I have been asked on several occasions whether I ever use a radio on DMR as it would appear that all the articles I post has to do with DMR applications that runs on a cellphone or PC. In a past article I explained that with all do respect amateur radio is not only about real radios. I use what I have available and that will serve the purpose that I have intended for it. In other words I use the communications medium for a specific reason and purpose. It is definitely not a hard and fast rule. I use old valve tech to the newest surface technology, VoIP, Digital Voice modes etc. whenever I feel like using at the time.
I do have several radios and use them as and when the need arise. In this article I am going to look at the TYT MD380 DMR Handheld radio which I acquired several years ago when DMR was still in its infancy in South Africa. Now why would I write and article about this specific radio. It is really quite simple. The TYT MD-380 is a popular, budget-friendly DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) handheld transceiver widely used by amateur radio operators and professionals. It offers a great entry point into digital communications, providing both analog FM and digital DMR Tier II capabilities.
Key Specifications & Features
- Frequencies: Available in distinct single-band models: TYT MD-390 VHF (136 - 174 MHz) or TYT MD-380 UHF (400 - 480 MHz). (Dual-band models like the MD-UV380 are also available).
- Power Output: Selectable high (5 W) and low (1 W) power settings.
- Channels & Zones: 1,000 channels, organized into user-defined zones (16 channels per zone accessible via the rotary knob).
- Display: Full-color LCD display showing channel, zone, battery life, and signal strength.
- Battery: Typically comes with a 2000 mAh Li-ion battery, providing roughly 9 to 12 hours of active use.
- Audio: Equipped with an AMBE+2 digital vocoder for clear digital audio.
Programming
While the MD-380 allows basic front-panel configuration for frequencies and tones, advanced digital features (like assigning DMR talkgroups and contact lists) require PC programming.
- Software: Requires the free TYT CPS (Customer Programming Software) for Windows.
- Cable: Requires a specific TYT USB programming cable (often uses a standard Kenwood 2-pin connector on the radio end). Note that this software is not natively supported on Mac computers.
For a complete breakdown of the radio's features, menu options, and everyday functionality:
1. TYT MD-380 - Miklor Click HERE
2. TYT MD-380 - Miklor Review Click HERE
3. TYT MD-380 - Radiosification Video Click HERE
So far you wrote nothing about the out of ordinary about this radio! That how it is. I have never seen the need to purchase a radio with all the bells and whistles that never gets used and I do not buy a radio with the intend that I might use the bells and whistles some day. O! and I do not have anything against bells and whistles. My motto is to purchase a practical KISS radio that is upgrade-able if it ever becomes necessary. Enough of this. Let's get to the upgrading of the TYT MD-380 radio.
Thanks to the ingenuity of a few fellow radio amateurs for coming up with firmware that will "revolutionize" the MD-380. There are several different firmware upgrades available.
WARNING: Please use the correct firmware for your specific radio. I used the following tutorial to upgrade my MD-380, available HERE. I would suggest further reading for complete documentation with graphics of the added features available HERE. [PDF] 
I installed the following firmware for my TYT MD-380: MD-380Toolz Ver 1 April 2018 CP Ver - V 01.37.
The software builds upon the original custom open-source firmware project for the Tytera MD-380, which was reverse-engineered and developed by Travis Goodspeed (KK4VCZ) and his counterparts in the amateur radio community.
MD380Tools is custom, open-source firmware and a software toolkit designed for the TYT MD-380 (and similar DMR radios). It bypasses the limitations of the factory firmware, providing you with highly requested features like Promiscuous Mode (listening to all talk groups on a timeslot), full digital contact list storage, a microphone volume meter, and customized background images.
Key Features
- Full Database Support: Allows you to load the complete global DMR user database so the radio displays the caller's name, callsign, and location.
- Promiscuous Mode: Bypasses Talk Group restrictions so you can monitor all traffic on your current frequency, color code, and timeslot without needing to program specific groups.
- Custom Tweaks: Adds features like a visual microphone volume meter, screen customization, custom boot screens, and backlight timeouts.
Requirements & Preparation
Before flashing your radio, you will need:
- Programming Cable: The standard USB programming cable that comes with the MD-380.
- Firmware File: The open-source patching tools, which are officially maintained via the Travis Goodspeed MD380Tools GitHub Repository.
- Backup: Use your standard MD-380 CPS (Customer Programming Software) to read your radio and save your current codeplug (radio settings and channels) to your computer before attempting any updates.
Installation & Flashing
Note: Installing custom firmware carries a small risk. Always ensure your radio is fully charged and the USB cable is not disturbed during the flash.
Having paid less that 1K for this radio and upgrading it with the firmware MD-380Tools resulted in a very useful DMR Radio that I use daily to excess / monitor the ZS1I DMR Repeater in Mossel Bay. I love this radio and I am sure that many others feel the same.
There you have it changing a budget and fairly aged DMR into a very useful DMR Radio. Finally I do have amateur radio radios and I use them more frequent than some might think. No pun intended! As said before I like to use what I have available at the time for a specific purpose.
Images: Click on images for larger view.
