FAQ's

and answers

Frequently Asked Questions

This is some of the questions being asked in the CQ-UK room
Answer:

There are various ways you can connect to the CQ-UK room

  • Hri 200 connected to node radio and a talk trough radio,
  • PDN mode, FTM400 FTM100 FT2D,
  • C4FM using repeater or gateway, hotspot device,
  • Peanut using mobile or computer,
  • Echolink using repeater, mobile device or computer,
  • Allstar using repeater raspberry pi node and mobile,
  • Dmr using repeater or gateway, hotspot device,
  • Dstar using repeater or gateway, hotspot device,
  • P25 using repeater or gateway, hotspot device,
  • NXDN using repeater or gateway, hotspot device,
Answer:

The XLX Multiprotocol Gateway Reflector Server is part of the software system for the D-Star Network. Using AMBEserver software it transcodes Dstar to DMR and vice versa

  • To connect to the Dstar side you can use Peanut app, hotspot device or repeater,
  • Dmr using software,repeater or hotspot.
Answer:

By using software, YSF2DMR

  • Software transcoding,
  • Connects via Dmr + network to the CQ UK Ysf Reflector
  • Also from XLX dmr to the CQUK Ysf Reflector
Answer:

Ysf Reflectors allow C4fm Radios to connect to each other via hotspots, repeaters or software.

  • A hotspot running modified MMDVMHost software bridges from the Wires-x system to the Ysf Reflector
Answer:

Users can easily establish and operate a WiRES-X Portable Digital Node Station by directly connecting the FTM-400, FTM-100 and FT-2D to a pc running wires-x software. Modes Available are,

  • Wires-x mode, requires a talk through radio,
  • Direct mode, uses radio, no talk through radio required
Answer:

There are lots of good software packages about, free to Ham. Most of them run on Debian or Ubuntu .

Answer:

The Pi-Star has the capability of working across digital modes. This means you can use a C4FM1 (YSF) radio to talk on DMR and vice-versa. You can find the complete list of cross mode capabilities on your Pi-Star configuration page.

Yaesu FT-70D

Before you start, you will need a DMR identification number. If you don't already have one, you need to create an account on radioid.net. Once your account has been validated, you will be able to request a DMR ID. It will take from a couple of hours to a couple of days to get your id. You cannot do anything without this id.

Configuration

With your DMR ID in hand, you can now configure the YSF to DMR gateway on your hotspot. Go to the Pi-Star configuration page and make sure the right modes are selected.

Since you are using a Yaesu radio, YSF Mode: should be selected. This will tell Pi-Star to listen for a YSF signal. You also need to select the YSF2DMR:. This will tell Pi-Star that you intend to use your YSF Radio to talk to the DMR network.

image

Once you have selected the YSF mode and YSF2DMR, press the button Apply Changes. The page will reload with new fields to configure the YSF2DMR gateway. Scroll down until you find the Yaesu System Fusion Configuration table.

image

YSF Startup Host:

In this field select YSF00002-Liink YSF2DMR this will bridge Ysf to Dmr

UPPERCASE Hostfiles:

This field is not important for working cross mode. Some radios are not capable of displaying lowercase characters on their screen. By selecting this field all the room names will be converted to upper case.

WiresX Passthrough:

This option should be enabled. When enabled this allows you to see a list of dmr talkgroups when using the wires-x function. When disabled you will see a list of ysf reflectors

CCS7/DMR ID:

This field should be automatically populated with the DMR ID you entered into the General Configuration table. If you haven't entered your DMR ID, go to the make configuration table and enter your ID. You can leave the pull-down menu to None. If you have other DMR devices you can choose the number you want to assign to this hotspot.

DMR Master:

For this field, you need to choose the DMR brandmeister master server you want to connect to. If you live in the U.S. choose one that is close.

Hotspot Security:

Leave this field blank. This field is only used when you have an account on brandmeister.

DMR TG:

Enter the talk group you want to connect to. For CQ-UK use 2351 . You can find the list of talk groups on the Pi-Star web site.

Once you have configured all the fields, click on Apply Changes to save your modifications and to restart the service.

Usage

Now you can use your hotspot the way you were using it before. If you press on the PTT you will be talking to the room you have selected in the YSF Startup Host: field.

FT-70

Connection established

You can change the room as you did before. Press the key F followed by the key AMS to connect your radio to the hotspot. Once connected, turn the dial knob situated on the top of your radio until the input screen is displayed. Enter the room number you wish to connect to and press the AMS key to connect to that room.

Input screen

To talk to the DMR talk group you have selected in the field DMR TG:. Just connect to the room number YSF00002 (Link YSF2DMR). Press the F and AMS keys, go to the input screen. Then enter 00002 and press the AMS key to connect. The hotspot will now connect to the DMR talk group.

FT-2D, FT-3D, or FTM-400

On these radios, it is even easier. Just press the WiresX key to connect your radio to the hotspot. Scroll down the list or rooms until you find the room you like. To connect to the DMR talk group you have chosen in the configuration, select Link YSF2DMR in that list. You are now ready to make your QSO.

Final note

This post describes how to do cross mode between YSF and DMR, but everything described here also applies to YSF to NXDN or YSF to P25, and vice-versa. You will need to go to radioid.net and request an NXDN or a P25 id. It is not possible with Pi-Star to do cross mode with D-Star.