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[Quantar-Bridge] ASL <-> P25 howto document

Stephen Brown - K1LNX
 

Looks great! Thanks Tom! 

One correction I think needs to be added however (unless I've missed it myself), this should be added on page 11 after the "cd /tmp" step: 

wget http://dvswitch.org/install-dvswitch-repo 

73
Stephen
K1LNX 


On Wed, Aug 12, 2020 at 2:30 PM Steve N4IRS <szingman@...> wrote:
Thanks to Tom, K5TRA we have a new instruction document. <https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/main/files/P25-AB%20K5TRA.pdf>
The document will help you build an ASL <-> P25 Bridge (includes a P25 Reflector) This is a no frills document. Tom shows you what files to edit and what fields to change. Includes some basic troubleshooting tips.

I like the simplicity of this. One of my favorite parts is that Tom ONLY changes the fields that need to change. Nothing more. Since the covers Analog_Bridge, MMDVM_Bridge and P25Gateway this is a good document for anyone bridging to P25 or connecting a Quantar to the P25 MMDVM Network for that matter. The document highlights one of the most basic principles of DVSwitch. That is the fact that most of the default settings just work. You don't have to edit every field in every file. If you understand the basic concept of DVSwitch you can get up and running pretty quickly. I'll leave it at this since it tells most everything you need to know:

 

A very large thank you to Tom for taking the time to create the document.
Tom
 

Stephen, you are correct. I was a little too fast cutting and pasting text and swapped the order. I have sent the updated pdf to Steve for posting. ‘Hope it helps others.

Regards,

Tom / K5TRA
Steve N4IRS
 

I have posted the updated document.
Tom
 

Thanks

 

From: main@DVSwitch.groups.io <main@DVSwitch.groups.io> On Behalf Of Steve N4IRS
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 9:05 PM
To: main@DVSwitch.groups.io
Subject: Re: [DVSwitch] [Quantar-Bridge] ASL <-> P25 howto document

 

I have posted the updated document.

Tony Langdon
 

On 13/8/20 12:04 pm, Steve N4IRS wrote:
I have posted the updated document.
Thanks Steve, I thought I'd give it a try, more for the exercise - now I
need a P25 radio! :D  Results:

ASL - Analog_Bridge working.
Analog_Bridge - MMDVM_Bridge - Also working, I am seeing transmissions
from ASL appearing in the log as P25 being sent to P25Gateway.

But when I examine the P25Gateway logs, there is no activity, other than
the hourly updating of the hosts files.

Should I see anything in the P25Gateway log when traffic passes through?

I've used the same ports as in the documentation for everything except
between ASL and Analog_Bridge.  These were changed, because I have
multiple USRP interfaces running.

And another question.  How does one find out what P25 talkgroups are out
there?  The P25Hosts file is dated 2018 (is there a way to update this
from somewhere?), and P-Star seems to have a newer one.  And how do I
get a talkgroup listed, so other P25 gateways can find it?  Google was
quite unhelpful here. :(

--
73 de Tony VK3JED/VK3IRL
http://vkradio.com
Steve N4IRS
 

On 8/15/20 5:05 AM, Tony Langdon wrote:
On 13/8/20 12:04 pm, Steve N4IRS wrote:
I have posted the updated document.
Thanks Steve, I thought I'd give it a try, more for the exercise - now I
need a P25 radio! :D  Results:

ASL - Analog_Bridge working.
Analog_Bridge - MMDVM_Bridge - Also working, I am seeing transmissions
from ASL appearing in the log as P25 being sent to P25Gateway.

But when I examine the P25Gateway logs, there is no activity, other than
the hourly updating of the hosts files.

Should I see anything in the P25Gateway log when traffic passes through?
No, the gateway is pretty quiet. If you really want to see something, turn on debug.

I've used the same ports as in the documentation for everything except
between ASL and Analog_Bridge.  These were changed, because I have
multiple USRP interfaces running.

And another question.  How does one find out what P25 talkgroups are out
there?  The P25Hosts file is dated 2018 (is there a way to update this
from somewhere?), and P-Star seems to have a newer one.  And how do I
get a talkgroup listed, so other P25 gateways can find it?  Google was
quite unhelpful here. :(
See this thread <https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/main/topic/75839352#7041>
Steve N4IRS
 

On 8/15/20 5:05 AM, Tony Langdon wrote:
On 13/8/20 12:04 pm, Steve N4IRS wrote:
I have posted the updated document.
Thanks Steve, I thought I'd give it a try, more for the exercise - now I
need a P25 radio! :D  Results:

ASL - Analog_Bridge working.
Analog_Bridge - MMDVM_Bridge - Also working, I am seeing transmissions
from ASL appearing in the log as P25 being sent to P25Gateway.

But when I examine the P25Gateway logs, there is no activity, other than
the hourly updating of the hosts files.

Should I see anything in the P25Gateway log when traffic passes through?

I've used the same ports as in the documentation for everything except
between ASL and Analog_Bridge.  These were changed, because I have
multiple USRP interfaces running.

And another question.  How does one find out what P25 talkgroups are out
there?  The P25Hosts file is dated 2018 (is there a way to update this
from somewhere?), and P-Star seems to have a newer one.  And how do I
get a talkgroup listed, so other P25 gateways can find it?  Google was
quite unhelpful here. :(
As to updating the host file, dvswitch.sh update will update all the data and host files. (/var/lib/dvswitch and /var/lib/mmdvm)


Steve N4IRS
Tony Langdon
 

On 15/8/20 7:48 pm, Steve N4IRS wrote:
Should I see anything in the P25Gateway log when traffic passes through?
No, the gateway is pretty quiet. If you really want to see something,
turn on debug.
Oh, OK, I might do that as an exercise sometime. :)

And another question.  How does one find out what P25 talkgroups are out
there?  The P25Hosts file is dated 2018 (is there a way to update this
from somewhere?), and P-Star seems to have a newer one.  And how do I
get a talkgroup listed, so other P25 gateways can find it?  Google was
quite unhelpful here. :(
See this thread <https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/main/topic/75839352#7041>
Hmm, OK, still clear as mud how to get a TG into the file, but I will
try downloading it for my gateway using the script you mentioned in your
other message.

--
73 de Tony VK3JED/VK3IRL
http://vkradio.com
Steve N4IRS
 

<https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/main/message/7033>

On 8/15/20 6:22 AM, Tony Langdon wrote:
On 15/8/20 7:48 pm, Steve N4IRS wrote:
Should I see anything in the P25Gateway log when traffic passes through?
No, the gateway is pretty quiet. If you really want to see something,
turn on debug.
Oh, OK, I might do that as an exercise sometime. :)
And another question.  How does one find out what P25 talkgroups are out
there?  The P25Hosts file is dated 2018 (is there a way to update this
from somewhere?), and P-Star seems to have a newer one.  And how do I
get a talkgroup listed, so other P25 gateways can find it?  Google was
quite unhelpful here. :(
See this thread <https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/main/topic/75839352#7041>
Hmm, OK, still clear as mud how to get a TG into the file, but I will
try downloading it for my gateway using the script you mentioned in your
other message.
Tony Langdon
 

On 15/8/20 8:37 pm, Steve N4IRS wrote:
<https://dvswitch.groups.io/g/main/message/7033>

Thanks, change submitted, will keep an eye out.

--
73 de Tony VK3JED/VK3IRL
http://vkradio.com
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