K8JTK Hub: Digital VoIP Mutimode Interlink System

The K8JTK Hub is a Ham Radio Digital Voice over IP Multimode Interlinked System (DVMIS).  It was created to interlink ham radio VoIP modes for interoperability: AllStar Link, EchoLink, DMR, D-STAR, and Yaesu System Fusion.

This can be used for an EmComm exercise or a rag-chew meetup where users are utilizing different Ham Radio Internet linking technologies.  While convenient in some situations to use non-RF connections, please use RF connections whenever possible to utilize the RF spectrum we’re given.

This system is hosted in a Digital Ocean data center (NY3) near Clifton, NJ.

Utilizing AllStar Link (built on Asterisk) at its core provides linking flexibility.  Transcoding between digital and analog via DVSwitch, digital linking through MMDVM.

This system is available to use but should be considered in a testing phase for configuration optimization and audio levels between modes.

Rules

  • Follow all rules of your regulatory authority
  • Keep it classy
  • English only
  • Identify your station by voice.  ID in a data stream doesn’t count due to analog and cross linking connections.
  • Press PTT for at least 2 seconds before speaking in order to bring up all Internet links.  Fast-keying is NOT ALLOWED.  It also helps to leave the PTT pressed for a second or two after you are done speaking due to buffering.

System usage rules

  • Nets or events taking place on this system, or connections to other multi-node systems, hubs, reflectors, etc. must be communicated to the sysop.  Email is on the home page or QRZ.  Active connections tie up resources unnecessarily.
  • Analog nodes, in particular, need to eliminate all courtesy tones, hang times, squelch tails, IDs, etc. sent over Internet links.  This could cause a ping-ponging effect.  Set the repeater to use TX PL and link radio to use RX PL COS to transmit audio only when the repeater is active.

Failure to follow all above will result in a ban from the system. Attempt maybe made by the sysop to contact station by email to inform of corrective action against the infraction.

Accessing the Hub

Allmon2 status page
The Allmon2 status page shows Asterisk connections, those being: AllStar Link, EchoLink, HamShack Hotline.

Asterisk connections to digital services are also shown.  The links below or those under “Status pages” in Allmon show digital dashboards and connections.

  • AllStar Link: 50394 (Info)
  • DMR: Brandmeister 31983 (Dashboard, Live audio)
  • D-STAR: XLX983 module A (Dashboard)
    • Connect using any of: REF983A (DPlus), DCS983A (DCS), XLX983A (DCS), XRF983A (DExtra)
    • Preferred (event of problems): DCS983A -or- XLX983A
  • EchoLink: K8JTK-R 233196
    • 100 simultaneous connections
  • Hamshack Hotline: 94026
    • Greeting: K-8-J-T-K-H-U-B CONNECTED
    • *99 to transmit (PTT)
    • # to stop transmitting (release PTT)
  • NXDNReflector: TG 31983 (Dashboard)
    • DMR2NXDN via DMRGateway: TG 7031983
  • YSFReflector: K8JTK Hub (Dashboard)
    • YSF DTMF & DMR2YSF: 17374
    • DMR2YSF via DMRGateway: TG 7017374

Wires-X K8JTK-ROOM #40680 linked in through YSFReflector during the work-from-home phase.

Nets

Tuesdays @ 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, 0100 UTC – AmateurLogic Sound Check Net.

I get to host these goofballs…

VoIP Systems

Systems and modes available for use for accessing the Hub.

AllStar Link: a ham radio linking system based on Asterisk.  This analog system can be used on anything from repeaters to portable nodes.  Implementations: AllStar Link and HamVoIP.  See my write-up on AllStar.  Accessible via any AllStar Link node using an analog ham radio.

EchoLink: widely utilized Internet linking program.  Windows desktop application for users or nodes is dated and not actively maintained but still seems to work on later versions.  Linux users install QTel through the package manager.  Smartphone applications for Android and iOS.  Nodes or repeaters can be built using the Windows app, SVX Link, or AllStar/HamVoIP.  Accessible via any of the apps or any EchoLink node using an analog ham radio.

Hamshack Hotline: an IP PBX telecom system for amateur radio.  All HH servers are trunked and accessible from any of the supported regions and platforms.  A supported SIP phone or phone adapter is required.  Follow the “getting on board” instructions on the HH homepage.  See my write-up on Hamshack Hotline.  Accessible via any Hamshack Hotline configured hard/softphone.

Digital modes: digital modes are made up of two components: radios that produce digital RF output (modulation) and network types.  All digital networks are available on repeaters or personal hotspots using MultiMode Digital Voice Modem (MMDVM) protocol.  These are devices such as OpenSpot or hardware supported by Pi-Star.  Pi-Star supports many hardware devices, commonly used are ZUMSpot (search Ham Radio Outlet for ZUMspot or ZUM Radio) and N5BOC boards.

A radio capable of desired digital transmissions (DMR/D-STAR/NXDN/C4FM System Fusion) is required with hotspots.  Many hotspots can translate digital RF of one mode to a network of a different type.  Common examples of translated radio to network: DMR <-> YSF (Fusion), DMR <-> NXDN, Fusion <-> DMR,  Fusion <-> NXDN, Fusion <-> P25.  OpenSpot3 is currently the only device that can transcode D-STAR to another digital mode network type (ie: DMR, YSF, etc.) in addition to the above examples.

Brandmeister (DMR): repeaters or hotspots linked to Brandmeister – direct or MMDVM.  DMR capable radios are available from TYT, Bridgecom, Alinco, or any DMR Tier-2 capable commercial radio.

D-STAR: repeaters or hotspots with access to DCS/XLX reflectors or MMDVM capability. There is NO DMR crosslinking on the XLX reflector.  D-STAR capable radios are available from ICOM or Kenwood.

NXDN/NXDNReflector: see digital modes above.  NXDN capable radios are available through ICOM and Kenwood – commercial radio divisions.

YSF/YSFReflector: see digital modes above.  C4FM/Fusion capable radios are only available through Yaesu.
Note about Yaesu Wires-X: Wires-X is a proprietary format to Yaesu System Fusion radios and repeaters.  Only way to add Wires-X support is through an RF link – which is available at times or can be made available by request.

Behind the Scenes

AllStar has the concept of private nodes which cannot be linked to publicly.  They are used to manage links and systems such as individual repeaters, nodes, links, etc – they can be anything defined by the sysop.  They are four-digit numbers beginning with a 1, ie 1XXX.  My defined numbering scheme on The Hub:

100X = rooms or channels (1000-1005)

1000 = main room where all other nodes connect

1001-1005 = available for linking two or more nodes/modes upon request.

12XX = analog connections

1202 = Echolink

1203 = HamshackHotline

13XX = digital connections

1311 = Brandmeister DMR

1321 = D-STAR XLX reflector

1331 = NXDNReflector

1351 = YSF/YSFReflector

Ham radio and tech.