Jim,
Thanks much for the detailed explanation... the fog is beginning to
lift! There is SO much information available that it's hard for a DSTAR
novice to take it all in, and I've been drinking from the firehose for a
couple of weeks now!
I was talking with Dave Hubbell when your email came in... he also have
me some great advice and explained a lot of the things what you
mentioned.
I'm thankful that there are guys like you and Dave (and others) who have
already beat their way through the tall grass and are willing to give
the rest of us a hand. I'm embarking on this venture to learn, but
there's a difference between learning-by-doing and beating one's head
against the wall, and I'm hoping to avoid the latter!
I'm sure you'll be hearing more from me!
73,
Mike
WM4B
On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 2:41 PM, J. Moen wrote:
Mike,
Sorry the documentation is confusing. Node extension naming is not a
big deal, and you can easily change yours later on. I'd recommend just
picking something -- "N" is fine -- and get on the air.
The confusion comes from there being no naming standards for node
extensions, and the fact that Dongles and DVAPs will only allow links
to be done to those with A, B or C. It's true that throughout most of
the world, most repeaters try to follow A - 1.2, B - 440, C - 144.
When the DV Dongle and DVAP came out, their documentation recommends
setting up a terminal using "A". Remember there is no D-Star standard
for these names, and setting up a DVAP as "K1ABC A" is perfectly
valid.
When Node Adapters came out, it was common to use "N" for simplex node
adapters and "R" for full duplex ("repeater") node adapters. But it
was discovered that DV Dongle and DVAP software will only allow linking
to terminals with an "A", "B" or "C".
(Typically DVAPs only know about repeaters that are running DPlus, so
there'd be no normal way of linking to someone's hotspot. But ways are
emerging to register hotspots with a second database that other
hotspots, and eventually also Dongle and DVAPs, will be able to find
them. At that point, if your hotspot is not named "A", "B" or "C" then
Dongles and DVAPs won't be able to link into yours.)
You said you are setting up a simplex hotspot, but what if we trade
emails and we agree to talk over D-Star. Yes, we could meet on some
repeater or reflector, and tie that up while we talk, but it would be
simpler if I just link my hotspot to yours directly. But, if instead I
had a DVAP, the software would not allow me to link to you if your
hotspot is called "WM4B N".
Those are some of the considerations, but it is not hard to change
these things later. By the way, while many repeater administrators
allow users to self-register and even create their own terminals
definitions, in other places this isn't true. My understanding is that
in the UK, the admin does the actual registration. So in some places
these things may be decided for you.
Jim - K6JM
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike <mailto:mwbese...@cox.net> <mailto:mwbese...@cox.net>
To: dstar_digital@ yahoogroups. com
<mailto:dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:53 AM
<mailto:dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Registering a Node Adapter
<mailto:dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com>
I'll be building a NQSMHS soon and am trying to figure out the proper
way to register it on the network.
I was reading through the setup guidance at < http://www.k6jm.
com/hs-setup. htm <http://www.k6jm.com/hs-setup.htm> >, but got
confused when I got down to Step E. In particular:
"Next create a "terminal" to be used as your Gateway Auth Callsign
when you configure DVAR in Step 5. There is no standard, but many
people use a node extension ("Initial" box on this update page) of
"N" for simplex hotspots, or "R" for full duplex/repeater hotspots.
- Click on the check-box on the left of the next line.
- Assuming simplex, enter an UPPER CASE "N" in the Initial column.
- Do NOT click the RPT box.
- Enter a unique pcname, for example <callsign>-dvar-s.
Next, decide what you will use for the DVAR Node Callsign in Step 5.
Since DV Dongles and DV Access Points currently can not connect to
nodes unless their extension is A, B or C, you have a choice. If you
don't want them to connect to your Hotspot, then use the N or R
terminals for your Node Callsign, and you don't need to create another
terminal. But if you want DVDs and DVAPs to connect, you need to create
another terminal, as follows:
- Click on the check-box on the left of the next line.
- Enter an Extension letter in the Initial column in UPPER case -- A,
B or C.
- Do NOT click the RPT box.
- Enter a unique pcname, for example <callsign>-hotspot."
I'm probably misunderstanding what is written, but it SOUNDS like
he's saying that if you want a DVD or DVAP to have access, you must
use "A", "B", or "C"... which I thought were reserved for repeaters.
He also says to use "N" or "R", which makes sense... but the
illustration below shows a hotspot configured as "C".
Since mine is going to be a simplex node, there doesn't seem to be any
need to allow DVD or DVAP access, so I'm leaning toward "N". My friend,
however, will be setting his up at a repeater site on 440, so I assume
he'd want to use "C". Am I understanding this correctly? As I'm
typing this, it's beginning to make sense... but then again, I want
to be certain.
On a related subject, I've been waiting to get approved in the
'gmsk_dv_node' group for a couple of days now. I understand that most
of us have regular jobs and life demands that take up most of our
time, so I was just wondering if its normal to have to wait for a few
days to get approved.
73,
Mike
WM4B
<http://www.k6jm.com/hs-setup.htm>
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>
