Multimode Digital Repeater

P25 DMR Dstar Fusion NXDN

 P25

The P25 Repeater is currently connected to a worldwide network that incorporates Reflectors using software also written by Jonathan (G4KLX). We were hoping that it would be expanded onto the existing P25NX network, but so far all attempts to do this have been blocked by both personal and technical difficulties. Our current P25 reflector network is being expanded and even if it does not connect to the P25NX Network, our current network is significant enough and busy.

Users will require a DMR-ID that can be obtained by going to this site, https://register.ham-digital.org. Once you have entered all your details you will receive an email from the team in approx 24-48 hours with your DMR ID, this ID will be in the form of 505xxxx, the 505 is for Australia, the next number will be for the state, so 2 for NSW, 3 for Victoria etc, then the next 3 numbers will be your unique ID. This ID is linked to your callsign and is now used for DMR, P25 and ircddb (Dstar) or ccs number. Your DMR ID number will need to be added into your P25 radio and will be sent with every transmission.

The following Talkgroups are being used on our current reflector system and is running in parallel with the TG’s used by the P25NX system to make it easier if we integrate systems in the future.

TG10100 is the WorldWide Reflector
TG10200 is the USA Reflector
TG10300 is the European Reflector
TG10400 is the Pacific Region Reflector (Includes Australia)
There is also the ability of expanding these to include TAC reflectors and so far we see the following TAC’s that have been added.
TG10201 used in the USA for testing and other interface connections
TG10401 originally setup for China but due to internet issues from Mainland China, is now being used as a second reflector for Australia.
TG10402 used for China and is in their native language, but English spoken contacts are sometimes possible.

The other important TG’s are,
TG9999 is Disconnect
TG10 is the P25 Parrot
TG1 is for local repeater use (this is being used on VK2RAG and VK2RHK repeaters and may be changed or removed at a later time)

When changing from one reflector to another or to the Parrot or local TG, you will need to use TG9999 first to disconnect from whatever reflector the repeater is currently connected to.

DMR

The DMR section of this repeater is connected to the BrandMeister DMR Network and also uses TalkGroups as mentioned above in the P25 Section. The TalkGroups used in DMR are vast and dependant on the country you want to talk to. Information about about TG’s for DMR are available at many sites on the internet and I would suggest checking out BrandMeister.network or searching Google for further information or many of the Yahoo and other groups. You need to program your DMR Radio with your allocated DMR ID so you can be recognised on the network. DMR uses 2 timeslots so the operation of this mode utilises the allocated frequency in much more efficient way. What that means is that you can have 2 users using the repeater on the same frequency at the same time and can be talking to different people, so providing one user is on TimeSlot 1 and the other user is on TimeSlot 2 and they are on different TalkGroups then these 2 conversations can co-exist.

Repeaters and Hotspots are logged into one of the many Worldwide Master Servers and the one in Australia is 5051, currently at vkbm.repeaters.info.

There are some of the DMR TalkGroups that are connected to different modes via reflectors and they are noted below. If you set up your own repeater or hotspot you can do this by downloading a RaspberryPi and or Odroid and other Images from the internet and one of the best software images available is Pi-Star. http://www.pistar.uk/downloads/
Follow the directions on this site for setting up and join their Facebook Page.
TG505 is used mainly for local conversation within Australia and would normally be on TS1
TG5050 is linked to XLX500_G for DMR to Dstar
TG50599 is Linked to YSF001 Fusion Reflector for DMR to FusionThere are also links from TG’s for DMR to Wires-X Fusion Rooms but they come and go so at this time I will not note them here, but keep checking.

DSTAR

The Dstar is used as normal Dstar so there really is nothing else to add to this section.

Fusion

The Fusion mode of MMDVM is not Wires-X, but is the same mode and is used the same except it connects to many Fusion Reflectors around the world and the reflector software was again written by G4KLX.

NXDN

The next showstopper is the inclusion of NXDN, this is a mode used commercially by Icom, Kenwood and others and Jonathan is currently working on this mode. We would hope this will be available in the new year of 2018 including reflectors to allow multiple connections and I’m excited and ready to do testing when it comes around and ready to setup a reflector if required for the Pacific Region as I already do for P25 and the BrandMeister Master Server for Australia.

There is so much more experimentation happening out there and there are MMDVM repeaters that are also linked to AllstarLink, Echolink and some to IRLP, but at this time VK2RAG is not.

Any further information required about this Multimode system currently running on VK2RAG, please email Ian directly on vk2rag at vk2hk.com and make the subject line “Multimode on VK2RAG”