Recent issues prompted some rapid development in the area of the SvxReflectors resulting in new links and new Dashboard viewports.
Secondly after a great deal of work by others such as Luis in Portugal and Giovanni in Italy on the language front, I have finally (hopefully) cleared out some remaining bugs within both the svxlinkbuilder image and the associated dashboard.
Firstly the UK Reflector is open to anyone, to link into the existing infrastructure at https://uk.wide.yorkshire.network, provided you get a password from me that you will get back from me, after providing your callsign by email.
Secondly the North American Reflector is open to anyone on the North American continent at https://north.america.svxlink.net where there a download page for the svxlink image and instructions on how to install it.
Both images come with English (EN/GB), French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish language options, and the full dashboard. The images are designed for Raspberry Pi (02W > RPi 4) but I’m sure anyone with appropriate knowledge could move it to another medium if required. The only reason I have not included RPi 5 is that I don’t have one, so I cannot categorically say that it will be a safe install. I would say that it would be a waste of a RPi5.
Some more recent issues resulted in me returning to Version 2 Protocol Reflector, but no doubt version 3 will be revisited again. Each of the two download images are capable, but have been held back in the configuration to Version 2 for the time being.
One of the most troubling of the issues was the CM108 Chip, which in some instances, is now part of a third-party commercial device, providing PTT (press to talk) and SQL (Squelch) operations direct from the chip. The amazing innovation, reduced the need for extra cabling going to the Raspberry Pi GPIO bus, as this was now taken over in the SoundCard.
In most cases pins 48 (VOL_DN) and 13 (GPIO3) on the CM108 or CM119 device are included in the discrete external circuitry to provide the functions of SQL and PTT respectively.
However in some of the devices, the control of the /dev/hidraw0 device appeared to fail under systemd, creating an issue,that although the soundcard was apparently still connected, the svxlink.service failed before even starting due to HID-Device failure. What was strange however was that the svxlink could be started as ‘sudo svxlink’ and the system would work. So really daemon operation was still possibly valid.
However with our friendly chatgpt, which to be frank was more of a hindrance, i managed to secure a new svxlink.service, which is installed with the image and run at install time when following the instructions, and now the CM108 no longer fails. (ed: crossing fingers).
Behind the scenes of the dashboard, are the administrative functions that for us, as administrators, we can easily add (suspend and remove) members according to requirement. And if you forget or lose you password (AUTH_KEY) then we can always find it again.
However the most important feature that you as participants can realise is the mapping of nodes. Provided the keeper of a repeater or a node completes the editing of the Node_Info on the dashboard menu, it will give a totally representative picture of the activity as it continues to develop.
A bit about the network and where it sits.
SvxLink is not AllStarLink and does not seek to surplant it in anyway. but it does operate differently.
SvxLink is designed for the Users, Particularly the Repeater Keepers and users, where the connection of their node to the SvxReflector is merely passive, therefore standalone. For the most part this is the case. AllStarLink is almost point to point with all connectees live all the time.
However the Repeater Keepers in Svxlink have the power to create Monitoring TalkGroups that provide incoming external activity to open their repeater, making a dynamic connection for the period that the talkgroup is active.
Secondary to this is the ability of users of a particular repeater, armed with the knowledge of the dashboard and the helpsheet in the downloads link, to create their own Dynamic Link to a talkgroup of his choice. This provides for extra interest for the users, up and down the UK and abroad.
Finally and probably more significantly, we have provided some fixed-talkgroups for users and repeater to which to connect either full time or part time to generate activity. These fixed talkgroups are SvxLink Node Bridges to AllStarLink nodes of particular interest. I mention North West Allstar Group NWAG, which has been given a talkgroup number of 53573, that has members up and down the UK, in the US and in the Antipodes. So it is not surprising that it can be quite busy, and enlightening.
I have received requests to rejoin HubNet which was for a time, one of the connections. For some operational difficulties, this was removed, not for any sinister reason.
Whilst we might be open to other connections, each request has to be considered in context.
There are no restrictions for home built nodes being set up, that is for why the download is created. If you have an unpurposed node from another network, then it will probably work with the svxlink image, particularly if it has a Raspberry Pi attached. I do not condone dumping one network for another, but that is yor decision.
Naturally you should hold a callsign. We have members all over Europe nay! the World connecting. We welcome Rob VK5TRM amongst them. Members in Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, North Africa all of which might pop up in the refelector. Give them a welcome if they pop up on your talkgroup.
TalkGroup 208 connects to the RI49 Network in France so the adventurous can practice their French.
ANY Questions, you know where to come.
Special thanks go to Tobias Blömberg for the creating of the SvxLink software, Adi DL1HRC, Waldeck SP2ONG, Daniel SP0DZ for many of the other features. Special thanks to Luis Silva CR7BUI in Portugal and Giovanni Scafora IK5TWZ in Italy for the Translation into their native languages.
A very Special Mention to Lee Riley M0YDG for the provision of the Data Platforms that support our networks, both here and abroad.
Enjoy the hobby, that is all I can ask.
Chris G4NAB