The Tytera MD-380 is a low cost radio for analog FM and DMR on the 70cm band (see video here). One of the limitations with the radio is that it only holds 1000 contacts…which seems like a lot of contacts but it fills up quickly. With DMR, each radio or user has a unique 7-digit radio ID number. For ham radio use, the DMR-MARC organization maintains a database that maps radio ID number to user name and callsign. If a user is in your contact list, the user’s name and callsign pops up in your radio’s display. Otherwise, you just see the radio ID which is not very helpful. There are over 63,000 users in the database with more being added on a daily basis.
There are a number of firmware updates to the MD380 and I have not checked them all out. I heard some guys talking about the TyMD380Toolz on one of the DMR talkgroups, so I decided to give it a try. This software was developed by KG5RKI (go here) and is easily installed from Windows without a lot of messing around. This firmware upgrade loads the entire DMR-MARC database into the radio.
Now that I have the worldwide database of DMR users loaded onto the radio, its like having caller ID on my HT (see photo below). Actually, its better than that, it pulls up the other ham’s full name, callsign and location information.
This may not seem like a big deal but I’ve found it to be surprisingly useful. I am often scanning a few channels or talkgroups with my radio and just listening casually. I may not be tracking who’s talking but I can just look at the radio to see who’s on the air. It’s one of those convenience features that makes me think “why don’t all of my radios do this?”
The TyMD380Toolz implements a bunch of other features but increasing the number of contacts has been the most important one for me. This is a great example of radio amateurs adapting (“hacking”) commercial gear with improvements for ham radio use. KK4VCZ, DL4YHF and others contributed to this code. Check out the software…seems to work great.
73, Bob K0NR
Editor note: I’ve seen this software referred to as both TyMD380Tools and TyMD380Toolz. My HT says TyMD380Toolz, so I’ve used that spelling in this post.
23 Dec 2017 Update:
I just came across DMR MD380 Toolz Made Easy on the Miklor site. Easy to understand instructions plus a few tips on radio settings.
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Hello, I’ve installed this firmware and it’s great.
I have a question/suggestion on a feature but I do not know of a discussion group or place where to post it.
Do you know where can I interact with the developer? Thanks.
The developer is KG4RKI, web site here: kg5rki.com
Or try the email address listed at QRZ:
https://www.qrz.com/db/kg5rki
Hi , I have problems with flahsing userdb.bin on Tytera MD-390 , no gps, with Tytera Flash Tool v 1.05 . Seams to be ok after flashing , but no info are displayed after , there is a message during QSOs saying that no info found in userdb.csv and to read github. Seams that the db is not updated. Please any idea ? , I’m blocked. Same issue with ver 1.05 . I’m using Win7 , tx , 73 from YO3GH
I ran into a similar issue with getting userdb.bin loaded into my MD-380. I kept fiddling with it until it worked. Unfortunately, I don’t recall the specifics. Did you try reflashing the MD-390 firmware?
To be fair to the developer, Ty did not create the firmware. A guy named Travis Goodspeed did all of the work. He cracked the readout protection and turned it into code. He also has done all of the enhancements. What Ty did was build a little windows helper app. The original source that Ty used is all here: https://github.com/travisgoodspeed/md380tools