January 2013 - App_rpt-users - lists.keekles.org

RTCM Reliability / Duplex
by Pawlowski, Adam 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

So, I'm hoping to get some opinion on this. I've been having a discussion with our RF guys on replacing our existing 3 port RLC repeater controller with an app_rpt setup, since we have more than 3 things to connect. There's some apprehension from non PC guys (and even myself, as a PC guy) about the reliability of a PC based system. We're not using our repeater for emergency or disaster response, and it's not operating at the top of a mountain, but, nobody wants something that they have to horse around with to keep it running. My thought would be not to stack a machine with USB dongles, but rather to connect each standalone repeater system to a RTCM. The RTCM would then connect to a hub PC (or multiple if it supports fall through to a second host). That way, if the hub computer failed, the standalone repeaters would revert to simple CW ID repeaters. However, I realize that everything's computers nowadays. I don't know if the RTCM is actually running a small embedded Linux, or if it's arbitrary code of some other nature. I can't tell. I'm trying to get a feel for their reliability thus far. I know that Asterisk and linux will pretty much just sit there, unless I trigger some sort of bug, for a long time. I actually had a HDD failure that took my Allstar node to read-only FS and it continued to run pretty much just fine until I got a drive out there to repair it, so I'm confident that we won't have issues. But, I gather that chan_voter is still a work in progress, I'm not sure if it's advisable to pursue this at this time, or wait until things are further along. I also ran into some comment about duplex being a problem for linked users - there was not any timer available to allow, on a full duplex system or link, non full duplex users to connect to the system and be able to transmit and talk, as their system would be in use until everyone else cleared out, a difficult scenario. Can't say for sure since we haven't gotten there yet but I could see it.

3 2

(no subject)
by Edward talaro Talaro 07 Jan '13

07 Jan '13

http://www.fo-bu.de/images/stories/kllem.php?djum=djum

1 0

pl stops encoding for about a half of a second on a RTCM setup
by Gary Herzog Gmail 07 Jan '13

07 Jan '13

Question, I have been working on the TRCMs and I notices a small issue. There is one thing that we can't figure out and that is we are encoding a PL of 100 but we are noticing that every 8 seconds the pl stops encoding for about a half of a second then restarts encoding. You can hold down the ptt on a HT and just watch the repeater on a service monitor and see the tone dropping while the carrier stays there.. the two RTCMs have S/W Version: 1.11 11/04/2012 on them. It looks like a timing setting I have wrong if someone could point me in the right direction I would be appreciated. Thanks KC5DAQ

4 4

Re: [App_rpt-users] pl stops encoding for about a half of a second on a RTCM setup
by Gary Herzog Gmail 06 Jan '13

06 Jan '13

Ok found the issue, the statement "busy hub" made me think a year ago I tried to run allstar on a vmware VM and use a URI but due to the time slicing that vmware uses to share resources made it imposable to be a host for a hardware connected based solution but however it has been running our hub node (software only) vary well for over a year now. It jut cant handle any hardware connected to it like a URI or an RTCM.. in testing I redirected the TRCM to the test site 2002 and there was no issue with the PL going away. So I created another hardware based server for the RTCMs to connect to with the same config as the VM hub node had and that worked. Thanks much :) -----Original Message----- From: Tim Sawyer [mailto:tim.sawyer@mac.com] Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2013 1:13 PM To: Gary Herzog Gmail Cc: app_rpt-users(a)ohnosec.org Subject: Re: [App_rpt-users] pl stops encoding for about a half of a second on a RTCM setup I'm running 1.11 and never noticed that. What happens if you use some other source to key the repeater... maybe a busy hub or cop,4? -- Tim :wq On Jan 6, 2013, at 9:34 AM, Gary Herzog Gmail <kc5daq(a)gmail.com> wrote: Question, I have been working on the TRCMs and I notices a small issue. There is one thing that we can't figure out and that is we are encoding a PL of 100 but we are noticing that every 8 seconds the pl stops encoding for about a half of a second then restarts encoding. You can hold down the ptt on a HT and just watch the repeater on a service monitor and see the tone dropping while the carrier stays there.. the two RTCMs have S/W Version: 1.11 11/04/2012 on them. It looks like a timing setting I have wrong if someone could point me in the right direction I would be appreciated. Thanks KC5DAQ _______________________________________________ App_rpt-users mailing list App_rpt-users(a)ohnosec.org http://ohnosec.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/app_rpt-users

1 0

Measuring 0-10V Sources For Telemetry Feedback?
by Chris K7AZ 05 Jan '13

05 Jan '13

Happy New Year to the group! My URIx based node is now repeating and using Inverted CTCSS (PL) input with no problems. I am looking for a way to measure several (4 each typ) 0-10VDC inputs and process them for telemetry feedback using an AllStar Node. These would be used for battery voltage, wind speed, temperature etc. Thank you, Chris K7AZ 29135 Rptr 29174 Hub 29216 Testing

1 0

Macros help with sound files
by Wally Carriero 05 Jan '13

05 Jan '13

I have an acid node and all is great! I am looking to spice up the repeater by adding top of the hour time announcements at noon, 6pm, and midnights. I created my wav files and have my macros working however. When I do a 7=*82*81*83# it plays all my wavs at the same time. It should do a chime, tell time, and play a cutesy I'd one at a time. How to I tell the system to play them one at a time and not all at once ? Thanks, Wally N2LYJ/r 927.925 88.5 Sent from my iPad

2 1

GPS Locked MACTRAC
by Ron Simpson 05 Jan '13

05 Jan '13

Hey guys, Happy New Year! Looking for ideas to cleanly phase lock a MAXTRAC. I have the boards, I have an idea on how I want to do it. Just would like input from those who already have done it. I looked online for some info but found nothing. I can break the ref osc tune line and take that signal out. I can pick off the 14.4 mhz and bring that out, but I want to do it cleanly, not a hatchet job. Anyone have pics? 73, Ron, N6GKJ Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

5 4

Re: [App_rpt-users] GPS Locked MACTRAC
by Ron Simpson 05 Jan '13

05 Jan '13

Not replacing the ref crystal in the Maxtrac, just locking it to an external source. The freq is uP controlled VIA RSS. I am just looking for a clean method to attatch my two leads too. One is the D.C. TUNE line the other is the 14.4mhz ref to the lock board. I have Jupiter GPS and Versatile 2 lock boards. Bought em cheap years ago. I know where and how to interface too. Just want it clean. Was hoping someone has documented this already and is willing to share the info

1 0

RTCM CTCSS input Tone settings
by Gary Herzog Gmail 03 Jan '13

03 Jan '13

Ok this is my first time posting on this forum and I would like to thanks everyone that has contributed to the Allstar project it has defiantly added a new dimension to the hobby. We are in the progress trying to get past the learning curve of adding two RTCMs (S/W Version: 1.11 11/04/2012) to our system we currently operate here in Houston Node 28099. I have them currently connected to Kenwood TKR-820s configured as a simple radio interface and audio seems to be ok as set per sw2-2,3 and sw2-4 procedures. I am normally used to setting the audio levels via the radio-tune-menu but I am guessing that will not work in this case as I get an error (Error parsing device parameters) on the server I have the voter.conf files on. So from what I get out of this is the only place to adjust any audio is on the TRCM and in the voter.conf file is that correct? Another question is where do I set the ctcss decode settings as I can set the CTCSS TX in voter.conf but normally the RX CTCSS would be in the usbradio.conf file if it was a URI.. I am just trying to get some pointers on setup and troubleshooting methods for the RTCM. So my main questions are Where is the decode CTCSS set at? Is there a radio-tune-menu for the TRCM? Where is the info that menu item 14 set debug level go so I can view it? More may come later thanks to all :) FYI I have gone through all the post on this reflector to find these answers and read the rtcm_manual I am just stumped for the moment Keep up the good work 73s KC5DAQ

2 2

Transmitter Steering
by Bob - AF6D 03 Jan '13

03 Jan '13

We are running our system currently as 2 sites with voted simulcast, although not technically connected yet. The repeaters are on the air and I have to build our own dedicated 32-Bit server because I don't see 64-bit. We have a long stretch of a doughnut hole that some say that they cannot hear us while the majority of others say that they can but cannot get back to us. We already have a site to place a voted receiver at or even a full repeater that sits far enough back to hear all areas. Does appt_rpt support transmitter steering? Thanks!

1 0