WB4SON

The DVmega, running ircDBGateway software, supports control/linking via DTMF Touch-Tone commands (that is an option that can be turned off, but it defaults to on).  This is generally much easier to do than struggling with trying to reprogram the UR field to accomplish the desired task.

To use the DTMF commands, it is essential that the UR field be set to CQCQCQ, the RPT1 field be set to “WB4SON C”and the RPT2 field be set to “WB4SON G”.  Also, as always it is critical that the Hotspot be accessed with Duplex + or – and an offset of 0 (failure to do that prevents the digital audio from being decoded by the Hotspot).

DTMF # –> Is the Unlink Command

DTMF 0 –> The Check Status Command (responds “unlinked” or “linked to …”)

DTMF ** –> This will set the Hotspot to the default gateway (REF069C in my case)

DTMF A –> Disconnects CCS call routing

To link to a reflector, use the following DTMF commands. By trial and error, I’ve found that you must hold the PTT button for a second or so after you finish sending any tones — makes sense, usual DSTAR propagation delays.

DTMF *50C –> Links to REF050C

DTMF *69C –> Links to REF069C

DTMF B12A –> Links to XRF012A

DTMF B21B –> Links to XRF021B

My TouchTone keypad does NOT include the “D” character so I haven’t tested the DCS Reflectors

To do callsign routing, simply enter the 7 digit code

DTMF 3109071 –> Fran, W1FJM

DTMF 3144032 –> Bob, WB4SON

Send a DTMF “A” to disconnect when done

I’ve laid hands on six different Icom DSTAR radios, included the latest/greatest, and they all suffer from horrible illogical human interface designs.  Perhaps it is simply a cultural thing — what the Japanese find easy to do, frustrates someone from North America, but you would think they would get a clue.

I had the exact opposite experience when setting up an Internet Labs DV3K Dongle.

I first setup my Macbook, which required loading the latest  FTDI drivers and obtaining the DVtool software from the www.dv3kdongle.com site (which provides hot links to everything).  That process was completed in less than 2 minutes.  Opening the DVTool, revealed a logical panel asking me to enter my callsign, and desired message.

I entered my call, picked Reflector 69C, and away I went.  Chatting instantly came out my laptop speaker, and when I clicked on PTT, the built-in speaker picked up my void.

Moving the dongle over to my Win10 PC provided a similar experience.  Simply plugging in the DV3K Dongle automatically loaded the FTDI drivers.  Downloading the PC version of the DVTool was quick and simple.

There was one slight glitch – my desktop doesn’t have a microphone plugged in.  DVTool detected that and refused to start.  I simply plugged in my headset and away I went.

While there is no RF involved, the DV3K Dongle makes it VERY easy to monitor your favorite Reflector.

Now that my DVmega is up and running, I am happy to report that a pretty cool App, “ircddb remote“, works just fine as long as you setup the port (usually 10022) and password in the ircDBBgateway program.  At the moment I don’t have that port forwarded, as I don’t need to access it outside my home network, but you could do that.

ircdd remote allows you to link to any XRF, REF, or DCS reflectors.  It allows the creation of presets, or you can simply dial in what you want.  And it will display the current link status as well.

The app is available on iTunes or Google Play.

As a backup to some local DSTAR machines that require a bit more than a HT on low power with a rubber duck antenna to access, I thought it would be nice to install a DV Hotspot in my house.  The traditional approach of using a DVAP hooked up to a PC sounded klunky and power hungry.  Some folks were making devices like that using a RPi.

DVmega came out with their dual band board designed to plug into a RPi, and that seemed ideal. I discovered that Gigaparts was offering a DVMega Pi3 2M/70cm Kit that seemed ideal.  Most appealing was that the OS was already loaded along with the repeater and ircDDB Gateway software.  Sounded pretty turnkey.

The case, shown above, went together nicely.  Note the DVmega dual band board is not installed so that the special mounting frame is visible in the top.

Sure enough the RPi3 booted, and the GUI came up with a ircDDB Gateway and Repeater screen, plus the “readme” instruction file.  The later was VERY simple, suggesting that your callsign be plugged into a few places, the proper RF module selected, followed by a reboot, and life would be wonderful.

Life was only partially wonderful…

The RF side seemed to work well.  It heard my HT (configured to talk to the hotspot WB4SON C and WB4SON G in RPT1/RPT2).  The hotspot send my repeater information  over the air.

However, nothing I could do would get the gateway functions to work.  The gateway status screen always showed it as disconnected.

I’ve been working that problem for about 10 hours so far today.  I’m still not sure if it is a DPLUS registration issue (needing a WB4SON C “terminal ID” to be registered with the US Trust) or if it is a port forwarding issue.

Details will follow as I make progress.