Hello from KD4EFM, Evans; 2017 Jan 22

Greetings one and all Hams!

Orlando Hamfest coming up in February, I will be there! Hopefully I can show off the NX-5000 series radios while there as well.
News:
Well, work has had me rather busy over the last 3 months, so I can’t really give a good update on what has been going on, but will pass this along.
NXREF and NXCORE will be getting a minor over-haul and some updates to them. For the NX-REF, I am working on re-tooling it to become a soft-bridge between the Icom and Kenwood IP infrastructure. Thus making it a bridge between the two platforms.
NX-Core is being looked over to improve a few functions and make it a little more versatile for the NXDN side of Digital Ham Radio.

At this time, there is no lead-in as to designing NX-Ref to interface into the DMR Network Breinmaster. YES, there will be experiments leading up to an interface, but will not be part of the CORE NXDN world wide network.

DV-MINI’s; My understanding is there are a few who are playing with the mini and have been able to link into the NX-Core with the home-brew NXDN hotspots in non-nxdn repeater areas. Looking to incorporate that into the next level release forthcoming.

Anyone who has articles or other items to add, please send them to me or to Cliff (K1IFF)
and we will get them posted here for others to read up on.

New Repeaters?
I am getting word here in Florida, two repeaters have been put up over in Brevard County
on VHF.  I will work on getting that information updated in the repeater list linked over on the right side menu.

73’s and Happy Digital Ham’ing

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

Hello from Evans; KD4EFM

Greetings and welcome to the NXDN Ham Radio Blog. Wanted to update a few thing and share a link.

We are working on designing a software “bridge” between the Kenwood’s and Icom’s. We now have several “core servers” around the U.S. with 2 of them here in Florida. If you’re interested in joining the NXDN network, please let me know and I will get you the information you need. We welcome any BRAND of NXDN manufacturers and encourage you to join the network, EVEN YOU WEST COAST PEOPLE OVER YAWNDER and ya’ll friends to the north of the border.

NXDN repeater search engine, well, thanks to repeater book, they now have a good listing of these around now. Here is the link to hit it up. (82 KNOWN NXDN systems out there)

I have been rather busy on the commercial side of Kenwood Type C trunking, putting up a few sites here and there, and working on getting our 36th site prep’ed and ready to go.
Hope you all have had a safe and great summer, fall is round’ the bend now. Know of any other NXDN’ers out there, spread the word. There is NO conFUSION that we run a great network here, and we keep things simple. We just let the one’s and zero’s flow!

73

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

Kenwood’s newest platform for NXDN and P25

While this newest member of the NXDN family has slowly rolled out in to the main stream
industry for use, it also sports the ability to be used as a P25 radio in the First Responder Industry. For Radio Shop personnel, it’s a dream come true without the “M” price tag for that batwing multiband thingie… (at $7,500 MSRP)

I had the pleasure of spending some good money on a great radio. While I said I would do a little write up on it, I will. But in the meantime, this is what I will do, Kenwood has probably a better laid out information on the NX 5000 series than I would ever get close to doing. So with that, I will point you to the following page for your reading fun.
http://nexedge.kenwood.com/nx_5000/index.html

So on that note, here is a MSRP List price breakdown for someone in HAM RADIO that
wants to get their hands on this.
Full Keypad Portable, you will need to choose what battery and charger you want to go with, plus antenna ($15 VHF/UHF standard, or $35 for the High Gain VHF KRA-25).
Base Radio $825 STD /$875 Full Key, This radio comes with Type C NXDN Trunking, and Conv. NXDN and Analog (LTR in the next update)
Front Panel Program: $300, P25Conv: $575, 4000 Channels: $420 (1024 standard)
Batteries: from $115 to $175, These will fit the standard KSC-32 charger.
KNB-LxM Smart Charger – KSC-Y32K runs at $115

Mobiles: VHF due out Jan 2015. 700/800 MHz TBD
Base: $980, options; same as above for the portables, PER RADIO!.

Remote Kits: single, dual, and triple RF DECK kits will be out 2Q 2015,
this will allow one or two head use of 1,2 or 3 RF decks. (SEE WEB LINK ABOVE)

Now for the kicker, software. (Cables by the way are the standard 16 pin Portable or
RJ-45 Mobile connectors.

KPG-D1NK – NX5000 Radio Service Software. This is listed at $155.
THIS SOFTWARE BY DEFAULT IS NARROW BAND COMPLIANT.
As of Dec 5th, I was told, the portion below 450 MHz (380-449.987500) is being petitioned
to JVCKENWOOD CORPORATE for US allowance of 20/25khz wide band use. T-Band
470-512 has already be written for wide band use. VHF IS NOT EFFECTED below 149 MHz, so 138-149 will do both WBFM and NBFM. 150-161 is NBFM.

NOW TAKE NOTE, this software is licence key controlled with the Licensed Management Client software (which there is no charge for this software). This software also validates your purchase of FPP, P25, Bluetooth, 4000 channel, ect. licenses. It will communicate to your radio, validate the serial number, validate the option key, and then program your radio. NOTICE!!! ONCE IT IS ACTIVATED, IT REMAINS WITH THAT RADIO FOREVER! There are NO TRANSFER of LICENSES from/to BER / NIB Radios, you have to order a new key. This even applies to us dealers. If the radio is bricked or “BER”
and you spent some coin for all those little goodies, well, that $2800 radio is OUT.
So keep in mind, as you add features to the radio, it makes it that much more important
to keep it operational, for a long long time… (just saying)

I am working with Kenwood to find out how to have the LMC (KPT-300LMC) setup for
ham radio users. For now, an account request form has to be filled out and sent in
to activate it for you use, and the information will be sent back to you. I will revise this
once I have more detailed information on the process.

Please contact your local dealer, they should be able to offer a decent price for your
radio enjoyment. Most of you know how to contact me already, and I will offer a quote
as well. I like to also allow other shops the same opportunity also, since I am in Florida.

bnr_nx5000

 

Cheers for now and enjoy!
Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM / WQOD582

 

NXREF status

Alan is working on a bug that he has been working over for a little bit. At this moment, the network is running well and I am happy to report that NXDN to pop-up in Sioux City, NE
and possibly 2 sites to come join the fun from LONG BEACH, CA.!! (within ear shot of Kenwood California)

 

NXREF Installation manual
Evans will be working on a install manual for both KWD and ICOM in a simple pdf that will
be downloaded from NXDNINFO.COM. You will still need to contact one of the admins for
the NXREF master ip, but the manual is geared for repeater programming and setting up the Raspberry Pi.

Talkgroup Filtering
This is on the drawing board, and will be forthcoming. We do not have a set date, as beta testing needs to be done first.

73’s

NXDNINFO.COM Admins

Links added…

I have added the links to the NXDN User ID, and the NXDN Repeater List, that is attached to my Google Drive. If you need to have your name added to the list, please
email me and I will add you in. The list is viewable to all, but edit rights are assigned.

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

Dayton Frequencies

The guys in MA spurred me on to do this… I should have thought of it prior.

For 2013 at Dayton this year.

Expect NXDN on these frequencies.

VHF – 147.555
VHF – 145.28
UHF – 441.000

All simplex, most likely run no RAN (squelch set to carrier or none), however I know the guys from MA on the 145.28 will be on RAN 1

Have fun, I can’t make it this year due to family commitments.

Alan

Updated listing of currently connected sites.

Current list of linked systems, frequencies and RAN codes.

  • I – Atlanta, GA – 442.025+, RAN 1
  • I – Atlanta, GA – 443.050+, RAN 1
  • I – Cleveland, OH – 444.45625+, RAN 1
  • I – Tampa, FL – 444.425+, RAN 1
  • I – New Port Richey, FL – 442.7625+, RAN 1
  • I – South Lansing, MI – 443.250+, RAN 5
  • I – Toronto, ONT – 443.050+, RAN 1
  • I – Taunton, MA – 145.280-, RAN 1
  • I – Swansea, MA – 145.320-, RAN 1
  • I – Pinckney, MI – 146.500 +1.000mhz, RAN 47
  • I – Seattle, WA – ?? (coming online soon)
  • K – Venice, FL – 444.100+, RAN 1
  • K – Orlando, FL – 442.0375+, RAN 1
  • K – Lakeland, FL – 146.655-, RAN 1
  • K – Bristol, CT – 449.975-, RAN 1
  • K – Bristol, CT – 145.220-, RAN 1 (off net until further notice)
  • K – Johnson City, TX
  • K – Greensboro, FL – 147.390+, RAN 1
  • K – Tallahassee, FL – 444.175+, RAN 1
  • K – Milwaukee, WI – 444.750+, RAN 1
  • K – Ankara, Turkey – 145.775-, RAN 1
  • K – Vancouver, BC
  • K – Searcy, AR – 146.655-, RAN 1
  • K – Searcy, AR – 444.500+, RAN 1

Kenwood Info

When adding a Kenwood repeater to the network… 2 things are required.

a) you MUST turn off the Over the Air Alias on both the repeater and any users radios.  If you don’t, there is a better than 50% chance that NO icom radio will hear your call which can be pretty frustrating when you’re on a WW linked system.

b) your repeater MUST run Very Narrow on the Digital side.  Icom does not support 12.5khz digital, only 6.25 and so the 2 systems are not compatible unless they both are set for 6.25khz… this is a Kenwood repeater setting btw.

Another First – Maybe soon!

Today I loaded the Kenwood version of the NXREF on a Raspberry Pi in TURKEY – yes, the country Turkey.

If all goes well, on Wednesday, we hope to put Turkey on the WW NXDN net.  TA3AS and a club in Turkey have their NXR-710/810 repeater equipped and ready.  We’ll be conducting final testing on Wednesday.

Firsts:

  • First test of Static IP address to private address for Kenwood
  • First NON-VPN connected Kenwood to the WW NXDN net
  • First test of a public Kenwood NXDN reflector
  • First intercontinental Link up (we’ve already done the first transcontinental and first international version of same).

Stay tuned, Wednesday could be an interesting day for Amateur Radio NXDN!