Jim:
Interesting. I'm somewhat familiar with the hot spots, but didn't
realize it was going this far. So, if I have this right, what's needed
is the GMSK node adapter board, a repeater, and a computer. At that
point, and with the NI-Star software when that's released, we would have
the same functionality as the Icom repeater, controller, and gateway
computer, right--and then some?
I have two Vertex VXR5000's I could do this with. Neither are
narrow-band right now. I could mod them without too much trouble but I
probably don't have to do that unless I get moved to a narrow pair
assignment. Has anyone used a VXR5000 for this?
Chuck - N8DNX
On 8/26/2010 3:42 PM, J. Moen wrote:
If you haven't already, I'd recommend you consider the non-ICOM
approach, which will allow you to save significant money. This would
be using a gmsk modem or Node Adapter board to interface between the
server and an analog radio. The boards are in the US $100 - $150 range.
For initial testing, you could start out with DVAR Hot Spot by KB9KHM
in full duplex repeater mode. This supports DPlus but not callsign
routing and runs only on Windows. Soon to be released is Dave Lake
G4ULF's NI-Star software, which has been tested and accepted by the US
Trust team to be fully G2 compliant. It runs on Linux, typically
CentOS, and repeaters running it during the careful test phase
typically run the other standard applications like Dplus, DPRS/D-Star
Monitor, etc. without modification.
David's blog at http://g4ulf.blogspot.com/ says they are now working
on packaging and documentation, and that release is "imminent." The
first repeater up and running was GB7MH in Sept 2009 as reported by
the RSGB RadCom magazine Feb 2010. One of the most recent to come
online is WG2MSK. See
http://www.sidigital.org/
Once NI-Star is officially released, I expect to see many more new
D-Star repeaters brought up with considerable savings compared to the
ICOM only installation.
Jim - K6JM
