Category Archives: Amateur Radio

NXDN and MMDVM

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What is all this buzz about MMDVM and NXDN and ???????? other homebrew kits that are joining the Digital Ham Radio Era?

Well, like most forms of digital technology comes advancement of it. In this case it came from Jonathan Naylor G4KLX and his project for D-Star, Fusion and P25 (aka P25NX).
*I only know of those modes from Jonathan
But for some of you, you already know what it is and does. For others, it’s where you can take micro-computing to the next communications level, and have a “repeater controller” doing all the hard work with simple radio gear, and OR a hotspot 2-way now.

Here is where things stand at the moment, from the MMDVM Yahoo group, by way of Jonathan:
“I have merged he NXDN branch for both the modem firmware and the host into master. This means that the default version of the code is now NXDN enabled.

It has basic networking built-in, talking to the single MMDVM NXDN reflector. I posted details of how to use it a couple of weeks ago. I am working on making the software compatible with the official NXDN amateur network, and in due course, that, along with some form of gateway will be released. At that time the MMDVM NXDN reflector will be retired.

Please note that the extra processing load of the NXDN code means that it isn’t possible to run five modes on an Arduino Due. Aside from NXDN, D-Star and DMR are the next heaviest protocols for processing, so it may be possible to run (say) NXDN and P25 on a Due, and maybe more. The more powerful STM32 and Teensy based systems can easily run all five modes. I believe firmware for the ZUMSpot and MMDVM_HS boards will also be available soon.

In unrelated news. I’ve been adding FCS support into the YSF Gateway and taking the opportunity to clean the code up also. I did a first test this evening trying to log into FCS001-20 but with no success 🙁 It’s early days though.

Jonathan  G4KLX ”

So with that being said, the next level of NXDN and the Homebrew world is network linking, which is still being tested at this time, though the MMDVM network has a function for linking, it is not currently connected to the NXCore 65000 relm at this time.
I will let you know when that chapter comes into play, but do expect to see a SURGE of new users to say hello to!

Thanks
Evans Mitchell
KD4EFM

NXDN and the MMDVM project

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I have a note from Johnathan about his project. See Below!!

 

Hi All

I converted the MMDVM NXDN implementation over to very-narrow mode, aka NXDN 4800. I decided not to make it switchable to NXDN 9600 as it would then mean that people could choose to make their systems incompatible with existing networks. So NXDN 4800 it is.

It’s all been checked into GitHub for both the MMDVMHost and MMDVM firmware under the nxdn branch.

Currently it’ll be an RF only repeater, but it will allow you to play. I intend to get a simple NXDN reflector active and make a simple NXDN parrot available too. This will allow basic testing and communication until we can do something better.

There is a bug in the display code, maybe Nextion only, where the screen doesn’t update correctly at the end of a transmission, and I can’t find it! So any takers to look at that would be appreciated.

I’ve asked Andy CA6JAU to review my new filters for NXDN 4800 to make sure that they’re correct and that I have transmit amplitude (deviation) correct also. Even if they aren’t, you can try installing it and talking to yourself.

 

Jonathan  G4KLX

NXDN USER ID (UID) LIST

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Greetings all. Spent the better part of 1-28-18 merging and updating the spreedsheet for the UID lists. Right now I have some 403 listings that are confirmed and valid.

Please be sure to use the NXMANAGER.NET site, scroll to the bottom and enter your information into the database. I have pulled the link to the GOOGLE DRIVE sheet I had been using, and merged out all the dup’s and added the missing ones to it. I will N2WNS and make sure we have the database up to date and I will also work on getting it linked to our stuff here as well.

Thanks for your support.

Evans
KD4EFM

Last Heard and User Database

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Greetings all,

Going to start migrating the user database off of the google sheet and onto the last heard database site. It is located at http://nxmanager.weebly.com/ and the link will also be added to the right side column.

 

Update: 01-27-18; I am currently working on merging the database at this time. I will let you know when it has been completed and updated.

 

 

Thanks,
Evans / KD4EFM

Note from the mentors

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Good Day to all,
I want to make something clear that has come to my attention. When there are new users coming on board and the UID Or Talk Proceed Tone, or wrong group SELCALL PTT is used, please, don’t condemn these folks.
They are new members just like we all were at one time or another to NXDN. Promote this network like it is the best thing you have going. You use it, locally or on 65000, promote this network for more users and owners. 52 sites listed and only 39 on the network,
this is not a COUNTRY CLUB exclusive network folks. We promote the use and experiments of NXDN because it’s becoming the normal mode easily to acquire for some people. Just like DMR, but we hold ourselves a little higher than that side of
Digital. Digital is here and will be here for the long haul. Let’s not get in a twit over a Talk Proceed Tone, or dupe ID’s or wrong talk group setting in the PTT SELCALL. Help them out professionally. Because that is what we do.

I am super busy with commercial work I am about ready to explode. Your help to this makes things go better, and get stronger. I am still working with an independent group to create a software bridge between the Icoms and Kenwoods so we can patch 65000 back together. Right now asking for free help is very light, and this group I have approached is tied up with high level Stuff that makes their paychecks. Hang in there, it is in the works.

Let’s keep this rolling strong, 2 new repeater owners have joined the network, Ohio and another Canada station returned.

Thanks all. Seriously.

PS, look for the network to get a boost from hamradio2.0 as the editor has purchased a radio and will be doing some highlights on NXDN and Ham Radio. So yes, other people may not be talking, but they ARE LISTENING!

Evans Mitchell KD4EFM

 

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