Install Dummy Repeater and ircDDBGateway

Software support for Dummy Repeater and IrcDDBGateway is provided by the author and user community. These notes are believed to be accurate but refer to the support groups for up to date information and support.

Install Dummy Repeater

Use the latest Windows installer or Linux source from:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/pcrepeatercontroller/files/Beta/

Configure Dummy Repeater

You will need to have the graphical desktop running on the Raspberry Pi or Windows. Start the dummyrepeater program.

dummyrepeater

Select menu item Edit and then Preferences

Set your personal callsign on the tab titled “Callsign”

Pick your soundcard(s) for input and output

Setup a connection to DV3000 or ThumbDV™

DummyRepeater 20150902 forward now supports the DV3000 and ThumbDV™ as serial devices.  If you have these devices on the same computer as DummyRepeater you simply configure DV3000 – Serial to the serial/COM port where the device is located.

Or, if running the AMBEserver/AMBEserverGPIO, select the “Dongle” to DV3000 and the localhost address 127.0.0.1 and port to 2460 (default)  — This assumes you have successfully completed an AMBEserver install and have AMBEserver/AMBEserverGPIO running.

 Windows

Obtain latest installer in https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ircDDBgateway/files/Beta/

 Configure ircDDBGateway

From the terminal (Linux) or install directory (Windows) start the program using the command

ircddbgatewayconfig

On the ‘Gateway’ tab, if you have an ircddb registered gateway callsign (in the US this is a club callsign) and have credentials from registration at ircddb, place that callsign in the callsign field, otherwise use your personal callsign.

On the “Repeater 1” first tab, set the following parameters (You can use band A, B, or C).

On the “Repeater 1” second tab, no changes are necessary, it should look this.

Skip over the other repeaters to the ircDDB tab.  If you are registered on ircDDB use either the group1 or group2 server (hostname), otherwise select one of the quadnet or test servers.  If you are registered use your Username/Password from the registration, otherwise just use your personal callsign for the Username / no password.

If desired, enable D-PRS and pick an APRS2 host.

If registered and you wish to receive DExtra links, enable it in the DExtra tab

To participate in D-Plus linking you will need to enable D-PLUS and provide a US Trust registered personal callsign (with or without a letter in the 8th position), if it has a terminal ID other than a space (8th position) it must be registered.

To participate in DCS and CCS networks, enable in this tab.  Select a server near you.

Skip all of the STARnet tabs (unless your are ircddb registered as a gateway and want to run a STARnet Digital Group), and no need for remote to get started.  Turn on Misc services you would like.  At a minimum pick your language and the Info and Echo commands.

Make sure ircDDBGateway is not running. Select “File” and “Save” to save these settings, they are saved in a text file named /etc/ircddbgateway on Linux or in the Registry (under G4KLX) on Windows — Exit the program after saving settings, then you must restart ircddbgateway for the changes to take effect.

Next you may start ircddbgateway either in the foreground or as a service

As service

sudo service ircddbgateway restart

With the GUI

sudo -u opendv ircddbgateway -gui -nolog

Wait a minute for it to make its various connections.

Start dummyrepeater in a terminal

dummyrepeater

Set UR to Echo ”       E” (that’s 7 spaces and an E), set RPT1 to the repeater callsign and band (band in 8th position, space filled) and the same for RPT2 with a G in the 8th position.  For KF7UFZ A, it would look like this.

Click Transmit, speak, and Click Transmit again.  You should see an indication of the echo and hear your transmission parrotted back, if levels are set properly.  If you see the echo indication but do not hear anything, you need to adjust the volumes.

On Linux you can use the program alsamixer.

alsamixer

You will make adjustments in a text terminal like this.

Once you have successfully parroted a transmission to yourself, you are ready to try linking.  Below is an example of the setup (again substitute your repeater/gateway callsign) to link to REF035C, click transmit on and off.  You should get an audio response of “Connected”.

If you are running ircddbgateway in GUI mode, you will see the connection like this. (You may need to select “View” then “GUI Updates”)

Switch UR on dummyrepeater to CQCQCQ and you are ready to communicate on the reflector.

If you have trouble with network connectivity

You must have ports forwarded to your Raspberry Pi from your router, Jim Moen provides a good list at http://www.k6jm.com/portforwarding.htm