Looking for Assistance

[Rozie45]

I'm looking to hook up with someone that has experience with both the IC-9700 and pi-star hotspots. I've recently acquired a 9700 and I'd like another set of eyes (or opinions/ideas) on getting the two to talk to each other properly. My guess right now, that's it's a radio issue. But, quite frankly, I'm out of ideas.

Thanks very much,

Rozie45

 

[K4EET]

I'm looking to hook up with someone that has experience with both the IC-9700 and pi-star hotspots. I've recently acquired a 9700 and I'd like another set of eyes (or opinions/ideas) on getting the two to talk to each other properly. My guess right now, that's it's a radio issue. But, quite frankly, I'm out of ideas.

Thanks very much,

Rozie45

Hi @Rozie45. Please give us a little more information so we can help you. What is the manufacturer and model of your Hotspot? It apparently is running Pi-Star. Are you running the latest Pi-Star version? From your computer, please provide screenshots of the parameters that you have configured within Pi-Star. The same holds true for the ICOM IC-9700. With respect to the interface to the Hotspot, what are the configured parameters?

Have you used the Hotspot successfully with any other D-STAR capable radios? Probably of most importance, what specifically is not working with the transceiver/hotspot? Are there any error dialogues being thrown?

We need to know what you have done so far in troubleshooting the issue, whatever the specific issue might be…

 

[Rozie45]

You're right. I should have given more here. A little background...I'm a long time ham (maybe too long), and a long time and active DMR user. I have a couple of hotspots. Purchased one through Bridgecomm, and also have jumbo spot. I'm very new to DStar. Which may be part of the problem.

The radio is an IC-9700. I acquired it from a ham who's family is dissolving the station (he's in hospice). I re-installed the firmware, and also the repeater list. i still have to place the battery in the radio (it's not holding the clock). I have watched countless videos on DStar programming and also on programming the 9700.

The radio works very well (except for this DStar issue). I've used it simplex, through local repeaters, listened (but haven't yet tx'd) to the ISS. The power out of the TX is right were it should be. I can also listen to DStar QSO's and can link to and unlink from reflectors. My problem is transmission. When I key the mic, it clearly radiates a signal, verified though a meter and another receiver (although the receiver is not DStar, but just heard the digital noise centered on the freq the transmitter was set to). So, I'm almost there (in my opinion). Not being a master DStar'er, I'm a little lost right now.

I guess I need to sit with someone and go through the settings one by one on the radio(??).

Anyway, that's my story.

Rozie45

 

[N1FKO]

I'm looking to hook up with someone that has experience with both the IC-9700 and pi-star hotspots.

If the problem is that the Pi-Star is ignoring you, in the 9700 try setting the callsign of the Pi to call___X rather than just call, where X is the module defined in the Pi-Star config (8 characters total, spaces, not underscores).

 

[Rozie45]

Thanks, I'll give it a try (this evening...let you know).


Best.

Rozie

 

[Rozie45]

Yet another question: What is the significance of "Callsign Routing?" Is this for a one to one call, or should it be 'on' all the time??

 

[N1FKO]

Yet another question: What is the significance of "Callsign Routing?" Is this for a one to one call, or should it be 'on' all the time??

Callsign Routing is one-to-one using the D-Star network. Sort of the way the cell phone network functions.

You send to the local repeater, but instead of using CQCQCQ you use your friend's callsign and magic happens (hopefully) and your transmission pops out on the repeater that heard them last.

Not very popular in North America, we seem to prefer the party-line system. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Rozie45]

If the problem is that the Pi-Star is ignoring you, in the 9700 try setting the callsign of the Pi to call___X rather than just call, where X is the module defined in the Pi-Star config (8 characters total, spaces, not underscores).

If the problem is that the Pi-Star is ignoring you, in the 9700 try setting the callsign of the Pi to call___X rather than just call, where X is the module defined in the Pi-Star config (8 characters total, spaces, not underscores).

N1FKO, Well! That was a big help. I'm closer now. I see activity on the Local RF Activity line. However, I've called out several times on REF030C and also heard a couple of Brits on REF001C... Unfortunately, no response from either. I'll keep experimenting.

Thanks very much for the tip!!!


73, Rozie

 

[K4EET]

<snip> I've called out several times on REF030C and also heard a couple of Brits on REF001C... Unfortunately, no response from either. I'll keep experimenting. <snip>

Do you have a friend that could meet you on a D-Star link? I’m kind of wondering if things are working correctly but nobody is responding. Hence having a friend call you while both of you are also talking on a cellphone call for coordination. That way you can determine whether or not things are working properly.

 

[Rozie45]

Do you have a friend that could meet you on a D-Star link? I’m kind of wondering if things are working correctly but nobody is responding. Hence having a friend call you while both of you are also talking on a cellphone call for coordination. That way you can determine whether or not things are working properly.

K4EET, Well, I wish I did. I was just on DMR (talkgroup 93) to see if I could get some help...but came up empty handed.

 

[K4EET]

K4EET, Well, I wish I did. I was just on DMR (talkgroup 93) to see if I could get some help...but came up empty handed.

Do you have a computer connected to the Hotspot? Can you monitor the activity to know if you are being decoded correctly with a low BER?

 

[Rozie45]

Do you have a computer connected to the Hotspot? Can you monitor the activity to know if you are being decoded correctly with a low BER?

Yep the computer is connected. It's used as a dashboard. It's also used (and probably the only way) to program the pi-star software. There's zero bit error displayed on the dashboard. My current theory is that there's a disconnect in the syntax of radio and hotspot. I'm guessing I've got something screwed up in the radio setting that the hotspot doesn't understand. So, I'm still playing with different combinations of things like call sign suffixes, names, etc.

What's odd is that the radio has its own audio scope on the screen, which seems like the radio is indeed transmitting audio.

 

[N1FKO]

I'm guessing I've got something screwed up in the radio setting that the hotspot doesn't understand.

There are four primary D-Star settings:

Your callsign in the radio, set in Menu/Set/My Station

Using a VFO, the following can be set in Menu/2/CS and optionally saved into a memory location:

UR: the callsign of the destination which is usually: CQCQCQ
R1: the callsign of the repeater, in this case the hotspot. The pi-star wants its mode letter on the end: call___X
R2: the callsign of the D-Star gateway to the network, which is normally the repeater callsign with G on the end: call___G

Reflectors and Repeaters may require you being registered on the D-Star network in order to transmit. Possibly your pi-star as well since it may identify as 'call___X' rather than just 'call'.

 

[Rozie45]

There are four primary D-Star settings:

Your callsign in the radio, set in Menu/Set/My Station

Using a VFO, the following can be set in Menu/2/CS and optionally saved into a memory location:

UR: the callsign of the destination which is usually: CQCQCQ
R1: the callsign of the repeater, in this case the hotspot. The pi-star wants its mode letter on the end: call___X
R2: the callsign of the D-Star gateway to the network, which is normally the repeater callsign with G on the end: call___G

Reflectors and Repeaters may require you being registered on the D-Star network in order to transmit. Possibly your pi-star as well since it may identify as 'call___X' rather than just 'call'.

N1FKO,

I sent you a private message.


Rozie