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Ham Radio Research Lab

A deep dive into the QuadNet Network infrastructure and connection methods.

QuadNet Architecture

QuadNet supports D-Star, DMR, Yaesu System Fusion II and M17. The anchor points for QuadNet are two interconnected reflectors, URF307 and URF587, located in Wyoming and Alabama, respectively.

The capabilities of the URF family of reflectors is a superset of XLX, so in addition to accepting clients using D-Star, DMR and Yaesu System Fusion, URF also accepts M17 clients. If your system can connect to XLX reflectors, then it will be able to connect to URF reflectors.

Transcoding at QuadNet

There are primarily two transcoded channels at Quadnet anchored by the two reflectors. Because 307 and 587 are interlinked, you can connect to either channel through either reflector:

  • The QuadNet Array is on channel A of both reflectors. This is our most active channel and is where you will find all of our daily nets. This is usually where everyone hangs out on QuadNet.
  • The Tech Channel is on channel C of both reflectors and is a good place to have longer rag-chew discussions with your friends.

Please keep in mind that there are many ways to join either channel, as outlined below.

Accessing QuadNet via DMR

There are several ways to access QuadNet via DMR. If you you have access to DMRGateway, you can simply enable the XLX configuration and point it to either XLX307, or XLX587. The XLXHosts file that comes with DMRGateway defaults to Module D, which is not the module the transcoder is active on, so you will need to change it to module A (for the QuadNet Array) or module C (for the Tech Channel).

Accessing through DMRGateway

Typical configuration of DMRGateway will have you using TG6 to transmit over the XLX link. This can be changed manually in your DMRGateway configuration if you wish. In the future, QuadNet will likely add other modules for transcoding as well, but currently only modules A and C are being used. A sample configuration section for the XLX master is listed below:

[XLX Network]
Enabled=1
File=/opt/DMRGateway/XLXHosts.txt
Port=62030
Password=passw0rd
ReloadTime=60
Slot=2
TG=6
Base=64000
Startup=307
Relink=0
Debug=0
Id=[insert CCS7 ID here]

Please be aware that this sample configuration makes the assumption that your DMRGateway installation is in /opt/DMRGateway.

Accessing through Pi-Star

Pi-Star users simply need to select the XLX307 (or XLX587) master from the list of XLX masters. In Pi-Star, navigate to the configuration tab and select DMRGateway as your DMR Master, and select XLX307 from the drop down list of XLX Masters. Once the configuration is applied, your system should automatically link to Module A. Any transmission made to TG6 will automatically be routed through the XLX Server to the transcoder link.

Accessing through System X

System X is a modern, open-source DMR server system that offers another excellent way to connect to the QuadNet network. It's designed for stability and ease of use. To connect, simply point your hotspot or repeater to one of the QuadNet System X server addresses found on the main page. This is often the recommended method for new users due to its straightforward setup and reliable performance.

Pi-Star & WPSD Configuration

In PiStar and WPSD, set up your options line with:

Options=PASS=your_password

Once your system is logged in to the server, go to the server dashboard and click on Selfcare. Login with your call sign and the password that you set up in the options line. This will allow you to set up static talk groups that you would like to monitor.

Available Talk Groups

In addition to TG-320 for the QuadNet Array and TG-321 for the Tech Channel, the DMR+ server provides a number of interesting talk groups:

  • TG-517: Radio SC
  • TG-302: Canada Wide
  • TG-3134: New Jersey State Wide
  • TG-3136: New York State Wide
  • TG-3123: Maine State Wide
  • TG-3101: Alabama State Wide
  • TG-3142: Pennsylvania State Wide
  • TG-31451: Palmetto DMR
  • TG-3026: Alberta Link (QuadNet, SystemX ,TGIF,D-Star)
  • TG-3023: Ontario

Advanced Pi-Star / WPSD Setup

In PI-STAR, click on configuration and then scroll down to DMR Configuration.

  • DMR Master: Select DMRGateway.
  • DMR+ Master: Select DMR+_IPSC2-Quadnet, or if you're using a full duplex repeater you can connect to DMR+_IPSC2-Quadnet2.
  • Options: In the Options= box, start with StartRef=4000;RelinkTime=60;UserLink=1;. Then, end the Options with your chosen static Talk Groups.
  • Time Slot 1 Static TGs: TS1_1=320;TS1_2=0;...
  • Time Slot 2 Static TGs: TS2_1=0;TS2_2=0;...
  • DMR+ Network: Set the Enable slider to on.
  • Click Apply Changes.
  • Reboot your hotspot by clicking on Power, then reboot.

Once your hotspot reboots, you will be automatically connected to the QuadNet Array or whatever Talk Groups you've set in the Options= line. Of course you can choose nine static groups for each Time Slot. If you choose more than a couple of groups, it can be confusing what you're listening to when things get busy on all your static groups.

Reflector mode is also supported in DMR+. To use that, set StartRef=4541; for the QuadNet Array or StartRef=4542; for the Tech Channel. If using reflector mode, it's best to set all static talk groups in the Options= line to zero. You'll use TG 8 to talk and you can switch channels by keying another reflector talk group number. After RelinkTime minutes of inactivity you will reconnect to StartRef.

Accessing through YSF (System Fusion)

Both URF reflectors, 307 and 587, support direct, WiresX-enabled linking. Here are the MMDVM.ini settings needed to connect to URF307:

[System Fusion Network]
Enable=1
LocalAddress=127.0.0.1
LocalPort=0
GatewayAddress=72.21.76.154
GatewayPort=42000
# ModeHang=3
Debug=0

Or, if you want to connect to URF587, use GatewayAddress=104.8.207.66. Please note that the LocalPort is zero, and of course, [System Fusion] must be enabled.

When you connect to URF307, you will start out on Module A. When you connect to URF587, you will start on Module C. However, you can use the Wires-X button on your Yaesu radio to go to any module you want:

  1. Start by pressing the Wires-X button. After a few seconds, you will see a new Wires-X window on the display.
  2. On this window, press the Search button. Within a few seconds you will see another new window.
  3. Press the All button on the screen. This will take you to a selection window to select a new module.
  4. Select the URF module you want. If accepted, your radio will play a short tune confirming the change.
  5. You can press the BACK button to return to the Wires-X window.

You should be able to configure both PiStar and WPSD by editing the MMDVMHost.ini file directly, but you can also run a single instance of MMDVMHost, without all the bells and whistles of these two heavyweight packages. In that case, you will probably want to disable all other modes and just enable System Fusion and its Network.

Accessing via US C4FM North America YCS310 Server

To gain access to the QuadNet YCS310 C4FM System Fusion II Multi-protocol Server, you will need to install or configure a YSFGateway using QnetGateway Multi-Protocol Build (MPB), PiStar, or OpenSpot software/device or a Yaesu System Fusion II Repeater, DR2X. The server will accept MMDVM hot-spots and have the capability on 99 rooms. In addition, you will have access to what's called a DV-Matrix of world wide DG-IDs or what can be equated to what is known as world wide like DMR Talk Groups.

For example, the QuadNet Array on the C4FM YCS Server is on DG-ID 80 or is accessible on DMR+ TG 320, the QuadNet Tech Chat is DG-ID 79 or is accessible on TG 321. WM-Connect Michigan is on DG-ID 35 or on TG 322. The IPSC2-QuadNet DMR+ Server can be or is linked when requested to the YCS C4FM server. The server can also link in YSF and FCS reflectors on request. The C4FM YCS310 server dashboard is located at ycs.openquad.net.

You can build your own multi-mode hotspot using the Multi-Protocol Build of QnetGateway. The general instructions for MPB is in the MMDVM.README file.

The YSFGateway Config file example is below. If you have any questions we would like to invite you to join the QnetGateway groups.io for contact and discussion. Thanks and lets ham it up!

[Network]
Startup=FCS31079
# Startup=QuadNet-Tech-Chat
# book DG-ID for Reflector
Options=80;3;35
InactivityTimeout=10
Revert=0
Debug=0

[YSF Network]
Enable=1
Port=42000
Hosts=/home/YSFClients/YSFGateway/YSFHosts.txt
ReloadTime=60
ParrotAddress=127.0.0.1
ParrotPort=42012
YSF2DMRAddress=127.0.0.1
YSF2DMRPort=42013
YSF2NXDNAddress=127.0.0.1
YSF2NXDNPort=42014
YSF2P25Address=127.0.0.1
YSF2P25Port=42015

[FCS Network]
Enable=1
Rooms=/home/YSFClients/YSFGateway/FCSRooms.txt
Port=42001

Accessing QuadNet with D-Star

Of course, both URF307 and URF587 support REF, DCS and XRF linking, so you can connect to either the QuadNet Array on channel A or the Tech Channel on channel C. In addition, both channels are also available on our XRF757 reflector!

Routing on ircDDB

Routing is the main point of any ircDDB network and it is a great asset to your gateway communications. There are primarily two ways to route:

  • Call Sign Routing: A one-to-one route. It is best used when you are operating from a personal hot spot and you know your desired contact is currently on their own personal hot spot.
  • Group Routing: Where you route into a group of other users. There are two kinds of Routing Groups available on the QuadNet network, Smart Groups and STARnet Groups. They both behave like a channel on a reflector, but you route to it instead of linking to it. If you've never used routing before, this is probably where you should start.

You can Route into the Quadnet Array using Smart Group, DSTAR1, located in New York. You can route to the Tech Channel via Smart Group QNET20 C. To use any Routing Group, you must have your gateway logged into the QuadNet IRC Open Network, using ircv4.openquad.net. Next you need to place the Routing Group callsign in your UR field in your D-Star radio. Try connecting to one of the DSTAR Smart Groups. Key up your radio once and watch the display on your radio for the login confirmation. If you can't watch for the login text listen for a confirmation beep. Once logged in you can now talk on the QuadNet Array. To log off of the Array, add a T in the 8th character of the UR field of your radio and key up. For example if you are subscribed to DSTAR1, then DSTAR1 T will get you unsubscribed. Just like when you logged in, you will see a "logged off" message as well as hear a confirming beep to let you know that you are unsubscribed.

Please note that if you don't want to use routing, you don't need to connect to either of our ircddb servers. It's not necessary if you are going to link to URF307, URF587 or XRF757.

Please use ircv4.openquad.net in your hotspot/repeater configuration as your ircDDB server. Username is your call sign, and password is left blank. For example, in the IRCDDBGateway initialization file:

ircddbHostname=ircv4.openquad.net
ircddbUsername=your-call
ircddbPassword=
ircddbUsername=2e0zzz

Port Forwarding

If you want to be able to receive a direct Callsign Route, your hot-spot needs to have open access to UDP port 40000. You don't need to open this port if you are just going to do Group Routing.

If you have a reasonably modern Internet router on your home network, you may not have to do anything other than to enable uPnP (universal Plug-and-Play) if it is not already enabled. Our first advice is to try subscribing to QNET20 C. If you get the "logged on" message on you radio, you are good to go! If after a few unsuccessful tries at logging in, see if uPnP is enabled on you home network. If you don't see a way to enable uPnP on you home network, you'll have to set up explicit port forwarding rules on you home network. In that case, keep reading.

To be able to link to XRF and DCS reflectors and to be able to do routing, ports that are usually blocked by your local area net gateway/firewall have to be opened to the computer where your ircDDB client is running. You'll need to access your home gateway, usually by browsing to 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1, or some similar address. You will need to login with a name (usually "admin") and a password (obtained from you Internet service provider). The "port forwarding" section can usually be found in the advanced page. Once in, you can set up rules to forward the necessary ports to the computer running your ircDDB client. Note that the DPlus UDP port 20001 probably doesn't need a forwarding rule, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have it defined.

Accessing through G3 Terminal or Access Point Mode

You can also access any of the Quadnet refectors using Icom's implementation of G3 routing. The IC-9700 can do this out of the box, otherwise you can connect this way using any radio supported by Icom's G3 application, RS-MS3W (for Windows) and RS-MS3A (for Android). If using the RS-MS3 software, follow Icom's instructions for installing and configuring the software and connecting a compatible radio. Due to limitations in their software, you have to use the IPv4 dotted-number address for the "Server IP/Domain" in order to connect to any of the Quadnet reflectors. To find the IPv4 address, do a ping -4 <domain-name> in a command shell. Here, <domain-name> is the domain name of the reflector, e.g., xlx307.openquad.net, xlx587.openquad.net, xrf735.openquad.net or xrf757.openquad.net. Don't forget the -4 so that ping returns the IPv4 address of the reflector.

If you are behind a home router, it's best to port-forward UDP 40000 to the device on which RS-MS3 is running. If this isn't possible, you may need to turn on "UDP Hole Punch" in the software configuration. You can set the radio to operate in either Terminal or Access Point Mode. Set the "Terminal/AP Callsign" field to your callsign with a module sufix in the 8th position.

Accessing QuadNet with an M17 client

M17 clients can access URF307 with the IP of 72.21.76.154 and URF587 is on IP 104.8.207.66.

The WPSD User Manual

Welcome...

WPSD is a next-generation digital voice software suite & distribution for amateur radio use, enjoyed by many thousands of hams around the globe. It is used for personal hotspots and repeaters alike. It supports DMR, D-Star, Yaesu System Fusion (YSF/C4FM), P25, NXDN digital voice modes & POCSAG data/paging.

This is the official WPSD User Manual, and we encourage both new and existing users to read it.

Tip: There are two formats of the WPSD User Manual:

  • The default WPSD User Manual online, which is a chapter-centric, browser-based version.
  • A PDF version of this WPSD User Manual (en_US only), suitable for saving to your device and for printing.

Note that the defaut online version of the WPSD User Manual is a “living document” and is updated & edited regularly. Once the PDF is printed or saved, it is considered an “uncontrolled document”.

Note: Keep in mind that this Manual is a community-driven effort, and relies on volunteers/contributors to add/edit content and for translations. With that being said, not everything is covered in this manual. Please feel free to contribute to add/edit content and to help with translations.

Also, The WPSD Project Team is aware of translated PDFs of the WPSD User Manual floating around. Please note that these are not official, and are uncontrolled. We only have translations for the official online version of the WPSD User Manual. Our official PDF User Manual is English-only.

Getting Started

Getting started with WPSD is reasonably straightforward. This section will prepare you and your hotspot or repeater for use with WPSD.

Note: The current documentation author, Lee (AA0NT), has a Yaesu FT-5DR and a duplex MMDVM board from BI7JTA and a Pi Zero 2W. Therefore, I have written these documents using those selections as examples. While many, if not most, of the steps should apply universally, I expect the ham reading this documentation to critically read and understand this documentation to avoid a mistake.

There are three main parts of WPSD:

  • Your radio: Yes, you must have a digital-capable radio. The radio is responsible for the digital encoding and decoding the voice streams. I know you are thinking you should be able to do everything with the Pi or a computer. Technically, you can, but if you are capable of that, you don’t need to read instructions like these. The radio encodes your voice digitally and then transmits it as an FM signal to be received by your MMDVM modem.
  • Your modem: The MMDVM or “Multi-Mode Digital Voice Modem” you have probably seen talked about. It is generally supplied as a HAT or “Hardware Attached on Top.” The HAT interfaces with the General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins on the host.
  • Your host: This is a single-board computer (SBC) such as a Raspberry Pi. The host runs the WPSD software, which handles the configuration, user choices, and Internet gateway tasks.

Another way of looking at this configuration is that there is a radio and a hotspot. The hotspot combines the MMDVM and the host, often in a case with (optionally) batteries and a display. Neither the batteries nor the display are necessary, of course. The batteries can help you be more flexible, and the screen is preferred by those who enjoy visual feedback, such as seeing the callsign of the person to whom they are speaking.

We’ll approach getting you started with three main tasks: Here, I’ll review the acquisitions you need to make to create your WPSD system.

A Radio

You may use nearly any digital-capable radio supporting:

  • DMR
  • D-Star
  • Yaesu System Fusion (YSF/C4FM)
  • P25
  • NXDN digital voice modes
  • POCSAG data/paging

There is no practical difference between modes in the functionality of the hotspot. Choose a radio based on your local circumstances, such as what the local repeaters support, your local club preferences, or your favorite color. Any radio that supports one of the above digital modes should work with WPSD.

Because you generally will not be transmitting any distance, higher radio power levels are unnecessary, and sometimes, too much power can overwhelm the modem.

Since people will ask for a recommendation, despite me saying, “Just pick one,” I’ll give two possible choices to get you going:

  • Low price: Retevis RT3S available on Amazon for under $100 shipped (if you are a Prime member.)
  • Lower priced premium brand: Yaesu FT-70DR available on Amazon for under $200 shipped (if you are a Prime member.)

Events such as Black Friday are great times to shop for better prices.

Single Board Computer

SBC hosts and Hotspots supported by WPSD are:

  • Raspberry Pi
    • Zero 2W
    • Models 3, 4, 5.
  • Nano Pi Neo
  • DVMEGA Cast
  • DVMEGE EuroNode
  • ZUMSpot Mini 1.3
  • ZUMSpot Mini 2.4
  • ZUMSpot Elite 3.5
  • ZUMSpot USB Stick
  • BridgeCom SkyBridge MAX/Plus

Any other SBC/device is not supported if I have not listed it.

While not specifically part of the project, I recommend you do not save pennies by purchasing a cheap power supply. These switching power supplies are notoriously noisy, and not all manufacturers are honest about their power levels. Be sure the power supply you use is capable of supporting your SBC. Some people use a rechargeable battery pack, which avoids issues with power supplies.

Modem

Your modem will be an MMDVM modem board with or without an ADF7021 RF chip.

Note: MMDVM modems with the ADF7021 RF chip are called “hotspot boards” and usually have a single SMA antenna connector or an onboard ceramic antenna. MMDVM modems without an RF chip are called “repeater boards;” these have no antenna connections. MMDVM modems with two ADF7021 RF chips are called “duplex boards,” come with two SMA antenna connections, and are typically used for advanced DMR configurations. Some boards with RF capabilities use onboard ceramic antennas, which are a good choice if you do not want to run an external antenna. WPSD supports all three types.

The modem receives the digital signal from your radio and transcodes it to a digital format capable of being sent over the Internet. While your voice is digitally encoded, your radio transmits it as an analog signal. It must be received, encoded, and transmitted across the Internet via the host.

The modem has two primary integrated circuits, or ICs. The first is one (or two) ADF7021 ICs responsible for receiving and transmitting RF. These are low-power devices in the 0.10w - 0.25w range. The second is a microcontroller, similar to the Arduino some of you may be familiar with. This microcontroller has a “firmware “ program loaded, which is responsible for the modem operations.

Modem/hotspot manufacturers known to work well with WPSD are:

  • ZUMSpot GPIO and USB MMDVM Boards and MMDVM-Pi Repeater Boards
  • DVMega (Netherlands; not the UK) Boards & Hotspots / Devices
  • LoneStar N5BOC GPIO and USB MMDVM Boards
  • BridgeCom Systems SkyBridge Hotspots
  • BI7JTA MMDVM Boards
  • Repeater Builder STM32-DVM Boards

Some modems behave poorly within the ecosystem, and be sure to read this article addressed to modem vendors to understand some of the issues. Also, understand that the WPSD project does not provide support for modems, their peculiarities, or develop the binaries for them.

SD Card

I recommend a Class 10 or better SD card of 8GB or more. Since WPSD stores very little on your SD card, a card with more storage may be an unnecessary expense.

A Computer

You will use your computer to create an image on the SD card and for configuration and operations. While it is possible to configure and run WPSD using a tablet or other mobile device, a computer running ChromeOS, Windows, Linux or Mac OS is strongly recommended. Mobile devices have screen limitations that may hinder you from seeing the required menu and status items in the browser.

Installing the Software

SBCs commonly use an SD card as their “disk.” At the same time, some people use SSDs. As with other areas of this documentation, if you know enough to argue with me about using an SSD, you know enough to be responsible for the changes. Your hardware configuration may differ from the one used to create this documentation, so please adjust your steps accordingly.

Obtaining the Disk Image

You may obtain the WPSD disk image from WPSD.radio from the following URL: https://wpsd.radio/#download-wpsd

Download the disk image file appropriate for your SBC. In most cases, you do not need to unzip the downloaded file.

Hint: if you don’t see a disk image in the matrix for your specific hardware, it doesn’t exist. (read the faqs)

Also included on the page is the file WPSD_SHA256-SUMS.txt. This file contains cryptographic signatures for the disk image files that you may use to verify the download you received has no errors or has not been tampered with in transit. Verifying the checksum is entirely optional and outside of the scope of this document. Check out the article How to Verify MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 Checksum in Windows for additional information.

Important: If you plan on installing the newer Boookworm-based WPSD disk image, there are some notable changes; so please read the WPSD Bookworm Release Notes before you install the WPSD Bookworm disk image.

Write the Image

There are several tools used to write your SD card. Some prefer graphical front ends, like Balena Etcher and Raspberry Pi Imager. Some classic OS tools like dd may also be used.

We recommend Balena Etcher for those less experienced people taking on this project. More experienced hams may have their preferences.

Using Balena Etcher

Tip: The WPSD Team recommends using Balena Etcher over other tools such as the Raspberry Pi Imager, etc. This because the WPSD disk images are pre-configured with many settings, etc., and using other disk imaging tools which allow for post-write modifications run the risk of breaking the installation. Caveat Emptor.

Balena Etcher is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux for x86. Download the appropriate version directly from the Balena Etcher downloads page and install it.

  1. Insert SD: Insert the SD card into the computer using your adapter if required.
  2. Open Balena Etcher.
  3. Select Image: With the “Select image” button, navigate to choose the compressed disk image file you downloaded, e.g., WPSD_RPi-Bookworm.img.xz.
  4. Select Drive: Select the SD card with the “Select drive” button, and choose the SD card you previously inserted into the computer.
  5. Flash: Select the “Flash” button and allow the program to write the disk image to the SD card. The writing process may take a while, depending on the speed of the SD card, the speed of the computer, and the speed of the card reader

Balena Etcher will notify you when the writing and verifying process has finished. When complete, you may safely eject the SD card.

Using Raspberry Pi Imager

Raspberry Pi Imager is available for Windows, MacOS, and Ubuntu for x86. Download the appropriate version directly from the Raspberry Pi downloads page and install it.

  1. Insert SD: Insert the SD card into the computer using your adapter if required.
  2. Open Raspberry Pi Imager.
  3. Raspberry Pi Device: A window will pop up where you may select the device to flash. At the top, choose No Filter.
  4. Choose OS: A window will pop up where you may select the Operating System to flash. Do not choose one of the Raspberry Pi OSes; scroll nearly to the bottom and choose “Use custom.” The tool will present you with a file chooser window where you may navigate to and choose the image you downloaded, e.g., WPSD_RPi-Bookworm.img.xz.
  5. Choose Storage: If you have inserted your SD card properly, it should show in the window.
  6. Advanced Options: Pay special attention to either NOT create a user or use the pi-star user. Adding any other user with this tool will break WPSD.
  7. Press Shift + Control + X to bring up the OS Customization screen.
  8. Do not set a username and password. If you cannot deselect this option, uncheck Enable SSH on the Services tab. SSH will be available to you no matter what.

    9. Warning: The pi-star user and password are already on the disk image and are for many WPSD programs to function correctly. (You can change the “pi-star” user password from the WPSD configuration page after you first boot up WPSD.)

  9. Configure wireless LAN: Carefully type your local WiFi SSID and password. Select the appropriate Wireless LAN country, e.g., “US.”
  10. Set locale settings: to whatever is correct for your local use.
  11. Scroll down to the “Save” button, and you will return to the original screen.
  12. Select Next or Write and a pop-up will ask if you want to apply the customized settings. Select Yes and then Yes again to begin writing. The imager will take a few minutes to write and verify the image. When complete, you may safely eject the SD card.

You may insert the SD card into your SBC and continue to Initial Startup.

Debian / Ubuntu / MacOS

Using these tools is more advanced, and these instructions assume you are comfortable working at the command line.

You may use the dd command from the coreutils project to write the disk image file to the SD card. You must first decompress the .xz file, which can be piped into dd if desired.

  1. Open a terminal window and change the directory where you downloaded the compressed disk image file. Typically, this will be in ~/Downloads.
  2. Decompress the file using unxz, replacing $IMAGE with the file you downloaded. 
    $ unxz WPSD_$IMAGE.img.xz
  3. Insert the SD card into the computer, and use lsblk to determine which device is the correct SD card. 
    $ lsblk
  4. Write the disk image file to the SD card using dd. You may need to be root to do this or use sudo. Using /dev/sda as an example for your SD card: 
    $ dd bs=4M if=WPSD_$IMAGE.img of=/dev/sda

When the disk image writing process has finished, remove the SD card from the computer

Network Configuration

You have three network setup options:

  • Ethernet
  • Wi-Fi
  • Access Point Mode (“AutoAP”)

If you plan on using #1, simply connect your WPSD instance to Ethernet and move onto the next page/section. If you plan on using #3, move onto the next page/section. If you plan on using method #2, read this entire page/section…

Create WiFi configuration

If you used the Raspberry Pi Imager and followed the instructions for “Advanced Configuration,” you will not need to follow these steps.

An optional step you may perform before the initial startup of WPSD is creating the WiFi configuration file. Doing this step now can save some time during the initial configuration, but it is optional due to the AutoAP functionality built into WPSD.

W0CHP.radio has an official online tool that you can use to create this file, and you may find it here: https://w0chp.radio/wifi-config-generator/

Fill in the SSID and PSK Passphrase fields, and select the country where your WiFi router operates. Click on the Generate Config button, and the WiFi configuration text will display on your screen. You may also download this file by clicking the Download Config File button above the generated text.

Important: You will need to select the Operating System you are running with WPSD (Bookworm, Bullseye, etc.) when using the W0CHP WiFi configuration tool.

Windows
  1. Download the resultant WiFi configuration file to your computer.
  2. Insert the SD card into the computer.
  3. Windows should automatically open the File Explorer to the /boot volume.
  4. Find the downloaded WiFi configuration file on your computer. You should be able to find it in your Downloads folder.
  5. Either drag and drop or copy and paste the WiFi configuration file file onto the /boot volume of the SD card.
  6. Optionally, right-click anywhere in the boot volume’s white space and select New > Text Document. Name the file ssh and delete the .txt extension before you hit Enter. If Windows Explorer on your computer does not show file extensions, click View and Enable File Name Extensions in the menu bar.
  7. Safely eject the SD card from your computer.
Linux / MacOS
  1. Open a Terminal window.
  2. Insert the SD card into the computer.
  3. Use the lsblk command to find the SD card device.

    4. Hint: The /boot volume should be the first partition on the SD card.

  4. Mount the SD card’s /boot volume to a folder your user can access.

    5. Hint: You may need to create a new, empty folder before mounting the SD card.

  5. Change the directory to the mounted volume.
  6. Use a text editor (e.g., nano, vi, or similar) to create a new WiFi configuration file file.
  7. Copy and paste the text from the WPA / WiFi Configuration Generator page into the file.
  8. Save and Exit the text editor.
  9. Unmount the SD card and remove it from the computer.

Initial Startup

You will have two paths here depending on whether you used the Raspberry Pi Imaging tool (or manually added a WiFi configuration file) to create your WiFi configuration.

If you created a WiFi Config

After approximately five minutes (possibly longer if you have a slower SBC,) your dashboard should be available at http://wpsd.local (or replace the hostname before the .local with your chosen name portion if you chose a different one.)

Note:

If you did not create a Wifi Config

After approximately five minutes (possibly longer if you have a slower SBC,) you will see an available access point named WPSD-Setup. Connect your computer to this wireless network. Open your web browser and navigate to http://wpsd.local/. Scroll down to Wireless Configuration and select Configure WiFi.

Either Scan for Networks and select your local network and enter your PSK, or* Add New WiFi Network* and enter your SSID and PSK.

When you have entered the proper data, “Reboot with New WiFi Settings*.” After a few minutes, your dashboard should be available at http://wpsd.local (or replace the hostname before the .local with your chosen name portion if you chose a different one.)

Initial Dashboard Access

On your first visit to the dashboard, you will notice that the system automatically redirects you to the Configuration page.

Again, on your first access, you will be prompted for your login credentials:

  • Your login name will be pi-star, and your initial password will be raspberry.

In the future, you can return to the Configuration page by clicking on the Admin -> Configuration link in the dashboard nav bar.

General Configuration

Important: You must apply changes you make on the Configuration page of WPSD by clicking the Apply Changes button on the configuration page floating top banner.

The General Configuration section sets up the basic operational information about your hotspot. You must fill in this information for proper operation.

This section is also the first you must complete during the initial startup of a new hotspot.

Simplex Hotspots / Nodes

Setting Description
HostnameThe hostname for the hotspot on your network
Node CallsignYOUR callsign, do not use anyone else’s
DMR/CCS7 IDRequired for DMR Mode (If you don’t have one, get a DMR ID from RadioID.Net)
NXDN IDRequired for NXDN Mode (If you don’t have one, get a NXDN ID from RadioID.Net)
Radio ModeShould be set to Simplex for a simplex hotspot board or single radio node
Radio FrequencyThe frequency desired for operation with the hotspot
Radio / Modem TypeThe type of hotspot radio board or modem installed on the SBC
Modem Baud RateThe baud rate used for the SBC to communicate with the hotspot radio board
System Time ZoneThe hotspot’s local time zone. Time format may also be selected (12/24 hour)
Dashboard LanguageThe display language for WPSD
Update NotifierEnable or turn off the automatic software notifications on the dashboard header. Does not affect automatic updates

Duplex Hotspots / Nodes

Setting Description
HostnameThe hostname for the hotspot on your network
Node CallsignThe call sign of the hotspot over the air
DMR/CCS7 IDRequired for DMR Mode (If you don’t have one, get a DMR ID from RadioID.Net)
NXDN IDRequired for NXDN Mode (If you don’t have one, get a NXDN ID from RadioID.Net)
Radio ModeShould be set to Duplex for a duplex hotspot board or repeater
Radio Frequency RXThe receive (uplink) frequency to the hotspot
Radio Frequency TXThe transmit (downlink) frequency from the hotspot
Radio / Modem TypeThe type of hotspot radio board or modem installed on the SBC
Modem Baud RateThe baud rate used for the SBC to communicate with the hotspot radio board
System Time ZoneThe hotspot’s local time zone. Time format may also be selected (12/24 hour)
Dashboard LanguageThe display language for WPSD
Update NotifierEnable or turn off the automatic software notifications on the dashboard header. Does not affect automatic updates

Important: Please note that the duplex frequencies are for the modem, not your radio. In other words, the radio’s TX frequency should be the modem’s RX frequency and vice versa.

No Modem

If you have yet to select a modem type or the choices have changed, the web page will prompt you to (re) choose one.

No Profile

At some point, you will see a banner on the top of the screen prompting you to save your profile:

Follow the link provided, or navigate to to the dashboard, and click the Profiles button. Give your profile a descriptive name. Be aware that non-alphanumeric characters are not permitted. Spaces are allowed.

Todo: Create a section/page/etc. on creating, managing, deleting profiles and how/when/why to use them

Radio Offset

Your modem supplier may have included documentation about the radio offset. This information is on the underside of the case or the documentation that came with the modem.

Navigate to: Advanced -> Quick Editors -> MMDVMHost. Scroll to the Modem section and enter your RXOffset and TXOffset in the appropriate fields.

Configuring Hotspot for Modes

Configuring your hotspot for a particular mode seems trivial to an experienced user. If you are that user, you may bypass this page; there are no epiphanies to receive here. Read on if you are not experienced and need a step-by-step to give you a springboard into digital radio.

The digital radio you own will largely determine your choice of mode. You may jump to the mode you are interested in on the right.

  • DMR
  • D-Star
  • YSF
  • P25
  • NXDN

DMR

To begin, enter your DMR/CCS7 ID in the General Configuration section on the configuration page if it was not auto-populated based on your entered callsign. If you do not have a DMR ID, register for one at RadioID.net.

Next, in the MMDVMHost Modem Configuration section, toggle DMR mode on:

Click Apply Changes to save the configuration. After the hotspot re-starts and the page returns, scroll to the DMR Configuration section.

You must now configure a DMR Network. For this exercise, we will be connecting to the BrandMeister DMR Network…

First, at the BrandMeister website, register, and in the Self-care section, create a Hotspot Security password.

Save this password somewhere secure, and scroll to the BrandMeister Network Settings.

Select the BrandMeister Master that is appropriate for you. In this case, I will select BM_3102_United_States. Enter the BM Hotspot Security password you created on the BrandMeister website. Your DMR ID will populate the BrandMeister Network ESSID section, and in default cases, there is no reason to change the extended ID. Ensure BrandMeister Network Enable is toggled on and Apply Changes.

If you have followed the instructions correctly, on your Dashboard in Mode Status, you should see DMR green; in Network Status, you should see DMR Net green. Below that, in DMR Status, you should see your TS1 and TS2 green; one should show a connection to a talk group.

You have completed configuring your hotspot for DMR mode on the BrandMeister network. Continue to Zero to Hero for information about setting up your radio the first time.

Tip: You can connect to multiple DMR networks simultaneously. For more information, see DMR Operation and Functionality to read about advanced DMR operations.

D-Star

D-Star is is an open standard digital voice and data protocol developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League. It is supported by numerous popular and recent ICOM, Kenwood, and Flex radios, notably excepting the ICOM IC-7300.

To begin, register your callsign with the D-Star system, if you have not already done so. It is preferable to register with your nearest D-Star repeater, but you can also register here https://regist.dstargateway.org/instructions/. There are two steps to D-Star registration:

  1. Register at your local repeater or the main D-Star website
  2. Activate your callsign in the D-Star system

If you have already registered with D-Star to use your other radio(s), you do not need to register again to use WPSD on D-Star.

Make sure your WPSD node is configured with your callsign:

To use D-Star on WPSD, in the MMDVMHost Modem Configuration section, toggle D-Star mode on:

Click Apply Changes to save the configuration. After the hotspot re-starts and the page returns, scroll to Yaesu System Fusion Configuration.

If you have followed the instructions correctly, on your Dashboard in Mode Status, you should see D-Star green; in Network Status, you should see D-Star Net green. Below that, in D-Star Status, you should see that your node RPT1 as your callsign followed by the letter “B” (e.g., N0SIGN B), and RPT2 as your callsign followed by the letter “G” right-aligned (e.g., N0SIGN G). The status should also show D-Star Network as Not Linked.

The D-Star configuration parameters should be automatically configured here:

You have completed configuring your hotspot for D-Star mode on the D-Star network. Continue to Zero to Hero for information about setting up your radio the first time.

Tip: When configuring your radio to access a single-radio (simplex) WPSD node, make sure to set DUP+ or DUP- with an offset of zero (0). Turning DUP ‘off’ does not work because ICOM radios expect D-Star to be used only on repeaters and that repeaters always use DUP+ or DUP-, even with an offset of zero. If you turn DUP ‘off’, the radio thinks you are not talking to a repeater and thus it will not use D-Star.

YSF

Yaesu System Fusion is proprietary to Yaesu radios. Example Yaesu devices supporting Fusion are:

Handheld
  • FT-5DR
  • FT-70DR
Mobile
  • FTM-500DR
  • FTM-300DR
  • FTM-200DR
Base
  • FT-991A

There are other models still available that support Fusion as well.

To begin, in the MMDVMHost Modem Configuration section, toggle YSF mode on:

Click Apply Changes to save the configuration. After the hotspot re-starts and the page returns, scroll to Yaesu System Fusion Configuration.

Set a YSF Startup Host. In this example, I will set “FCS00290 - America-Link-WiresX”, but you may choose any other.

Leave UPPERCASE Hostfiles and FCS Network toggled on. You need not make any other changes in this section. Apply Changes to save the configuration.

If you have followed the instructions correctly, on your Dashboard in Mode Status, you should see YSF green; in Network Status, you should see YSF Net green. Below that, in YSF Status, you should see that you are in a room (such as America-Link-WiresX).

You have completed configuring your hotspot for YSF mode on the Fusion network. Continue to Zero to Hero for information about setting up your radio the first time.

P25

Todo: Volunteers needed to provide instructions specific to P25 mode.

NXDN

Todo: Volunteers needed to provide instructions specific to NXDN mode.

Zero to Hero

Or: How to get your first “beep”

Since some hams approach this project as their first digital experience, I want to present some work plans that will take you from unboxing, to that first “beep” when your radio connects (as opposed to the “boop” when it does not.) There is a world beyond just that beep, but sometimes getting off the starting block is less than straightforward.

This page will be the nexus for those work plans, as they are developed. Each page is written around a specific radio. Often, the instructions will also hold for others with the same mode or manufacturer. These will be noted as they are identified.

Specific Radios:

Zero to Hero: Anytone AT-878UVII

The radio I used for this was the Anytone AT-878UVII, but the 868UV and the UVII-Plus version should be the same. A lot of this applies to DMR radios in general. Their operation confuses people who may be more familiar with “select a frequency, get contact” methods.

There are several parts that you must set up correctly for everything to work the way you want it to.

You may have heard the term CPS, “Code Plug Software.” Before discussing CPS, read what a code plug is.

Hold your Horses (USB)

DO NOT PLUG THE USB CABLE INTO YOUR COMPUTER YET. You won’t thank me now, but you would undoubtedly cuss me later if I did not warn you.

Start from Zero

I have detailed these instructions starting from a factory-clean reset. You can easily be confused by partially setting items and setting others incorrectly. If you are new at this, do yourself a favor and do a factory reinitialization.

Turn the radio off, hold down the PTT and P1 (just under the PTT) buttons, and turn the radio on. Do not release the buttons until you see: “Are you sure you want to initialize radio?”

Press the green button to confirm.

Allow the radio to reset itself and “Confirm” the date without setting it. Do yourself a second favor by not doing additional customization until later, so you do not feel bad about wiping it out with another reset if you mess things up.

Before anyone rushes to argue about wiping their radio, if you’re already “moved in” with local channels, follow the instructions through the next three steps to “Import Intial Code Plug.” Save that as your backup, and then come back here and “Start from Zero.” Once you know what you are doing, you can re-load your backup and try adding your Hotspot setup.

Install USB Driver

This step is where people who did not heed my advice will have gone wrong. Some computers already have the proper drivers for the USB cable. It will not hurt to follow these instructions either way.

Many USB cables made to interface with devices have a small chip inside the USB plug, called an FTDI interface. FTDI is a product of Future Technology Devices International and many suppliers use these chips in their cables.

Virtual COM port (VCP) drivers cause the radio attached to the USB cable (via the FTDI chip) to appear as an additional COM port available to the computer. The CPS can access the radio in the same way as it would access a standard COM port. Go to the FTDI site and download the Virtual COM Port drivers. Open the archive in Windows and execute the CDM212364_Setup.exe installer within. Complete the installation and return here.

Install the CPS

Turn on your radio and go to Menu -> Settings -> Device Info. Scroll down to see your firmware version.

Download the Code Plug Software from Bridgecom’s wesbite. At the time of this writing, the most recent is “AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS - CPS V3.02 & Firmware V3.02,” but you should download the version corresponding to the firmware on your radio. Right-click the archive and select “Extract all.” Open the new folder, which is likely similar to D878UVII PLUS Vn.nn official release nnnn.

Open the folder with “CPS” in the name, such as D878UVII Vn.nn CPS nnnnnn. Execute the installer within, complete the installation, and return here.

Import Intial Code Plug

Plug your cable into your radio, and plug the USB into the computer. Turn the radio on and allow it to finish booting. Run the CPS, which is likely available as an icon on your desktop named “D878UVII_n.nn.”

Menu -> Set -> Set COM: There should only be a single COM port listed. If there is more than one, unplug all peripherals from your computer except for the Radio connected to the USB cable.

Program -> Read From Radio

When the CPS finishes reading, File -> Save and navigate somewhere you can remember. Save the initial CPS as something descriptive like D878UVII_Stock.

We’ll now proceed with the creation of your new code plug.

Create New Code Plug

We’ll follow these steps in order:

  1. Create Radio ID
  2. Import Talkgroups
  3. Create Channels
  4. Create Zones

The order here is important. If you know enough to argue with that, you know enough to skip my instructions.

Radio ID

First, you must add your radio ID so the network will know who you are. In the tree on the left, expand Digital and then select Radio ID List. You can have multiple IDs here, but we will use just one. Double-click on the 1 in the “No.” column.

Change the Radio ID to the ID you were given previously on RadioID.net and that which you entered on your WPSD configuration page. Change the Radio ID Name to your callsign.

Create Talk Groups

Rather than creating Talk Groups from scratch, we will import them. The defacto DMR network for PTT talkgroup activation is BrandMeister, and the easiest way to get them all is to download them already in the Anytone format from the WPSD website. Download the AnyTone Contact TG Format file; it is updated daily.

After downloading the file:

  1. Select Tool -> Import.
  2. Click the Talk Groups button.
  3. Navigate to and select the downloaded BM-TGs_Anytone-Format.csv file.

Once the import is complete, select the Contact/Talk Groups section and view the list.

Create Channels

A channel is where we finally start getting into more familiar territory. In the Common Settings section, open Channel. Here, you can see some default channels or none at all. Before hurrying to program anything else, bear with me and slow down. Delete your channels by right-clicking and selecting “Delete” on the lines that are there.

Double-click in the “No.” column on 1. You have two ways to set this up depending on whether you have a simplex or duplex hotspot.

Simplex Hotspots
  • Channel Name: Give it any name you like. In this example, we will use “WPSD Simplex.”
  • Receive/Transmit Frequency: Use whatever frequency you applied to your hotspot.
  • Channel Type: Set this to Digital.
  • Transmit Power: Generally, this is set to “Low,” especially if you are in the same room as your hotspot.
  • DMR Mode: Leave this on DMO/Simplex.
  • Digital Settings:
    • Contact: Click the button to display the talk groups you imported earlier. Scroll to the bottom, then up a few lines, and you will see “TG9 Local.” Double-click on that, and the button will change to “TG9 Local.”
    • Radio ID: Select the Radio ID Name you set up previously.
    • Color Code: Leave this on 1.
    • Slot: Set this to Slot2.

Leave the rest on defaults and click Ok.

Duplex Hotspots
  • Channel Name: Give it any name you like. In this example, we will use “WPSD Duplex.”
  • Receive Frequency: Use whatever frequency your hotspot is set to use on transmit*.
  • Transmit Frequency: Use whatever frequency your hotspot is set to use on receive*.
  • * Make sure these frequencies are the opposite of how you set your hotspot.
  • Channel Type: Set this to Digital.
  • Transmit Power: Generally, this is set to “Low,” especially if you are in the same room as your hotspot.
  • DMR Mode: Change this to “Repeater.”
  • Digital Settings:
    • Contact: Click the button, and the talk groups you imported earlier will be displayed somewhat haphazardly. Scroll to the bottom, then up a few lines, and you will see “TG9 Local.” Double-click on that, and the button will change to “TG9 Local.”
    • Radio ID: Select the Radio ID Name you set up previously.
    • Color Code: Leave this on 1.
    • Slot: Set this to Slot1.
Create Zones

Again in Common Settings select Zone.

Double-click in the “No.” column on 1.

There should only be one channel on the left side. Highlight and move it to the right with the “>>” button.

Click “Ok” to finish.

Save Your Code Plug

File -> Save and navigate somewhere you can remember. Save your new CPS as something descriptive like D878UVII_Hotspot.

Load Your Code Plug

Now, load up your new code plug: Program -> Write to Radio. Once you have finished, and assuming you have followed the instructions in other sections correctly, you should be able to connect to your hotspot.

Disconnect your radio from USB, and if you followed the instructions to start with no other entries, you should be able to connect to your hotspot on TG9 Local. If you’d like to test without bothering anyone else, select Menu, Talk Group, Manual Dial, and enter 310997. This talk group is a special one called a Parrot. If you key up and speak, you should hear your voice back after a moment when you release the PTT.

You may use this method to connect to any other talk group by direct dial or use the List button to scroll through all the talk groups and find an interesting one.

Other Networks

Want to get into networks like FreeDMR, TGIF, and others? Build on what you’ve learned here and see where it takes you.

Special Thanks, by AA0NT

I do want to give thanks to Mike W2FBI for his help translating the past part of the Monolith that I was staring at like a monkey. It was ONE step, but I have to admit that, sadly, it took me several days to get past it the first time. DMR radios are very much a “once you know, you know” thing, but it looks pretty convoluted to most newcomers.

Zero to Hero: D-Star (applies to all radios)

There are numerous D-Star ‘getting-started’ guides available via your favorite search engine. This description focuses on the unique differences associated with using a WPSD D-Star node.

Add your WPSD D-Star node to your radio

Tip: If your WPSD node is simplex, make sure to set DUP+ or DUP- with an offset of zero (0). Turning DUP ‘off’ does not work because ICOM radios expect D-Star to be used only on repeaters and that repeaters always use DUP+ or DUP-, even with an offset of zero. If you turn DUP ‘off’, the radio thinks you are not talking to a repeater and thus it will not use D-Star.

You can add your node to your radio’s memories in one of two ways:

  • As a D-Star repeater
  • As a regular memory entry

If you use D-Star repeater memories (DV), don’t forget to include your node’s GPS location; it is useful when trying to find “near repeaters”.

If you use a regular memories, you will want to create separate entries as follows (where ^ indicates a space; all fields are always 8 spaces, and all commands such as link, unlink, echo and info are in the eighth position):

Usage URCALL or MYCALL RPT1 RPT2
SimplexCQCQCQ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Use RepeaterCQCQCQ^^N0SIGN^BN0SIGN^G
Echo^^^^^^^EN0SIGN^BN0SIGN^G
Information^^^^^^^IN0SIGN^BN0SIGN^G
Unlink^^^^^^^UN0SIGN^BN0SIGN^G

In the above example, N0SIGN is your WPSD’s callsign (your callsign) and “B” is the channel configured on the WPSD D-Star configuration page, based on the wavelength of your radio.

You will also probably want one line for each repeater you link to, whose contents depends on that repeater’s callsign.

Using your node

Use your node as you would any other D-Star repeater.

Keep in mind that the D-Star parameters can be set to either connect to a reflector on boot/restart and/or to determine how long a reflector stays connected before being dropped.

WPSD Non-Warranty

WPSD Project is the culmination of hard work and design by Chip, W0CHP, and a group of volunteers who provide this software and documentation free of charge.

No warranty is expressed or implied. While the WPSD Developers try to provide a software distribution free of bugs and security flaws, it is free software. Use at your own risk.

By using WPSD, the User agrees to hold harmless and indemnify WPS Developers from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising from or related to the operation and use of WPSD. This agreement includes but is not limited to any personal injury, property damage, or financial loss incurred due to operating or using WPSD. The User assumes all risks associated with operating or using WPSD and releases the WPSD Developers from any responsibility or liability.

Where this document or help texts in WPSD fail, help is available for users through multiple channels. You may find support links such as Facebook Groups, Discord, and any other relevant community support links in the footer text on the main Dashboard page of WPSD or at WPSD.radio

Contacting the WPSD Development team directly without seeking community support may be ignored. We imply no direct support from the WPSD Developers.

WPSD Core Development Team:

  • Chip, W0CHP
  • Steve, KC1AWV
  • Carl, VK1KCM
  • Alexander, UR6LKW
  • Simon, M7DHQ
  • Jonathan, G4KLX
  • Florian, DF2ET

WPSD Project Frequent Contributors

  • Lee, AA0NT
  • Jim, KI6ZUM
  • Ruud, PE1MSZ

Calibrating your Modem / Tuning BER

See W0CHP’s video on how to calibrate your modem.

How to Update Modem Firmware

This document explains how you can update your modem firmware using the included modem firmware update utility in WPSD, wpsd-modemupgrade. There are two methods you may employ, described below.

Via the WPSD Dashboard

You can access the modem firmware tool via: Admin -> Advanced -> Modem Firmware Upgrade.

Via Command Line Interface/SSH

In an SSH session, you must run a specific command for your device type. The relevant device firmware upgrade commands are as follows:

Modem Type Command
MMDVM_HS_Hat (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat
MMDVM_HS_Hat (12.2880MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat-12mhz
MMDVM_HS_Dual_Hat (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_dual_hat
MMDVM_HS_Dual_Hat (12.2880MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_dual_hat-12mhz
ZUMSpot RPi boards/hotspots GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade zum_rpi
ZUMSpot RPi duplex GPIO board/hotspots:wpsd-modemupgrade zum_rpi-duplex
ZUMspot USB stick:wpsd-modemupgrade zum_usb
ZUMspot Libre Kit or generic MMDVM_HS board:wpsd-modemupgrade zum_libre
DVMega - Pi Hat (Single or Dual Band) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade dvmega_gpio
DVMega - Shield for Arduino Uno USB (ttyUSB0):wpsd-modemupgrade dvmega_usb_uno
DVMega - Shield for Arduino Mega USB (ttyUSB0):wpsd-modemupgrade dvmega_usb_mega
DVMega - EuroNode hotspots (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade euronode
SkyBridge hotspots (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade skybridge
NANO_DV NPi GPIO by BG4TGO:wpsd-modemupgrade nanodv_npi
NANO_DV USB by BG4TG:wpsd-modemupgrade nanodb_usb
Nano_hotSPOT by BI7JTA (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_nano_hotspot
Nano_hotSPOT Duplex by VR2VYE (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_nano_hotspot-duplex
LoneStar LS MMDVM USB (14.7456MHz TCXO) USB:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_lonestar-usb
HS_HAT_AMBE (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_ambe
MMDVM_HS_GENERIC (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_generic
MMDVM_HS_GENERIC_DUPLEX (14.7456MHz TCXO) GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_generic_duplex
MMDVM_HS_GENERIC_DUPLEX (14.7456MHz TCXO) USB:wpsd-modemupgrade hs_hat_generic_duplex-usb
Repeater - Nucleo64 F446RE GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_nucleo-64
Repeater - Nucleo144 F767ZI GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_nucleo-144
Repeater - MMDVM_RPT_Hat v0.2 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_mmdvm_hat-v0.2
Repeater - MMDVM_RPT_Hat v0.3 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_mmdvm_hat-v0.3
Repeater - ZUM Radio MMDVM for Pi v0.9 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_zum-v0.9
Repeater - ZUM Radio MMDVM for Pi v1.0 GPIO (F4):wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_zum-v1.0-F4
Repeater - ZUM Radio MMDVM for Pi v1.0 GPIO (F7):wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_zum-v1.0-F7
Repeater - Repeater Builder STM32_DVM v3 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_builder_v3
Repeater - Repeater Builder STM32_DVM v4 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_builder_v4
Repeater - Repeater Builder STM32_DVM v5 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_builder_v5
Repeater - Repeater Builder STM32_DVM_MTR2K v3 GPIO:wpsd-modemupgrade rpt_builder_mtr2k_v3

Other Hints

To flash your modem with user-specified custom firmware, invoke the following command:

sudo wpsd-modem-flash_custom

To attempt to have the system detect the type of modem installed, invoke this command:

sudo wpsd-detectmodem

Notes

“But what if I don’t know which modem I have or which firmware to choose?”

The most common boards we see are the “MMDVM_HS_Hat” boards and “MMDVM_HS_Dual_Hat” for duplex boards. When in doubt, you can always try those firmware types. You can also invoke the ‘sudo wpsd-detectmodem’ command in WPSD to try detecting and displaying the board/modem type you have installed before you flash it.

If you have an obscure modem or an MMDVM repeater board, or if none of the above commands apply to your device type, you will need to download, compile, and install the MMDVM modem firmware or the MMDVM_HS hotspot firmware yourself. The modem firmware is outside the scope of WPSD, and you will be on your own. There are plenty of instructions on the Internet.

We are not firmware developers and offer no support for firmware. We provide programs to update the firmware for popular and common devices. You must utilize other support resources from the firmware developers/maintainers and the device vendors for actual firmware support.

Resetting WPSD

Reset WPSD Updater

Sometimes you will run into an issue where the updater hangs. It could be because the SD card is going bad. You can however run this command to reset the updater and force things into compliance:

curl -Ls https://wpsd-swd.w0chp.net/WPSD-SWD/WPSD-Helpers/raw/branch/master/reset-wpsd-sbin | sudo bash

Reset the WPSD Software

If you run into strange issues with WPSD, and have exhausted all other options, there is a non-destructive way to reset the WPSD software:

curl -Ls https://wpsd-swd.w0chp.net/WPSD-SWD/WPSD-Scripts/raw/branch/master/reset-wpsd | sudo bash

This will forcefully reinitialize the WPSD software suite, but will keep all of your settings, profiles, etc.

If that fails as well, you can perform a Factory Reset (destructive, as you will need to reconfigure WPSD): Admin -> Configuration -> Factory Reset

Backup and Restore Configuration

The ability to backup (and restore) your configuration is not only provided, but highly recommended. It is possible that the solution given to an issue you may be experiencing may be to re-flash a new SD card, and restore your backup. This is the nature of the beast with a Pi, and not a limitation of WPSD.

WPSD provides a straightforward way to backup your hotspot configuration through its web interface. This backup includes all your settings, radio configurations, and personal preferences. Regular backups are recommended before making significant changes or updating your configuration.

Step-by-Step Backup Process

  1. Access the Backup/Restore Page
    • Open your web browser and navigate to your WPSD dashboard (typically http://wpsd.local or your hotspot’s IP address)
    • Log in if prompted
    • Click on “Admin” in the navigation menu
    • Click on “Configuration” in the top navigation menu
    • Click on “Backup/Restore” in the top navigation menu
  2. Initiate the Backup
    • Click the “Download Configuration” button
    • Your browser will automatically start to download a file named WPSD_Backup_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.zip
    • System Passwords/Dashboard passwords are NOT backed up/restored
    • Wireless Configuration IS backed up and restored
    • Profiles ARE included in backups/restores

Important Notes

  • Store your backup in a safe location
  • Consider keeping multiple versions of your backup
  • Label backups with meaningful names including the date

Step-by-Step Restore Process

  1. Access the Backup/Restore Page
    • Open your web browser and navigate to your WPSD dashboard
    • Log in with your credentials if required
    • Click on “Admin” in the top navigation menu
    • Click on “Configuration” in the top navigation menu
    • Click on “Backup/Restore” in the top navigation menu

    2. Note: Prepare for Restore Consider creating a backup of your current configuration before proceeding

  2. Upload and Restore
    • In the “Restore Configuration” section, click on “Choose File”
    • Navigate to and select your backup file
    • Click Ok
    • Click on the Upload icon DO NOT CLICK MULTIPLE TIMES
    • There is no indicator other than the page refresh button changing until the process is complete
    • Wait for the restore process to complete
    • Do not close your browser
    • Do not power off your hotspot
    • The process can typically take 1-2 minutes
  3. Post-Restore Steps
    • Verify you can access the dashboard
    • Check that your configuration has been properly restored
    • Verify radio settings
    • Check network configurations
    • Confirm operating modes

Todo: Add common issues and troubleshooting steps for backup and recovery.

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