[set aside the thread above for the moment and go back to your prior questions; we need to walk first before trying to run; get one step down before moving to the next step.]
KK4GMU wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 1:27 pm
The
first (existing) hotspot is a fully set up, fully functional TGIF Spot, Nextion screen simplex, single band. I don't want to touch that or impact it in any way. Used ONLY at home with my Windows computer and accessing my home wifi router.
https://tgifspot.com/tgifspot-3.5-inch-nextion
The
second, new system is a fully assembled, partially configured hotspot, cheap small screen, duplex, dual band, that will be used mobile in my car away from home accessing ONLY my Android phone.
https://cqradios.com/DMR%20Hotspot%20clone
I want to be certain that when I set up this
second hotspot that I do not impact what Pi-Star saved for the
first hotspot. That's why I am paranoid about what is saved where and how: to avoid saving something in the second hotspot that would mess up what I saved in the first one. Several Pi-Star configuration settings will be different on this
second hotspot including: Type of screen, different and two frequencies, duplex vs. simplex, and possibly others (?).
Unless you are moving the SD card from one to other, these are essential two, separate systems; what you do on one does not effect the other.
Also, I understand (correctly?) that the Full Edit: DMR GW file reverts to a previously file (does not remain as intended) once any particular setting on the Configuration page are changed.
Regarding the Full Edit: DMR GW file: What is the best way to reproduce my current Full Edit: DMR GW data and copy it into the FULL Edit: DMR GW of my new/second hotspot Pi-Star file? Can I simply copy it from a saved Word file into Pi-Star? I want to retain that creation because it is set up for both Brandmeister and TGIF and I want to retain my passwords, and other personal settings.
If you start down the path of using the Full Edit to configure, best you stick with that approach thereafter.
Regardless of which approach you use, ALL config info (passwords, rewrite rules, etc) is saved and can be transferred to another hotspot via cloning or the backup/restore process - no need to cut-n-paste. With backup/restore, you can create multiple saved configs: configure, save, reconfigure, save again, etc.; the backups are time-date stamped so you can keep track of which config is which.
Is it correct that it is best to have the
first hotspot turned OFF so that there is no chance of mistakenly saving
second hotspot config to it?
I read very literally, so I ask for specificity (and redundancy if necessary) to clarify. A bit simple minded OCD here.
For example, "save to SD card": Which one, the one in the Hotspot, or the one in my computer's card reader. Or it doesn't matter. Or why can't I just save it to a computer hard drive folder? Or why is it best to use "cloning software" versus merely copying and pasting a file?
What you do on one hotspot stays on that hotspot; it does not effect the other hotspot(s). What you do on one hotspot is saved on the SD card in that hotspot, and does not effect the SD card(s) in/on other computers/hotspots.
My "save-to-what" paranoia is caused by my failure in attempting to set up a
second hotspot (since returned). I ignorantly tried creating an SD card config in my computer with my first hotspot ON
I later turned OFF both the Pi-Star and my Hotspot. I went to turn BOTH on, and both remained DEAD. I had to use my backup SD card in the original Hotspot to revive it and then turn on Pi-star. I never did get the second hotspot to work. Robert B's advice to backup your SD cards, maybe in triplicate, is well taken. Is there a "beat self over head with hammer" emoji????
SD cards are a tricky, temperamental component; we've all been there, done that, we've all stumbled or been stumped by these infernal devices.
To alay your fears here, try this:
1) starting with your first hotspot, assuming its fully, or nearly fully configured, save the configuration via the dashboard->backup/restore selection. That configuration is saved to your computer. Shut down this hotspot.
2) taking a new SD card, image Pi-Star on this new card using your computer. Drop (copy) the configuration file you saved from step 1 in to the /boot directory of the image while it's still plugged into your computer.
3) insert this new card into your second hotspot and boot up. Give it some time (first time boot ups are always the slowest) and log into the dashboard for this new hotspot. It should looks essentially like the dashboard for your first hotspot. Configure (reconfigure) to accommodate the new components of this second hotspot.
4) once you have the second hotspot working the way you want, save a copy of this configuration to your computer. Each saved configuration has a different date-time stamp, so you will not wipe out or replace your prior config.
And this point you should have two functionally identical hotspots - with two completely separate SD cards, and two separate (saved) configurations - BUT you can only run hotspot at a time; both can NOT be powered on at the same time.
Note: the key here, as others have pointed out, are the saved configuration(s): Given a saved configuration, you can a) build a new image, on a new SD card, and restore a prior working configuration - bring a dead system back to life, or b) build a new image, on a new SD card, and using a prior configuration, to start up a new system.
Get to this point first, then we'll explain what you can do next to run them side-by-side, simultaneously.
