TODO: Make a 3D printed case for the PI 3, screen and buttons ( beta version available via email )
See my progress.
Update: 27 Jan 2026: Last three months I created this software. Now I deployed the software for testing. In this blog you can follow my progress.
Update: 28 jan 2026: Received a new microphone from another brand. Testing testing…
Update: 29 jan 2026: Coded all night and fixed some bugs. Voice is very nice. Also worked on rotary encoder on RPI GPIO. Also wrote some drivers for ST7789V2 screens.
Update: 31 jan 2026: Playing around with TFT screens. I ordered two new screens. My current 2″ screen is too small to read. Ordered 3″ and 4″ screens. Volume rotary encoder is working now. Very handy!
Update: 1 feb 2026: Worked on the installation instructions. Created scripts and made protection system for Beta testers.
Update 2 feb 2026: I also have it running on a Raspberry PI 3. (some issues with WiFi and ssh in via WiFi. Cable connection is working perfectly) Bug?
Update 3 feb 2026: Radio is working very well now. More time to work on hardware and 3D design. Some bug fixes, added TOT timer and starting with 3D design for case. (Learning Fusion360 via YouTube). Tomorrow the new screens will arrive.
Update 4 feb 2026: Some screens are too big. Struggling again with colours and positions on the screen. Time consuming..
Update 5 feb 2026: The screen is working perfectly. I will add the touch screen option maybe later. Now working on 3D designing the case and front. Happy with my Bambu Lab 3D printer:-) https://www.lcdwiki.com/res/MSP2807/MSP2806_Size.pdf
Update 6 feb 2026: Drawing 3D. TFT screens from AliExpress are not a success. The measurements are all different. Ordered new TFT screen directly from the maker.
Update 7 feb 2026: Created upgrade scripts. You will receive a message when there is a new version. Upgrade and then restart. This will prevent users from using old versions.
Update 8 feb 2026: Worked all day on the case. Getting better every hour with Fusion 360. Youtube is my friend 🙂
Update 9 feb 2026: Making adjustments for the screen and PI. This week is very busy due Cisco Live in Amsterdam.
Update 10feb 2026: Made a new revision of the case. Had some issues with mounting the raspberry pi 3. You can now edit the DMRHosts.txt via your webbrowser.
Update 11 feb 2026: Printed the new case. Looks nice, but really needs some adjustments. See:
Update 12 feb 2026: When someone sends with Fusion VW, you will hear white noise. The VW text is red so you notice that someone is sending with VW. VW is not supported by the AMBE chip. It is now also possible to connect your favourite reflector when you startup.
Update 13 feb 2026: Lot of bugfixes and tuning. Yes, it is still under development.
Update 14 feb 2026: This is how to connect the ILI9341 2.8″ TFT screen.
GPIO Connections for the screen and two rotary encoder.
Added default TX mode. Volume on TFT screen. Worked on Fusion. Ordered more rotary encoders. Looked for other screens ( OLED? ). Broke my Raspberry PI5 fan 🙁
Update 15 feb 2026: I found an issue when the radio is on for 24 hour, the bluedv process is at 100% CPU. Hope to see the issue tomorrow with debug enabled. For testers, shutdown the raspberry PI after use until I fixed the issue. The raspberry PI 5 also fits the box now.
You can now use the 2.8″ ILI9341 and the 2.8″ ST7789. The ST7789 has a better color.
Update 16 feb 2026: Fixed the 100% CPU issue. Now also auto reconnecting DMR, Fusion and D-Star after network issues. Implemented GPS for DMR, but wandering if BM sends GPS info to listeners. Added DMR id from stream. More clear fusion TX in DN mode in web. AMBE can only do Fusion DN mode, not VW mode. Optimized code, now precess only 10% CPU on RPI3.
Created a nice riser. Now I can see the screen much better.
It really works very nice now!
Update 17 feb 2026: Not in the mood to code. Too much issues in my head.
Update 18 feb 2026: You can now update your DMR passwords in the application and it will be saved in a different file. Super handy 🙂
Update 19 feb 2026: First testers contacted me. Keep in mind that the software will not working without a USB AMBE3000 and QX-18B microphone. The text on my website was not very clear about this. I made my website more clear about this. One of the testers ask me to add a nice raspberry PI screen that is located on the GPIO. Sadly not possible to use this because the two rotary buttons can’t be connected to the GPIO. Still waiting for the rotary encoders. [ROTERY ENCODERS]
I also ordered buttons, will let you know if they fix and are ok.
Update 20 feb 2026: My wife’s birthday. Love you! No code today.
Update 21 feb 2026:
I have two BlueDV radios now. Black and Blue one. Blue fir development and the back ones for stable versions. The back one is monitoring my local reflectors.
- Fixed updating the software from web. After pressing update, it took a while to show the update process.
- DMR ping timer adjusted.
- Faster DMR login
- DMR rejection from server is implemented. e.g. wrong password.
- The startup reflectors in the setup are now also selected in the info screen. ( thanks JG3HLX )
- Cleanup my room.. What a mess.
- Fix issue after loosing network connectivity for a few hours..
- User database update is now displaying a nice status bar.
- Set the default location to the lan/lon from the config.ini. (thanks CT1ESJ)
- Location (LAN/LON) check in setup. Wrong values will give issues logging in DMR.
- Moved the speaker gain to the main window
- Re-engineered the volume control. Syncing with the hardware button now.
- Working on the radio box again. The rotary buttons are not fitting nicaly. Rotary encoders are at customs, expecting in upcoming week. ( is fixed now ). The raspberry PI is moved up 5 mm so more space for air under the raspberry. The lid is fitting, but maybe better to use screws in upcoming versions.
- Printed ( 3Hours ) the new case. Nice.
First attempt to make a PCB. Spaghetti bolognaise. Converter board GPIO, Screen and one (for now ) Rotary Encoder.
JP1: raspberry PI via band cable
JP2: TFTF screen
JP3: Rotary Encoder 1 ( volume )
JP4: Rotary Encoder 2 ( not implemented yet )
Hmm.. Free edition of Fusion 360 can not export to PCBWay. And Eagle can not auto wire. Any suggestions?
Trying EasyEDA now. Tool me 30 minutes to find the RPI GPIO pins.. pff. Rotation of the object is not working.
Update 22 feb 2026: New day, new opportunities. Only slept 3 hours, so hope this day will productive.
Last night I looked 3 hours of YouTube videos about EasyEDA.
30 minutes later… Looks like 3 hours YouTube did the trick. It is really fun.
Just sent the board to pcbway.com. They are now evaluating my board. Received a discount of 5$ because this is my first board and the board cost 5$, so I only have to pay shipping, I guess. The minimum was 5 boards. Board is now accepted, PayPal is not available so waiting for payment instructions. $14 shipment. Received again an email that they are closed until 23 February 2026. Once I received the boards and it is working, I will post the project file.
Listening now to BM TG91. The CPU on the RPI3 is around 20% which is very nice.
Made some modifications to the roof plate of the radio box. Now printing.
Guess who has to go grocery shopping in this weather? 🌧️
The follow RX mode is also finished. Now when you connect three modes and someone is talking on DMR, you can directly respond to that mode. When idle again and someone is talking on D-Star, the TX mode automatically switch to D-Star. See switch Follow RX. When you disable it, you can set the TX mode statically.
Print is finished. The roof plate is very good now.
I started a QA webpage for all questions and answers. [LINK]
Update 23-27 feb 2026: Worked on other projects. Updated BlueDV for Android and Windows.
Update 28 feb 2026: You can now switch reflectors with the rotary buttons. Not sure if this feature is handy.
Update 04 March 2026: I had surgery. Taking it easy for a few days now. In about a week, I have another and my last surgery. After that, I can code twice as hard 🙂
Update 08 – 12 March 2026: Had some request from testers
- Added automatic gain control for DMR. ( experimental )
- Added RX timer on the main screen
- On DMR the RX beeps only when time > 3 second. ( No irritating kerchunks beeps anymore )
- Added name to the lastheard
- You can now use the software without the microphone. RX only.
Update 13 March 2026: Looks like the QX-18B comes with different internal hardware. Karl WH6KB was very helpful with providing me a lot of information about this new hardware. We are now trying to get this new hardware to work.
Update 14 March 2026: Created up-sampler for the QX-18B with new hardware. Waiting for testers to test this version.
The new hardware is working, but the sound is not good.
Update 15 March 2026: Working on the Inrico B01 again. For some reason the microphone is not working of the device. Maybe protected?
Looks like the B01 is detected now.Took me some hours. But the sound is not working well via Bluetooth on the Raspberry PI. I also used an USB BT adapter, same issues.
See the spikes.
[ 107.000543] Bluetooth: hci0: Frame reassembly failed (-84)
[ 107.001554] Bluetooth: hci0: Frame reassembly failed (-84)
[ 107.001571] Bluetooth: hci0: Received unexpected HCI Event 0x00
[ 107.188869] Bluetooth: hci0: Frame reassembly failed (-84)
[ 107.189104] Bluetooth: hci0: Frame reassembly failed (-84)
[ 107.210087] Bluetooth: hci0: Frame reassembly failed (-84)Tomorrow, I will do the same with a fast Linux machine and see if I have the same issues.
Update 16 March 2026: Peanut MacOS was expired. Had to code all evening to make an update.
Update 17 March 2026:
– Redesigned the DMR hosts files editor.
– Added YSFI packet in YSF protocol
– In BM, you can see the BlueDV version
– Updated this version to internet
Update 18 March 2026: Lot of emails and issues with Apple software deployment again.
Update 19 March 2026: Wrote new YSF2YSF for Europelink. Investigated TGIF talk group handling when you do not have a microphone. You can set options in DMR setup of BlueDV Radio.
e.g. goto talk group 29662 when you login. ( do not forget to restart BlueDV Radio to active it )
StartRef=29662;RelinkTime=60;Userlink=1,TS1_1=;TS2_1=29662;TS2_2=;Still issues with Apple software deployment. Waiting now for more then 3 days.
Update 20 March 2026: Apple deployed both my MacOS and iOS version.
Completely rewrote my AMBE3003 AMBEServer. Now it can run on all platforms and only needs a few kb to run. Also the gain control is better now. Need some testers with a AMBE3003.
Tested Bluetooth headsets. Looks like the Linux for Raspberry is really buggy. Must test on Intel to confirm this.
Update 21 March 2026: Coded all day to rewrite the ysfreflector. Now it uses less recourses. Need to consolidate everything.
Update 22-23 March 2026: Rewriting my DMR master software. Lot of work.
Update 24 March 2026: Again someone with an old Microphone. I am not getting very amused by the news that everyone is getting old microphones. I have two myself and both are perfect. Spend soo many hours in this project and now failing on the microphones. Today I wrote some companies at AliExpress to ask them who the maker is of the devices. Want to know if there are firmware upgrades available.
Update 25 March 2026: Rewrote my M17 reflector. http://m17.pa7lim.nl. Also had a lot of emails tonight. Created some scripts for the AMBE3003 to AMBE3000 converter. Received an email from one of the companies on AliExpress that sells the microphones. They going to contact the maker of the microphones.
Update 26 March 2026: I ordered this device to test ( 80 euro ). Will arrive on Saturday. Hopefully the quality is better than the QX18 devices. Tomorrow I get a small operation, hope I will recover soon to continue and to write code for the device.
I also looked at this device, but then everyone has to make converter cables.
28 March 2026: You are not going to believe it, the new microphone arrived and it is the same maker of the QX-18. The sound is very very low and the PTT is wrongly timed. Tonight I will also test it under Windows. I contacted amazon to get in touch with the seller and eventually the maker of the devices.
Bus 003 Device 008: ID 7273:8378 Jieli Technology UACDemoV1.0See the PTT events.. Suddenly, a gap of 800ms.
Tested this now with Windows. I used the provided tool to change the PTT key. Looks like the input events are fixed now. I set the value “turbo” and used F2 for PTT, exactly like the QX-18. Then I uploaded the settings to the device. ( oh.. you can program it.. interesting )
But the microphone is still not working under Windows.
I like the microphone, the material is of good quality. Hopefully, I can het the microphone working.
Note: When you power the device, a Chinese woman screams with 100% volume out of the speaker. It is too loud to translate with my phone.
Update 29 March 2026: Feeling much better today. Hope to get to work tomorrow. Good news, the seller ( maybe maker ) of the device gave his email address. I am going to prepare an email so we can work on a fix.
The Windows program what comes with the QX-18 microphone can also be used to make the PTT key mapping.
In the upcoming version, I tuned a lot with the input gain in AMBE. The microphone gain is much harder now. Please test and let me know if it is better now.
Experimenting with EasyEDA to make my own Microphone adapter. Learning a lot.
The company (NARadio) contacted me via amazon message. I asked their email address and told about the microphone issue.
Update 30 March 2026: I received a reply from the QX-18 maker. I answered some questions and explained the issue with my Desktop Mic and the QX-18B. Now waiting for answer.
Working now on AMEB Gain in the config.ini file. Now you can experiment yourself with the microphone gain. Let me know what value is best for you.
Add the following lines in the config.ini. Make sure after changing the value to restart bluedv.
Never use values above 20!!
[AMBE]
DSTARInputGain=0
DMRInputGain=0
FUSIONInputGain=-10You must have version 20260329 or above.
Update 31 March 2026: Looks like more testers have good microphone quality now.
Busy evening, was called by my manager with a network issue at a customer.
My Windows machine stopped working after nVidia driver update. I tested the new drivers for my desktop microphone. Still not working. One tester reported the deletion of the config.ini, but I can’t reproduce it.
I also responded to the QX-18 maker. Did some tests, but I do not have any recording volume at all. They respond very professional with good explanations with screenshots. I think my problem is more hardware related.
One tester (Thanks Hans-Jurgen) gave his AMBE gain settings. I will wait for some more to compare. For new users, I will use his settings.
DSTARInputGain=5
DMRInputGain=0
FUSIONInputGain=-10
Update 1 April 2026: Implemented the following based on testers input.
- Mute button add the the main screen
- Restart and shutdown button in tools menu ( not tested )
- Added DG-ID in Fusion to change rooms in my YSF projects. e.g. https://europelink.pa7lim.nl
- Option to download the config.ini for support or backup
- There was a bug in the DMR GPS position that gave an issue on TGIF ( not tested )
Received an email from the QX-18 maker. Again doing some tests. But still no functional Microphone. I think it is defect.
Looks more testers have positive modulation now.
Last night I was not in the mood to study so I rewrote my SSTV software for Peanut. Now it uses less resources. Next thing is to generate the picture due the stream itself. Have to think about this.
Update 2 April 2026: Things todo for 2 April? :
- When restart BlueDV, TGIF is not connecting. You have to disconnect and connect again. ( I can not reproduce. Tomorrow I will more tests )
- Put the version in the bottom of the screen to make it more visible. (done)
- Take a look at the BER in Fusion. If needed I can also fix the voice when received from RF
- Take a look at Fusion GPS RX ( Done )
- Fusion GPS TX ( Done )
- Investigate to login with user and password
Update 3 April 2026: Today, almost everyone is free in The Netherlands. Hope get for a bike this morning. Depending the weather.
The Fusion GPS TX is working for Yaesu, but it is not popping up on my Europelink reflector. As you can imagine is BlueDV Radio a DMR, D-Star and Fusion radio. See this as three radio firmware’s which is a lot of code and complexity. So I hope I will find the GPS issue soon and not spending all day on it.
Ok, the GPS TX is working. 🙂
Added an option to disable GPS TX on Fusion for people who do not want this.
In upcoming version. Working on it now.
- Added full slow data in D-Star transmission. GPS, Message and D-Star Header information(for late entry). It is using the DMR setting for GPS.
- Created a noise suppressor. Now TX sounds much much better.
- Implemented some other sound optimizers. ( echo cancel )
Time to bike. 10 degrees…. I do not want this.. haha
You can click on the GPS pin to see the position in the right upper box.
GPS RX and TX works now for Fusion and D-Star. Implement DMR GPS is useless, most DMR masters and hotspots remove the GPS information. Also, most Chinese radios have their own implementation with mostly incorrect CRC. Not going to spend time on this anymore.
Today, I returned my desktop microphone. The microphone was not working at all. Not going to buy a new one, it was too big for my little desk.
It is now 21:00. Wandering what to add to the software. My Friday evening it is always my experiment night. Build something funny that is mostly useless but fun to make.
Hey.. I found my SC01 Plus screen with ESP32.. Lets see what I can make tonight.
It always starts with…
Now I know how to access the screen. This is always a puzzle.
And it ended up in a remote BlueDV HAM Display for BlueDV Radio 🙂
The SC01 Plus EPS32 (Almost not for sale anymore) connects over WiFi to the bluedv.local and receives the API. In only 437 lines of code.
The photo looks not very sharp, but the screen quality (ST7796U) is amazing. It also has a touchscreen, but no time tonight to play with that. I think, I am going to use this device to show the status of my Volkswagen Fuel and Battery.
Idle state.
Back of the device. I think it also consists a sound-card (SPK). So theoretically, I can also make this device a DV radio. See my YouTube for more experiments.
Uploaded a new version 20260403.
Time for a wine with my wife.
Update 4 April 2026: Saturday.. Cleanup day. I really made a mess of my room Friday evening. Looking forward on test reports from the testers.
- Added options for the German YSF reflectors.
The cat destroyed our couch. Today it was time to look for a new couch..
The suspect.
Working on the Peanut SSTV project again. Trying to live decode the pictures from a live peanut stream.
After some hours… It is working.. I think.
https://peanut.pa7lim.nl/sstv/beta/
Update 5 April 2026: Happy Easter everyone.
Today family visits.
Evening: Now working on SSTV again. Want to finish the code tonight.
Want to do something with my drone again. I passed all European drone exams that exist, so time to experiment with the drone. I have an oldie, DJI Mini 2 Pro. But still fun.
Update 6 April 2026: Second Easter Day. No plans yet. When I wakeup, I wander if the SSTV is still working well.
Update 7 April 2026: Migrated dmr.pa7lim.nl to a new rewritten version. Will fix the time issue tomorrow.
- Added YSF options
- Removed the access code. Everyone can install the software
I am no longer receiving emails from testers, so the app can now be started without a code—making it accessible to everyone. The project is essentially complete, and I will be shifting my focus to other things. I will continue to update this blog whenever new updates become available. I hope this blog has given you a good impression of how I work. I would like to thank all the testers for their time, effort, and valuable feedback.
Update 10 April 2026: Found type in DMR. BER is now 0 and not 1 anymore. Added donation button.
Update 14 April 2026: Found issue in the DMR session ID. This was incremented.
If you like the software, please don’t forget to donate. This will keep my servers running.