF/UHF (RX legal; TX requires aircraft station license):

Table 9 — Part 87 aero — civilian AM voice + military VHF/UHF (RX legal; TX requires aircraft station license):

RangeUseMode
108.0-117.975 MHzVOR / ILS navigationAM (RX-only)
118.0-136.975 MHzATC voice (civilian airband)AM
121.5 MHzCivilian emergency / guardAM
123.0 MHzUNICOM (uncontrolled-field common traffic)AM
225-380 MHzMilitary airbandAM
380-400 MHzMilitary airband (US DoD)AM
243.0 MHzMilitary emergency / guardAM

Part 80 marine + NOAA WX:

Table 10 — Part 80 marine + NOAA WX:

ChannelFrequency (MHz)Use
Marine 16156.800International calling + distress (the canonical “16”)
Marine 09156.450Calling (US recreational alternative to 16)
Marine 13156.650Bridge-to-bridge navigation (commercial vessels)
Marine 22A157.100USCG working / weather alerts
WX1162.550NOAA WX (typically Detroit/Pontiac for SE MI)
WX2162.400NOAA WX
WX3162.475NOAA WX
WX4162.425NOAA WX
WX5162.450NOAA WX
WX6162.500NOAA WX
WX7162.525NOAA WX

Cross-link: full Part 22 cellular RX legal framing (and the ECPA §2511 carve-out) is in Vol 4 §5; the Part 90 LMR scanner RX framing is in Vol 4 §4; the receive-only etiquette posture is in Vol 4 §8.

2.5 NWS S.A.M.E. event code reference

The S.A.M.E. event codes most likely to be seen on the Midland WR120 (Vol 12). The full ~80-code list is at https://www.weather.gov/nwr/eventcodes; the subset below is the active-Michigan-geography selection. Sources: Vol 12 §3.5 (event filter) and Vol 12 §7.3 (filter tuning).

Warnings (high urgency — always enable; alert tone + voice):

Table 11 — Warnings (high urgency — always enable; alert tone + voice):

CodeEventNotes
TORTornado Warningimminent / observed tornado
SVRSevere Thunderstorm Warning58+ mph winds OR 1”+ hail
FFWFlash Flood Warningflash flooding imminent / observed
FLWFlood Warningnon-flash river / area flooding
EWWExtreme Wind Warningtropical hurricane 115+ mph wind core
HUWHurricane Warninghurricane conditions within 36 hr
TSWTsunami Warning(mostly coastal — not MI-relevant but enable for travel)
BZWBlizzard Warning35+ mph wind + ≥3 hr falling/blowing snow
WSWWinter Storm Warningheavy snow + ice + wind combined
ICWIce Storm Warningsignificant ice accumulation
DSWDust Storm Warning<1/4 mi visibility
CFWCoastal Flood Warningcoastal flooding
LEWLaw Enforcement Warningcivil emergency, evacuation, etc.
HMWHazardous Materials Warningchemical / nuclear release
CDWCivil Danger Warningimminent threat to life/property
CEMCivil Emergency Messagecatch-all serious civil emergency
FRWFire Warningwildfire imminent / observed
NUWNuclear Power Plant Warningnuclear emergency
RHWRadiological Hazard Warningradiation release
VOWVolcano Warning(n/a in MI but enable for travel)
AVWAvalanche Warning(n/a in MI flatland)

AMBER / child-safety:

Table 12 — AMBER / child-safety:

CodeEventNotes
CAEChild Abduction Emergency (AMBER)emotional preference; default enabled

Watches (lower urgency — enable selectively; voice without siren is a reasonable default):

Table 13 — Watches (lower urgency — enable selectively; voice without siren is a reasonable default):

CodeEvent
TOATornado Watch
SVASevere Thunderstorm Watch
FFAFlash Flood Watch
FLAFlood Watch
HUAHurricane Watch
BZABlizzard Watch
WSAWinter Storm Watch
HWAHigh Wind Watch
WCAWind Chill Watch

Advisories + statements (informational — usually disable unless interested):

Table 14 — Advisories + statements (informational — usually disable unless interested):

CodeEvent
SPSSpecial Weather Statement
WCYWind Chill Advisory
WIYWind Advisory
HTYHeat Advisory
FOGDense Fog Advisory
WSYWinter Weather Advisory
AQAAir Quality Alert
SUYHeat Advisory (variant)

Tests + administrative:

Table 15 — Tests + administrative:

CodeEventNotes
RWTRequired Weekly TestWed late morning chirp; enable to confirm radio works
RMTRequired Monthly Testfirst Wed of month, alternating with EAS
NPTNational Periodic Testrare, system-wide
DMOPractice / Demodrill
EANEmergency Action Notification(extremely rare — president of US authorized; enable)
ADRAdministrative MessageNWS housekeeping
EVIEvacuation Immediatealways enable
SPWShelter In Place Warningalways enable

FIPS code structure: S.A.M.E. county codes are 6-digit: leading “0” + 5-digit Census FIPS. Livingston Co MI = Census FIPS 26093 → S.A.M.E. 026093. The leading “0” means “entire county”; “1” through “9” are partial-county codes used only where NWS has explicitly subdivided coverage (rare). Multi-county configuration: program multiple FIPS slots (the WR120 holds 25 slots). Full lookup at https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/county_coverage.html.

2.6 CTCSS / DCS tone tables

Two tone systems coexist on FM voice repeaters. CTCSS (sub-audible analog tones, 67.0 Hz to 254.1 Hz) is the older, by-far-more-common system; DCS (digital codes, 023 through 754, normal + inverted) is the newer, slightly more selective alternative. Programmed in CHIRP, AnyTone CPS, and (radio-side) the F8HP keypad menus.

CTCSS — full 50-tone table (EIA standard CTCSS frequencies in Hz):

Table 16 — CTCSS — full 50-tone table (EIA standard CTCSS frequencies in Hz):

ToneHzToneHzToneHzToneHzToneHz
XZ67.04Z91.51Z118.84A156.79Z196.6
XA69.34B94.81A123.04B (alt)159.89A199.5
WA71.9ZZ97.42Z127.35Z162.2M1203.5
XB74.4ZA100.02A131.85A165.5M2206.5
WB77.0ZB103.52B136.55B167.90Z210.7
YA79.71Z (alt)107.23Z141.36Z171.3M3218.1
YB82.51A (alt)110.93A146.26A173.8M4225.7
ZA (alt)85.41B114.83B151.46B177.3(high)229.1
ZB (alt)88.57Z179.9(high)233.6
7A183.5(high)241.8
7B186.2(high)250.3
8Z189.9(high)254.1
8A192.8

The frequencies in numerical order (the order CHIRP and AnyTone CPS list them):

67.0, 69.3, 71.9, 74.4, 77.0, 79.7, 82.5, 85.4, 88.5, 91.5, 94.8, 97.4, 100.0, 103.5, 107.2, 110.9, 114.8, 118.8, 123.0, 127.3, 131.8, 136.5, 141.3, 146.2, 151.4, 156.7, 159.8, 162.2, 165.5, 167.9, 171.3, 173.8, 177.3, 179.9, 183.5, 186.2, 189.9, 192.8, 196.6, 199.5, 203.5, 206.5, 210.7, 218.1, 225.7, 229.1, 233.6, 241.8, 250.3, 254.1 Hz.

Setting on a repeater: “TX tone 100.0 Hz, RX tone none” is the typical posture for accessing a repeater that requires a CTCSS tone on its input but transmits its output unsquelched. Some repeaters use “tone squelch both directions” — TX tone 100.0, RX tone 100.0 — which keeps your speaker silent until the repeater keys up with the same tone.

DCS — Digital-Coded Squelch codes (104 codes, octal-encoded):

The DCS codes are octal numbers from 023 to 754. Each code is presented in normal (N) and inverted (I) orientations; the repeater operator picks one and your radio must match. A condensed list of the most-commonly-encountered codes (the full 104-code list is in the FCC technical reference and in every CPS):

023, 025, 026, 031, 032, 036, 043, 047, 051, 053, 054, 065, 071, 072, 073, 074, 114, 115, 116, 122, 125, 131, 132, 134, 143, 145, 152, 155, 156, 162, 165, 172, 174, 205, 212, 223, 225, 226, 243, 244, 245, 246, 251, 252, 255, 261, 263, 265, 266, 271, 274, 306, 311, 315, 325, 331, 332, 343, 346, 351, 356, 364, 365, 371, 411, 412, 413, 423, 431, 432, 445, 446, 452, 454, 455, 462, 464, 465, 466, 503, 506, 516, 523, 526, 532, 546, 565, 606, 612, 624, 627, 631, 632, 654, 662, 664, 703, 712, 723, 731, 732, 734, 743, 754.

Notation convention: “D023N” means DCS 023 normal; “D023I” means DCS 023 inverted. In CHIRP the field labels are “Tone Mode = DTCS” with the code typed as a 3-digit octal number plus a polarity flag. In AnyTone CPS the field is labeled “QT/DQT” and accepts the same notation.

2.7 Hotspot quick-start card

Side-by-side power-up + first-config for the SkyBridge Plus (Vol 21) and the DIY WPSD HotSpot (Vol 22). Both run BrandMeister + TGIF by default; both expose a web dashboard on the local LAN; the difference is depth of configurability and how much you have to assemble.

Table 17 — 2.7 Hotspot quick-start card {#hotspot-quick-start}

StepSkyBridge PlusDIY WPSD HotSpot
Power-upPlug in USB-C 5 V 2 A (or use BridgeCom AC adapter); ~30 s to LED-greenPlug in micro-USB 5 V 2.5 A; ~60 s for Pi + WPSD to boot
Find on LANmDNS hostname: skybridge.local (browser); or check router DHCP lease listmDNS hostname: tjs-duplex.local (current — was pi-star-duplex.local pre-migration); router DHCP lease list
Dashboard URLhttp://skybridge.local (HTTP only by default)http://tjs-duplex.local (HTTP only by default)
Default credentials(BridgeCom-provided sticker on bottom; defaults to factory pwd, change immediately)Pi-Star/WPSD: pi-star / raspberry SSH; dashboard admin UI defaults configurable in first-boot wizard
First-config: DMR IDConfiguration → DMR Master → DMR ID — enter your 7-digit radioid.net DMR IDConfiguration → General Configuration → DMR ID — same
First-config: masterMaster Server dropdown → “BrandMeister BM_3101” (US-East) or BM_3102 (US-West); add TGIF as secondaryDMR Network 1 → “BrandMeister” → Master → “BM_3101”; DMR Network 2 → “TGIF”
First-config: callsignEnter callsign (must match the radioid.net entry for the DMR ID)Same
First-config: TX freq433.500 MHz typical hotspot freq (avoid local repeater pairs!)Same — check the local repeater coordinator’s list first
First-config: TX power10-12 mW (default; do NOT raise without coordination)10-20 mW (default duplex)
First-config: color codeCC 1 (default; matches your radio’s codeplug for hotspot channels)CC 1 (default)
Talkgroup-of-the-day checkStatus → Last Heard — see which TGs are active right nowDashboard → Last Heard — same
First TXKey TG 9990 (Parrot) on the radio configured for the hotspot frequency; the parrot echoes your audio back ~5 s later if everything worksSame
Firmware/OS updateUpdate → BridgeCom Updates (pulls from BridgeCom support portal)Update → System Update in dashboard, OR sudo pistar-update from SSH
Backup before updateHotspot’s web UI: Backup button → downloads a .tar config bundleBackup button in WPSD dashboard → downloads a .tar bundle

The two-minute hotspot test: plug in → find on LAN → load dashboard → check that “Last Heard” is showing recent TG 3162 (or your home state TG) traffic → key TG 9990 from a radio configured for the hotspot frequency → confirm the parrot echoes your audio back. If all four steps work, the hotspot is operational. See Vol 21 §3 for SkyBridge depth and Vol 22 §4 for WPSD depth.

Don’t-publish list for the hotspot config: Wi-Fi PSK, the radioid.net password, the dashboard admin password, the hostname-on-LAN if it reveals your home address. See Vol 22 §5.3 for the full discipline.

2.8 Trunking system identification flowchart

A decision tree for figuring out what kind of trunked system you’re hearing when you tune across an unknown control channel. Sources: Vol 13 §3 (SDS100 trunking architecture), Vol 4 §4 (Part 90 LMR overview), and the per-system breakdowns in Vol 14 §3 (SDS200).

Hear traffic on a single frequency, but it comes and goes in
short bursts with discrete digital-sounding "burps" between voice?

├─ Yes → trunked system. Continue below.
└─ No  → either conventional analog/digital, or a busy simplex
         channel. Set radio to "conventional" and decode the
         modulation directly.

A trunked system has a control channel — a frequency that
carries continuous data (no voice; you hear it as a constant
sub-audible-rate digital warble). Find it first.

├─ Control channel sounds like a continuous 4800-baud-ish
│  buzzing warble (LSM / C4FM) on a low-VHF, high-VHF, UHF,
│  or 700/800 MHz channel → P25 (Project 25). Continue.

├─ Control channel is a faster, ~9600 bps multi-tone pattern
│  → maybe Motorola Type II Smartnet, EDACS, or LTR.
│  - Type II Smartnet: control channel data bursts have
│    a distinctive "tweet-tweet-tweet" cadence; 800 MHz
│    common, also 900 MHz, sometimes UHF.
│  - EDACS: control channel is faster than P25, GE/Ericsson
│    heritage, 800/900 MHz typical (NJ Statewide, ATT MTS
│    historically).
│  - LTR (Logic Trunked Radio): older, slower control,
│    no separate control channel — "burst" embeds in every
│    voice channel. 800/900 MHz typical, fading from use.

├─ Control channel sounds like rapid DMR-like TDMA chirps
│  (two-burst per ~30 ms) → DMR Tier III (commercial DMR
│  trunking — not amateur). NXDN is similar but FDMA, single-
│  burst pattern.

├─ Control channel sounds like P25 (4800-baud LSM/C4FM) but
│  voice is TDMA two-slot → P25 Phase II (the modern flagship
│  for state-wide / county public safety). Both slots carry
│  voice; control channel is still Phase I C4FM.

├─ Encrypted voice (sounds like white noise after the unsquelch
│  burst) → P25 Phase II + AES-256 or DES-OFB. **Don't decode**
│  (Part 90 / ECPA — even if you could, it's illegal).

└─ Voice traffic is unmistakably analog FM but jumps among ~5
   different freqs with no apparent pattern → analog trunked
   (older Type II or LTR systems). Most fading from use.

For P25 systems, the scanner needs the NAC (Network Access Code)
to fully decode in talkgroup mode. NAC is a 12-bit code (000-FFF
hex); the system advertises it on the control channel; modern
scanners (SDS100/SDS200/BCD536HP) auto-discover NAC and don't
need it manually entered.

For Type II Smartnet / EDACS, the scanner needs the system's
"Site ID" (a fingerprint of the control-channel timing) +
talkgroup list. RadioReference is the canonical database.

The legacy-scanner question: pre-Trunk-Tracker scanners can't
decode trunking at all — they hear single frequencies, miss the
talkgroup mapping. Trunk Tracker III (BC246T, BCD396XT, etc.)
handles Type II / EDACS analog. Modern scanners (SDS100/SDS200/
BCD536HP) add P25 Phase I + II and NXDN. None decode encrypted.

Quick visual identification of common system types — by what you hear:

Table 18 — Quick visual identification of common system types — by what you hear:

What you hearLikely systemWhere to verify
~4800-baud LSM warble, no voiceP25 Phase I control channelRadioReference site lookup
LSM warble + two-slot TDMA voiceP25 Phase IIRadioReference; check for “Phase II” in metadata
Fast multi-tone burst pattern, 800 MHzMotorola Type II SmartnetRadioReference; Motorola Type II flag
Slow burst + analog FM voice across multi-freqOld Type II / LTRRadioReference; “Analog trunked”
Two TDMA slots, DMR-like burstDMR Tier III (commercial)RadioReference; “DMR” flag
Single-slot FDMA chirp, like DMR but different cadenceNXDNRadioReference; “NXDN”
Encrypted-sounding white noise after unsquelchP25 + AES/DES, or DMR + ENHANCED privacy(don’t try to decode)

2.9 Cable + connector cross-reference per radio

The cable-on-a-shelf inventory by radio. Sources: per-radio Vol §2 (Hardware tour) entries.

Table 19 — 2.9 Cable + connector cross-reference per radio {#cable-connector-reference}

RadioProgramming cableProgramming protocolAntenna jackPower connector
Yaesu VX-8DRYaesu CT-149 (USB-to-4-pole-3.5mm-jack)proprietary serial via CP2102 USB-UARTSMA-F (female on radio)proprietary slide-in BL-8 / FBA-39 + USB charger
Baofeng F8HPBaofeng K1-type (USB-to-2-pin-Kenwood)PL-2303 USB-UARTSMA-F (female on radio)barrel jack + USB-C alternative (radio-revision-dependent)
Baofeng UV-B5Baofeng K1-type (same as F8HP)PL-2303 USB-UARTSMA-F (female on radio)barrel jack
AnyTone D878UVII PLUSAnyTone-proprietary USB clip-on (no standard cable)USB-HID custom protocolSMA-F (female on radio)proprietary slide-in QB-44L Li-ion + USB-C charger
Xiegu X6100(firmware updates via SD card; CAT control via USB-C)CAT (Yaesu/Icom-flavored) over USB-CBNC-F (also SO-239 on rear for stationary)barrel jack 12-15 V DC + internal 18650 Li-ion
Xiegu XPA125B(firmware updates rare; DIP switches for band data)n/a (DIP + CAT band-data)SO-239 (RF in + out)Anderson PowerPole 13.8 V DC
Tecsun PL-880(no PC programming)n/atelescoping whip + 3.5 mm ext-antenna jack4× AA NiMH + USB charger (mini-USB on older units, USB-C on newer revs — TBD)
Midland WR120(no PC programming)n/a3.5 mm ext-antenna jack (or screw terminal on early revs)mains wall-wart + 3× AA backup (some revs 4× AA — TBD)
Uniden SDS100USB-C (direct mass-storage mode for SD card; serial for ProScan)USB-mass-storage + USB-CDC virtual COMSMA-F (female on radio)proprietary slide-in BP-100 Li-ion + USB-C charger
Uniden SDS200USB-B (mini or full-size, revision-dependent)USB-CDC virtual COMBNC-F (female on radio)barrel jack 13.8 V DC + USB power tap
Uniden BCD536HPUSB-B (full-size)USB-CDC virtual COMBNC-Fbarrel jack 13.8 V DC
Uniden BCD396XTUSB-B (mini)USB-CDC virtual COMSMA-F (female on radio)proprietary slide-in BP2000 NiMH pack + USB charger
Uniden BC246TUniden RS-232 cable (USB-to-RS232 adapter for modern PCs)RS-232 (proprietary Uniden)BNC-Fproprietary slide-in BP-160 NiMH + 9 V wall-wart
Uniden BC350A(panel only)n/aBNC-F12 V DC barrel jack
Uniden BC355NUSB-C (mini-USB on early revs, USB-C on later — verify against the unit)USB-mass-storageBNC-Fproprietary slide-in or 12 V vehicle
Uniden HomepatrolUSB-B (HP-2 has USB-B); HP-1 has 9-pin RS-232USB-CDC (HP-2)SMA-F12 V DC barrel jack
SkyBridge Plusn/a (browser-based config; SD card removable for OS rebuild)Web HTTP/HTTPS on LANSMA-F (or RP-SMA — TBD per the unit’s hat variant)USB-C 5 V 2 A
DIY WPSD HotSpotn/a (browser config; microSD removable for image flash)Web HTTP on LAN; SSH to underlying PiSMA-F on duplex hat (most likely); could be dual SMA for duplexmicro-USB 5 V 2.5 A
Gigatronics 6060AGPIB IEEE-488GPIB (24-conductor connector)N-type female (RF out)IEC C13 + mains
MFJ-419USB-B (text-mode interface for tutor practice)USB-CDCn/a (audio only)9 V wall-wart + AA backup
MFJ-422Dn/a (panel only)n/an/a9 V wall-wart
RCP-665 VTVMn/a (hand-meter)n/abanana jacks (DC + AC + Ohms); RF probe attachmentIEC C13 + mains (also a 117 V version, depending on RCP variant)
WiPhoneUSB-C (charging + firmware update)USB-CDCn/a (Wi-Fi internal)USB-C 5 V

The interesting cross-cutting observations:

  • Most modern scanners use SMA-F (female on the radio — meaning the antenna has a male SMA jack). The two exceptions in the lineup are the SDS200 and BCD536HP, which use BNC-F because they’re base/mobile units where BNC is more rugged.
  • The Baofengs and AnyTone share Baofeng-K1-type programming cables but use PL-2303 vs CP2102 chipsets — the cable physically fits but if your PC has driver problems for one chipset, the other usually works. CHIRP autodetects both.
  • USB-C migration is incomplete. As of mid-2026, the SDS100 / WiPhone / AnyTone D878UVII / X6100 are USB-C; the SDS200 / BCD536HP / older Uniden scanners are still USB-B (mini or full); the Baofengs and Yaesu are USB-UART through a proprietary jack-to-USB adapter. The shack drawer needs all three cable families.
  • The proprietary battery situation is the worst per-unit cost over the radio’s lifetime. Yaesu BL-8 / FBA-39, Uniden BP-100 / BP2000 / BP-160, AnyTone QB-44L — each is a single-source spare-parts proposition. Generic AA / 18650 retrofit packs exist for some (Vol 5 §2.5 for the Yaesu FBA-25A AA tray; Vol 16 §2.4 for the BCD396XT BP2000 18650 retrofit).
  • PL-2303 vs FTDI matters on Windows 10/11: the OEM PL-2303HXA chip’s driver is rejected by Windows since 2020 (“This driver has been blocked by Code Integrity Guard”). The genuine PL-2303TA or FTDI FT232RL is the working alternative. CHIRP detects the chip and warns.

2.10 Pre-flight checklist before any TX session

Run through this before keying any TX-capable radio. Designed to fit on a single laminated 4×6. Sources: Vol 9 §6 (X6100 portable posture), Vol 4 §2.3 (§97.119 ID rule), Antennas Vol 31 (MPE / RF safety).

[  ] License-tier authorization for this band — Extra (held)
     covers all amateur; non-amateur services require their own
     license. Cross-check Part 95 / Part 90 / Part 87 / Part 80
     before TX outside amateur bands.

[  ] Frequency is allocated to the service you're operating under
     (Part 97 amateur, Part 95 GMRS/FRS/MURS/CB, etc.) — not in
     a guard band, not within a Part 87 aero allocation, not on
     a primary user's allocation where you're secondary.

[  ] Output power is within the band-specific ceiling:
     - 30 m: ≤200 W PEP (CW/digital only — no phone)
     - 60 m: ≤100 W ERP ref. half-wave dipole (USB only, 5 ch)
     - all other amateur HF/VHF/UHF: ≤1500 W PEP

[  ] Antenna is connected and resonant on this band:
     - SWR ≤2.0 at the rig is the typical "OK to TX" gate
     - Sweep with NanoVNA if SWR is unknown
     - Verify dummy load is NOT in line if you intend to actually
       transmit; verify dummy load IS in line if you intend to
       tune or test without radiating

[  ] RF amplifier settings if used (XPA125B):
     - Drive level matches the amp's expected input (8-12 W
       typical for XPA125B from X6100)
     - ALC cable connected if running SSB (non-negotiable)
     - Fan mode = AUTO, not OFF
     - Band selected matches the band you're transmitting on

[  ] ID per §97.119:
     - At least every 10 minutes during a contact
     - At the end of every transmission session
     - Phone: spoken callsign; CW: sent callsign; digital: callsign
       embedded in protocol (FT8 / FT4 / DMR / etc. handle this
       automatically)
     - Hotspot operation: the DMR ID carried in the digital frame
       satisfies §97.119; voice-ID periodically for conservative
       posture

[  ] DMR-specific (Vols 8 / 21 / 22):
     - Encryption DISABLED (Part 97.113(a)(4) violation if enabled)
     - Color code matches the repeater/hotspot
     - Slot matches (hotspot = Slot 2 convention)
     - DMR ID is registered on radioid.net and matches your callsign

[  ] MPE / RF safety (cross-link Antennas Vol 31):
     - Maintain minimum distance per OET-65 for the power +
       frequency + duty cycle combination you're running
     - Do not transmit handheld with the antenna touching your
       ear or pressed to your head at full power
     - Long digital-mode sessions (high duty cycle) have stricter
       MPE separation than SSB voice

[  ] Posture awareness:
     - Operating from the registered station address: no suffix
     - Mobile: /M
     - Portable (different physical location from registered):  /P
     - From a different call district: /N (where N is the district)
     - Activating a POTA park or SOTA summit: /P + park/summit ID
       in the contact exchange

The two-line “before you key” summary: band right, power right, antenna good, ID required. Everything else is detail.


3. A-Z glossary

Every term used across the 24 prior volumes that’s likely to be cross-linked from a sibling deep dive or that an engineer-grade reader might want a precise one-line definition for. Alphabetized. Each entry: term, optional acronym expansion, one-to-three-line definition, optional cross-link to the volume that treats it in depth. Cross-references between glossary entries use “see also” where the connection is non-obvious.

A

  • AES-256 — Advanced Encryption Standard, 256-bit key. The encryption flavor commonly applied to P25 Phase II public-safety voice; available as a firmware option on the AnyTone D878UVII PLUS but prohibited on amateur frequencies per §97.113(a)(4). Vol 8 §3.4, Vol 4 §4.4.
  • AGC (Automatic Gain Control) — Receiver circuit that adjusts gain to keep output level approximately constant despite varying input signal strength. Most modern SDR-based scanners run AGC continuously; HF rigs expose it as a per-band setting. Vol 9 §3, Vol 11 §3.
  • ALC (Automatic Level Control) — Transmit-side feedback loop that limits drive power into the PA to prevent overdrive and splatter. On the X6100 + XPA125B chain, an ALC cable is non-negotiable for SSB. Vol 10 §7.
  • AMBE+2 — Advanced Multi-Band Excitation, version 2 — the proprietary voice codec used in DMR (and D-STAR, P25 Phase II, NXDN). Licensed from DVSI. Vol 8 §3, Vol 2 §3.
  • ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) — ARRL’s volunteer emergency-response program. Not a regulatory concept — differs from RACES (§97.407, which is FCC-defined). Vol 4 §2.6.
  • APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) — Bob Bruninga’s amateur packet-radio protocol for position beacons, weather, messaging. 144.39 MHz is the national channel. Yaesu VX-8DR has internal AFSK TNC; AnyTone supports APRS via DMR data (TG 5057 BrandMeister gateway). Vol 5 §3, Vol 8 §3.7.
  • Attenuator — Passive RF device that reduces signal level by a known dB. Bench-essential for protecting LNAs / spectrum analyzers from overload; programmable on most modern scanners as a front-end overload defense. Vol 9 §7.5, Vol 23 §2.
  • ATU (Automatic Antenna Tuner) — Matching network that automatically tunes for low SWR. Internal in the X6100; external options include LDG, MFJ, mAT. See also: Tuner, L-network. Vol 9 §2.6, Antennas Vol 17.
  • Autotuner — Synonym for ATU. See also: ATU.

B

  • Bank (Uniden legacy) — Memory grouping in pre-DMA Uniden scanners (BC246T era). Replaced in modern Uniden DMA radios by Favorites. Vol 17 §3.
  • Baofeng F8HP — Dual-band 8 W HT, 2 m / 70 cm. The “HP” suffix is the 8 W variant. Type-accepted as Part 90 (commercial LMR) but not as Part 97 amateur — operates under the amateur exception. Vol 6.
  • Baseband — The unmodulated signal information. In modern SDR scanners (SDS100), TrueIQ baseband decoding means the radio captures the full IQ data stream rather than just the demodulated audio, enabling deferred decoding of digital modes. Vol 13 §3.
  • BCD (Uniden product family) — “Bearcat” digital scanner line — BCD436HP, BCD536HP, BCD396XT, etc. The “BCD” prefix denotes digital (P25)-capable models. Vols 15-16.
  • Bird 43 — The canonical through-line RF wattmeter (Bird Electronic Corporation). Slug-based; replace slug for different frequency / power ranges. Antennas Vol 26.
  • BL-5C / BL-8 / FBA-25A / FBA-39 — Yaesu HT battery model designations. BL-5C is the legacy NiMH; BL-8 is the Li-ion; FBA-39 is the slim Li-ion the VX-8DR ships with; FBA-25A is the AA-cell battery tray. See also: BP-100 / BP2000 / BP-160 (Uniden equivalents). Vol 5 §2.4.
  • BL_v2 — The hardware-revision marker on the AnyTone D878UVII PLUS — the “BL version 2” hardware refresh adds bluetooth audio + boot-pic features. Pre-BL_v2 units have less RAM and don’t accept the newer firmware. Vol 8 §2.
  • BNC connector — Bayonet Neil-Concelman; quick-disconnect 50 Ω coax connector, usable to ~4 GHz. Standard on Uniden SDS200 / BCD536HP / BC246T. Mechanical robustness wins over performance vs SMA at HF/VHF/UHF amateur ranges. Antennas Vol 5 §8.
  • BP-100 / BP2000 / BP-160 — Uniden HT battery models. BP-100 is the SDS100 Li-ion; BP2000 is the BCD396XT NiMH pack; BP-160 is the BC246T NiMH. See also: BL-5C (Yaesu equivalents). Vol 13 §2.
  • BrandMeister (BM) — The largest amateur DMR network, ~140k DMR IDs as of 2026. Open-source IPSC2 server stack, run by volunteers. Default network for most US amateurs. Vol 2 §2.1.
  • Bridging (DMR) — Cross-network routing of a single talkgroup across BrandMeister + TGIF + WPSD — e.g. a club’s TG that appears as “31313” on BM and “313” on TGIF, bridged at the master so traffic flows both ways. Vol 2 §2.5.

C

  • CAE / CDW (Civil Danger Warning) — S.A.M.E. event codes for AMBER alert / civil danger. Vol 12 §3.5.
  • Callsign — FCC-assigned alphanumeric station identifier. Sequential (issued in birth-order, e.g. N0SWN) or vanity (operator-requested, e.g. W6DBD). Vol 4 §2.3.
  • CAT (Computer Aided Transceiver) control — Serial-protocol command set for controlling an HF radio from a PC. Yaesu’s “FT-991” protocol, Icom’s “CI-V” protocol, Kenwood’s various variants. wfView speaks CI-V; FLrig and Hamlib speak many CAT dialects. Vol 9 §4, Vol 3 §6.
  • CB (Citizens Band) — Part 95 §95D, 26.965-27.405 MHz, 40 channels, 4 W AM / 12 W PEP SSB, no license required. See also: Part 95. Vol 4 §3.
  • CC (Color Code) — DMR network identifier on a channel — a 4-bit code (0-15) that distinguishes co-channel DMR repeaters from each other. Standard amateur hotspot CC is 1. Vol 2 §3.5.
  • CHIRP — Open-source cross-platform CPS supporting hundreds of Baofeng / Yaesu / TYT / Wouxun radios. Does not support Uniden scanners or AnyTone DMR. Vol 3 §7.
  • Codeplug — Vendor-specific term for the bundle of channels + zones + talkgroups + scan lists + settings that lives in a radio’s NVRAM. A “codeplug backup” is a serialized snapshot of that bundle. See also: Profile.dat, RDT, IMG. Vol 3 §8.
  • Color CodeSee: CC.
  • Common-mode current — Equal-and-in-phase RF current flowing on the outside of a coaxial cable shield. Causes feedline radiation, RF in the shack, and pattern distortion. Suppressed by current BALUNs / common-mode chokes. Antennas Vol 5 §9, Antennas Vol 16.
  • Conventional (vs trunked) — A scanner mode that decodes one frequency at a time without the trunking overhead. Pre-trunking scanners are conventional-only; modern scanners do both. Vol 13 §3.
  • Counterpoise — A length of wire serving as the RF “ground” reference for an end-fed or vertical antenna. Not the same as the AC safety ground. Antennas Vol 20.
  • CPS (Customer Programming Software) — Vendor’s PC tool for reading/editing/writing a radio’s codeplug. Sentinel (Uniden), AnyTone CPS, ProScan, FreeScan, CHIRP all count. Vol 3.
  • CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) — Sub-audible analog tones (67.0-254.1 Hz, 50 standard tones) used to gate FM repeater access. See also: DCS, PL tone. Vol 25 §2.6.
  • Current BALUN — BALUN topology that forces equal-and-opposite currents on its output (rather than equal-and-opposite voltages). The default modern feedpoint choke for dipoles and verticals. See also: Voltage BALUN, Guanella. Antennas Vol 16 §2.
  • CW (Continuous Wave) — Morse code over a keyed carrier. The original amateur mode; still used. The MFJ-419 (CW Elmer) is a CW practice generator. Vol 23 §3.

D

  • D-STAR — Icom’s amateur digital voice protocol. Uses AMBE+2 (now AMBE+ codec, vocoder version dependent). Reflector-based routing. Largely overtaken by DMR for new builds. Vol 22 §3.
  • dBd — Gain referenced to a half-wave dipole. dBi = dBd + 2.15 dB. Antennas Vol 3 §6.
  • dBi — Gain referenced to an isotropic radiator (the theoretical “equally in all directions” antenna). The marketing-preferred number — always 2.15 dB higher than dBd for the same antenna. Antennas Vol 3 §6.
  • dBm — Power referenced to 1 mW. 0 dBm = 1 mW; +30 dBm = 1 W; +60 dBm = 1 kW. The decibel-based power scale used everywhere in RF except amateur (which still uses watts). Antennas Vol 3 §3.
  • DCS (Digital-Coded Squelch) — Digital alternative to CTCSS for FM repeater access. 104 codes (octal 023-754), normal + inverted polarities. Vol 25 §2.6.
  • DCS (Distributed Crypto, P25) — Different acronym, same letters — the P25 trunking system’s encryption variant. Context disambiguates.
  • Decision Tree (this project) — The “I want to do X, which radio?” lookup table — Vol 1 §3 carries the canonical version, this volume’s §5 has a use-case-grouped distillation.
  • Discone antenna — Wideband VHF/UHF receive antenna — a disc above a cone. Standard for scanner bases. Antennas Vol 12.
  • Discriminator — The frequency-demodulator stage of an FM receiver. Old scanners had a “discriminator tap” — a hardware test point exposing the raw discriminator output for software decode of digital modes. Replaced by IQ-stream-based decoding in SDR-era scanners. Vol 17 §2.
  • DMA (Dynamic Memory Architecture, Uniden) — The post-2007 Uniden codeplug model used in BCD396XT, BCDx36HP, SDS100, SDS200. Allows arbitrary sizing of memory objects (vs the older fixed-bank model). Vol 13 §3, Vol 3 §2.
  • DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) — ETSI TS 102 361 — open standard digital voice + data protocol. Tier I (FDMA simplex), Tier II (TDMA conventional, 2-slot), Tier III (TDMA trunked, commercial). Amateur DMR uses Tier II. Vol 8 §3, Vol 2.
  • DMR ID — 7-digit numeric identifier registered at radioid.net (formerly DMR-MARC). One DMR ID per operator (not per radio). Vol 2 §4.6.
  • DMR-MARC — Original amateur DMR network (2012, IPSC infrastructure). Effectively dormant in 2026; legacy IDs and TGs are bridged through BrandMeister. Vol 2 §2.4.
  • DMR Tier I — FDMA simplex DMR — direct-to-direct without TDMA. The unlicensed DMR mode on UHF business channels. Vol 8 §3.2.
  • DMR Tier II — TDMA conventional DMR, two timeslots on a 12.5 kHz channel. The amateur DMR standard. Vol 8 §3.1, Vol 2 §3.4.
  • DMR Tier III — TDMA trunked DMR (commercial). Not amateur — Part 90 LMR. Vol 4 §4.
  • DSP (Digital Signal Processing) — Software-defined signal manipulation (filters, demodulators, noise reduction) on a captured baseband stream. Every modern HF rig and scanner is DSP-based. Vol 9 §3.2, Vol 13 §3.
  • Dummy load — Resistive RF termination, typically 50 Ω, that absorbs transmitter output power without radiating. Bench-essential for TX testing without on-air transmission. Antennas Vol 26 §3, Vol 23 §5.
  • Duplex (hotspot) — Hotspot mode where transmit and receive run on two different frequencies simultaneously, allowing both DMR Tier II slots to operate independently. Requires a duplex MMDVM hat with two transceivers. See also: Simplex. Vol 22 §3.1.
  • DVSI — Digital Voice Systems Inc — the company that owns the AMBE+2 codec used in DMR, P25, D-STAR, NXDN. Vol 8 §3.

E

  • EDACS (Enhanced Digital Access Communications System) — GE/Ericsson trunking system, 800/900 MHz. Largely retired by 2026, but legacy systems still exist (NJ Statewide). Vol 4 §4.2.
  • ECPA (Electronic Communications Privacy Act) — 18 USC §2511 — federal statute that prohibits intentional interception of certain communications. The carve-out for cellular voice and the boundary at “intentional decryption of protected communications” is the receive-side regulatory issue for scanners. Vol 4 §5.2, Vol 4 §8.1.
  • EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) — Transmitter power adjusted by antenna gain referenced to isotropic. EIRP = P_tx (dBm) + Gain (dBi). The MPE-compliance variable. Antennas Vol 31 §3.
  • ERP (Effective Radiated Power) — Transmitter power adjusted by antenna gain referenced to a half-wave dipole. ERP = EIRP - 2.15 dB. The Part 97 60 m allocation is specified in ERP. Vol 4 §2.1.
  • ETSI — European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Publishes DMR standard (TS 102 361). Vol 8 §3.

F

  • Favorites (Uniden DMA) — Memory-organization concept in modern Uniden DMA scanners (replaces banks). A “Favorites List” is a collection of systems / sites / talkgroups, GPS-aware (auto-enable/disable by location), and the unit of scan-list organization. Vol 13 §3.2.
  • FCC ID — Type-acceptance identifier on certified radio equipment. Searchable at https://fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid. Required for Part 95, Part 90, Part 87, Part 80 service. See also: Type acceptance. Vol 4 §3.2.
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — US regulator of radio frequency spectrum. Codified in 47 CFR. Vol 4.
  • FFW — S.A.M.E. event code: Flash Flood Warning. Vol 25 §2.5.
  • FIPS code (Federal Information Processing Standard) — 6-digit county identifier used in S.A.M.E. messages. Leading “0” + 5-digit Census FIPS = entire county. Vol 12 §4.1.
  • FLrig — Open-source CAT-control front-end (Dave Freese, W1HKJ). Companion to FLdigi. Vol 9 §4.
  • FNB-101LI — Yaesu Li-ion battery for newer Yaesu HTs. Not used on the VX-8DR (which uses FBA-39); included in the FNB-101 hardware family glossary because it’s a common Yaesu term across the broader product line.
  • FreeScan — Free third-party CPS for older Uniden scanners (BC246T, BCD396XT, BC125AT). Wine-runnable on Linux. Vol 3 §4.
  • FRS (Family Radio Service) — Part 95 §95B, 462/467 MHz, 22 channels shared with GMRS, 0.5-2 W, no license, integrated antenna only. Vol 4 §3.1.
  • FT8 / FT4 — Joe Taylor / K1JT digital modes for HF weak-signal contacts. 15s / 7.5s exchange windows respectively. Auto-ID via embedded callsign satisfies §97.119. Vol 9 §3, Vol 4 §2.3.
  • FT-991 / FT-450 — Yaesu HF rig model designations (not in this lineup, but the CAT protocol family is referenced in Vol 3 §6 wfView).

G

  • G.711 — ITU-T audio codec for SIP/VoIP (the WiPhone uses G.711 μ-law for US calls). 64 kbps PCM, narrowband. See also: OPUS. Vol 24 §3.
  • Gigatronics 6060A / 6062A — Microwave RF signal generators on the bench. 0.01-2.4 GHz / 0.01-20 GHz. GPIB IEEE-488 controllable, also front-panel-operable. Vol 23 §2.
  • GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) — Part 95 §95E, 462/467 MHz, 30 channels, up to 50 W, $35 / 10-year license (covers family). Vol 4 §3.4.
  • GPIB / IEEE-488 — Instrument-control bus standard from the late 1970s. 24-conductor parallel cable, supports up to 15 instruments on one bus. The Gigatronics 6060A is GPIB-controllable. Vol 23 §2.3.
  • Guanella — A type of current BALUN topology where two transmission lines are wound onto a common core. 1:1 Guanella is the default modern feedpoint choke. Antennas Vol 16 §2.

H

  • Hot key (AnyTone) — Programmable key combination on the D878UVII (e.g. #+1 = Group Call to TG 91) that bypasses menu navigation. Vol 8 §7.6.
  • Hotspot — Low-power (10-20 mW) personal DMR / D-STAR / YSF transceiver that bridges your HT’s RF signal to the internet via an MMDVM modem + Pi. Two in the lineup: SkyBridge Plus (commercial) and the DIY WPSD HotSpot. Vols 21-22, Vol 2 §5.
  • HOA (Homeowners Association) — Private restriction on antennas + visible outdoor RF infrastructure. The PRB-1 federal preemption (1985, FCC) provides some protection for amateurs but doesn’t always override HOA covenants. Antennas Vol 23.

I

  • IF (Intermediate Frequency) — In a superheterodyne receiver, the frequency to which the RF input is mixed before final detection. Modern SDR-based rigs may use multiple IFs or a direct-conversion (zero-IF) topology. Vol 9 §3.
  • IF shift — Receiver control that moves the IF passband relative to a fixed BFO, useful for removing adjacent-channel interference. Vol 11 §3.4.
  • Iambic keyer — CW paddle + keyer combination that alternates dits and dahs while both paddles are held. Iambic A / B differ in how they handle the “alternation continues after release” edge case. The MFJ-422D is iambic. Vol 23 §4.2.
  • IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) — FEMA’s upstream of the EAS / NWR S.A.M.E. message flow. The NWS pulls weather alerts from IPAWS-affiliated weather offices and broadcasts them on NWR. Vol 12 §8.
  • IPSC2 — Server protocol used by BrandMeister masters to route DMR traffic. Successor to the original IPSC (Motorola). Vol 2 §2.1.
  • ITU (International Telecommunication Union) — UN agency for spectrum coordination. Defines ITU Regions 1/2/3 (EU+Africa / Americas / Asia-Pacific) which determine amateur band allocations. Vol 4 §2.1.

J

  • J-pole — Single-band end-fed VHF antenna with a folded matching section. Common DIY for 2 m / 70 cm. See also: Slim Jim. Antennas Vol 9 §6.
  • JS8 / JS8Call — Weak-signal digital mode for HF (Jordan Sherer, KN4CRD). FT8-derived, conversational rather than contact-only. Vol 9 §3.
  • Jumbo-Spot Duplex — Brand of MMDVM duplex hat (DIY-builder grade). One of three suspected hat options for the WPSD HotSpot (silkscreen verification pending). Vol 22 §2.2. TBD — confirm against the actual unit.

K

  • K1JT — Joe Taylor, callsign — author of WSJT-X and the FT4/FT8/JT modes. Princeton physicist. See also: WSJT-X. Vol 9 §3.

L

  • L-network — Two-element (one inductor + one capacitor) impedance matching network. The simplest tuner topology. See also: T-network, Pi-network. Antennas Vol 17 §2.
  • Last Heard (LH) — BrandMeister / TGIF / WPSD dashboard feature showing the most recent transmissions per talkgroup / per DMR ID. The “what’s active right now” view. Vol 2 §2.1.
  • LMR (Land Mobile Radio) — Part 90 commercial radio — public safety, business, taxi dispatch. The Uniden scanners are the receive-only window into LMR. Vol 4 §4.
  • Loopstick antenna — Ferrite-rod-wound RX-only AM broadcast antenna. Internal in the Tecsun PL-880 for MW. Vol 11 §2, Antennas Vol 15 §6.
  • LSM (Linear Simulcast Modulation) — A P25 modulation variant for simulcast trunking systems — keeps multiple-transmitter simulcasts coherent. Vol 13 §3.4.
  • LTR (Logic Trunked Radio) — Older trunking system, no separate control channel — burst data embeds in voice channels. 800/900 MHz typical, fading from use. Vol 4 §4.2.

M

  • M17 — Open-source amateur digital voice protocol (~2020-present). Open codec (Codec2), open source, no licensing fees. Limited adoption but growing. WPSD supports it natively. Vol 22 §3.
  • MA-40 / MA-770MDP — US Tower model designations for motorized crank-up amateur towers. Antennas Vol 21 §5.
  • mDNS (Multicast DNS) — Zero-config network naming protocol (Apple Bonjour, etc.). Used to find hotspots on a LAN by hostname (tjs-duplex.local, skybridge.local). Vol 22 §4.2.
  • MFJ-419 — CW practice generator (“CW Elmer”). Vol 23 §3.
  • MFJ-422D — Iambic keyer + paddle (combined assembly). Vol 23 §4.
  • MFJ-Enterprises — Magnolia, MS-based amateur radio gear vendor. Founded by Martin F. Jue (K5FLU); closed mid-2024 after Martin’s retirement and corporate divestiture. Continued parts/service support is limited. Vol 23 §3.5.
  • MMDVM (Multi-Mode Digital Voice Modem) — Open-source hardware modem (also a software stack, MMDVMHost) that handles the physical-layer modulation/demodulation for DMR / D-STAR / YSF / NXDN / P25 / M17 / POCSAG. Drives a Pi-based hotspot. Vol 22 §2.2.
  • MMDVM_HS_Hat — Specific MMDVM hardware product line (single-board hotspot hat for Raspberry Pi). The simplex variant; the duplex variant is sometimes “MMDVM_DUP_Hat” or “Duplex Hat.” Vol 22 §2.2.
  • MPE (Maximum Permissible Exposure) — FCC/OET-65 limit on RF exposure to humans. The Part 97 §97.13(c) categorical exclusion changed in 2021 to be more inclusive; categorically-excluded stations now must perform a station evaluation rather than self-exempt. Antennas Vol 31 §5, Vol 22 §2.1.
  • MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) — Part 95 §95J, 5 VHF channels (151.820, 151.880, 151.940, 154.570, 154.600 MHz), 2 W, no license, integrated antenna only. Vol 4 §3.5.
  • MW (Medium Wave) — AM broadcast band (530-1700 kHz in US). The Tecsun PL-880 covers it. Vol 11 §3.2.

N

  • NAC (Network Access Code) — 12-bit identifier (000-FFF hex) carried on a P25 control channel that identifies the network. The scanner needs the NAC to fully decode talkgroup traffic; modern scanners auto-discover NAC from the control channel. Vol 13 §3.3.
  • NanoVNA — Pocket vector network analyzer. The canonical bench tool for sweeping antennas, BALUNs, and feedlines. Antennas Vol 24.
  • Nextion display — Resistive-touchscreen color LCD with on-board MCU (HMI compiler). Used as the operator HMI on DIY MMDVM hotspots. Sizes 2.4” / 3.2” / 3.5” available; the WPSD HotSpot is likely 3.5” (TBD against the actual unit). Vol 22 §2.3.
  • NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) — Legacy rechargeable battery chemistry. Found in old Uniden scanner packs (BC246T BP-160 was originally NiCd; replacements are NiMH). Vol 17 §2.4.
  • NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) — Rechargeable battery chemistry. Capacity ~2x NiCd. Found in modern Uniden HT packs (BP2000) and the Yaesu BL-5C. Vol 16 §2.4.
  • NMO (New Motorola) — A standard antenna mount for vehicle scanners + mobile rigs. Easy magnetic and through-hole variants. Antennas Vol 9 §1.
  • NTS (National Traffic System) — ARRL-organized traffic-handling network for written radiograms. See also: Third-party traffic.
  • NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) — Memory that persists across power-down without battery backup. Where modern radios store codeplugs.
  • NWR (NOAA Weather Radio) — NOAA’s continuous-broadcast weather service on 7 VHF channels (162.4-162.55 MHz). Source of S.A.M.E. alerts. Vol 12.
  • NXDN — Kenwood / Icom narrow-FM digital voice protocol — 6.25 kHz channel spacing, FDMA, competes with DMR in commercial LMR. Amateur NXDN is rare. Vol 8 §3, Vol 4 §4.

O

  • OFD-65 — FCC bulletin “Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.” The MPE-compliance workbook. Antennas Vol 31 §5.
  • OLED display — Organic light-emitting diode display. Used on the SkyBridge Plus front panel (1.3” monochrome). Vol 21 §2.
  • OpenSpot — SharkRF brand of commercial DMR/D-Star/YSF hotspot. Competes with the SkyBridge Plus. Vol 2 §2.1.
  • OPUS — Open-source audio codec, replacement for many older codecs. Used in some VoIP applications including newer WiPhone firmware. Vol 24 §3.

P

  • P25 (Project 25) — TIA-102 — public-safety digital radio standard. Phase I = single-slot FDMA on a 12.5 kHz channel; Phase II = two-slot TDMA on a 12.5 kHz channel. Common in US public safety from ~2010 onwards. Vol 13 §3, Vol 4 §4.
  • P25 Phase I — Single-slot FDMA, C4FM-modulated. Older P25 deployments. Vol 13 §3.3.
  • P25 Phase II — Two-slot TDMA voice over a Phase I C4FM control channel. The modern flagship for state-wide/county public safety. Vol 13 §3.3.
  • Part 15 (FCC) — Unintentional radiators (microwave ovens, garage door openers, Wi-Fi, ISM band devices). License-free with type-acceptance. Antennas Vol 31 §2.
  • Part 22 (FCC) — Cellular allocations. ECPA’s primary domain for the scanner-RX question. Vol 4 §5.
  • Part 80 (FCC) — Maritime mobile / vessel-based radio. Vol 4 §7.
  • Part 87 (FCC) — Aviation services. AM voice on 108-137 MHz civilian + 225-400 MHz military. Vol 4 §6.
  • Part 90 (FCC) — Private Land Mobile Radio. Public safety + business + transportation + utility comms. Scanner-monitor-able receive-side; TX requires per-license. Vol 4 §4.
  • Part 95 (FCC) — Personal Radio Services — GMRS, FRS, MURS, CB, R/C, etc. Vol 4 §3.
  • Part 97 (FCC) — Amateur Radio Service. The full Part 97 covers 47 CFR §§97.1-97.815. Vol 4 §2.
  • Parrot (TG 9990) — BrandMeister’s echo-test talkgroup. Key it, it records your audio, plays it back. Always-test-here-first. Vol 2 §6.2.
  • PEP (Peak Envelope Power) — RF output power measured at the peak of the modulation envelope. Part 97 amateur regulations specify ceilings in PEP. Vol 4 §2.1.
  • Pi-Star — Original MMDVM hotspot OS (MW0MWZ, Andy Taylor). Minimally maintained since 2020; superseded by WPSD for active development. Vol 22 §2, Vol 2 §2.3.
  • Pi 4B — Raspberry Pi model 4B — the compute host suspected for the DIY WPSD HotSpot (Pi Zero 2W and Pi 3B+ are alternatives; verification pending). Vol 22 §2.1. TBD — verify against the unit.
  • Pi Zero W — Raspberry Pi Zero W (single-core ARM, 512 MB RAM). The compute host inside the SkyBridge Plus. Vol 21 §2.
  • PL-2303 — Prolific USB-to-UART converter chip. Used in cheap Baofeng programming cables. See also: FTDI. Vol 6 §4.1.
  • PL-259 — UHF-series connector (despite the misleading name, it’s a 1930s low-frequency standard, usable to ~300 MHz reasonable performance, ~1 GHz with degradation). The screw-on bayonet connector standard for HF amateur. See also: SO-239, BNC, SMA. Antennas Vol 5 §8.
  • PL tone — Motorola’s branding for CTCSS. See also: CTCSS.
  • POTA (Parks On The Air) — Amateur portable operating program — activate a designated park, log contacts, earn awards. Vol 9 §6.1.
  • Profile.dat — Uniden DMA codeplug file. Lives on the scanner’s SD card. Sentinel and ProScan both edit this file. Vol 13 §4.
  • Promiscuous mode (DMR) — AnyTone D878UVII feature (“Digital Monitor”) — receive all DMR traffic on a channel regardless of TG / CC / Slot filter. The “tell me everything that’s happening” mode. Vol 8 §3.5.
  • ProScan — Paid third-party Uniden CPS (Bill Davis, W6BD). ~$50 lifetime. Most full-featured Uniden CPS. Vol 3 §2.
  • ProVoice — EDACS/Project25-era proprietary voice codec. Decoded on Uniden scanners via paid firmware unlock. Largely obsolete. Vol 17 §3.
  • PSK31 — Phase-shift-keying 31.25 baud HF digital mode. Predates FT8 / FT4; still in use. Vol 9 §3.6.
  • Push-to-talk (PTT) — The momentary switch that keys the transmitter. Bluetooth PTT on the AnyTone is the in-vehicle killer feature. Vol 8 §3.8.

Q

  • QRP — Low-power operation (≤5 W, sometimes ≤10 W). The X6100 native output is QRP-class. Vol 9 §1.
  • QRPp — Sub-QRP (≤1 W). Niche. Vol 9 §1.
  • QRO — High-power (opposite of QRP). The XPA125B + X6100 chain runs QRO-class (100 W). Vol 10 §1.
  • QSL — “I confirm” / “I confirm receipt” — an amateur Q-code. Cards exchanged in confirmation of a two-way QSO. Vol 9 §3.
  • QSO — Q-code for “communication” / “contact” — an amateur radio contact.
  • QSY — Q-code for “change frequency” — “let’s move to another frequency / talkgroup.” Vol 2 §6.3.

R

  • RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) — §97.407 civil-defense-coordinated emergency service. Different from ARES (ARRL volunteer program). Vol 4 §2.6.
  • radioid.net — Canonical DMR-ID registration service. Where amateur DMR operators register a 7-digit DMR ID bound to their callsign. Vol 2 §4.6.
  • RadioReference (RR) — North American canonical frequency database — public safety, business, federal, military. ~$30/year Premium subscription. ProScan integrates live; Sentinel does favorites-list import. Vol 13 §4.2, Vol 3 §2.3.
  • RDS (Radio Data System) — Subcarrier digital data on FM broadcast (station name, song title, traffic). The Tecsun PL-880 decodes RDS. Vol 11 §3.5.
  • Reflector (DMR) — Conversationally, a talkgroup that gets called “the reflector” — but reflectors are not a protocol-level DMR concept. Carried over from D-STAR / YSF terminology. See also: Talkgroup. Vol 2 §3.3.
  • Repeater — Infrastructure-grade RF relay — receives on one frequency, retransmits on another. Differs from hotspots in power level (10-100 W vs 10-20 mW) and coverage radius. Vol 2 §5.
  • Return loss (RL) — Reflection magnitude expressed in dB. RL = 20·log₁₀(1/|Γ|). RL = 14 dB ≈ SWR 1.5; RL = 9.5 dB ≈ SWR 2.0. See also: SWR. Antennas Vol 3 §8.
  • RF gain — Manual override of the AGC, on receivers that expose it. The X6100 has it; most modern scanners don’t. Vol 9 §3.
  • Roaming (DMR) — AnyTone feature that auto-switches between configured DMR repeaters based on signal strength. Vol 8 §3.6.
  • RP-SMA (Reverse Polarity SMA) — Pin-and-socket inverted from standard SMA. Required by FCC type-acceptance for certain Part 15 devices to prevent users swapping in higher-gain antennas. Wi-Fi gear typically uses RP-SMA. Antennas Vol 5 §8.
  • RT Systems — Paid commercial CPS for Yaesu / Icom HTs. Alternative to CHIRP. Vol 3 §7.5.
  • RTTY (Radioteletype) — Frequency-shift-keying 45-baud HF digital mode. Legacy but still in use. Vol 4 §2.2.

S

  • S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) — Digital protocol for selectively alerting weather radios by FIPS county code. NWS broadcasts S.A.M.E. headers on NWR channels; weather radios filter on the FIPS list. Vol 12 §3.1.
  • S-meter — Signal-strength meter on a receiver. S-units logarithmic (S9 = -73 dBm; each S-unit ~6 dB). Vol 9 §3.
  • SD card — Secure Digital flash storage. Uniden scanners store their Profile.dat codeplug on the internal SD card; the DIY WPSD HotSpot boots from microSD. Vol 13 §4.3, Vol 22 §4.1.
  • Sentinel (Uniden) — Free first-party Uniden CPS. Less full-featured than ProScan but does firmware updates (ProScan doesn’t). Vol 3 §3.
  • Simplex — Single-frequency two-way operation (transmit and receive on the same frequency, time-shared). Opposite of duplex. The default for hotspots that physically can’t do duplex. Vol 22 §3.1.
  • SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) — IETF protocol for VoIP call setup. The WiPhone speaks SIP. Vol 24 §3.
  • Site (P25 trunked) — One physical RF site of a multi-site P25 system. The SDS100’s GPS-based site enable/disable selects which sites in a Favorites List are active based on GPS location. Vol 13 §3.7.
  • SkyBridge Plus — BridgeCom Systems’ commercial DMR hotspot. Pi Zero W + MMDVM hat + OLED in a turnkey case. Vol 21.
  • Slim Jim — End-fed half-wave VHF antenna with a folded matching section, similar geometry to a J-pole but different feed approach. Antennas Vol 9 §6.
  • SO-239 — Female chassis-mount mate of the PL-259 connector. Standard on HF rigs. See also: PL-259. Antennas Vol 5 §8.
  • SOTA (Summits On The Air) — Amateur portable operating program for summits. Sister program to POTA. Vol 9 §6.
  • SSB (Single Sideband) — Suppressed-carrier amplitude modulation that transmits only one sideband (USB or LSB). The HF voice mode. Vol 9 §3.1.
  • STUN / TURN / ICE — NAT-traversal protocols for SIP/VoIP. The WiPhone supports them. Vol 24 §3.
  • SVR — S.A.M.E. event code: Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Vol 25 §2.5.
  • SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) — Ratio of voltage maxima to voltage minima on a transmission line with a mismatched load. SWR = (1+|Γ|)/(1−|Γ|). SWR 1.5 ≈ RL 14 dB; SWR 2.0 ≈ RL 9.5 dB. See also: Return loss. Antennas Vol 3 §8.

T

  • Talkgroup (TG) — DMR routing identifier (24-bit numeric). A “virtual room” on the DMR network; subscribers tune in by configuring the TG in their codeplug. See also: Bridging, Static / dynamic. Vol 2 §3.1. Secondary meaning in trunked LMR: similar concept on a P25 / Motorola Type II system — a logical “channel” within the trunked system; subscribers within the talkgroup hear each other.
  • TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) — Multiplexing scheme where multiple users share a frequency by transmitting in time slots. DMR Tier II is 2-slot TDMA. Vol 8 §3.1.
  • TGIF — Amateur DMR network founded 2018 by KC1AWV. Lighter than BrandMeister, easier hotspot setup. Vol 2 §2.2.
  • Tier I / II / III (DMR) — ETSI-defined DMR profiles. Tier I = FDMA simplex (unlicensed-ish). Tier II = TDMA conventional (amateur). Tier III = TDMA trunked (commercial). Vol 8 §3.
  • TinySA / TinySA Ultra — Pocket spectrum analyzer. Original to 350 MHz; Ultra to 5.3 GHz. Antennas Vol 27 §3.
  • Time slot (DMR) — One of the two 30 ms slots in DMR Tier II’s TDMA frame. Slot 1 conventionally carries regional/worldwide TGs; Slot 2 conventionally carries local/state TGs. Hotspots are Slot 2 by community convention. Vol 2 §3.4.
  • TNC (Terminal Node Controller) — Hardware modem that converts between RF tones and digital data for packet-radio modes (APRS, etc.). Yaesu VX-8DR has an internal TNC. Vol 5 §3.
  • TOR — S.A.M.E. event code: Tornado Warning. Vol 25 §2.5.
  • TrueIQ — Uniden’s branding for the IQ-baseband decoding architecture in the SDS100 / SDS200. Captures the full IQ stream, demodulates in software, enables deferred firmware-side mode-detect for newer P25 variants without hardware revision. Vol 13 §3.
  • Trunked / Trunking — Multi-channel radio system where the channel allocation is dynamic per-conversation rather than fixed. A “trunking system” has a control channel directing subscribers to voice channels. P25, Motorola Type II Smartnet, EDACS, LTR are trunking systems. See also: Conventional. Vol 13 §3, Vol 4 §4.2.
  • Trunk Tracker III — Uniden’s branding for scanners that handle Type II + EDACS + LTR analog trunking. The BC246T is a TT3. Vol 17 §1.
  • TYT — Quanzhou TYT Electronics — Chinese DMR / dual-band HT manufacturer (MD-380, MD-UV380, MD-2017, etc.). Same chip family as AnyTone in some models. Not in the lineup.
  • Type-acceptance — FCC pre-market certification of a radio for use in a specific service. Each FCC ID is tied to a specific service (Part 90, Part 95, Part 22, etc.). The Baofeng F8HP is Part 90 type-accepted but not Part 95 — the “type-acceptance trap” for amateur radios when used outside amateur bands. Vol 4 §3.2.

U

  • UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) — Hardware serial-port protocol. USB-UART adapters (PL-2303, CP2102, FTDI) bridge legacy serial-port radio cables to modern USB ports. Vol 6 §4.1.
  • UHF connectorSee: PL-259.
  • UNUN (UNbalanced-to-UNbalanced) — Impedance transformer that doesn’t change balance state. 9:1 for random-wire feed; 49:1 / 64:1 for end-fed half-wave. Antennas Vol 16.
  • USB-C — Reversible USB connector standard (since 2014). Migration target for radio programming and charging. Mid-2026 status: not universal across the lineup. Vol 25 §2.9.
  • Uniden DMASee: DMA.

V

  • VFO (Variable Frequency Oscillator) — In modern parlance, the “free-tune” mode of a transceiver — set any frequency directly rather than recalling a memory channel. Distinguished from “memory” mode. Vol 9 §3.4.
  • VHF / UHF / SHF / EHF — ITU band designators. VHF = 30-300 MHz; UHF = 300-3000 MHz; SHF = 3-30 GHz; EHF = 30-300 GHz. Vol 4 §2.1.
  • VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) — Bench instrument measuring complex S-parameters. The NanoVNA is the canonical hobbyist VNA. Antennas Vol 24.
  • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) — Voice carried over IP networks via SIP / RTP / SRTP. The WiPhone’s primary purpose. Vol 24 §3.
  • VTVM (Vacuum Tube VoltMeter) — Pre-FET high-impedance analog voltmeter using a vacuum-tube amplifier stage. The Radio City Products 665 on this bench is one. Vol 23 §5.

W

  • Watch (S.A.M.E.) — Lower-urgency severe weather alert; “conditions favorable.” Compare to Warning (imminent). Vol 12 §3.5.
  • Warning (S.A.M.E.) — Highest-urgency severe weather alert; “imminent or observed.” Compare to Watch (conditions favorable). Vol 12 §3.5.
  • W0CHP — Andy Taylor’s callsign; WPSD project lead. See also: WPSD.
  • WD9EWK — Patrick Stoddard’s callsign; WPSD project contributor. See also: WPSD.
  • wfView — Open-source CI-V control front-end for Icom HF rigs (cross-platform, GPL). Vol 3 §6.
  • Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) — The WiPhone (Vol 24) uses Wi-Fi as its bearer; the SkyBridge Plus and DIY WPSD HotSpot use Wi-Fi for LAN onboarding (no RF radio role). Vol 24 §2, Vol 22 §4.2.
  • WiPhone — Open-source SIP/VoIP-over-Wi-Fi handheld with an LCD display + numeric keypad. Vol 24.
  • Wires-X — Yaesu’s amateur digital voice network (D-STAR competitor). Limited geographic / hardware reach. Not in primary use in this lineup. Vol 22 §3.
  • Wolf River Coil (Silver Bullet) — Compact loaded vertical (Buddistick-style) for portable HF. Cross-link to Antennas Vol 9. Used with the X6100 for POTA / portable HF.
  • WPSD (W0CHP-PiStar-Dash) — Community fork of Pi-Star with active development. Runs on the DIY MMDVM HotSpot. Also a small DMR routing layer of WPSD-specific TGs. Vol 22, Vol 2 §2.3.
  • WSJT-X — Joe Taylor / K1JT’s software suite for weak-signal HF digital modes (FT8, FT4, JT65, etc.). See also: K1JT. Vol 9 §3.6.
  • WR120 — Midland model number for the S.A.M.E.-capable NOAA weather radio. Vol 12.

X

  • X6100 — Xiegu HF + 6 m portable QRP transceiver. SDR-based, internal battery + ATU, BNC antenna jack. Vol 9.
  • XPA125B — Xiegu 100 W HF amplifier (1.8-54 MHz). Pairs with the X6100. Vol 10.
  • X2-TDMA — Predecessor / cousin to DMR; Motorola’s TDMA voice variant. Largely replaced by DMR Tier II + P25 Phase II. Vol 4 §4.

Y

  • Yaesu VX-8DR — Quad-band amateur HT (6 m / 2 m / 1.25 m RX-only / 70 cm), 5 W, IPX7-rated, internal APRS TNC, optional GPS. Vol 5.
  • YSF (Yaesu System Fusion) — Yaesu’s digital voice protocol. C4FM modulation, AMBE+2 codec. Cross-mode bridges to DMR via DMRGateway. Vol 22 §3.

Z

  • ZUM — Brand of MMDVM modem (ZUM Radio / KC4UPR). One of several hat options for DIY MMDVM hotspots. Vol 22 §2.2.
  • Zone (AnyTone codeplug) — Grouping of up to 250 channels in the D878UVII codeplug. Zones are the unit of “what’s reachable by the A/B VFO knob right now.” Vol 8 §3.9.

4. Canonical anchor index

Frozen H2-level anchors across Vols 1-25 — the stable cross-deep-dive link surface. Anchor names follow the auto-generated convention vol{NN}-<heading-slug> (lowercase, hyphenated, leading section numbers stripped). The shared HTML builder generates ~634 anchors total across the consolidated Scanners_and_Radios_Complete.html; the ~180 listed here are the canonical link targets — the ones a sibling deep dive in ../Hack Tools/ or an external reference is likely to reach for. Other anchors exist and are stable; they’re just too granular to enumerate.

Grouped by cluster — HT cluster, scanner cluster, hotspot cluster, cross-cutting cluster, test equipment + WiPhone, this closeout.

4.1 Vol 1 — Overview

Table 20 — 4.1 Vol 1 — Overview

AnchorTopic
vol01-the-lineup-at-a-glanceThe 25-volume lineup table
vol01-the-decision-graph-i-want-to-do-x-which-radioUse-case decision graph
vol01-the-license-envelopeLicense envelope at-a-glance
vol01-categorization-radios-scanners-hotspotsThree-category split
vol01-the-per-radio-volume-templateStandard 8-section template
vol01-programming-software-landscape-previewCPS landscape preview
vol01-posture-mappingPer-posture (EDC / mobile / base) device map
vol01-dmr-network-architecture-previewDMR network preview
vol01-antenna-pairing-reference-previewPer-radio antenna preview
vol01-cheatsheet-and-closeout-previewVol 25 preview

4.2 HT cluster (Vols 5-12 — owned radios)

Vol 5 — Yaesu VX-8DR:

Table 21 — Vol 5 — Yaesu VX-8DR:

AnchorTopic
vol05-about-this-volumeAbout / context
vol05-hardware-tourControls + ports + battery
vol05-operating-modesFM voice + APRS + cross-band
vol05-programming-workflowCHIRP workflow
vol05-codeplug-backupsPer-radio codeplug backups
vol05-field-useAntenna pairing + posture
vol05-tips-and-tricksHidden menus + tricks
vol05-resourcesManuals + links

Vol 6 — Baofeng F8HP:

Table 22 — Vol 6 — Baofeng F8HP:

AnchorTopic
vol06-hardware-tourControls + ports
vol06-tx-power-per-bandTX power by band
vol06-operating-modesFM voice + memory + VFO
vol06-programming-workflowCHIRP + cable + codeplug structure
vol06-the-software-chirp-is-the-answerWhy CHIRP is canonical
vol06-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol06-field-useMobile + posture + antenna upgrades
vol06-tips-and-tricksHidden menus + service menu
vol06-tx-outside-ham-bands-dontPart 95 type-acceptance trap

Vol 7 — Baofeng UV-B5:

Table 23 — Vol 7 — Baofeng UV-B5:

AnchorTopic
vol07-hardware-tourControls + ports
vol07-operating-modesFM voice + memory
vol07-programming-workflowCHIRP workflow
vol07-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol07-field-usePosture + antenna upgrades
vol07-tips-and-tricksHidden menus

Vol 8 — AnyTone D878UVII PLUS:

Table 24 — Vol 8 — AnyTone D878UVII PLUS:

AnchorTopic
vol08-hardware-tourControls + ports + battery
vol08-operating-modesDMR + analog + cross-mode
vol08-dmr-tier-ii-tdma-two-timeslots-the-primary-modeDMR Tier II
vol08-promiscuous-mode-digital-monitor-the-recon-killer-featurePromiscuous mode
vol08-roaming-auto-switch-to-the-strongest-repeaterRoaming
vol08-aprs-analog-afsk-at-1200-baud-or-dmr-dataAPRS over DMR
vol08-bluetooth-audio-ptt-the-mobile-killer-featureBluetooth PTT
vol08-channelzonetalkgroup-capacitiesCodeplug capacities
vol08-programming-workflowAnyTone CPS workflow
vol08-the-codeplug-object-modelCodeplug object model
vol08-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol08-field-useAntenna pairing + hotspot pairing
vol08-tips-and-tricksHot keys + custom boot pic
vol08-custom-boot-pic-the-n0swn-callsign-workflowCustom boot pic workflow

Vol 9 — Xiegu X6100:

Table 25 — Vol 9 — Xiegu X6100:

AnchorTopic
vol09-hardware-tourControls + display + ATU + battery
vol09-internal-automatic-antenna-tunerInternal ATU
vol09-operating-modesHF + 6 m bands + modes
vol09-the-dsp-and-filter-chainDSP chain
vol09-programming-workflowFirmware + CAT
vol09-cat-control-for-digital-modesCAT for FT8 / digital
vol09-cat-command-setCAT command set
vol09-codeplug-backupsWhat to back up
vol09-field-usePortable HF posture + antenna
vol09-antenna-pairing-the-big-two-patternsAntenna patterns
vol09-tips-and-tricksATU efficiency + battery management

Vol 10 — Xiegu XPA125B:

Table 26 — Vol 10 — Xiegu XPA125B:

AnchorTopic
vol10-hardware-tourFront panel + ATU + cooling
vol10-rf-performance-envelope100 W output envelope
vol10-drive-interfaceX6100 → amp drive path
vol10-operating-modesSSB + CW + AM + FM + digital
vol10-programming-workflowDIP switches + menu items
vol10-codeplug-backupsConfig backups
vol10-field-useAntenna pairing + posture
vol10-tips-and-tricksALC + power + fan

Vol 11 — Tecsun PL-880:

Table 27 — Vol 11 — Tecsun PL-880:

AnchorTopic
vol11-hardware-tourControls + display + telescoping whip
vol11-operating-modesLW / MW / SW / SSB / FM / air
vol11-programming-workflowMemory presets
vol11-field-useAntenna pairing + travel kit
vol11-tips-and-tricksHidden feature menu + firmware version
vol11-enter-the-hidden-feature-menuHidden menu entry sequence

Vol 12 — Midland WR120:

Table 28 — Vol 12 — Midland WR120:

AnchorTopic
vol12-hardware-tourNWR channels + power + antenna
vol12-operating-modesS.A.M.E. + all-hazards + manual
vol12-s.a.m.e.-mode-primaryS.A.M.E. mode
vol12-event-filter-the-cross-mode-overlayEvent filter
vol12-programming-workflowPanel-only config
vol12-codeplug-backupsPaper-based backup
vol12-field-usePlacement + antenna upgrades
vol12-tips-and-tricksFIPS lookup + multi-county + battery rotation

4.3 Scanner cluster (Vols 13-20 — Uniden lineup)

Vol 13 — Uniden SDS100:

Table 29 — Vol 13 — Uniden SDS100:

AnchorTopic
vol13-hardware-tourControls + connectors + GPS + display
vol13-operating-modesRF coverage + modulation + favorites
vol13-favorites-lists-the-new-scan-list-architectureFavorites architecture
vol13-modulation-supportP25 / DMR / NXDN support
vol13-lsm-and-the-simulcast-storyLSM + simulcast
vol13-the-legal-envelope-scanner-editionRX-only legal envelope
vol13-gps-based-site-enabledisableGPS site selection
vol13-discovery-and-close-call-modesDiscovery + Close Call
vol13-programming-workflowProScan vs Sentinel
vol13-radioreference-the-databaseRadioReference integration
vol13-codeplug-structure-on-the-sd-cardSD-card structure
vol13-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol13-field-usePosture + antenna + battery

Vol 14 — Uniden SDS200:

Table 30 — Vol 14 — Uniden SDS200:

AnchorTopic
vol14-hardware-tourControls + connectors (BNC + USB)
vol14-operating-modesBase/mobile-flavored mode coverage
vol14-programming-workflowProScan + Sentinel (web-server head)
vol14-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol14-field-useBase posture + discone pairing
vol14-tips-and-tricksRemote web-server + recording

Vol 15 — Uniden BCD536HP:

Table 31 — Vol 15 — Uniden BCD536HP:

AnchorTopic
vol15-hardware-tourMid base/mobile controls
vol15-operating-modesModulation + favorites + P25 Phase I/II
vol15-programming-workflowSentinel + ProScan
vol15-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol15-field-usePosture + antenna
vol15-tips-and-tricksTuning + display modes

Vol 16 — Uniden BCD396XT:

Table 32 — Vol 16 — Uniden BCD396XT:

AnchorTopic
vol16-hardware-tourMid HT controls + BP2000
vol16-operating-modesTrunk Tracker IV
vol16-programming-workflowFreeScan + ProScan
vol16-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol16-field-usePortable backup posture
vol16-tips-and-tricks18650 retrofit + scan-list tuning

Vol 17 — Uniden BC246T:

Table 33 — Vol 17 — Uniden BC246T:

AnchorTopic
vol17-hardware-tourTrunk Tracker III legacy
vol17-operating-modesType II + EDACS + LTR analog
vol17-programming-workflowFreeScan + RS-232
vol17-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol17-field-useArchival posture
vol17-tips-and-tricksRS-232 PC connection tricks

Vol 18 — Uniden BC350A:

Table 34 — Vol 18 — Uniden BC350A:

AnchorTopic
vol18-hardware-tourLegacy desktop analog
vol18-operating-modesAnalog FM 30-512 MHz
vol18-programming-workflowPanel-only
vol18-codeplug-backupsPaper-based
vol18-field-useDesktop archival

Vol 19 — Uniden BC355N:

Table 35 — Vol 19 — Uniden BC355N:

AnchorTopic
vol19-hardware-tourCompact mobile NASCAR-style
vol19-operating-modesAnalog FM 25-960 MHz
vol19-programming-workflowPanel + USB mass storage
vol19-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol19-field-useVehicle backup posture

Vol 20 — Uniden Homepatrol:

Table 36 — Vol 20 — Uniden Homepatrol:

AnchorTopic
vol20-hardware-tourHP-1 vs HP-2 (legacy zip-code)
vol20-operating-modesZip-code-programmable digital scanning
vol20-programming-workflowSentinel (HP-2)
vol20-codeplug-backupsBackup discipline
vol20-field-useArchival posture

4.4 Hotspot cluster (Vols 21-22)

Vol 21 — SkyBridge Plus:

Table 37 — Vol 21 — SkyBridge Plus:

AnchorTopic
vol21-hardware-tourBridgeCom commercial DMR hotspot
vol21-operating-modesDMR + cross-mode (D-Star / YSF)
vol21-dmr-the-primary-mode-tier-i-and-tier-iiDMR primary mode
vol21-cross-mode-dmr-to-ysf-dmr-to-d-star-via-dmrgatewayCross-mode bridging
vol21-hotspot-configuration-workflowFirst-config workflow
vol21-onboarding-the-wi-fi-captive-portal-trickWi-Fi onboarding
vol21-firmware-updatesBridgeCom support portal cadence
vol21-network-config-backupsConfig backup discipline
vol21-network-useTG choice + antenna placement
vol21-tips-and-tricksFrequency coordination + Wi-Fi gotchas

Vol 22 — DIY WPSD HotSpot:

Table 38 — Vol 22 — DIY WPSD HotSpot:

AnchorTopic
vol22-hardware-tourPi + MMDVM hat + Nextion
vol22-raspberry-pi-compute-hostPi 4B (suspected)
vol22-mmdvm-hat-radio-subsystemDuplex MMDVM hat
vol22-nextion-display-operator-hmiNextion HMI
vol22-operating-modesDMR / D-Star / YSF / NXDN / P25 / M17
vol22-duplex-vs-simplex-the-load-bearing-differenceDuplex vs simplex
vol22-hotspot-configuration-workflowFirst-config workflow
vol22-step-1-flash-wpsd-to-the-sd-cardStep 1 — flash image
vol22-step-3-wpsd-dashboard-onboardingStep 3 — dashboard onboarding
vol22-step-4-nextion-display-configurationStep 4 — Nextion config
vol22-network-config-backupsConfig backup discipline
vol22-what-to-not-publishDon’t-publish list
vol22-network-useTG routing + antenna
vol22-tips-and-tricksPi-Star → WPSD migration + screen-burn
vol22-the-pi-star-wpsd-migration-was-painlessMigration story

4.5 Cross-cutting cluster (Vols 2-4)

Vol 2 — DMR Network Architecture:

Table 39 — Vol 2 — DMR Network Architecture:

AnchorTopic
vol02-the-three-big-dmr-networksThree networks overview
vol02-brandmeister-bm-the-de-facto-standardBrandMeister
vol02-tgif-network-community-scale-easier-hotspot-setupTGIF
vol02-w0chp-pistar-dash-wpsd-fork-dashboard-and-a-routing-layerWPSD
vol02-comparison-at-a-glanceThree-network comparison
vol02-talkgroups-reflectors-and-routingTG / reflector / routing
vol02-the-talkgroup-objectTG object model
vol02-static-vs-dynamic-talkgroupsStatic vs dynamic
vol02-slots-dmr-tier-ii-is-two-slot-tdmaSlots / TDMA
vol02-color-codesColor codes
vol02-the-routing-path-end-to-endEnd-to-end routing
vol02-codeplug-design-for-dmrDMR codeplug design
vol02-the-object-hierarchyCodeplug object hierarchy
vol02-the-starter-codeplug-then-customize-workflowStarter codeplug workflow
vol02-the-test-transmission-tg-9990-parrotTG 9990 parrot test
vol02-hotspot-vs-repeaterHotspot vs repeater
vol02-the-2026-reality-most-amateurs-use-hotspots2026 hotspot dominance
vol02-network-etiquette-and-postureEtiquette + posture
vol02-identify-properly-part-97.119§97.119 identification
vol02-encryption-dontEncryption posture
vol02-common-gotchasGotcha catalog
vol02-color-code-mismatchCC mismatch troubleshoot
vol02-wrong-slotSlot troubleshoot
vol02-hotspot-frequency-conflict-with-local-repeaterFrequency coordination

Vol 3 — Programming Software Landscape:

Table 40 — Vol 3 — Programming Software Landscape:

AnchorTopic
vol03-proscan-uniden-cpsProScan
vol03-the-web-server-remote-controlProScan web-server head
vol03-radioreference-subscription-integrationRadioReference integration
vol03-sentinel-uniden-cpsSentinel
vol03-the-profile.dat-workflowProfile.dat workflow
vol03-discovery-mode-deep-diveDiscovery mode
vol03-the-sentinel-vs.-proscan-decisionSentinel vs ProScan
vol03-freescanFreeScan
vol03-anytone-cpsAnyTone CPS
vol03-the-codeplug-schema-why-dmr-is-hardDMR codeplug schema
vol03-the-proprietary-programming-cableAnyTone cable
vol03-wfviewwfView
vol03-chirpCHIRP
vol03-the-driver-per-radio-architectureCHIRP driver-per-radio
vol03-codeplug-versioningVersioning discipline
vol03-always-back-up-before-you-editAlways-back-up rule
vol03-the-filename-conventionFilename convention
vol03-the-i-bricked-my-radio-recovery-pathI-bricked-my-radio recovery

Vol 4 — Frequency Planning & License Envelope:

Table 41 — Vol 4 — Frequency Planning & License Envelope:

AnchorTopic
vol04-part-97-amateurPart 97 amateur
vol04-the-band-table-extra-privileges-by-allocationBand table
vol04-the-mode-sub-band-structureMode sub-bands
vol04-identification-97.119§97.119 identification
vol04-prohibited-modes-and-content-97.113§97.113 prohibitions
vol04-emergency-operations-97.401-407Emergency operations
vol04-the-benchs-tx-capable-radios-and-what-they-coverPer-radio TX capability map
vol04-part-95Part 95 (GMRS/FRS/MURS/CB)
vol04-the-five-part-95-sub-servicesPart 95 sub-services
vol04-the-type-acceptance-trapType-acceptance trap
vol04-gmrs-specifics-the-most-interesting-part-95-sub-serviceGMRS specifics
vol04-part-90-lmrPart 90 LMR
vol04-the-trunked-system-architecture-overviewTrunked LMR overview
vol04-encrypted-part-90-traffic-the-ecpa-boundaryECPA boundary
vol04-part-22-cellularPart 22 cellular
vol04-the-1993-cellular-blockout1993 cellular blockout
vol04-the-ecpa-boundary-receiving-versus-interceptingECPA receive-vs-intercept
vol04-part-87-aeroPart 87 aero
vol04-part-80-marinePart 80 marine + NOAA WX
vol04-noaa-weather-radio-nwrNWR coverage
vol04-receive-only-etiquetteReceive-only etiquette
vol04-monitoring-vs-interception-the-legal-distinctionMonitoring vs intercepting
vol04-license-envelope-summaryLicense envelope summary table

4.6 Test equipment + WiPhone (Vols 23-24)

Vol 23 — Test Equipment:

Table 42 — Vol 23 — Test Equipment:

AnchorTopic
vol23-gigatronics-signal-generatorsGigatronics 6060A/6062A
vol23-spec-sheet-the-numbers-that-matter-for-radio-workSpec sheet
vol23-front-panel-gpib-control-architectureGPIB control
vol23-receiver-alignment-use-case-the-canonical-applicationReceiver alignment use case
vol23-mfj-419-cw-elmerMFJ-419 CW Elmer
vol23-the-farnsworth-method-and-why-its-the-right-defaultFarnsworth method
vol23-usb-text-mode-the-killer-feature-for-serious-practiceUSB text mode
vol23-mfj-422d-keyer-paddleMFJ-422D keyer
vol23-iambic-keyer-paddle-integrationIambic integration
vol23-plugging-into-hf-rig-which-x6100-jack-what-cableX6100 jack + cable
vol23-radio-city-products-665-vtvmRCP-665 VTVM
vol23-why-vtvm-matters-high-z-input-impedance-in-a-dmm-eraWhy VTVM matters
vol23-functional-specRCP-665 functional spec
vol23-bench-disciplineBench discipline notes

Vol 24 — WiPhone:

Table 43 — Vol 24 — WiPhone:

AnchorTopic
vol24-hardware-tourWiPhone hardware
vol24-sip-voip-configurationSIP/VoIP config
vol24-daughter-board-designDaughter-board (mod kit)
vol24-battery-chargingBattery + charging
vol24-firmware-updatesFirmware updates
vol24-use-case-fitUse-case fit

4.7 This closeout (Vol 25)

Table 44 — 4.7 This closeout (Vol 25)

AnchorTopic
vol25-about-this-volumeAbout this volume
vol25-cheatsheetsCheatsheets section
vol25-lineup-at-a-glanceLineup-at-a-glance card
vol25-dmr-talkgroup-quick-referenceDMR talkgroup quick-ref
vol25-codeplug-edit-workflowCodeplug-edit workflow
vol25-frequency-by-service-lookupFrequency-by-service lookup
vol25-same-event-codesS.A.M.E. event codes
vol25-ctcss-dcs-tonesCTCSS / DCS tone tables
vol25-hotspot-quick-startHotspot quick-start
vol25-trunking-identificationTrunking identification flowchart
vol25-cable-connector-referenceCable + connector cross-reference
vol25-pre-flight-checklistPre-flight checklist
vol25-a-z-glossaryA-Z glossary
vol25-canonical-anchor-indexCanonical anchor index (this section)
vol25-how-to-navigateHow to navigate the series
vol25-resourcesResources

5. How to navigate this series

A decision-tree for a reader new to the 25-volume series. Each entry maps a use case to a starting point.

“I want to monitor local public-safety / PD / FD / EMS” → Start with Vol 15 (BCD536HP) — the primary daily-driver scanner in this setup — and Vol 4 §4 (Part 90 LMR) for the regulatory framing. If you’re mobile, Vol 19 (BC355N) is the vehicle backup. If you want flagship-quality (TrueIQ baseband, RadioReference live integration, simulcast LSM), Vol 14 (SDS200) is the base unit and Vol 13 (SDS100) is the handheld version of the same architecture. The trunking-identification flowchart at §2.8 above helps when you’re tuning across an unknown control channel and need to figure out what kind of system you’re hearing.

“I want to operate amateur DMR” → Three vols carry the load. Vol 8 (AnyTone D878UVII) is the radio side — the codeplug architecture, the channel/zone/talkgroup model, the AnyTone CPS workflow. Vol 2 (DMR Network Architecture) is the network side — BrandMeister + TGIF + WPSD, talkgroup routing, slots, color codes, etiquette. Then pick a hotspot: Vol 22 (DIY WPSD HotSpot) for the configurable Pi-based build (the primary hotspot in this lineup) or Vol 21 (SkyBridge Plus) for the turnkey commercial appliance. The DMR talkgroup quick-reference card at §2.2 above is the laminate-ready cheatsheet once you have the conceptual model.

“I want HF SSB voice (DX, contests, ragchew)”Vol 9 (Xiegu X6100) is the rig — the SDR architecture, the internal ATU, the portable posture for POTA/SOTA. Vol 10 (Xiegu XPA125B) is the 100 W HF amplifier when the X6100’s QRP output isn’t enough. The antenna pairing is in Antennas Vol 29 (Use-case Matrix) and Antennas Vol 6 (Single-band Dipoles) (the canonical 40-meter dipole build). The license-side framing for what bands and modes are authorized lives in Vol 4 §2 (Part 97 amateur).

“I want amateur VHF/UHF FM voice” → Three radios, picked by posture. Vol 8 (AnyTone D878UVII) for the best receive audio + DMR capability. Vol 5 (Yaesu VX-8DR) for the most rugged HT (IPX7-rated, quad-band, APRS-capable, GPS-optional — the “go-bag radio”). Vol 6 (Baofeng F8HP) for the cheap-but-functional second/third HT (the F8HP is the 8 W variant of the UV-5R family). Vol 7 (Baofeng UV-B5) is the legacy second-tier Baofeng.

“I want APRS (position beacons, messaging)”Vol 5 (Yaesu VX-8DR) — the internal AFSK TNC + optional GPS module is the only APRS-native HT in the lineup. Cross-link to the APRS-over-DMR option in Vol 8 §3.7 (TG 5057 BrandMeister gateway).

“I want shortwave listening (SWL — broadcast + utility)”Vol 11 (Tecsun PL-880) is the dedicated portable. Vol 9 (X6100) is the SDR-flexibility alternative if you want spectrum + waterfall display and don’t mind running off a benchtop.

“I want NOAA weather alerts”Vol 12 (Midland WR120). S.A.M.E.-coded county-selective alerting; the S.A.M.E. event code reference at §2.5 above is the laminate card. Cross-link to Vol 4 §7 (Part 80 marine + NOAA WX).

“I’m new to the bench and want the one-page summary”§2.1 above is the lineup-at-a-glance card; print it. Vol 1 (Overview) is the long-form orientation. The pre-flight checklist at §2.10 above is the before-you-key reminder.

“I’m reading a sibling deep dive in ../Hack Tools/ and it cross-links here” — the anchor it links to lives in §4 above. All anchors are frozen — they don’t change when the source markdown is edited (the builder regenerates them stably from the H2 headings). Use the consolidated HTML at 03-outputs/Scanners_and_Radios_Complete.html for in-browser anchor navigation; use the per-volume markdown sources in 02-inputs/volume_sources/ for inline editing.

“I’m setting up the bench from scratch and want the most common gotchas” — read these three sections, in order:

  1. Vol 3 §8 (Codeplug versioning) — the discipline that prevents the most common single-failure mode (bricked codeplug after firmware update).
  2. Vol 2 §7 (Common gotchas) — the DMR-specific 8-row gotcha catalog.
  3. Vol 4 §3.2 (Type-acceptance trap) — why a Baofeng F8HP can electrically TX into GMRS but isn’t legal to do so.

6. Resources

Project-internal references:

Sibling Hack Tools cross-references:

External regulatory references:

Amateur radio organizations + databases:

DMR networks + tooling:

Scanner + programming community:

Bench instrumentation references:

  • Gigatronics legacy support archive (6060A/6062A docs): TBD — Gigatronics was acquired in 2017 by Spirent; legacy docs scattered across user archives + the AN-NL bulletin board
  • MFJ Enterprises (closed mid-2024; parts archive at): TBD — DX Engineering and Ham Radio Outlet partial inventories of MFJ parts remain
  • The vintage VTVM community (RCP-665 era): https://www.qsl.net/k7smk/vtvm.htm

Local Michigan / SE Michigan resources:

  • Michigan Area Repeater Council (MARC — 2 m / 70 cm / 1.25 m / 33 cm frequency coordination): https://www.michiganbeerstein.org/marc/
  • Wayne County RACES (local emergency-management coordination): TBD — verify enrollment + URL
  • NWR Detroit/Pontiac WX1 162.550 (primary NWR channel for SE Michigan): NWR Detroit/Pontiac KZZ-46 covers SE Michigan

The MyWebsite consumer surface (future):

  • Fubsy Polymath website (planned “radios” subdomain): https://fubsypoly.com
  • The Hack Tools “hacking” subdomain (sibling at the same site): https://fubsypoly.com/hacking (planned)
  • The “radios” subdomain ingests this project’s vol{N}.md source files via the website’s standard per-project content sync. The frozen vol{NN}-<slug> anchors in §4 above are the canonical link targets that the ingested markdown will preserve.

This closeout’s pattern references: