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.

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.

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 those under “Status pages” in Allmon for digital 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: K-8-J-T-K-H-U-B CONNECTED
    • *99 to transmit (PTT)
    • # to stop transmitting (release PTT)
  • YSFReflector: K8JTK Hub (Status)
    • YSF DTMF & DMR2YSF: 17374
    • DMR2YSF via DMRGateway: TG 7017374

I have Wires-X K8JTK-ROOM #40680 linked in through YSFReflector for the time being.

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.  See my write-up on Hamshack Hotline.

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 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 channels for linking two or more nodes

12XX = analog connections

1202 = Echolink

1203 = HamshackHotline

13XX = digital connections

1311 = Brandmeister DMR

1321 = D-STAR XLX reflector

1351 = YSF/YSFReflector

Ham radio and tech.