DMR for EmComm

The CT ARES DMR microwave network has been down for at least four weeks.  This is public knowledge and has been public knowledge since the DMR connectivity was taken down as the result of an on-going reconfiguration of the microwave network.  Public knowledge as in:

• CT ARES leadership has been issuing approximately weekly updates on the network's status to all CT ARES members
• The fact that it is down has appeared in local news media
• It has NOT been tested on Sunday after the regular analog CT ARES net since it was brought down back in late April
• It has NOT been used daily for general COMMS since it was brought down back in late April 

A few of the CT ARES DMR repeaters have been brought back onto the microwave network, but it is slow going for various reasons.  

In the interim, the CT ARES DMR repeaters that are internet connected remain in network operations, as are those that have been transferred over to internet connection until the microwave network is fully operational.  In addition, there are a number of internet-connected MARC repeaters in the state.

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As to asking "... why wouldn't you use DMR for emcomm ...", that's like asking "... why wouldn't you use Echolink or D-Star for emcomm ..."  

The answer is:  with few exceptions, DMR repeaters (like Echolink and D-Star) are internet linked.  If internet is down within an area, then DMR linkage is almost undoubtedly down.  If internet is down within an area, then Echolink and D-Star linkage is almost undoubtedly down.  

If the internet is not down within the area, why would "they" need ham radio for communications across the area?

The goal of the CT ARES DMR microwave network is to have a statewide network that is not dependent on the internet, but rather runs on a high availability, redundant, and hardened network.