Current_swc_news

LATEST NEWS

GB7IQ Hits both the airwaves and the network

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Published: 13/11/2024

Welcome GB7IQ - Liverton

November 2024 is a busy month for the South West Cluster. This morning (13th) GB7IQ came on air from its new site near Liverton. Good work Dave G3XOU on bringing another repeater onto the network. We hope those in range will enjoy this new repeater and the digital facilities it brings.


BOOM and the network was gone


The trials and tribulations (and panic!) of the system operators

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Published: 12/11/2024

Saturday 9th November 2024, just after midnight the server was taken down for some routine work. The work in question was a minor tweak to one of the configuration files. The work took less time than I expected, in fact I had not even gotten more than ¼ of the way though my cup of coffee. Happy with the changes the server was re-started, and that’s where the world ended! The server start up flagged two errors, one was an expired security certificate, the other was an error we have seen before and was related to the dashboard system. Of course, the first steps were to roll the change I had done back. This was a simple “Delete the file with the change, and restore the backup taken before any work is done”. It was the certificate that we were concerned about. Undoing the changes made no difference; the system was still failing to start with the same errors as above. Clearly it was not the work undertaken at the start of the evening.

At this point I contacted Mark for both moral support and to share the pain the server was causing. Also, two minds always better than one.

As the hours passed a lot of adjustments and testing was carried out to confirm the security certificate issue was not local to our server. The server is part of a very large complex network that allows not only TG950 but the Dial on Demand system. However, because it is connected to other servers it primarily makes contact with a controller server within the inner workings of the FreeDMR system. It was the certificate on this ‘up stream’ server that had expired. At 03:05 there are not many people about. I did reach out to the international keeper community and took advise from a couple of stations to try and fashion a work around. This sadly could not bypass the problem. It was suggested the planned path of contacting the FreeDMR team once the day had started for normal people.


At 09:30 I reached out to the team, but with it being a weekend and people have real lives away from radio, it did take a while to get a response.

The certificate problem could not be resolved until later in the weekend. All we could do at this point was to message the SWC keepers and update them. Our Facebook page was also updated to reflect the current situation.

Sadly, once the certificate issue was resolved the system would still not start. There was an internal IP clash within the Docker on our server that was causing the system to fail to start. We have seen this before, but none of our normal fixes would work. It required for us to reach out once again to the system programmer. In typical speed they identified the issue and resolved it in what felt like 20 seconds but it was quite a few minutes in reality. However once the problem had been identified and the fix applied our sever booted back to life, and at this point for what felt like the whole of the weekend I could breath again.


What was amazing, even before we could send a message to the keepers to advise the system was back up; people were showing on the dashboard, there was even a QSO!


Sorry everyone for the total loss of the SWC. Thank you all for not ear bending Mark or I. However, seriously if you feel you would like to help support the server then please see the notices on the dashboard page for details how you can donate.

GB7LK Joins the cluster

Published: 12/11/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Liskeard calling..

Welcome to the cluster GB7LK and all the users that can access this repeater. Also congratulations to Matt G4RKY and Dave G3XOU on bringing this repeater up.   Coverage maps on will be added very shortly to the Coverage area maps tab.

Welcome GB7YM - Torquay

Published: 01/11/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Torquay welcomed to the cluster.

GB7YM located in Torquay Devon is now on air and connected to the South West Cluster. Please pass any reports to Dave (G3XOU). Congratulations to everyone involved in getting this Repeater on air. Full details of this and all the other Cluster member repeaters can be found under the “Coverage Maps” Tab.

GB7DW: ABRUPT SHUTDOWN

Published: 30/09/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

GB7DW SITE LOST.

At some point late afternoon of September 28th 2024, GB7DW suddenly and unexpectedly vanished from the SWC. Investigations pursued to ensure it was not simply a glitch on the server that controls the repeater. The server system showed what ever had happened to the Repeater was sudden. Mark (G4SDR) contacted the Keeper to inform him the Repeater had dropped of the Dashboard. During the course of Sunday afternoon it was established that the Landlord of the site had simply cut power to the site and demanded the equipment be recovered as soon as possible as the business hosting the repeater had cease operation. No prior communications of the landlords intentions had been received.

Currently the keeper is working on, not only recovery of ALL the equipment owned by the Repeater group, but is also engaged on investigating potential alternative sites. Needless to state, GB7DW will return. Please monitor both the South West Cluster website and on air for further updates.


July 2024 – A busy month.

Published: 29/07/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

July

has been a busy month for the cluster, here is a summary of what’s been going on.


• Investigations are continuing into a small number of sites that use 4G for their back haul network connection. G7FBD has invested in equipment that can be set up to mimic the networks of the affected sites. However, annoyingly around the same time as testing started, the problem cleared! With all faults, its not so much about the fault clearing itself, but more over, what was the root cause of the fault, and what changed to clear it. Investigations continue.


• Welcome GB7CW: Yes, CW is back. The group in South Wales who originally operated GB7CW has obviously handed the NOV back to Ofcom/ETCC/RSGB who in turn has re-issued the callsign. GB7CW will be located in Winchester and is a UHF Repeater. Check the “Cluster Map” page for full details. Information will be added once the repeater goes fully on air. #Note: GB7CW is currently operating on a temporary antenna while waiting for a Rigging crew (And We at GB7BS know all about that!).


• GB7FI Axbridge: Another repeater returning to the cluster is GB7FI located at Fry’s Hill Near the town of Axbridge. GB7FI left the cluster several years ago (Repeaters are totally free to leave if they wish), but after consultation with the repeaters users, the keeper has asked if its possible to re-connect to the cluster which of course we would welcome. GB7FI gives good coverage to the south of the Mendip Hills and as far westward as Weston-Super-Mare.


• The return to service of GB7LK located at Caradon Hill which will give coverage to Liskeard in Cornwall. The repeater has been off air for a short while, but the keeper wanted to get the box up and running again and ask if he could connect GB7LK to the SWC as well as GB7FI. It will be nice to provide service and get a repeater back into service. More updates will follow once we have, yes, updates.

GB7DT - Site move complete

Published: 16/06/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

GB7DT - Site move

Thanks to Dave G3XOU for assisting, and Andrew M1AEG for hosting the move of GB7DT to its new home location of Roche (IO70OJ). The repeater went live on the 15th of June 2024.

GB3BU - Bude

Published: 06/06/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

GB3BU  - Now live

The South West Cluster admin team would like to extend our greetings to the keeper and users of GB3BU located in Bude. The Repeater gives good cover to the area in and around Bude which extends and certainly complements the rest of the cluster. Thanks as always, to the Keeper and the repeaters supporters.

GB7HF - Newton Abbot joins the Cluster

Published: 26/04/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

GB7HF Goes live at 11:30 UTC this morning (26/4).


GB7HF Located in Newton Abbot (Devon) went live this morning. Our congratulations to all involved in bringing this repeater on air. Cluster maps are in the process of being updated and will be live later on today.

Welcome GB7TG - Wembworthy

Published: 20/04/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

GB7TG Joins the South West Cluster.

GB7TG located in Wembworthy located North West of Exeter. Please see the repeater coverage maps for the repeater frequencies.
Congratulations to all involved in bringing this repeater on air.

GB7PC - NOW ON AIR

Published: 03/04/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

GB7PC Goes live.

GB7PC Went live this afternoon (3rd April 2024).

The repeater is located at the the Marconi center at Poldhu.

TR12 7JB. Congratulations to all involved getting the repeater on air. 


Bye then - GB7LZ

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Published: 12/03/2024

At short notice (via a 3rd party), GB7LZ has decided to experiment?? with "Other networks".  As the ADMIN team maintain,  groups can leave when ever they wish, although a direct email to the ADMIN team would be just a polite thing to do! That aside, all the best and thanks for the FISH.

Radio technology is coming home!   Welcome GB7PC

Published: 19/02/2024

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Image (C)RSGB - UKrepeaters.net.

GB7PC to join the South West Cluster.

On the 17th Feb 2024 The latest member of the South West Cluster - GB7PC located at the Marconi Centre near Poldhu Cove (IO70IA) was granted an NOV.

The proposed repeater will be operated by the radio club located at the Marconi Centre.

At the moment the team are busy procuring the various components to assemble into this 2m repeater. Once the frequency is confirmed and a launch date has been issued by the team the coverage maps and information section of this site will be updated.


Published: 24/12/2023

NEW VIDEO LAUNCHED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO

THE SOUTH WEST CLUSTER

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Video introduction to the South West Cluster.

Dave (G3ZXX) has made public his rather good introduction to the South West cluster on his GB3JB Website. Link [HERE].

Welcome - GB7FB - Bideford. Our latest member

Published: 07/09/2023

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Welcome to GB7FB, located in Bideford.

Check the coverage maps for this and other cluster member repeaters. There is also information on their operating frequencies and links to the UK Repeater website where full operating perameters can be found.


As with all our repeaters, a big thank you to all the individuals that are involved with getting repeaters like GB7FB on air.

Published: 21/08/2022

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Something Wonderful: Changes comming to GB7BS/ The Southwest Cluster.

Something Wonderful

 

The title of this news item may confuse some; much as it has our recent Facebook postings and YouTube viewers.

 

It was aimed to get peoples attention and raise interest, which may of lead to questions being asked.

 

Since its concept in 2014, the SouthWest Cluster (SWC) has existed to provide a reliable, simple to use, DMR Network across partner repeaters in the area. Over this time period a few early adopters into the cluster have moved on to other Networks. (This is one of the mantras of the SWC. Groups are encouraged to manage their own repeaters and their own destiny’s). But generally, member repeater numbers have increased.

 

This has caused us a little, not so well known predicament!

 

Motorola by design only supports up to 15 devices. One of those is known as the “Master Repeater”. This repeater holds a database of all the SWC Repeater members connected to it, and distributes data to the other repeaters so they learn about each other.

 

We have grown to 10 repeaters at time of writing this, along with a couple of monitoring units we use to help maintain the cluster, this brings us to 12 units. And we have another two repeaters interested in connecting into the SWC. So we are quickly reaching the magic number of 15.


Mark – G4SDR and I have been working on this ’15 is the max number’ problem for over 2 years; one solution would have cost lots of money. But late last year we became aware of FreeDMR. Since then we have been working with Simon and Jon from FreeDMR here in the UK who have kindly customised their software solution to meet our requirements for the SWC.


We are therefore pleased to announce that armed with our own server, which is running a fully custom build of FreeDMR. We now can break free of the 15 repeater limit. However, this does mean a slight tweak to the internal design of the SWC Network, but the good news for you, the user, nothing will change. No need to re-program radios, nothing.

Compare the old network layout to the new network layout. Keen eyed among you will spot two things. The first thing: GB7BS has been demoted from being the ‘Master’ repeater (That role has been taken over by the server) to being a Peer, just like all other SWC repeaters. 

 

The second thing: “Dial on demand Talkgroups” on Slot 1 Talkgroup 9 (next to the red line going to the internet). No, this is not a printing mistake; Talkgroup 9 will continue to be your local repeater only Timeslot/Talkgroup, as it does now.

 

However, one of the “Wonderful Things” that FreeDMR brings to the SWC is a function called “Dial on Demand” Talkgroups.

 Dial on Demand (DoD). How does it work?

 

Simple:

 

Move to Timeslot 1 Talkgroup 9, as you would do normally, but now instead, (this is the tricky bit as it is dependent on the radio you are using)!

 

You need to go to your Contacts list, and find the ‘Manual Dial Contact’ option or similar.

 

Then Type in the desired Talkgroup number, such as 2350, then just press the PTT.  No need to select Ok from the menu. Just press the PTT for a second. That’s it!!

 

If successful, the server will verbally announce “Connected to…” followed by your dialled Talkgroup number. In our example you will hear “Connected to 2350”.

 

Next time you press your PTT you will be on Talkgroup 2350 and can use the radio as normal. But stations anywhere in the UK listing to Talkgroup 2350 will hear you and can respond.

YES your radio will continue to transmit on Timeslot 1 Talkgroup 9 to the repeater and the repeater will be transmitting on the same Timeslot/Talkgroup back to you, but thanks to the new server your transmission is converted to Talkgroup 2350 and relayed up into the FreeDMR network as 2350.

Anyone tuning to your local repeater while you’re using a dial on demand Talkgroup will hear that Talkgroup, and can join in without having to change any settings on their radio or hunt for the Talkgroup in use.

 

All we do ask is, once you finish a DoD QSO, Manual dial Talkgroup 4000 and press PTT for a second to Disconnect you. You will hear the message  “Not Linked”

 

Dialling TG 5000 (PTT) will cause the server to report either the currently dialled and connected Talkgroup number, or simply report  “Not Linked” if no one is using a DoD.

 

Just a few last things about the new Timeslot 1 Talkgroup 9.

 

  • While using DoD you’re only tying up your local repeater not the whole SWC.
  • There is no DoD timeout unlike some networks. You want a 50 min QSO you have it.
  • If someone leaves a DoD Talkgroup active (Shame on them) the system will automatically disconnect it after 10 minutes of inactivity.
  • Every 15 minutes you will hear your local repeaters Callsign beacon. This is only on Slot 1 TG9 and in speech.