Hilfe für die Planung von SVXlink

  • Hallo liebe Forum User. Endlich habe ich es geschafft die alte OM Garde davon zu überzeugen das wir unseren Repeater modanisieren müssen. Es hat mich viel Zeit und viele OV Abende gekostet, doch jetzt öffnet sich die Tür.
    Zum nächsten OV Abend sollte ich doch mal meine Ideen vortragen.
    Jetzt hoffe ich auf etwas Hilfe von euch. Ich würde gerne SVXlink als Repeater Software und Echolink nutzen. Dieses ist ja im Prinzip nicht schlimm. Nur welches Interface nehmen? Ich würde gerne im Interface eine Hardware Sicherheit haben, welche den Betrieb als normalen repeater weiter aufrecht erhält WENN es mal zu einem Ausfall von SVXlink kommen sollte.
    Der Hintergrund ist das wir für jeden Besuch am Repeater Standort einen Antrag stellen müssen, da es sich um einen kommerziellen Mast handelt. Also alles sollte gut durchdacht sein.
    Ich würde mich freuen wenn ihr mir einige Praxis erprobte Konfigurationen Posten würdet.
    Ich bin im Prinzip für jede Idee offen.

    Danke im Voraus

    SA7BNT
    Tim

  • what kind of repeater do you have?

    as for interface you can build your own or get a kit from a guy on ebay who sells them for 10USD easy to build.

    build your own -> http://www.svxlink.net/?page_id=294

    Easy Digi kit by KF5INZ on ebay sold by cliffordwareham $9.95USD + ship.

    build your own svxlink.net schematic http://www.svxlink.net/wp-content/upl…_interface1.png
    if you use the Easy Digi kit you will have to add in a diode. Cathode pointing to the pc to try and stop any voltage trying to work its way back from the PC on Pin 1.(COR line goes to Pin #1 on the DB-9 Serial. (Optocoupler (CNY17) is better but diode does work)

    depending on shipping costs it may be cheaper to buy the parts where you live and build the interface.

    as for keeping everything online, making sure the PC will boot back up after AC power loss. having a UPS helps a lot. OS like Debian is really stable and shouldn't get much of any problems.

  • Hallo Tony, thanks for your answer. The problem that I have is not to setup the SVXlink, the problem is to find the right interface!!! I'm locking for an interface witch have a repeater function as hardware backup if the SVXlink pc or SVX is going to crash.
    The problem (if we are talking about service :lol: ) is that ouer repeater is located on a TV tower so if we want to make some updates or the pc is crashing, we must ask the company witch makes the service on that tower to get in.
    They are not very amused about that if we are coming every month. Hope you understand me :D
    So one more time. I'm locking for an interface with a hardware backup repeater function. If SVX or the PC crash that we still can use the repeater without echolink, with not is possible if I use a normal interface because SVXlink is the controller software.

    Hope to hear from you
    73
    SA7BNT
    Tim

  • Hi Tim,

    I think the main problem is to detect when the pc was crashing. Which possibilities there are?
    1) A simple state (H or L) of a GPIO-Pin
    2) A permanent change of a pin state
    3) A simple serial protocol between SvxLink and the hardware loop?
    The first: You can not relay on it.
    The second and third are just not implemented into SvxLink, maybe you can write skripts to implement it.

    In gerneral I would recommend to keep the adapter as simpe as possible, two transformers, two opto couplers, a few resistors and capacitors -> ready to go!
    Personally for me I would never take smart adapters like NHRCX with a lot of chips, the funtionality is limited, the DTMF-decoder is not better than the internal one of SvxLink. The price is high, the fimware often closed source so you can't predict the behavior of this boxes under all circumstances.
    I see no reason why I should take intelligence out of SvxLink. With the network connection I can change almost all params from my office. If you do not relay on the stability of your pc+SvxLink I think you should look for a gsm-controlled circuit that resets the pc in the case of unavailability. You can not make provisions for every eventuality (e.g. lightning). Look for UPS's
    Do not use the Raspi, it is not stable enough.
    I have uptimes of >400 days on my systems using mini-ITX-Boards (D2500, Intel) with normal harddisks.

    vy 73's de Adi, DL1HRC

  • Hallo Adi, thanks for your answer. Therefor I write in the forum, to hear other opinions about this.
    As I write before it is a big problem to make updates or some hardware things at the repeater if it is installed. So the SVXlink must run very stabile. Right now we use this interface with software based on DOS.
    http://www.arandis.se/rlm/
    It's old but it works!! So if SVX will do the same work we will be happy.

    I will take a look at your board. What about a SSD will that also be ok or will you more recommend a normal disk?

    BTW Happy new year

    SA7BNT
    Tim

    Edit: Please post the full name of your board.

  • my svxlink on my old repeater was controlled 100% by svxlink. the pc was a old compaq. running debian. any changes i could do via the net using ssh. I could even reboot the machine via ssh. And I never had a issue with the pc or software. (actually it ran for so long without trouble i forgot the login password to the debian machine)