Orders ship from the USA, Orders of $25 or more qualify for FREE Shipping in the USA
Use Digital Monitor to identify DMR activity
The short version
Know the frequency? Digital Monitor shows the rest
Use Digital Monitor when you know the frequency but not the color code, time slot, talkgroup, or private-call details. It relaxes the normal receive filters so you can see what the radio is hearing.
It does not configure a valid reply channel or grant permission to transmit. Record the received details, check the system’s current rules, and return to a normally filtered channel before using PTT.
Models covered
The controls vary; the listening method does not
Menus and key choices vary by model and firmware. The method stays the same: select the frequency, widen only the filters you need, observe the signal, verify the details, and turn Digital Monitor off.
Compare models and required versions
| Model | Verified procedure | Required version | Important difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMR-6X2 | Digital Monitor receive and key assignment | Current model firmware | Legacy menus may label the scope as single-slot/double-slot or include separate ID/color-code controls. |
| DMR-6X2 PRO | Digital Monitor receive and key assignment | Current PRO firmware | Bluetooth or recording options do not change Digital Monitor authorization. |
| DA-7X2 | Menu → Digital Monitor; CPS key assignment | Current DA firmware | DA exposes DigiMoni Switch, CC, ID, and Slot Hold controls; turn it off before repeater-mode tests. |
Identify the received DMR signal
-
Select the frequency you want to observe
Use a verified DMR repeater output or simplex frequency. Listen normally first so you know what the programmed channel already passes.
-
Open Digital Monitor
Use the radio’s Digital Monitor menu or assigned side key. Start with the least-broad setting that answers the question; widen color-code, slot, or ID filtering only when needed.
-
Wait for a complete received call
Note the displayed color code, time slot, talkgroup or private-call ID, and caller information. One short burst can be incomplete, so confirm the same details on another transmission.
-
Verify the system outside the radio
Compare what you heard with the repeater operator, published talkgroup plan, or other authoritative system documentation. Digital Monitor shows received signaling, not permission or scheduling policy.
-
Turn Digital Monitor off
Return to normal programmed filtering. Create or correct the channel with the verified values instead of leaving broad monitor mode on for routine operation.
Troubleshooting
| What happened | Likely reason | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing opens in Digital Monitor | Wrong frequency, weak signal, non-DMR traffic, or monitor scope still too narrow | Verify the repeater output, antenna, signal strength, and whether the activity is actually DMR before widening filters. |
| Audio opens but details change | Different talkgroups or both time slots are active | Record several complete calls and separate the slot/talkgroup combinations before building channels. |
| Normal channel stays silent after the test | Color code, slot, contact, or receive group does not match what you observed | Compare the programmed channel with the confirmed received details; keep Digital Monitor off while validating normal filtering. |
| A repeater-mode test behaves unpredictably | Digital Monitor is still relaxing receive filters | Turn Digital Monitor off, power-cycle if needed, and retest only the intended Store-and-Forward or DA cross-band mode. |
Comment (1)
I have been struggling with DigiMoni on my new DMR-6×9 Pro (my first DMR radio) and this blog post was a tremendous help in getting it set up and working. I finally heard my first DMR QSO!
A big problem where I live is reception. I’m not sure which repeaters I might be able to hear and I hear almost nothing unless I go outside. So I set up channels for a couple of dozen local-ish DMR repeaters in a scan list called “DMR Recon.” Initially I had them set to analog, just hoping I would hear something, anything. When I stepped outside and heard the classic “diesel engine” sound of digital traffic on one channel, I flipped that channel over to digital, set up DigiMon and and put the radio back in scan mode… Shortly after, a DMR QSO popped up and filled my screen with details about the sender, talk group, repeater, etc. I about peed myself, lol.
Then I remembered this post and hit # to save a new channel. It failed several times and I struggled with it, but eventually somehow I got it to save. That is such an amazing feature when I can get it to work! Unfortunately, I have not been able to repeat it since and suspect it has something to do with the radio being in scan mode.
Any tips for DMR scanning with DigiMon? …or even just how to cancel scan mode and have it stay on the channel where it found a signal? Maybe a good subject for a blog post.