Over the past few months, I have taken the latest version of Tobias Blömberg SM0SVX’s Svxlink Server, of version 25.5, honed it into a .deb package, and pulled it into a script that installs it with the minimum of effort, together with a heavily modified version of SP2ONG/SP0DZ’s Dashboard, to make it into an image.
This image when installed on a 16Gb SD card with Raspberry Pi imager, can be installed on to a Raspberry Pi, which can be a RPi 0-2W up to a Raspberry Pi 4. The image contains all the operating systems and dependencies that are required for successful running of the SvxLink system.
When booted up creates its own Access Point to which you can connect with an element off the dashboard, in order to connect it to Wi-Fi of choice, or if required can connect direct to the LAN.
Once this has been achieved, a terminal session running the install application, configures the device according to the users requirements, whether as a Simplex Hotspot, or a Repeater.
While it can be run as a standalone unit as an EchoLink node, its function is greatly enhanced when connected as a client to the UK network, where the possibilities of several fixed talkgroups await, including connections to the Freedom Net, DvsPh, On line Amateur Radio Community, North West Allstar Group and several other interesting communities in the UK and abroad.
Not for the first time has this network been described as a super-repeater, that has significant potential, with its interoperability with other systems, and at 16Kbits, good audio quality.
Unlike an All-Star link node that might have a single point to point connection to a hub, the SvxReflector, itself a hub, provides multi-channel capability with mostly FM talkgroups, connected dynamically by the user as required to a node or repeater in use. While only a single talkgroup on a repeater or node can be used at a time, the SvxReflector can carry multiple channels of communication simultaneously, a distinct advantage over All-Star link.
Repeater sysops can be assured that for the most part that their repeater is a standalone unit until one of the talkgroups, allocated in a monitoring list may be activated.
With the advent of simple CM108 USB dongles, that control the PTT and respond to the SQL/COS, the construction is now well within reach of the most timid of constructors.
Once the software is set to run, a simple menu based script takes the user to a radio-ready unit in less than 10 minutes, giving them immediate access to the webserver dashboard, giving almost full access to the unit’s full capabilities. An activity monitor, a real-time channel Receiver Monitor, a running log, and an almost full editing suite, on which to make changes at their discretion.
All of the latest commands brought from the deep logic are now available in the easily accessible configuration files. For the more experienced user, announcement files, previously buried away can be made accessible to the configuration with a bit of manipulation in the terminal.
As always, full credit goes to the creator Tobias Blömber SM0SVX, who without his tireless energy over the past 15 or more years, this software would not be where it is today. Many others behind the scenes with their debugging skills providing inspiration, have made this package a first rate repeater/radio control system, that it has become. It will no doubt be updated in the years to comes.
Finally the image to download, together with the instructions to follow, can be found together with the running SvxReflector viewport at https://portal.svxlink.uk:8443