Details

Published: 27 July 2019

Hits: 91

here is my bpq.32 config, edited for you to modify for yourself.  This is basic cross frequency, with internet, for RMS.  I will be adding more to my node later, But this is good for those just starting, with two radios, 2 tnc-pi, 1 RPI, 2 coaxes, and two antennas.. Of course you need a way to provide power to all of this as well.  If you need explination, please send me a winlink email. There is much more config, but this is the config file for pbq once you have the tncs and pi running.

 

; ****************please read notes at the end of this file *************************
LOCATOR=URGRID
MAPCOMMENT=PBQ32 Node<BR> URGRID<BR> URTOWN, URSTATE
PASSWORD=URNODEPASS
NODECALL=URCALL-12
NODEALIAS=URALIAS
IDMSG: URCALL-12
Cross Frequency Digi-peater
1200 Baud 144.930 MHz (UR NOTE)
1200 Baud 145.530 MHz (UR NOTE)
--------------------------------------
URCALL-12 BPQ Node URGRID, URTOWN, URSTATE
URCALL-1 BPQ Mail
URCALL-2 BPQ Chat
URCALL-10 RMS
***
BTEXT:
URCALL-12 BPQ Node
URGRID URTOWN, URSTATE
***
INFOMSG:
URCALL BPQ NODE - URGRID, URTOWN, URSTATE
This system runs on a Raspberry Pi under Raspbian.
You can find out more by visiting URDOMAIN.COM .
***
CTEXT:
Connected to URCALL BPQ Node, URTOWN, URSTATE.
Type '?' for help.
URMASK:URCALL-12
***
FULL_CTEXT=0
; ###### Network System Parameters: ######

OBSINIT=6
OBSMIN=4
NODESINTERVAL=15
IDINTERVAL=60
;BTINTERVAL=60
L3TIMETOLIVE=25
L4RETRIES=4
L4TIMEOUT=60
L4DELAY=10
L4WINDOW=4
MAXLINKS=50
MAXNODES=50
MAXROUTES=30
MAXCIRCUITS=50
MINQUAL=168
MAXHOPS=4
MAXRTT=90
BUFFERS=130

; ###### TNC default parameters: ######

SIMPLE
PACLEN=236
NODECALL=URCALL-12
T3=180
IDLETIME=900

; ###### Configuration Options: ######

AUTOSAVE=1
BBS=1
NODE=1
HIDENODES=0
ENABLE_LINKED=A ; Y unrestricted, A application, N disabled

; ###### Port Definitions: ######

; ###### AX/IP/UDP port definition. ######

PORT
PORTNUM=1
ID=AX/IP/UDP
DRIVER=BPQAXIP
QUALITY=192
MINQUAL=168
MAXFRAME=1
FRACK=800
RESPTIME=1500
RETRIES=5
PACLEN=236
CONFIG
MHEARD
UDP 10093
DONTCHECKSOURCECALL
; AUTOADDMAP
BROADCAST NODES
; BROADCAST QST
;MAP URCALL-12 NODEMASK.URDOMAIN.com UDP 10093 B
ENDPORT
; ###### Telnet Port ######
PORT
PORTNUM=2
ID=Telnet
DRIVER=Telnet
CONFIG
CMS=1
CMSCALL=URCALL
CMSPASS=URCMSPASS
LOGGING=1
DisconnectOnClose=1
TCPPORT=8010
FBBPORT=8011
HTTPPORT=8080
LOGINPROMPT=user:
PASSWORDPROMPT=password:
MAXSESSIONS=10
CTEXT=Welcome to URCALL's BPQ Node. Press ? For list of commands
USER=URCALL,URPASS,URCALL,"",SYSOP
USER=HISCALL,HISPASS,HISCALL,"",SYSOP
;USER=HISCALL,HISPASS,HICALL,BBS
ENDPORT
; ###### Radio port definitions. ######
PORT
PORTNUM=3
ID=BPQ 145.530 MHz 1200 Baud
TYPE=I2C
PROTOCOL=KISS
I2CBUS=1
I2CDEVICE=18
KISSOPTIONS=PITNC,NOPARAMS
FULLDUP=0
COMPORT=/dev/i2c-0
SPEED=19200
CHANNEL=A
;PERSIST=255
;SLOTTIME=100
;TXDELAY=300
;TXTAIL=30
QUALITY=80
MINQUAL=168
MAXFRAME=1
FRACK=8000
RESPTIME=1000
RETRIES=5
PACLEN=236
L3ONLY=0
WL2KREPORT PUBLIC, server.winlink.org, 8085, URCALL-10, DN05WH, 00-23, 145530000, PKT1200
DIGIFLAG=255 ; Digipeat: 0=OFF, 1=ALL, 255=UI Only
DIGIPORT=0 ; Port on which to send digi'd frames (0 = same port)
USERS=0
ENDPORT

PORT
PORTNUM=4
ID=BPQ 144.930 MHz
TYPE=I2C
PROTOCOL=KISS
I2CBUS=1
I2CDEVICE=17
KISSOPTIONS=PITNC,NOPARAMS
FULLDUP=0
COMPORT=/dev/i2c-1
SPEED=19200
CHANNEL=A
PERSIST=255
;SLOTTIME=100
;TXDELAY=300
;TXTAIL=30
QUALITY=80
MINQUAL=168
MAXFRAME=1
FRACK=8000
RESPTIME=1000
RETRIES=5
PACLEN=236
L3ONLY=0
WL2KREPORT PUBLIC, server.winlink.org, 8085, URCALL-10, URGRID, 00-23, 145530000, PKT1200
DIGIFLAG=255 ; Digipeat: 0=OFF, 1=ALL, 255=UI Only
DIGIPORT=0 ; Port on which to send digi'd frames (0 = same port)
USERS=0 ; Maximum number of L2 sessions, 0 = no limit
ENDPORT
ROUTES: ; Locked routes (31 maximum)
;CALLSIGN,QUALITY,PORT[,MAXFRAME,FRACK,PACLEN,INP3Enable]
;URCALL-13,255,1 ; BPQ AX/UDP on Multiple_Apps System
;URCALL-14,192,3 ; BBS relay node on 144.37 MHz
;URCALL-4,192,5 ; BERRY node
*** ; Denotes end of locked routes
LINMAIL
LINCHAT
APPLICATION 1,BBS,,URCALL-1,LGBBS
APPLICATION 2,CHAT,,URCALL-2,LGCHAT
APPLICATION 4,RMS,C 2 CMS,URCALL-10,LGRMS

; LGBBS is an alias for urcall-1

; the rms application is pointed to connect to connection 2, change this to your telnet port if you change port numbers for telnet

; Any frequencies need to be changed in the above configs, If you don't change the frequency in the wl2kreport you will report
; to winlink that you are on the wrong frequency. All other frequencies in the above config are usually broadcasted over the
; air, giving false info to those watching the frequency.

; You can search for most of the info that Needs changed by "searching" for "UR", and "HIS" I have left some nodes from info
; I have combed through. These are typically commented out, just so that I can use them later, or do more reading!

; 73 and good luck. Please contact kk7ma on winlink if you have questions.

 

Details

Published: 27 July 2019

Hits: 59

The Digi shack is up and running.  I have a lot of functional and cosmetic stuff to do.  But the radio set is running.

This is a cross frequency 2m node.  I hope to add more eye candy, and more uses to this shack in the near future 

At this point(7/27/2019) I have a rf link to al1q-12 via 145.530 MHz.  This link has all current services available on that frequency.  These services are also available via the local frequency of 144.930 MHz.  The local frequency will most likely get more services, that may not be available to the .53 frequency.

 

The shack:

I'll start with meter readings of the two antennas

The .93 freuency clocks in as perfect as I can expect!

       

I don't have a photo of the meter on the .53 beam, but it was at 1.3 to 1 swr, and about 55 Ohms on at the radio.  I wanted better, but this antenna was built for the 146-147 MHz portion of the band.  Adjustments to this antenna were very small to accomplish the meter readings that I did get.  For some people this would be perfect, but I was attempting to make all my connections on the lowest wattage possible.  This antenna works GREAT on the .53 frequency.  5 watts to the Spout Springs tower from La Grande!

 

This is what I started with to build the shack. I hoped to do lap siding with the pallet parts, but decided to use t1-11 as siding.  Lets just drop the photos and let them do the work for me.   I will work on turning the images later, The editor doesn't like my phone in portrait mode.

         

        

   

The photos above are in progress.  We haven't finished with the exterior yet, obviously, but time and $ are parts of the delay.  Also, I don't want to keep myself, or the kids out there too long in the heat.

The photos below are of the inside of the shack, before I added the .93 frequency.  I will get updated photos later.  This shack is self sufficient withstanding the 2.4 GHz wifi.  I intend on adding a mesh link to the shack... Which may only initially be connected to the local EOC, but hopes are for more locals to get their own mesh nodes installed to make redundant and available.

   

Above you see about 240 ah of batteries, which after the photo was taken we added another 120 ah battery, and I have another one to go in it once I complete maintenance on it.  The tough book is not part of the station, but this just shows there is room to put a laptop in there to work on the node if needed.  This is all configurable from the internet, and will have the same functions available via mesh, once it is running.

The node is driven by a RaspberryPi 3B(RPI).  Running Raspbian minimal, with no graphical interface.  I will be moving irc.kk7ma.com to this node, (I don't think I have created that name in the DNS yet.  Simple but neglected change.) And the irc server will be available via mesh(not 2m to keep the frequency free).

There are two tnc-pi's in there,  attached.  I think I only had one in the above photos.  Since the 2 tnc units are on one RPI, I had to change from com, to i2c.  That is a while different post.  I hope to make some tutorials on how to set this up.  As there is not a comprehensive tutorial that covers things that I didn't know when I started.  I compiled info from all over, sorted through the outdated info, and(yes) the garbage.

The solar panels behind the shack are also tied in.  This only gives about 145 watts of power on the 30 A charge controller(about 12 A max from these pannels).  I hope to get 4, 100 watt pannels for the roof. This would put more than 30 A to the controller, but the controller will handle it.  It just doesn't put out more than 30 A.  This will give more power to the controller when there are less than optimum sunlight days/times.  The 145 watts does work, and keeps the batteries charged... during the summer.  I fear that they won't keep up, and will lose the uphill battle during the winter.  This will be changed as soon as I can afford.  I can charge on grid as well, but I would rather this be totally self reliant. 

Insulation, inner cosmetics, shelves, radio mounts, mounted mast and antennas and organized wiring systems, are all on hold at the moment.  This is a project in progress. So comments about any of this have already been acknowledged. No Need to mention it!  I have vents already, and hope to install them on 7/28/2019, along with caulking, the front door, and t1-11 paneling on the front. Paint is another weekends' project. But will be done before our fall storms.  

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