0% Signal value from receiver.
PNW220 is a network of analog repeaters linked together using a software package called SvxLink written by SM0SVX.SvxLink runs on many different types of computer hardware from X86 servers to the Raspberry Pi 3b's or 4's we use.The network started out as a system of RF linked 220Mhz repeaters using a central 440.5Mhz repeater with each repeater controlled by hardware such as the Arcom RC210 or NHRC 7 and 4. In 2017 N7IPB installed the first RPi system at our Lyman site and other sites soon followed. With the advent of intelligent controllers linking via TCP/IP became the norm. Originally it was very much an ad-hoc operation but the addition of reflector routing and talk groups has turned it into a much more flexible system.We now use a central cloud based (AWS) reflector for the linking and web services. Future improvements will allow for redundancy by the use of duplicate reflectors.
The CTCSS Map Table at the web portal has the ability to export programming information for each of the repeaters as a CVS file either in Anytone AT or Chirp format. Use this to make it easy to program any/all combinations.
Most of the repeaters are CTCSS activated and also generate a CTCSS tone on the output whenever there is a signal on the output. Each repeater will monitor multiple talk groups and in many cases will automatically select a group based on the input CTCSS tone. Every repeater is assigned an individual talk group that can be used to make calls from other repeaters. Examples: 1) Talk Group 42 is monitored by nearly all systems. If a user selects it (DTMF 9142#) then calls will go out on all repeaters monitoring that group. 2) Haystack monitors both 42 and 4210. To make a call from the repeater you’re on and restrict it to just Haystack select 4210 (DTMF 914210#) and make your call.
Each repeater is assigned at least one talk group that can be accessed by other repeaters in the network.
Recommended operation: For normal operation we recommend the following sequence:
•.Key your radio, wait one second and make your call.
◦.The one second wait is highly recommended as it allows for CTCSS detection and for other radios to wake up and open squelch when using linked systems.
◦.If the repeater has been idle it will announce it’s default talk group when first keyed.
◦.If your call is not answered repeat the above sequence to guarantee others actually hear you.
•.When answered, carry on your normal conversations as you would on any repeater.
There is a courtesy sequence when you release your PTT. You will hear a multi-tone sequence consisting of a high frequency burst followed by one or more lower frequency bursts. A single burst indicates the signal came in via the Internet. (More about that later). Under normal operation you will hear two low frequency bursts indicating the signal came in on the local repeater receiver.
•.It is also possible to have multiple voting receivers on a repeater and in that case there may be more than two bursts.
Signal strength information is available at several locations on the web site.
•.Receiver List
•.Receivers
•.Map.
Additional statistics can be found on other pages.
SvxLink is controlled by DTMF commands consisting of one or more digits followed by a number sign. Sending a single * will make the system identify itself.
The system is divided into several modules each performing a specific task. You activate a module by sending its module ID followed by a number sign (#).Most modules will play their help message if you send 0<ID>#. While they are active a 0# will issue the same help from within the module. Modules will deactivate with a single # or a period of inactivity.
The following modules are available and may be installed at the discretion of each repeater owner. Issue 0# to find out which are available.
Description
0#
Help.
1#
Activate Parrot Module
2#
Activate EchoLink Module (Not always present)
3#
TclVoiceMail – Voice mail for other users
4#
DtmfRepeater – repeat received DTMF digits
5#
Weather (METAR) for nearby airports.
While in METAR mode 01# will list available ICAO codes.
6#
SelCal – Send selective calling sequences
8#
TRX – Remote base control
10#
PropagationMonitor
*
Manual Status
0# will activate the help module and list the available modules. To get help on listed modules issue the module number followed by # while help is active. To deactivate issue a #.
The Parrot module plays back everything you say. This can be used as a simplex repeater or just to hear how you sound to other stations. It also tells you the DTMF digits you press. The latter function can be used to test if the link is correctly receiving your DTMF digits. As always end all DTMF commands with the number sign. If you just want a quick check you don’t have to activate the module first. Just send a command like 1<digits># (e.g. 112345#) and the digits after the leading module id will be read back.
Exit the module by sending just the number sign.
The EchoLink module is used to connect to other EchoLink stations. It participates as any other EchoLink node in the network. To connect to another station, send the node number followed by a number sign (#). To disconnect the last connected station, send just the number sign. To exit the module, send a number sign when not connected.
To get more information on the EchoLink system, have a look at the EchoLink homepage.
There are a couple of subcommands that can be used when ModuleEchoLink has been activated.
0
Play the help message
1
List all connected stations
2
Play local EchoLink node id
31
Connect to a random link or repeater
32
Connect to a random conference
4
Reconnect to the last disconnected station
50
Deactivate listen only mode
51
Activate listen only mode
6*
Use the connect by callsign feature
Command 2 may also be activated even if the EchoLink module is not active. Just send 22#, and the node id will be read back.
The "connect by callsign" feature make it possible to connect to a station even if the node number is unknown. Callsigns are mapped to digits by using the following method: ABC=2, DEF=3, GHI=4, JKL=5, MNO=6, PQRS=7, TUV=8, WXYZ=9. That is the same mapping as on many phones. Letters are mapped to its corresponding digit and digits are of course mapped to their corresponding number. All other characters are mapped to digit 1.
A search command starts with six star (6*) and then the callsign code is entered. So if you want to connect to SM0SVX-L you should enter "*76078915#". Since the codes are not unique a list of search hits will be presented to the user to choose from. If the entered code ends with star, a wildcard search will be performed. So if you want to search for all stations starting with SM0 you enter "6*760*#".
Many of the pnw220 associated repeaters have been enhanced with additional features. The DTMF commands listed below are available on most.
781#
System Status
783#
Internet availability:
420#
List all sensors: **
421#
Outside Temperature: **
422#
Cabinet Temperature: **
423#
TX Temperature: **
424#
Amp Temperature: **
425#
Link Radio Temperature: **
426#
Power Supply Temperature: **
427#
Barometric Pressure: **
** Not available on all systems
In the network, Talk Groups are used to separate traffic. A talk group can be compared to a logical "channel".
•.A repeater can monitor several talk groups. Which are monitored by each repeater can be seen on the PNW220.net home page.
•.A talk group can be selected manually by the local user through DTMF commands or CTCSS tones. See the CTCSS Map table for details.
•.A repeater may also have a local default voice group, which is automatically activated on local startup (if the user makes no active selection).
•.A repeater can never be active on more than one talk group at the same time.
•.Incoming traffic on a monitored group will start the repeater automatically but normally cannot break in during an ongoing QSO.
Repeaters and Simplex nodes in the network often statically monitor:
•.Number group 42, which covers all of the PNW and our Hawaii link.
•.Hot spots by convention monitor 4400.
•.Nearby Repeaters. Example: The Crawford machines monitor 4300.
•.Their own local talk group. Example: 4210 for Haystack.
◦.This can then be used to "address" this repeater only.
The entire system can be monitored in real time via the SvxPortal (PNW220).
SK7RFL has a Repeater School that provides more detailed information about the features and capabilities of SvxLink.
If you want to use a specific Talk Group, it can be selected in two ways – DTMF or CTCSS. Traditionally DTMF is used but many of our repeaters have dedicated Talk Groups assigned to CTCSS tones.If no traffic occurs on the selected Talk Group, the system switches to idle mode after 30 seconds (settable by sysop ) and waits for activity on monitored Talk Groups.
A small “FLIRRP” will be heard as the repeater or simplex node returns to standby.
Example
91nnn#
912405#
Activate Talk Group (2405).
91#
Jump back to previously selected Talk Group.
92#
QSY all active nodes to a temporary Talk Group automatically selected by the Reflector.
92nnn#
QSY all active nodes to a specific Talk Group
93#
Follow a QSY even if you were just listening. Or PTT within 15 seconds of a pending QSY.
94nnn#
942407#
Temporarily monitor (2407) an extra Talk Group for one hour. If the talk group is in use at that time it will remain in use until it returns to standby or is re-instated by another 94nnn# seqence.
9*#
Talk Group status
•.A list of Talk Groups that can be activated with CTCSS can be found in the CTCSS Map Table link on our portal.
•.For example to activate Talk Group 4300 with CTCSS, you select CTCSS 136.5Hz. When you release PTT the repeater announces which Talk Group it is shifting to.
•.Activation with CTCSS can only take place from the repeater's sleep mode (Talk Group 0) not during an ongoing QSO. Shifting while in a QSO requires DTMF.
During a QSO on a Talk Group it is possible to move all active nodes to another Talk Group. Nodes that have had local activity since the Talk Group was activated are counted as active nodes, i.e. that the squelch has opened at least once.
The QSY function is controlled by DTMF commands.
QSY to a temporary Talk Group that is automatically selected by the reflector server
QSY to group nnn
Follow the latest QSY
QSY to a temporary number group is preferably used in such a way that calls are initially made to a wider number group, e.g. 42 for the whole of PNW220. When all participants have "called in" to the Talk Group, the QSY command ( 92# ) is used to move all active nodes to the temporary Talk Group. The wider number group will then again be free for calls.
QSY to a specified Talk Group can be used to add more nodes to an ongoing QSO. Suppose a QSO has been initiated on Talk Group 2403. During the QSO, you want to expand with nodes in another as well, i.e. Number group 4300. The command 924300# can then be used for this. All nodes currently active on 2403 will be moved to 4300 and all nodes monitoring 4300 will join the Talk Group.
In newer versions of SvxLink, you can very easily join a QSY. When QSY occurs, the repeater says " QSY 24099nn pending ". If you press PTT within about 15 seconds, the repeater will follow this QSY. Otherwise, the repeater says " QSY [24099nn] ignored ".
A passive node can also be manually made to follow the latest QSY with the command 93# . This can be good if you haven't had time to transmit before the QSY happened or have had time to press PTT within 15 seconds after the QSY.
Note the difference between QSY and local Talk Group selection.
only moves the local node to Talk Group 2405.
922405#
QSY
moves all active nodes to Talk Group 2405
only moves the local node to Talk Group 2405
•.If you want to disconnect a Talk Group immediately, without waiting 30 seconds, you can press 910# (TG0). Good to use if you happen to choose the wrong Number group.
•.You cannot activate several Talk Groups at the same time.
•.If you have activated a specific Talk Group, for example TG2403, traffic from other Talk Groups will be blocked until the traffic has stopped on TG2403 and 60 seconds have passed.
NOTE: SvxReflector is not connected to DMR/Brandmeister, but uses similar names and numbers on Talk Groups.