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Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 2:18 pm
by K1RDD
I'm only a couple of weeks into DMR and am trying to understand some of the nuances. I currently have a Zumspot hotspot running, and while watching the dashboard and the radio (868) I can see activity on the North America talk group on the radio, but it doesn't show up on the dashboard. The only activity I see on the dashboard is 310.

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 5:40 pm
by AF6VN
Hitting the obvious first:

Does keying the radio PTT result in anything under "Local RF Activity"? If not, are you sure the radio is configured to use the hotspot (do you have a local repeater that the radio might be accessing)?

Can you describe:
  1. the entries in the active ZONE
  2. the channel definition for each of those entries
  3. the contacts referenced by those channels
  4. the contents of any receive groups referenced by those entries
{As I recall, the Anytone 868 software allows exporting pretty much everything as CSV files, so you could possible cut&paste the header row and the relevant data rows from each}

If you are using a Brandmeister server, have you bothered to register on Brandmeister and then obtain/install the API key into the Pi-Star system -- that activates a few more items on the dashboard ADMIN page (I don't even bother with the plain dashboard -- I'm probably bogging down the R-Pi 3B running the admin page continuously; good thing the 3B is quad-core [now if only Raspberry org would release a 64-bit OS image for it])

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 9:06 pm
by K1RDD
AF6VN wrote: Fri Jun 07, 2019 5:40 pm Does keying the radio PTT result in anything under "Local RF Activity"?
Yes,
time
mode = DMR slot 2
callsign = K1RDD
target = TG 310 (TG 3) (TG 9) etc.
Src = RF
Dur(s) = 1.1
BER = 0.0%
RSSI = S9+46dB
Can you describe:
  1. the entries in the active ZONE
  2. the channel definition for each of those entries
  3. the contacts referenced by those channels
  4. the contents of any receive groups referenced by those entries
All the entries are DMR slot 2 and TG 310 even when the 868 and the hotspot OLED read NA or other talkgroup.

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 6:40 pm
by AF6VN
Not pertinent but... I don't think I've ever seen a value under RSSI on my system -- what power level are you running the radio at? Or... that may just be a default value for your board ( viewtopic.php?t=268 ), and my DVMEGA may not provide the data.


Ok... your radio is being seen by the hotspot. That information should also be reflected under the Gateway Activity table.
North America talk group
TG 93?

Your original post implies that the radio is hearing TG 93, but the hotspot activity is only showing TG 310... The only way I can envision that happening is if the radio is not listening to the hotspot, but is instead hearing some other local repeater. That's why I asked for details about the zone/channels/contacts/receive groups. It is possible to (incorrectly) define channels such that they transmit on your hotspot frequency, but are receiving on some other frequency. Also, having, say, TG 93 and TG 310 listed in a receive group active on the channel means that both TGs will be heard regardless of what the channel is configured to use for outgoing, though that should appear on the dashboard (some radio parameters may even allow it to shift to the received group if PTT is hit before some time-out period).
All the entries are DMR slot 2 and TG 310 even when the 868 and the hotspot OLED read NA or other talkgroup
I asked for channel definitions ON THE RADIO. There should be one channel configured for each set of: hotspot frequency, time slot, contact (talk group).

Again it is not clear just what you are reporting... If the hotspot has a display and IT is showing some other talk group, then that talk group should also be showing up under Gateway Activity -- after all, the display and the dashboard get their data from the same place. If the radio does not have a receive group defined, and is on a channel that does specify the same talk group as is shown on the hotspot, the radio should stay silent (the receive LED may glow, but nothing will be decoded).

I'll repeat an earlier comment: I strongly suggest you view the ADMIN page rather than the basic dashboard, AND if applicable set up the Brandmeister API which allows the dashboard to report and control linkages with Brandmeister (setting up static talk groups, dropping dynamic talk groups).

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 9:28 pm
by K1RDD
As mentioned, I'm new to this, and may be missing some of the nomenclature. Of note, I built the codeplug by myself from scratch. There is more than a chance that I made some errors. I'll try to answer the last set of questions -

I have North America Talkgroup as 3

Here is how my Codeplug is set up:

Channel Name - Hot 433.1
Receive Frequency - 433.1
Transmit Frequency - 433.1
Channel Type - D-Digital
Transmit Power - Low
Band Width - 12.5K
CTCSS/DCS Decode - Off
CTCSS/DCS Encode - Off
Contact - TAC 310
Contact Call Type - Group CAll
Radio ID - K1RDD
Busy Lock/TX Permit - Channel Free
Squelch Mode - Carrier
Optional Signal - Off
DTMF ID - 1
2Tone ID - 1
5Tone ID - 1
PTT ID - Off
Color Code -1
Slot -1
CH Scan List - None
Receive Group List - None
TX Prohibit - Off
Reverse - Off
Simplex TDMA - Off
TDMA Adaptive - Off
Encryption Type - Normal Encryption
Digital Encryption - Off
Call Confirmation - Off
Talk Around - Off
Work Alone - Off
Custom CTCSS - 251.1
2TONE Decode - 0
Ranging - Off
Through Mode - Off
APRS Report - Off
APRS Report Channel - 1

Talk groups for my hotspot are -
1 Worldwide
3 North America
9 Local
13 English
310 TAC 310
311 TAC 311
759 Skywarn
3100 DCI Bridge
3109 Connecticut
3125 Massachusetts
3133 New Hampshire
3172 Northeast USA
8804 Cape Net
8901 CT Statewide
9998 Parrott
9999 Audio test

I have no receive groups. The videos I watched recommended/suggested not having them.

There is no way I am hitting a DMR repeater. I've tried shutting off the hotspot both at home and at work and I'm not close enough. Also, I keep my analog repeaters on my second screen option.

To reiterate, there are times when both the radio and the hotspot OLED screen hear/show activity other than 310 (usually North America) but it never shows up on the dashboard. I have heard "monitoring North America" and not seen it on the dashboard. I only watch the dashboard because I find it interesting. If I can, I will try to take a phone picture of the radio, OLED and dashboard simultaneously if/when I see this happen.

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 7:28 pm
by AF6VN
K1RDD wrote: Sun Jun 09, 2019 9:28 pm Channel Name - Hot 433.1
Receive Frequency - 433.1
Transmit Frequency - 433.1
Channel Type - D-Digital
Transmit Power - Low
Band Width - 12.5K
CTCSS/DCS Decode - Off
CTCSS/DCS Encode - Off
Contact - TAC 310
If that is the only channel defined, the only talkgroup you should be able to reach is 310. If you intend to use other talkgroups, you'll need to define additional channels.
Color Code -1
Slot -1
CH Scan List - None
Receive Group List - None
Your hotspot supports time slot 1?

I was under the impression that practically all [simplex] hotspots only operate on time slot 2.
Talk groups for my hotspot are -
1 Worldwide
3 North America
9 Local
<SNIP>
Hotspots don't get programmed for talk groups -- they just pass packets between your radio and the server. If using Brandmeister, one can set up "static" groups which will be forwarded to the hotspot whenever activity occurs; dynamic groups OTOH will time out after a break in activity (except BM tends to treat the last accessed dynamic as a pseudo-static -- even if it doesn't show as a dynamic group it will remain active).
I have no receive groups. The videos I watched recommended/suggested not having them.
Useful if one has defined static groups. For example, I normally leave my radio on 3100 NationWide -- as a dynamic -- but have the Mi5 StateWide 1 and StateWide 2 configured as static groups. In the radio, I have all three (and a few others) defined as a receive group. If any activity pops up on, say, StateWide 1, it gets passed to my radio which displays the group name and the audio. If I decide to join in, I can then rotate the channel knob to get to the defined StateWide 1 channel.

My hotspot specific channels as exported from the MD2017 {Column headings wrapping [well, they did when editing], but all those 0s in the data don't take much space on a line; it is not the easiest thing to work with as most fields are /indexes/ into other tables. The "8,5,1,1" on the first data row is 8th contact "BM WorldWide", 5th group list "DVMega WorldWide", color code 1, and believe it or not, time slot 2 }

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Channel Mode,Channel Name,RX Frequency(MHz),TX Frequency(MHz),Band Width,Scan List,Squelch,RX Ref Frequency,TX Ref Frequency,TOT[s],TOT Rekey Delay[s],Power,Admit Criteria,Auto Scan,Rx Only,Lone Worker,VOX,Allow Talkaround,Send GPS Info,Receive GPS Info,Private Call Confirmed,Emergency Alarm Ack,Data Call Confirmed,Allow Interrupt,DCDM Switch,Leader/MS,Emergency System,Contact Name,Group List,Color Code,Repeater Slot,In Call Criteria,Privacy,Privacy No.,GPS System,CTCSS/DCS Dec,CTCSS/DCS Enc,Rx Signaling System,Tx Signaling System,QT Reverse,Non-QT/DQT Turn-off Freq,Display PTT ID,Reverse Burst/Turn-off Code,Decode 1,Decode 2,Decode 3,Decode 4,Decode 5,Decode 6,Decode 7,Decode 8

2,DV HS WW,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,8,5,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS NorAm,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,9,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS US Nationw,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,10,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS US Zone 8,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,11,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS US Zone 9,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,12,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS Michigan,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,13,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS Mi5 SW1,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,14,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS Mi5 SW2,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,15,4,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS English WW,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,16,5,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS EnglishWW2,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,17,5,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS Canada,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,18,5,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC1 (310),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,19,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC2 (311),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,20,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC3 (312),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,21,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC4 (313),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,22,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC5 (314),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,23,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC6 (315),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,24,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC7 (316),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,25,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC8 (317),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,26,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC9 (318),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,27,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS TAC10(319),446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,28,6,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS Unlink,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,29,7,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS BM TG 9,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,30,7,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
2,DV HS Hurricane,446.25000,446.25000,0,0,1,0,0,12,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,31,7,1,1,0,0,0,0,None,None,0,0,0,2,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
The corresponding trimmed contacts list (type 1 is Group Call)... The first entries are those carried by local Mi5 repeater network, the BM entries are those used with the hotspot.

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Contact Name,Call Type,Call ID,Call Receive Tone

Mi5 StateWide 1,1,51,0
Mi5 StateWide 2,1,52,0
Event1,1,53,0
Event2,1,54,0
Event3,1,55,0
Event4,1,56,0
Simplex,1,99,0
BM World Wide,1,91,0
BM North Am,1,93,0
BM USA NationW,1,3100,0
BM USA Zone 8,1,31008,0
BM USA Zone 9,1,31009,0
BM USA Michigan,1,3126,0
BM Mi5 SW 1,1,31261,0
BM Mi5 SW 2,1,31262,0
I can't export the Zone data, but visualize a zone defined with just the "DV HS ***" channels, and in the channel definition, receive group 4 is "DVMega NorAM" and the receive group has seven channels listed (North Am through Mi5 SW 2)
To reiterate, there are times when both the radio and the hotspot OLED screen hear/show activity other than 310 (usually North America) but it never shows up on the dashboard. I have heard "monitoring North America" and not seen it on the dashboard. I only watch the dashboard because I find it interesting. If I can, I will try to take a phone picture of the radio, OLED and dashboard simultaneously if/when I see this happen.
Well, an announcement of "monitoring North America" could be excused as someone on the wrong talk group <G>

Unless your radio operates in a "promiscuous mode", your configuration should ONLY respond to talk group 310 (and without other channel definitions, you can only transmit to talk group 310). Promiscuous mode, as I understand it, accepts any talk group (MD-390 with 3rd party software), and MAY also set the radio to send on that talk group if one hits some button (RFinder M1)

https://www.bridgecomsystems.com/pages/ ... d868uv-faq
Q: Does the 868 have a "promiscuous" mode?

A: Yes but it is called "Digital Monitor". When you assign a button on the radio to this function, one push will do "Single Slot" monitor. What this means is it will hear ALL traffic on THAT time slot you are programmed on.

A Second push of the button will place it in "Dual Slot" mode. and this will hear ALL traffic on BOTH times slots on a repeater. A third push of the button will turn this function off. When it is on, you will have a RED speaker at the top of the display with either one or two curved lines next to it, depending if you are in Single Slot, or Double Slot mode.
Is there anybody else in the neighborhood that might be using a hotspot on the same frequency? You might be hearing them keying up (since most DMR radio low-power is still enough to cover a half mile or more, whereas the hotspot power is under a 10th of the radio power).

When you hear these stray signals, does the radio display a DMR ID or call sign (depending on how up-to-date the call sign data is in the radio)? Have you tried looking up those IDs to find out where they are located? Does it display some other channel identifier?

Are you using Brandmeister? If you are, have you registered a "self-care" account with them... I ask as your hotspot doesn't appear under either your DMR ID nor your Call sign. (I also checked under repeater if it were misfiled).

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:48 pm
by K1RDD
First off, let me say thank you for all the time and effort you've put into answering this never ending question. I haven't been able to connect with any DMR hams in my area, so this has been very beneficial.
If that is the only channel defined, the only talkgroup you should be able to reach is 310
I have ten channels, one hotspot and nine repeaters. I have only been able to utilize one of the repeaters so far while mobile, as my work and home are not within range of any repeaters. All my channels are almost identical. I only posted this one for reference.
Your hotspot supports time slot 1?
I was under the impression that practically all [simplex] hotspots only operate on time slot 2.
I set the time slot to match each talk group.
Hotspots don't get programmed for talk groups -- they just pass packets between your radio and the server. If using Brandmeister, one can set up "static" groups which will be forwarded to the hotspot whenever activity occurs; dynamic groups OTOH will time out after a break in activity (except BM tends to treat the last accessed dynamic as a pseudo-static -- even if it doesn't show as a dynamic group it will remain active).
I'm completely confused on that. How do I choose a talk group if it's not programmed? Come to think of it, I don't think I've communicated with anyone except through TAC 310. I thought that was just the high traffic talk group. Am I limited to just TAC 310?

I am connected with BM_United_States_3101

I have "Digital Monitor" set up on one of my hot keys. I usually have it on dual slot.

I am registered with Brandmeister - https://brandmeister.network/?page=hots ... id=3138325

I will need to read up on receive groups and step through what you wrote. Having never done one, I'm lost at this point.

Thanks again.

Re: Trying to understand the dashboard

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:55 am
by AF6VN
K1RDD wrote: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:48 pm I have ten channels, one hotspot and nine repeaters. I have only been able to utilize one of the repeaters so far while mobile, as my work and home are not within range of any repeaters. All my channels are almost identical. I only posted this one for reference.
See two quotes down...
I set the time slot to match each talk group.
Time slots are not specific to talk groups. One repeater could have TG310 on time slot 1, while a different repeater could have it on time slot 2. Hotspots (DV-Mega, ZumSpot, OpenSpot) normally only run DMR using time slot 2.

This also applies to color code -- color code is specific to a repeater or hotspot (default for hotspots is color code 1).
I'm completely confused on that. How do I choose a talk group if it's not programmed? Come to think of it, I don't think I've communicated with anyone except through TAC 310. I thought that was just the high traffic talk group. Am I limited to just TAC 310?
A DMR channel encodes ALL of the following:
  • Frequency (usually as both Tx and Rx -- hotspots are simplex so use the same frequency for Tx and Rx)
  • Contact (AKA Talk Group)
  • Color Code
  • Time Slot
In order to use more than TG 310, you need to add complete channel definitions to the radio. One for each talk group you want to access on the hotspot. Each of these channels will look identical EXCEPT FOR the channel name and the contact name. You then will add all these channels to a ZONE (if you haven't, create a zone just for the hotspot). To change talk groups, you simply change to the "channel" in the zone that is associated with that talk group. Same applies to most repeaters -- you will have a channel for each talk group on that repeater (and hence you may want a zone per repeater -- so you can rapidly switch between talk groups on the repeater; OR you may want a zone per talk group so you can switch from one repeater to another as you travel, while staying on the same talk group. I favor the first option -- the Mi5 repeaters only carry the Mi5 talk groups, so I can fit 2 repeaters X 6 talk groups [12 "channels"] into a single MD-390 zone.

Repeaters MIGHT be different. While the US BrandMeister hosts no longer handle reflectors, the UK DMR repeaters are configured to prefer reflectors. {Working from memory -- a few details may be wrong} On a reflector-based repeater, you use a special Talk Group to send a private call using the number of the reflector you want the repeater to work with, THEN you tune to a "channel" on that same repeater that uses Talk Group 9 to actually talk.

The US BM doesn't use this as: while all reflectors have a corresponding talk group, not all talk groups are assigned to reflector numbers; and radios tend to hold enough channels that most people can program in the talk groups of most interest to them. US Repeaters tend to work similar to hotspots in that you pick the repeater channel that has the talk group you want to use and PTT -- the repeater operators though can configure only a limited set of talk groups to be available, not the entire BM talk group list. When you key up, the repeater connects to a BM host requesting that talk group to be relayed. After some period of inactivity, the repeater will drop the talk group.
I am connected with BM_United_States_3101

I have "Digital Monitor" set up on one of my hot keys. I usually have it on dual slot.
Which means the radio is in promiscuous mode and will receive and sound ANY talk group on any time slot as long as it is coming in on the frequency of the current channel. So anyone in the neighborhood that is also using a hotspot on that frequency, regardless of talk group, is going to be heard by you (like I said, even at 1W, an HT is going to easily reach over a mile -- while the hotspot at 0.1W is going to fade out 1000 feet or so). Oh, BTW, on the Pi-Star config page, do you have General Configuration Node Type set to PRIVATE? When set to PUBLIC any radio & DMR ID on the frequency will be accepted; PRIVATE means the radio has to have the same DMR ID as the HotSpot. I'm thinking the hotspot display could be reacting to another nearby radio transmitting on the frequency, just as your radio may also be responding from promiscuous mode.

I am registered with Brandmeister - https://brandmeister.network/?page=hots ... id=3138325
Yet your hotspot does not show up for me when I do a search on

https://brandmeister.network/?page=hotspots

"k1r" shows four hotspots -- two are foreign countries along with K1RTA and K1RSO. Putting in "af6" shows five hotspots, mine in the middle.
I will need to read up on receive groups and step through what you wrote. Having never done one, I'm lost at this point.
Once you have all those "hotspot" channels configured, using them will activate as dynamic [they time out] talk groups on BrandMeister -- it is possible to have multiple static [never time out] and dynamic groups active at one time. If you turn of promiscuous mode and don't have receive groups defined, you will only hear traffic for the talk group associated with the channel on the radio (and only so long as it did not time-out on BM; the last used dynamic group typically doesn't time out [or at least, not for a day or so of inactivity]).

With a receive group that lists the related "channels" (ie: all the hotspot channels) defined in each channel (yes, it is sort of recursive -- you have to define channels in order to put them in the group, and you have to define a group to put it in each channel. Fortunately, you can go back and edit either one later to add missing information) [pardon all the parentheticals] any received signal matching one of the channels in the receive group will be heard -- and the radio should display the name of the channel so you can decide if you want to dial up that channel to respond.

I need to study my radios some more -- I could swear that hitting the PTT before that "related channel" information finishes scrolling is resulting in a response on that talk group and not on the channel's assigned group. That may be some configuration parameter but I didn't see it in the programming software for my radio. Though maybe I'm confusing with my D-STAR radio (I've got my hotspot working both modes, though it gets painful at times as a lot of fast talkers will lock the hotspot into one mode or the other).