Category Archives: Kenwood

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.

DMR USE WITH A HOTSPOT WHATEVER….

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PLEASE SHARE ON FB, PI-STAR, WHATCHAMACALIT, where ever there is use of the kenwoods with DMR hotspots. Thanks.

Okay, after battles and scraps, I want to pass along the follow:

1 Please refer to nxdninfo.com for OFFICIAL NXDN happenings on the commercial
Side of the NXDN WORLD WIDE NETWORK, www.nxdnradio.com is defunct and all
attempts to raise w2bui have failed. Unknown if he is a silent key or not. No one can confirm.
Also my name is Evans, not the minion Kevin.

 

2 Kenwood DMR with Dual Slot Direct Mode (the latest of most DMR releases) DOES NOT WORK WITH ANY HOT-SPOTS IN SIMPLEX MODE. Do not use it until the creators find a way to incorporate it Into the software. TURN IT OFF. This reverts to the old style of single time slot use. Until further notice.

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

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

NXDN Transparent Mode Program (Chat)

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From a Radio Reference user, this is a pretty simple program that makes use of the Kenwood Transparent Mode using text (or SMS) and can send text files to and from
other users or stations.
Installation starts off in Spanish, but the program itself is English.

Let me know what you think.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f54v7gh61uqgls3/NXDN-Chat.zip?dl=0

 

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