1 M17 for Beginners: Meet M17
If you’ve been active on the ham bands lately, you’ve probably noticed that digital voice modes are everywhere. DMR, D-STAR, and Yaesu Fusion have opened up new ways to communicate, offering crystal-clear audio and worldwide reach through the internet.
But each of these modes came with a catch: they were built by commercial manufacturers using proprietary codecs and closed systems. You could use them, sure, but you couldn’t look under the hood, tweak the firmware, or build your own compatible radio.
That’s where M17 comes in – a digital voice mode with a very different spirit. Instead of a company logo behind it, M17 was born from the passion of amateur radio operators who wanted to take digital voice back to its roots: open, experimental, and entirely community-driven.
If you’re just discovering M17, this M17 for Beginners guide will help you understand what it is, how it works, and how to join hams around the world who are building the next chapter of digital voice communication.
2 What Exactly Is the M17 Protocol?
At its heart, the M17 protocol is a completely open digital voice and data system for amateur radio. It’s designed to do what DMR and D-STAR can do – and more, but without the commercial strings attached or reliance on proprietary components.
Technically, M17 uses 4FSK modulation at 4800 baud, occupying about 9 kHz of bandwidth per channel, which is well within the standard 12.5 kHz FM channel spacing. Like D-STAR and P25, it operates as an FDMA system, meaning each transmission uses its own frequency rather than time-slot sharing like DMR.
Voice in M17 is encoded using Codec2, a fully open-source low-bitrate vocoder created by David Rowe (VK5DGR). Codec2 delivers intelligible, natural-sounding speech at just 3200 bits per second with no licensing fees, no proprietary compression, and full transparency for developers and experimenters.
The project began with a simple mission:
“To create a fully open-source digital radio protocol for data and voice – made by and for amateur radio operators.”
That openness isn’t just a slogan. Every part of M17 – from the FRAMESYNC structure to its network linking via reflectors, is published for anyone to study, modify, and build upon. Developers can inspect the source code, design their own firmware, or even build custom transceivers using the CC1200 RF transceiver chip now adopted for M17 hardware.
Think of M17 as the Linux of digital voice radio – transparent, collaborative, and designed to evolve through experimentation. Whether you’re coding new firmware, designing hardware, or just keying up through a reflector, M17 puts the control and the curiosity, back in the hands of hams.
3 How to Get on the Air with M17
Getting started with M17 doesn’t require special gear – in fact, you might already have what you need.
1. Buy an M17-Ready Radio
If you prefer a turnkey solution, consider an M17-ready transceiver such as the Connect Systems CS7000-M17 PLUS.
It’s designed specifically for the M17 digital voice protocol, eliminating the need for firmware mods or experimental setups.
With built-in support for Codec2 and M17 networking, radios like the CS7000 M17 let you get on the air quickly – just program your local repeater or hotspot connection and you’re ready to transmit.
2. Use a Hotspot
If you’ve used a Pi-Star or MMDVM-based hotspot for DMR, Yaesu Fusion, or D-STAR, you may be able to use it for M17 as well, but there’s an important caveat.
A Pi-Star digital hotspot previously configured for the open-source M17 protocol. M17 support was removed from mainstream MMDVM firmware, but there are now several actively maintained options that restore it.
As of July 2025, the mainline MMDVM firmware no longer supports the M17 protocol due to upstream project decisions. Older firmware (pre-July 2025) may still show M17 as a selectable mode, but this is no longer the case in standard images such as Pi-Star.
However, there is very good news: there are now three ways to run an M17 hotspot using legacy MMDVM hardware, without needing to purchase CC1200-based boards.
1) WPSD-M17 Community Fork
The WPSD-M17 Community Fork restores full M17 functionality to most existing MMDVM hotspots. It uses the familiar WPSD dashboard and supports the majority of STM32-based MMDVM boards used for DMR, Yaesu Fusion, and NXDN.
With WPSD-M17 you can:
- Enable native M17 mode on your hotspot
- Select M17 reflectors such as M17-USA or M17-CAN
- Access updated M17 networking tools and reflector lists
This is the easiest path for most operators who want to try M17 without replacing hardware. While the fork is maintained for bug fixes, it does not follow upstream WPSD updates.
2) N7TAE’s MSpot (M17-Only)
MSpot is a lightweight, M17-only hotspot for MMDVM hardware created by Tom, N7TAE. Instead of a web dashboard, MSpot is controlled entirely through radio commands and spoken voice responses – a minimalist and elegant approach for operators who want a simple M17-only solution.
It’s ideal if you:
- Prefer a clean, dashboard-free setup
- Only want to run M17 (no multi-mode support)
- Like the idea of managing your hotspot directly from your handheld radio
3) M17 Gateway Platform
The M17 Gateway platform – written by Jim, N1ADJ, now supports both CC1200-based HATs and traditional MMDVM modems. It includes a streamlined dashboard and supports advanced M17 features such as:
- Packet Mode
- GNSS/GPS position reporting from M17-capable radios
- Map-based location display
This is the most actively developed and feature-rich M17 hotspot option currently available.
When CC1200 Hardware Still Matters
For new builds, some hotspot boards using the CC1200 transceiver chip offer cleaner modulation and better weak-signal performance. These boards were designed with M17 in mind, but they are not required thanks to the three options above.
How to Check Compatibility
If you’re unsure which hardware you have or which method to choose:
- Check your hotspot’s board version and firmware date
- Review the documentation for each option linked above
- Visit the official M17 Project site for the latest guidance
In most cases, existing Pi-Star/MMDVM users can enable M17 simply by switching to one of the three solutions above – with no new hardware required.
3. Try a Software Client
If you’d rather listen in first, try one of the free software clients:
- MVoice for Windows/Linux
- DroidStar for Android and iOS
Both let you connect to M17 reflectors directly from your computer or phone – perfect for testing before committing to hardware.
4. Go Experimental
For the more adventurous hams, M17 is being adapted to existing radios like the TYT MD-380, TYT MD-390, TYT MD-UV380 and even homebrewed transceivers built around STM32 chips or SDR platforms.
It’s still the experimental edge of the hobby, but that’s what makes it fun.
4 The M17 Network and Reflectors
Like DMR and D-STAR, M17 uses a system of reflectors – Internet servers that connect repeaters, hotspots, and users. Each reflector has a name (like M17-USA, M17-CAN, or M17-WW) and lettered modules (A through Z) for regional or topical chats.
Connecting is simple:
- Pick a reflector and module in your Pi-Star dashboard or client app.
- Press PTT – and you’re talking to the world over M17.
It’s a friendly, fast-growing community. You’ll often find developers chatting about new firmware builds, operators testing audio quality, and curious newcomers just exploring what’s possible.
5 Hardware and Software Ecosystem
One of the joys of M17 is that there’s no single manufacturer controlling it. Instead, it’s a patchwork of innovation from around the globe.
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Hotspots | Pi-Star, ZumSpot, MMDVM boards |
| Software | MVoice, DroidStar, M17 Gateway |
| Radios (in testing) | Modified MD-380, MD-390, MD-UV380 custom STM32 handhelds |
| Network Tools | M17 Reflector Dashboard, M17 Directory |
| Developers’ Hub | github.com/M17-Project |
Every new contribution adds to the network – new firmware, new reflectors, and even ideas for cross-mode gateways with DMR or D-STAR.
6 M17 vs. Other Digital Modes
If you’ve already tried DMR or Yaesu Fusion, you’ll notice that M17 feels different – simpler in concept, yet more flexible in what it can become.
| Feature | M17 | DMR | D-STAR | Yaesu Fusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codec | Codec2 (open) | AMBE+2 (licensed) | AMBE | AMBE |
| Bandwidth | 9 kHz | 12.5 kHz | 6.25 kHz | 12.5 kHz |
| Addressing | Callsign-based | Numeric ID | Callsign | Callsign |
| Open Source | Fully open | No | Partial | No |
| Data Support | Voice + data | Voice + limited data | Voice + GPS | Voice + GPS |
In short:
- DMR is reliable but locked behind IDs and commercial hardware.
- D-STAR is older, but largely Icom-exclusive.
- Yaesu Fusion is smooth and friendly but Yaesu-bound.
- M17 is open to everyone.
You can think of it as the “homebrew digital mode” – the one where the community writes the rulebook.
7 Quick Facts
| Protocol Name | M17 Digital Voice & Data |
|---|---|
| Developer | M17 Project (Open Source Community) |
| Modulation | 4-FSK |
| Voice Codec | Codec2 |
| Channel Bandwidth | 9 kHz |
| Network Linking | M17 Reflectors |
| License Requirement | Amateur Radio Only |
| Official Site | m17project.org |
8 The Spirit of Experimentation Lives On
What makes M17 exciting isn’t just the technology – it’s the mindset behind it.
Amateur radio was founded on the idea of learning by doing, of taking things apart and making them better.
Over time, digital voice got a little too commercial, a little too closed. M17 changes that, as it brings the spirit of experimentation back to the hobby.
So whether you’re a tinkerer, a developer, or simply a curious ham, M17 gives you something rare in today’s radio world: the freedom to explore.
It’s not just another mode. It’s a movement – one built, line by line, by hams like you.
9 Related Reading on EvoHam
- Fusion for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Yaesu System Fusion
- DMR for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Hams
- DMR vs Fusion vs D-Star: How to Choose the Right Digital Ham Radio Mode
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