Category Archives: Icom

Suggestions to the NXDN Community

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Here is a valid suggestion submitted to the community;

One thing I would like to see addressed is the ability to send and receive messages through connected repeaters.  NXDN Messaging is a very powerful tool!  I have a Windows messaging app I will be bringing to the Hamfest this weekend that could reduce reliance on the Internet for Hams with NXDN radios.  The ability to implement it here in West Central Florida is limited to the reach of the single repeater your station can hit.  We need to be able to overcome that limitation to make NXDN messaging more universally accepted.  Think about the potential impact for SKYWARN.

Paul-NB9X

 

here is the reply and my comments
(I would like to hear from others too!)

You bring up a good point Paul, but I have been battling this for a while now.

While I can send data like the D-RATS terminal program on NXDN via the voice stream,
The SMS data is a bit more complex. The ETSI standards for it only talk about the SU through the rptr to SU, but very little of it is in the conventional code for multi-site transport. I will see if I can reach out to the Japan and get some more input put into this, while I do know that Type C Trunking will carry it out, I also know that an IP NXDN CONSOLE can So the same thing. Though the flow chart is IP to SU by way or the repeater, I think with a work on the IP side and some data runs and captures via ICOM NXDNIP protocol, this can be achieved for 2020. We have a diverse group of people who are good with code and can come up with something to make it work.

Keep in mind, standard sms is 1024 character, while EXTENDED sms is 4096.
Truncated CONSOLE NWS messages can be entered into the network if done correctly. I will have to test that with my Kenwood Console on our UHF statewide system to my radios, but the Icom Ver 2 and nx5000 and 3000 platforms will do upto 4096 sms.
I will put that on the board for sure, because, if we can have a restricted web input to generate Certain “canned” messages to listening radios, that would be a leap ahead of all things NXDN!

IF the MMDVM and hotspot communities put their thinking caps on, I am sure this can be a very powerful, and use tool to the SAR and Skywarn communities.

 

DULY NOTED!

Evans KD4EFM

Please send any comments you may have to info@nxcore.org, I will try my best to get them answered and posted here.

Hello from KD4EFM, Evans; 2017 Jan 22

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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

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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

NI4CE – Verna status update

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The new NI4CE NXDN Repeater at Verna went on the air at 3:20 PM this afternoon.  The repeater is operating on 444.3125 / 449.3125 RAN 1.  Some tweaking to connect the repeater to the NXDN Worldwide Network is still needed but should be completed in the near day or two.  In the meantime, we invite you to use the repeater on a local basis (TG1200).

We would also appreciate your signal reports.  Send your Callsign, Location, Time of Day and Signal Strength (if you can read RSSI with your radio) to info@ni4ce.org.

73 de Paul-NB9X

Mount Uncanoonuc, Manchester, NH on the air

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The UHF repeater (443.400 +5 MHz), an Icom FR6000, was installed yesterday on Mount Uncanoonuc just outside of Manchester, NH. We did not get it connected to the network yet, but that process starts today. The plan is integrating into the Massachusetts hub in Swansea, MA.
Please send feedback if anyone detects any glitches such as one way audio and so forth.
Thanks,
John N1OTY

Icom Repeater Setup Info Guide

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Good evening,
I wanted to include to the links list, the Icom Repeater Setup Guide from our friends in the Northeast Corridor Group, www.nxdnradio.com

They have a very nice layout on setting up your Icom Repeater(s) and getting onto the NXDN Reflector network. Please be sure you have signed up on our yahoo email group
ham_nxdn at yahoogroups dot com to follow along with the progress of the network.
Spread the word to your friends in the West, would lover to see more West Coast activity.

Have a great week.

Evans M
KD4EFM

Icom Type C Radio Information

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Well, I have a few to list on the newest Icom to come out.
The radio is pretty much like the ones out now that are Type D trunking but these units now act like the Kenwood’s to a degree.

Icom_typeC
Product info is at ICOM

For the most part, this radio is Conventional and Type C Trunking platform ready.
For those of us who use Kenwoods and Over the Air Alias, this radio will encode and
decode the OTAA, as will the Kenwoods. (the Type D Icom’s however will still act funky
with the OTAA even with the Newer Icom units) The mobiles come with GPS installed,
but you have to order the antenna if you do not have one for it.
How the GPS on these units and on the Kenwoods play out for the NXDN REFLECTOR
network, that has to be worked on still. The main issue is getting a program designed to
code out the GPS and send it to APRSd with a numerical / callsign database to proper
APRS position marker.

I have not had a chance to work on one yet, but I would imagine it will be like any other
Icom software wise. When I can, I will post information as I go along with looking one over.
For the most part, now the statement of two business units making a inter-operable radio
is now very true. Rather it is type C or D, both still carry the NXDN CAI in conventional modes, and they can both work side by side on the NXREF network.

Got a lightning storm in the area, so this is it for now. Enjoy!

Evans

 

 

Back from vacation..

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Hello all, back from vacation so I will be doing some updating here in the coming weeks as
I get all caught up with things again.

I will add this, while on vacation, Icom released their Type C NXDN radio line. What does this mean? You have a choice now on what Trunking format you want, but most of all, the
type C Icoms now have OTAA capabilities and are not effected by the Kenwood OTAA
on the Icom Type D radios. More on this as I build the block information and get photos
that are allowable for posting.

Kenwood NX-5000 Series has released the new ENHANCED Control Head, that will allow
for Multi-Deck RF units. More on this later, as I am installing mine shortly.

 

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

May 2015 Update

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So far there are 34 active repeaters I have in my database that are up and running, with a
a few more to come during the summer time out on the west coast.

Advancement of the NX-Reflector is on hold at the time being, but once the group gets
the needed information, development will continue forward and some things such as
GPS2APRSd, Talkgroup steering to name a couple, will be worked on and enhanced.

Interested in more information, click on the link to the yahoo group and join!

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

Californication? Yes. NX-5000 Multi Mode Kenwood, COMING SOON!

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I had a nice chat with a California member of Kenwood, they are gearing up to get their rPi setup with their NXR-800, and get it installed and brought online soon!

I will post when it comes up and where to look for it.

Interested in joining the network with your ICOM or Kenwood NXDN repeater?
Your at the right place.

Search through the archive and posts to learn more.
I will be working on the HOW TO guide in the next few weeks and hope to have it
posted for both the ICOM’ers and Kenwood people.

October is the release of the 700/800MHz NX-5000. Lots of talk on Radio Reference
on this! The VHF and UHF will follow in December / January. And I will have HAM
Friendly pricing available as soon as I get the details. WARNING! It will not be cheap,
but you will get you monies worth for it.

Cheers!

Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM