SvxLink

Thanks to the enthusiastic and creative guys in Yorkshire, there is a new stage of development in the UK Svxlink network. I introduce an image version of the svxlink-builder. It requires no detailed programming, but simply some easy instruction to set the WiFi where necessary and the following of a menu.

Now the new svxlink image is part of a composite web package here – https://portal.svxlink.uk:8443

The front page shows the current connections to the UK portal presently, and where can be seen any active nodes when someone is speaking.

The web buttons on the top will take you to the relevant pages, so Downloads will take you to the image download pages and the instructions.

Download the image and the pdf to your PC or Mac.

Write-install the image onto a good quality MicroSD Card of 8 GB or larger using an installer of your choice.

Install the card into a Raspberry Pi and power it up.

Follow these simple instructions to get you going.

Naturally if you want to run a Hotspot or a Repeater on an established WiFi Network, then the Raspberry Pi should be equipped with relevant hardware.

Determine the Wi-Fi to which you wish to connect. This could be a home Wi-Fi or a Mobile Phone or tablet running on 4G or 5G. If you wish to run your hotspot device whilst mobile then the latter two options are the means of choice.

1. Set your Mobile Phone Hotspot to run.
   Write down the ESSID of the device and the password to which you wish to connect.
   While you have been doing this your Raspberry pi will have booted up and expanded the filing system
2. With your computer, tablet or Smart phone, search for the new WiFi network with the ESSID of Rpi-Hotspot and connect to it, with the password “raspberry”.
3. Open a browser on your device and enter ‘svxlink.local/wifi’ as the URL.
4. You will see a dashboard window with boxes and some buttons. Enter the ESSID of your device and the password in the two available boxes. Click on save and connect.
5. Close your browser if there is no further message in the window, as the hotspot is already connecting to your selected WiFi.
6. Reset your device to your original WiFi settings. For the first time of use open a terminal in the same network, and type as follows: ssh pi@svxlink.local.
7. You will be prompted to enable connecting for the first time, so answer ‘yes’ to the question, and respond ‘raspberry’ to the demand for the password.
8. If your hotspot has a HAT with a WM8960 sound card built in, such as an F8ASB device or similar then the software will have already detected it. If you have an SA818 transceiver module then the software is also included and you can program the module from the menus that follow.
9. Type the following in the terminal: ./svxlinkbuilder/install.sh and follow the menu system to set up your hotspot for the first time. Be aware you will need some technical details* and your attached transceiver or transceivers and the sound card device attached.
10. Finally authorise yourself to the dashboard with the button top right in the menu, with the user ‘svxlink’, and password ‘password’ or if you changed it in the menus, use the new password.
11. An indication of authorisation is in the bottom of the column on the left. You may now edit the available menu fields.
12. If you wish to connect to the svxreflector go back to https://portal.svxlink.uk:8443 and click Join Svxlink and register your node with either a DMR-ID or an Echolink ID if you have one. If this is not possible, then email support as below.
13. Any questions at all, then please email support@svxlink.uk

All credit to Tobias Blömberg SM0SVX for this excellent software, and to SP2ONG and SP0DZ for their contribution to the creation of the Dashboard concept used in the project. Special thanks to Lee M0YDG for the inclusion of the lookup dashboard and registration software, and to him and Josh M0DIT for collaboration for the  continuing Svxlink UK Project.

*Technical details.

1. Is your Sound Card CM-108(CM-119), Seeed VoiceCard (WM8960) or another?
2. Is your CM-108 (CM-119) Modified to receive COS and operate the PTT?
3. Is your COS (Squelch) Active High or Active Low?
4. Is your PTT Active Low which is generally the norm.

If you are considering adding EchoLink 1 then ensure you are registered as -L for a Hotspot or -R for a repeater. Do not insert these in the menu, using only your normal Callsign e.g. G1ABC or GB9GF for a repeater.

If you wish to install MetarInfo 2 to broadcast local Airport Weather, then research your local vicinity for the nearest airports e.g EGLL for London Heathrow.

1. If installing EchoLink there will some editing required to both the svxlink and EchoLink configurations in the Dashboard Menu.

You can do this is the Dashboard Editor, or if you are familiar with the terminal use sudo nano /etc/svxlink/svxlink.conf

In /etc/svxlink/svxlink.conf

[GLOBAL]

#MODULE_PATH = /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/svxlink

LOGIC_CORE_PATH = /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/svxlink

LOGICS = SimplexLogic,ReflectorLogic

CFG_DIR = svxlink.d

TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = “%c”

CARD_SAMPLE_RATE = 48000

CARD_CHANNELS = 2

LOCATION_INFO = LocationInfo Remove the # from the begining of the line here or in the dashboard, select the tick to enable the line.

LINKS = LinkToReflector

In either [SimplexLogic] or [RepeaterLogic] ensure that the line below is modified to enable ModuleEchoLink

MODULES = ModuleHelp,ModuleParrot,ModuleMetarInfo, ModuleEchoLink

Now ensure the Location information is complete 

[LocationInfo]

APRS_SERVER_LIST = euro.aprs2.net:14580

STATUS_SERVER_LIST = aprs.echolink.org:5199

LON_POSITION = 1.32.48W Degrees, Minutes, seconds.

LAT_POSITION = 55.10.52N

CALLSIGN = EL-CALLSIGN

FREQUENCY = 145.2375

TX_POWER = 5

ANTENNA_GAIN = 6

ANTENNA_HEIGHT = 4m

ANTENNA_DIR = -1

PATH = WIDE1-1

BEACON_INTERVAL = 10

#TONE = 136

COMMENT = SvxLink by SM0SVX (www.svxlink.org)

Type control-o to save and control-x to exit the editor or click the red button in the dashboard.

And in /etc/svxlink/svxlink.d/ModuleEchoLink.conf

[ModuleEchoLink]

NAME=EchoLink

ID=2

TIMEOUT=60

MUTE_LOGIC_LINKING=0

#ALLOW_IP=192.168.1.0/24

#DROP_ALL_INCOMING=0

#DROP_INCOMING=^()$

#REJECT_INCOMING=^()$

#ACCEPT_INCOMING=^(.*)$

#REJECT_OUTGOING=^()$

#ACCEPT_OUTGOING=^(.*)$

#REJECT_CONF=0

#CHECK_NR_CONNECTS=2,300,120

SERVERS=servers.echolink.org

CALLSIGN=CALLSIGN-L

PASSWORD=redacted

SYSOPNAME=yourself

LOCATION=[Svx] 145.2375 Location

#PROXY_SERVER=the.proxy.server

#PROXY_PORT=8100

#PROXY_PASSWORD=PUBLIC

#BIND_ADDR=10.20.30.40

MAX_QSOS=10

MAX_CONNECTIONS=11

LINK_IDLE_TIMEOUT=300

#AUTOCON_ECHOLINK_ID=9999

#AUTOCON_TIME=1200

#USE_GSM_ONLY=1

DEFAULT_LANG=en_GB

#COMMAND_PTY=/dev/shm/echolink_ctrl

#LOCAL_RGR_SOUND=1

#REMOTE_RGR_SOUND=0

DESCRIPTION=”You have connected to a SvxLink node,\n”

    “a voice services system for Linux with EchoLink\n”

    “support.\n”

    “Check out http://svxlink.org/ for more info\n”

    “\n”

    “QTH:     Your Location – QTHR“

    “QRG:     Simplex link on 145.2375 MHz\n“

    “CTCSS:   118.8 Hz\n“

    “Trx:     Kenwood TK709\n“

    “Antenna: X50\n“

Again, if in the dashboard click the big red button, or in the terminal type: sudo systemctl restart svxlink.

The same applies to the ModuleMetarInfo. If it is not set up at the time of inital running of the menu, then add ModuleMetarInfo to the MODULES= line in svxlink.conf, and edit the file either in the terminal or in the Dashboard. Below is an example set up for the UK.

[ModuleMetarInfo]
NAME=MetarInfo
ID=5
TIMEOUT=120
MUTE_LOGIC_LINKING=1
TYPE=XML
SERVER=https://aviationweather.gov
LINK=/cgi-bin/data/dataserver.php?requestType=retrieve&dataSource=metars&hoursBeforeNow=3&stationString=
STARTDEFAULT=EGNT
#LONGMESSAGES=1
#REMARKS=1
#DEBUG=1
# insert ICAO airport shortcuts here. You can
# request the METAR by sending dtmf commands as
# follows:
#
# 1# 2# 3# 4# 5# …
AIRPORTS=EGPF,EGPH,EGPD,EGPK,EGHI,EGNT,EGNX,EGGW,EGGD,EGNM,EGAA,EGBD

Finally the are further enhancement that you can add as follows.

At the bottom of the Registration page (Join SVXLink), click on the words “UK Wide”. This will take you to the Administrative Portal and database, where you may register to create a Miniweb page describing your station, create a downloadable node_info.json file to replace the one in your /etc/svxlink/ folder in your Hotspot or Repeater. Please ignore any reference to CTCSS in this page.

Once you have registered here it may take a short period to access the MiniWeb. If there is any significant delay, send a message to support@svxlink.uk with your callsign, and we shall update your settings. 

Enjoy the software and make it fun.

 

73

Chris G4NAB