MMDVM Hotspot without Pi!
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- This quick review of the AURSINC MMDVM HS HAT shows you what you can do with this unique device. Using your computer and free software, create a digital voice hotspot without a Raspberry PI!
AURSINC MMDVM HS Hat - amz.run/5g8f (Amazon)
AURSINC Store - amz.run/5g8g
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Just getting into DMR after a friend gifted me a DMR HT. I stuck a duplex HAT on a Pi 2 I had lying around, but I can already see wanting to run a couple more hotspots for other things. This would be a great way to cheaply add more hotspots. Thanks for posting!
Purchased one just now. Thanks!
I want to see it working :-D
that's pretty cool Jim! I'll have to dig in and find out about blue dv or similar to see what I could do!
It's a cool little board. You can actually get one of these. Unobtainium raspberry pi - not so much.
Good info Jim, I never heard of it before. A good option to get you on digital modes.👍🍻
It sure is. And you can actually buy these, unlike the ever elusive snipe...er raspberry pi.
so true Jim! I received a MMDVM dual hat today but have recently had 3 Pi3+ orders cancelled due to no stock. I may have to get some of those. 🤔
How do you update the firmware and where do you get the firmware download. I am assuming you have to set the A-B switch to A to run the MMDVM and B would be set if you want to update the firmware? N2KTO
I haven't messed with updating the firmware on it, but from what I recall, that's correct.
Why not just make a version of the RF board with that functionality built-in? No need for two separate boards.
I don't make 'em, I just 'splain em. The idea with this board is that you don't need a raspberry pi to drive it. This powers off your PC, and you have to add the comm hat board. Most likely the reason there is 2 boards is that this board is solely power interface. Normally, the comm board would be on a PI (which provides the power to the comm board). This is a cheap way to leverage existing comm MMDVM hats.
That is a nice option.
I would love to see a video of this working with Brandmeister DMR..
All references I am finding are referencing PiStar steps..
I'll see what I can do. Basically, you need the bluedv software, this board, and the mmdvm board. that combo=pistar. then it's just a matter of setting up your brandmeister/dmr info in bluedv.
@@FEPLabsRadio I bought the boards and set up BlueDV, set up the hotspot in my DMR CPS, and when I transmit, the screen in BlueDV shows me transmitting, but nothing happens when I receive.
I am sure the real trick is in the DMR CPS. I set it up as the hotspot is a zone and I was going to add all the TGs inside the zone, but it looks like you set the TG inside BlueDV? I don't know as I haven't gotten it to work yet.
Just to be clear, this solution would be like a replacement to the DVMega DVStick if I were to use only the BlueDV software? There's no radio, no RF involved here correct? I saw another RUclips video where another user is using this same solution, but with a DMR radio. I'm guessing both solutions will work.
This option (the serial connector board, and an mmdvm hat) allow you to use your PC to replace the pi part of the hotspot equation. You plug the mmdvm board hat into the serial connector board, and run a usb cable from pc to the connector on the side of the serial board. Run bluedv on your computer, and then use your digital radio to talk whichever of the three digital modes to the computer setup, and then over the net and back. This setup works just like a pi-star setup on a raspberry pi.
How is the audio quality of the two circuit boards for AllStarLink compared to a Shari and Raspberry 3 Pi AllStarLink hotspot?
As far as digital quality goes, it sounds great. I don't know that you can compare this to a Shari setup exactly, but I will say the audio quality of my allstar is a little buzzy, compared to hotspot audio. Low level background hum kind of thing.
congratulations for the video, could you tell me how to install the Pi-star on the computer? and, if more than one can work at the same time connected to the same computer, thanks for your time, greetings from Spain.
Martin, there are numerous pi-star install videos available, on my channel, as well as others. You cannot generally install pi-star on a regular computer, it is designed for a raspberry pi (or similar). It also requires a computer that you can attach the MMDVM board too (not a regular PC).
In answer to your other question, what I think you're asking is if you can use more than one digital mode at a time - yes - more or less. If you are trying to monitor a busy reflector that keeps the pi-star system tied up (say America Link, or REF030C) then the pi-star system will never be able to "monitor" the other voice modes for traffic. It does work, but it does not scan, it stays locked on whatever mode is active at the moment.
Great video. I just bought that thing. Where can I download the Windows driver?
I had to google around a bit. It's the CH340 comm chip, I found this page, which explains the driver in some detail, and has links to the driver site.
learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-install-ch340-drivers/all#drivers-if-you-need-them
I bought one, but I think I was/am confused. Is the idea that you use a PC running BlueDV *instead* of a Pi? So the device won't work standalone (ie, without the computer)? And I assume that means you can't talk to this using pi-star, correct?
That's exactly right. You need 2 pieces, this board, and the mmdvm hat. They connect together and you hook up via USB to your computer. THat allows you to use BlueDV as the hotspot. You still use whatever digital radio you normally would. This setup replace pi-star software, and removes the need for a raspberry pi.
what happened to the link to the driver you said you'd put in?
My bad. sparks.gogo.co.nz/ch340.html
Does blueDV configure the hotspot itself? I dont understand how to set that portion up, or what to put into my radio to connect to the hotspot?
So - with the hat board (the board featured) - you need a MMDVM board (which is actually the hat) as well, that mates to the hat board. Now - you plug your PC into the hat board, and the BlueDV software allows you to use your PC as the hotspot. You configure bluedv for whichever mode you're interested in using (or all three at the same time), and set your radio to the frequency you're using in bluedv. This setup is IN PLACE of a raspberry pi hotspot. The hat board allows you to connect to any computer, the mmdvm connects to the hat, and bluedv drives the whole thing via usb, making it a hotspot.
@@FEPLabsRadio Ohh! Thanks for that info. Thats where it became confusing because it seemed using my pc as a radio was the only option. It was advertised on amazon as a "hotspot" without the need for a Pi.
Needless to say i bought a pi zero w and took the mmdvm board off the com port board and plugged it into the pi zero. Later this afternoon i will try again and see if i can get everything to work. Thanks for the reply!
We might should sus this out on Nuggets with the PA7LIM software!
Seems like a plan!
Wow, that is cool! So instead of a raspberry pi you just use any computer.
Yeah, and you can actually buy these, without having to sell a kidney.
would anyone know if there is a Windows 11 driver for this board. It lights up when connected to the laptops USB port but
it isn't being recognized.
You need the CH341 driver. learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-install-ch340-drivers/all
do you know if it will work with a duplex board and blue dv? config video available?
Good question. I would say off the top of my head that it should? I've never tested it. The key is if bluedv supports a separate tx and rx frequency to use a duplex board.
@@FEPLabsRadio I would be curious if Blue dv supported the dual freq board in single freq mode. I have a friend with one of these boards by mistake
thinking he might be able to use it with the USB hat. It's still hard to find a Raspberry Pi at a reasonable price. For now I told him to buy a complete USB hat
with the MMDVM board to get on the air with a hotspot. It certainly would have been nice if they had USB built into the mmdvm board. Nothing else would be needed
but the PC.
How do you update the firmware using Windows?
Glenn, I just dropped a video about this yesterday (along with some other tips and tricks). I've never updated the mmdvm board, other than when it's connected to a PI. I use the pi-star interface, or use an ssh terminal to remote into the pi (from windows), and do the update that way. However, you can go here - github.com/juribeparada/MMDVM_HS, and download the Zumspot utility, it looks like it will do any MMDVM board. Scroll down, and you will find documentation there.
@@FEPLabsRadio Apparently the Zumspot utility isn't available anymore
They aren't being sold anywhere not even amazon or Ebay
This is what you're lookin for - amzn.to/3SmEVQq
Thanks for the reply I've got all I needed from amazon, all the bits & thanks for your help 73's
Alternatively, jumper wires to an Arduino's USB UART for a $5 solution...
There are more than one way to do it. If you're an Arduino guy, there ya go.
You can beat the 60 bux price on a hat
Yeah, it just depends on where you shop, and how long to wait for shipping. They're all over on the internet.