Author: n0nki

Microwave Link Equipment Update

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I’ve been asked if I would share what equipment is being used for the Microwave links.

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/205197750-airMAX-Which-product-should-I-use-

At the airport for this week and because of it’s low cost we have a LiteBeam 5AC-23–G2. I have two of these radios here now sitting next to me.

For this week we’ll also attempt the same equipment at MSP Riverview but will be replacing with one of the ISO models at a later date. For example PBE-5AC-400-ISO

I do have a 620-ISO radio on the way here. It is the largest of the radios. It’s not been assigned to any link just yet; I simply wanted the unit to show and tell and discuss the issues of size and wind loading for the worst case.

If we build a link to Minnetonka, the antenna is rather large at 620mm. I don’t think we’ll have a problem downtown with its size, but I’m not sure Don’s tower is up to this wind load. It’s 24.6 inches in diameter.  PBE-5AC-620-ISO.

Each of the downtown locations should use an ISO version of the radios. They have better isolation or shielding from interference sources and a radome can be added to keep snow and ice from building in the face of the reflector.
PBE-5AC-300-ISO
PBE-5AC-400-ISO
PBE-5AC-500-ISO
PBE-5AC-620-ISO

It all depends on the distance and budget for oversizing to ensure there’s no amount of rain, snow or signal that would overpower the link.

Each link will have lightening protection, mounting hardware, “double shield, double sheath, UV protected cat6 tape (flat wire)” and special modular crimp ends.

Then each site will some day have a router/linux host that manages the “mesh” which is actually not a mesh but rather a network with redundant paths. There’s also a VPN network used so that we have usable/managed IP space regardless of who the Internet access provider is.

There are a couple locations where I’d like to place sector antennas for portable links for public service agency uses… Events basically. Riverview looking over the stadium/downtown is one example. The sectors are also perfect for cases where we can find a volunteer to uplink an Internet connection to the network. I think it’s likely someone knows someone downtown in a condo who can spare a tiny bit of Internet.

Moving Minnesota Statewide to Time-Slot1 on BM-(BLM/CSK/MTK)

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Hello,

As I shared on the Wednesday night net @7pm June 7th, I’d like to move all our static talk-groups to Timeslot1 and encourage the use of Timeslot2 for only on-demand or dynamic talk-groups. This follows the time-slot / talk-group layout idea that appears to have started in Iowa.

This will free up Time-slot 2 across any repeater that is not actively involved in a particular QSO, (any repeater that follows this convention). I’ll be removing US Nationwide and Worldwide + WWEnglish from static assignment to Timeslot1. Anyone can still bring up these talk-groups on demand on either time-slot when using a Brandmeister connected repeater. Your old code-plugs will work, but you are encouraged to update so that Minnesota state appears on your radio as full-time and so that you do not consume both time-slots while operating with your old code-plug.

These changes will become effective on July 1st, 2017. This is for BLM, CSK and MTK. This allows everyone to plan ahead and for our code-plug volunteers to release updates ahead of time.

 

DMR Breakfast Yesterday and a few more TYT radios updated

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Yesterday was the DMR breakfast at Fat Nat’s. We meet bi-weekly so your next opportunity is only 12 days away. June 3rd, 2017. I hope we see you then! 8am is the official start, but many arrive about 7:30 and a few earlier than that. Service is great and the food even better.

I was able to update a few MD380 radios with the “hack” or “patched” firmware which allows the radio to hold the entire world wide contact database, all 61,625 of them. The software package that performs the modifications is called MD380-Tools. It provides front panel programming, the ability to directly enter the talkgroup ID number you’d like to use. Provides a Morse code menu, backlight programming for variable brightness, diagnostic and signal information, last heard lists, VU meter, changing roger beep tones, contact editing, adds “talker alias” display, additional options for programming the side buttons, keypad entry of your DMR ID, and countless other features over and above the stock firmware.

73 – NØNKI – Eric Osterberg

Announcing firmware updates on Minnetonka repeater

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I wanted to share some technical news that’s only relevant to those of you interested and aware of some intermittent problems with the Minnetonka repeater not transmitting.

This evening the firmware on the XPR8400 repeater serving the Minnetonka area was updated to the newest available and several revisions newer that it was previously running. It is still Brandmeister connected. I’d like to thank all of you who have contributed. NØBVE, Don Rice for hosting my equipment at his site! Thank you Don! Thank you for all of your support to our community in so many ways. Thank you to Galen for answering and becoming our first successful contact on the new firmware version. Thank you to John Burningham for technical assistance and code-plug review. Dave KEØNA for access to the tools to keep our Motorola components working across the entire state of Minnesota. Todd, Kent and others for detailed technical reports of performance and observations that lead to our troubleshooting the ghosts in the network. And to all of the rest of you I’m forgetting to name specifically, and everyone of the rest of you reading this message. THERE ARE NO CHANGES OF ANY KIND REQUIRED ON YOUR RADIOS. This is simply a major update to the repeaters low level firmware. Only wanted to let folks know changes were made as well as the installation of some equipment to enable better network diagnostics.

73 – Thank you!

NØNKI – Eric Osterberg

News is trickling in, unofficial word is 4 of the 5 repeaters who separated are rejoining the original network

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Word on the radio-rumor-mill tells us Bill KD0YRF has purchased the Faribault repeater from Nagi N0AGI and the cBridge from James and progress is continuing to bring Minnesota Statewide to their repeaters with the exception being the St.Cloud repeater which will become a stand alone system. Work is also ongoing to reconnect the isolated MNDMR with the original MNDMR. Good news for the most part. I’ll be happy to replace this posting once official word is available.

Hello from Arizona

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By request,

Here’s a photo from Lunch today here at Famous Dave’s in Mesa where I (Eric – NØNKI) have lunch on Thursdays. This is the AZ DMR crowd.  I count 24 people in the photo and there were 5 in a booth out of view. one of the largest turn outs as I can remember.

Only a few more days! DMR Hotspot Workshop Sunday March 19th 2017 2pm

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It’s coming this weekend, the MinnesotaDMR HotSpot Workshop at the Maplewood public library is just days away. Note the change in time. We are now able to get in early for setup so we will begin sharply at 2pm. Please arrive by 1:45 to get comfortable or 1:30 if you would like to help setup.

Please visit this survey to let me know if you are interested in attending. I need a good head count so I can prepare handouts for you. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YV776ZG

Location: Ramsey County Library – Maplewood – 3025 Southlawn Dr, Maplewood, MN 55109

The Presentation is available at: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1b9JXCMXYOVGXSE0_xZ7jYVDZOTpaNgmxYIRJ29m8CxA/edit?usp=sharing

Here’s a list of things you should be prepared to bring with you.

  1. Pen and notepaper if you wish to take notes…
  2. Raspberry Pi 3 or 2.
  3. SD flash card for your raspberry pi computer. You might want to bring a spare, just in case. 16Gb or larger recommended. 8Gb minimum size. You may also need an adapter to connect the SD card to your laptop to copy software for the first time.
  4. Power supply for your raspberry pi computer.
  5. DVMega radio board. (Note that I have them available for $105, but the library prohibits sales in their meeting spaces so we need to meet before hand.)
  6. You may wish to bring a case with a hole already in place for your antenna or I can sell you a case in advance (no sales allowed at library) for your Pi and the DVMega radio board. A case is optional if you are careful handling your Pi computer. I have them for 10 bucks.
  7. An antenna with an SMA Male connector for the DVMega radio board. I have antennas available too. Shorter ones for $7 and longer for $10. Most MD-380 and MD-390 radios were shipped with two antennas which are compatible. The two antennas I stock are identical to the stock TYT/Tytera UHF radio antennas.
  8. Extension cord 7 to 15 feet in length, preferably with an outlet bar so you can power your neighbors extension cord, a monitor, a laptop, your pi computer and maybe the same for the person next to you who didn’t bring one. The meeting space has very few outlets around the outside of the room. We need you to bring plenty of cords so everyone can power up. Please label your cords if you want them back.
  9. Keyboard if you have one you can bring. I may have a couple to loan, however you might want to use one without waiting.
  10. Laptop computer to connect with your pi for setup, to flash the SD card and to reprogram your DMR radio. If you do not have one, it’s OK, it is not absolutely necessary, but will delay things for everyone else.
  11. Your DMR handheld radio. Please bring a radio so you can test things out.
  12. Your programming cable for your DMR radio (If you don’t have a cable, I’m sure someone in attendance may be able to assist.
  13. Video cable? I will be bringing a dozen computer monitors which have a DVI video input. The Raspberry Pi computer has an HDMI output. I have 5 cables to connect the 12 monitors. We should only need a monitor and keyboard briefly to setup our network and WiFi settings… After these are known/configured, you will use a laptop if you have one for the rest of the configuration.

What you should preferably know and bring with you before you attend:

  1. Your DMR radio ID, they are 7 digits long and in Minnesota start with 3127???
  2. Your WiFi SSID Name (It is case sensitive and you should double check)
  3. Your WiFi Network Password
  4. If possible, find out if or what type of authentication/encryption your WiFi uses: WPA2, WPA or WEP.  Next find if you have AES or TKIP… This information may be needed if you want to preconfigure your hotspot to connect with your wireless network at home, work, school, car, where ever.