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 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.

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

Rules

  • Follow all rules of your regulatory authority
  • Keep it classy
  • 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.

Failure to follow the 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
Note: this status page will show Asterisk connections and transmissions, use the links below or under “Status pages” in Allmon for dashboards.

  • AllStar Link: 50394 (Status)
  • DMR: Brandmeister 31983 (Status, Live audio)
  • D-STAR: DCS/XLX983 module A (Status)
  • EchoLink: K8JTK-R 233196
    • 100 simultaneous connections
  • Hamshack Hotline: 94026
    • Greeting: D-V-M-I-S CONNECTED
    • *99 to transmit (PTT)
    • # to stop transmitting (release PTT)
  • YSFReflector: K8JTK Hub (Status)
    • YSF DTMF: #17374
    • DMR2YSF: TG 17374
    • DMR2YSF via DMRGateway: TG 7017374

VoIP Systems

Systems and modes used to access the Hub.

AllStar Link: a ham radio linking system based on Asterisk.  This is an analog system for repeaters, simplex or portable nodes.  Implementations: AllStar Link and HamVoIP.  See my write-up on AllStar.

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.

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.

Digital modes: available on repeaters or personal hotspots using MultiMode Digital Voice Modem (MMDVM), OpenSpot or hardware supported by Pi-Star such as the ZUMSpot (search Ham Radio Outlet for ZUMspot or ZUM Radio).

Brandmeister: repeaters or hotspots linked to Brandmeister – direct or MMDVM.

D-STAR: repeaters or hotspots with access to DCS/XLX reflectors or MMDVM capability. There is NO DMR crosslinking on the XLX reflector.

YSF/YSFReflector: see digital modes above.

Behind the Scenes

AllStar has the concept of private nodes which cannot be linked to publically.  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 channels for linking two or more nodes (ie: AllStar & Hamshack Hotline, or Echolink, DMR, and YSFReflector)

12XX = analog connections

1202 = Echolink

1203 = HamshackHotline

13XX = digital connections

1311 = Brandmeister DMR

1321 = D-STAR XLX reflector

1351 = YSF/YSFReflector

What About Adding…??

P25: will be added in time as I recently acquired a radio

NXDN: don’t have a radio to test this integration, yet

Wires-X: Wires-X is proprietary to Yaesu radios and repeaters, the goal is to have as much open-source as possible.  I do have a Wires-X room and it can be added upon request.  I do not have the resources to add a dedicated Wires-X connection at this time.  Contact for donations of a radio and/or hotspot for a dedicated connection.

IRLP: is dead to me.  It is a shame they have to run and maintain a closed system with a closed minded mentality.  NEVER register or use an IRLP node.

Landline/dial-in access: Hamshack Hotline is available.  Setting up a landline provider is easy to do but can be expensive for idle connections, controlling access challenges

SIP phone/IAX phone/Zolpier/DVSwitch mobile: possible for a limited number of users or use a generic login

VoIP “apps”: I have little interest in linking Internet only (or mostly) apps, though ease of setup will be a factor. The goal is to use RF spectrum that’s constantly being threatened for reassignment and repurposing.  Build a node or get a hot spot and burn some RF.

Everything else not listed: can it convert to and from Asterisk/Allstar, Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), or Inter-Asterisk eXchange (IAX)?  If so, what’s involved setting up a connection or gaining access?

Ham radio and tech.