Networks, Configuration, etc - Questions
Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:19 pm
Background: I have two hotspots running. One is running as a simplex hotspot. The other is running as a duplex hotspot. Mostly this is just to learn how all this works. I also have GPS (for APRS) and that's working fine. Everyting is working great.
So what's the problem? Well, it's working but I see stuff I don't understand.
Passwords: I have set my password for Brandmeister security. I have tested it and it's all working. And I verified by mismatching the passwords and sure enough my hotspots stopped working. Now, I'm back to the correct passwords and it's working fine.
However when I go to the DMR GW page under EXPERT, I don't see my passwords anywhere. I have 3 Networks areas in that file, none appear to be for the Brandmeister network. I suspect it's Network 1, since that's the only change I made. I redirected 91 from slot 2 to slot 1, so it shows up on my display in the top slot. That works fine, so I assume Network 1 is Brandmeister. But why isn't my password in that file? If I set it, on configuration page, and it's working, shouldn't it be automagically changed in that GW file?
IP addresses: I have the USA 3103 server selected. But in Network 1, it's showing 87.117.229.173, under Network 1. What is that IP for? It doesn't appear to be the server I've selected. Shouldn't it be for the server I'm using? There are no USA servers selected in this GW file. So I'm confused.
Networks: I have an XLL and Network 1, Network 2, Network 3. I assume they can be any network I wish to use. I haven't changed anything from what the hotspot came with. Since it's one of the typical pi-star pre-builts, I assume Brandmeister should be one of them. Best I can tell it's likely Network 1 but there is no name and the IP doesn't look like the server I selected. Can someone explain what these IP represent?
Shouldn't there be a reference to a Brandmeister server? I'm using USA 3103 and don't see anything referencing it.
Slightly off-topic
Contacts: As I understand it, contacts are just a list of TalkGroups. And they can be Group Call or Private Call. My Contacts have a mixture of Group Calls(91, 93, etc). And a few Private for direct contact.
What happens if I make a direct call to an individual Radio ID, through the pi-star? Does it hog the system? Is it publically heard? Is it forbidden? I know if I make an RF call, by ID, it's a radio to radio and others on that freq, don't typically rear it. I'm just wondering what happens if done through a pi-star.
Similarly, what happens if, I add a personal contact (i.e. mine), in my Contact list, and I make it Group Call, vs Private. Then create a channel, for that contact. Does that mean more than one person can contact me simultaneously. I have tried this, and it does go through the system and I hear it on one of my other radios but I don't know if it's possible for multiple people to call me at the same time. Just curious. And if this does happen, again is that something frowned upon, via pi-star. Would everyone ear the conversation.
Finally, the typical way these are used is people make calls from their radio to a talk group. No one is directly contacting another person's radio. But is it possible? Or common? Or allowed? This is similar to above but what if I want any number of people to be able to contact me. Is it possible to make a group call, such that the Group call, does directly to my pi-star, without interfering to TG91 for instance?
I think the answer is yes, because I just created such a channel and contact, and tested it. I had a radio for two different hotspots, and I could hear my call coming out of both radios. But I don't know if that's frowned upon. And I don't know if that makes it a TalkGroup, which I know are frowned upon, if not coordinated. Just trying to understand this stuff.
Thanks
So what's the problem? Well, it's working but I see stuff I don't understand.
Passwords: I have set my password for Brandmeister security. I have tested it and it's all working. And I verified by mismatching the passwords and sure enough my hotspots stopped working. Now, I'm back to the correct passwords and it's working fine.
However when I go to the DMR GW page under EXPERT, I don't see my passwords anywhere. I have 3 Networks areas in that file, none appear to be for the Brandmeister network. I suspect it's Network 1, since that's the only change I made. I redirected 91 from slot 2 to slot 1, so it shows up on my display in the top slot. That works fine, so I assume Network 1 is Brandmeister. But why isn't my password in that file? If I set it, on configuration page, and it's working, shouldn't it be automagically changed in that GW file?
IP addresses: I have the USA 3103 server selected. But in Network 1, it's showing 87.117.229.173, under Network 1. What is that IP for? It doesn't appear to be the server I've selected. Shouldn't it be for the server I'm using? There are no USA servers selected in this GW file. So I'm confused.
Networks: I have an XLL and Network 1, Network 2, Network 3. I assume they can be any network I wish to use. I haven't changed anything from what the hotspot came with. Since it's one of the typical pi-star pre-builts, I assume Brandmeister should be one of them. Best I can tell it's likely Network 1 but there is no name and the IP doesn't look like the server I selected. Can someone explain what these IP represent?
Shouldn't there be a reference to a Brandmeister server? I'm using USA 3103 and don't see anything referencing it.
Slightly off-topic
Contacts: As I understand it, contacts are just a list of TalkGroups. And they can be Group Call or Private Call. My Contacts have a mixture of Group Calls(91, 93, etc). And a few Private for direct contact.
What happens if I make a direct call to an individual Radio ID, through the pi-star? Does it hog the system? Is it publically heard? Is it forbidden? I know if I make an RF call, by ID, it's a radio to radio and others on that freq, don't typically rear it. I'm just wondering what happens if done through a pi-star.
Similarly, what happens if, I add a personal contact (i.e. mine), in my Contact list, and I make it Group Call, vs Private. Then create a channel, for that contact. Does that mean more than one person can contact me simultaneously. I have tried this, and it does go through the system and I hear it on one of my other radios but I don't know if it's possible for multiple people to call me at the same time. Just curious. And if this does happen, again is that something frowned upon, via pi-star. Would everyone ear the conversation.
Finally, the typical way these are used is people make calls from their radio to a talk group. No one is directly contacting another person's radio. But is it possible? Or common? Or allowed? This is similar to above but what if I want any number of people to be able to contact me. Is it possible to make a group call, such that the Group call, does directly to my pi-star, without interfering to TG91 for instance?
I think the answer is yes, because I just created such a channel and contact, and tested it. I had a radio for two different hotspots, and I could hear my call coming out of both radios. But I don't know if that's frowned upon. And I don't know if that makes it a TalkGroup, which I know are frowned upon, if not coordinated. Just trying to understand this stuff.
Thanks