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.

GB7PC - NOW ON AIR

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Bye then - GB7LZ

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.

By:  Mat - G7FBD

Welcome - GB7FB - Bideford. Our latest member

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.

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.

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.