DExtra_Hosts.txt files not downloading or updating?

Help with D-Star related issues
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VK5BB
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:31 am

DExtra_Hosts.txt files not downloading or updating?

Post by VK5BB »

Hi,
I am still exploring why my hot spot V4.1.4 will not link to another hot spot?
There are now at least two other discussions on this forum that relate to this discussion.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3545

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3448

There have been a number of suggestions to resolve the problem, one is checking that the ircddHostname is set for ircv4.openquad.net and this is the case and seems to be correct.

One thing I have noticed and this has been confirmed by mates with their pi-star hot spots, is the the DExtra_Hosts.txt files are not loaded or updating?

A couple of respondents within this forum have commented that their files are fully loaded with current updates.

When I created a new fresh image, V4.1.4 and before I ran Update, the DExtra_Hosts.txt was loaded with a five line header message.

After I ran Update, and I ran Update several times, on my system, the DExtra_Hosts.txt files are now empty with a three line header message as follows,

# DExtra_Hosts.txt downloaded from http://www.pistar.uk/downloads/DExtra_NoXRF_Hosts.txt
# Please report issues at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pistarusergroup/
# File created at Friday 2nd of April 2021 01:17:28 AM UTC

When I go and have a look at the Pi-Star downloads section, http://www.pistar.uk/downloads/DExtra_Hosts.txt

I see at the top of the loaded file, a five line header message as follows,

# DExtra_Hosts.txt downloaded from http://www.pistar.uk/downloads/DExtra_Hosts.txt
# DExtra Hosts resolved from the XReflector Directory (http://xrefl.net),
# additional host information sourced from http://xlxapi.rlx.lu/api.php?do=GetReflectorHostname
# Please report issues at https://www.facebook.com/groups/pistarusergroup/
# File created at Friday 2nd of April 2021 01:17:26 AM UTC

with a long list of reflector call signs with respective IP addresses.

As you will see, there are significant differences between the two header messages.

It seems that somewhere in my pi-star configuration files, there is incorrect path information for the down loads???

How do I fix this problem?

Where do I look?

73, Ben VK5BB
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MW0MWZ
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Re: DExtra_Hosts.txt files not downloading or updating?

Post by MW0MWZ »

Ben,

Do you have "Use DPlus for XRF:" enabled on the config page?
This will do exactly what you are seeing, the idea here is that old XRF / DExtra hosts actually required a port forward on your local router to work correctly. XLX hosts that use the XRF protocol don't require that - but the work-around was to force the use of DPlus protocol for those hosts.

To do that the host files are re-organised so that there are NO entries in the DExtra hosts (exactly as you are seeing).

Disable that option, apply the change, and then update, your host files should be populated as normal.
Andy

73 de MW0MWZ
http://pistar.uk
VK5BB
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:31 am

Re: DExtra_Hosts.txt files not downloading or updating?

Post by VK5BB »

Hi Andy,

Thanks for that advice, yes that was it!

I have normally always set the switch for Use DPlus for XRF to active.

I have switched that function off, ran Update and yes all my DExtra_Hosts.txt files are now loaded.

I ran a couple of quick links to XLX reflectors and they connected without any problems, so from the perspective of having the Host files loaded, seems to be all good now.

Only problem left to sort out is the Call Sign Routing to link hot spot to hot spot? It still does not appear to be working?

Though, the other day I did connect directly to Frank K9WLW B, which surprised me but it was 4 in the morning his time so I did not give him a call. I have not been able to link again though?

Jason, I have not followed up regarding the openquad.net as you have suggested, I had thought that part of the problem may have been with the DExtra Host files, which at this time does not seem to be the solution??

Thanks gentlemen,

73, Ben VK5BB
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Re: DExtra_Hosts.txt files not downloading or updating?

Post by MW0MWZ »

KE7FNS wrote: Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:33 am
VK5BB wrote: Sat Apr 03, 2021 5:30 am Jason, I have not followed up regarding the openquad.net as you have suggested, I had thought that part of the problem may have been with the DExtra Host files, which at this time does not seem to be the solution??
As far as I understand the hotspot to hotspot callsign routing is handled exclusively by Quadnet and is unrelated to the contents of the DExtra host files.
Yeah that's pretty much true...

Both hotspots need to have callsign routing enabled so that they will know each-others external IP, and what gateway the callsign is behind.
If you want to link a hotspot to another hotspot, you also need to make sure the router on the side you want to link to has the ports forwarded so that I can accept the connection.

The other option is call routing, where you just put Frank (or someone else's callsign) in the too field and let the magic work it out.

One word of caution when expecting to link hotspots - both hotspots have to have been on and linked to the ircDDB server for long enough to know the information for the other side - this can take a min or two - so if you are trying stuff - sprinkle in some patience too :) Remember all of this was designed for repeaters that are supposed to be on 24/7 and not so much for hotspots that spring up instantly :)
Andy

73 de MW0MWZ
http://pistar.uk
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