Simplex (Half Duplex) Hotspots

Notice: Hotspot connections are intended for Kansans and expatriates or their families who cannot reach a KS-DMR repeater. They are not intended for general purpose access or to allow “DX” access to KS-DMR. Hotspots should only be connected when you need to use them and not left connected continuously without consent from the KS-DMR regency. Connections using callsigns, radio IDs, frequencies etc. that are not traceable or valid are subject to disconnect and block.

KS-DMR allows up to ten simultaneous connections from simplex hotspots.

For those of you running Pi-Star, here are instructions for how to add KS-DMR as a host network.
Follow these instructions closely. This is Linux, and it doesn’t forgive a space in the wrong place, or syntax errors, and this is case sensitive. We recommend using ‘cut-n-paste’ rather than typing the commands to help reduce the possibility for errors.

  • Log in to your Pi-Star HTTP config page
  • Click ‘Configuration’
  • Click ‘Expert’
  • Click ‘SSH Access’
  • At the bottom of the window click “Click here for fullscreen SSH client”. Then log in with your credentials.

At the bash prompt, type:
sudo -s
rpi-rw
nano /root/DMR_Hosts.txt

This will open the nano editor, scroll to the very bottom of the file. Enter the following information with NO SPACES, using only the tab key to jump to the next column. (If you cut and paste this line be sure to remove the spaces and insert tabs between the fields.)

KS-DMR_SX_HS 1234 olympic.k0usy.org KS-DMR 62000

To write the file, use <Ctrl> + o then hit enter to save the file. Then <Ctrl> + x to exit.

Now you probably have to add a custom firewall rule to allow port 62000 to work outbound, because Pi-Star uses a firewall.

Type:
nano /root/ipv4.fw

This creates a new file which will be empty. Enter (or cut and paste) the following two lines:

iptables -A OUTPUT -p udp --dport 62000 -j ACCEPT
iptables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -p udp --dport 62000 -j DSCP --set-dscp 46

Then, <Ctrl> + o to write the file, and <Ctrl> + x to exit.

Next, update the firewall rules – type:
pistar-firewall

When that is finished, type exit twice to log out of the SSH window. Then log into your dashboard once more, and click “Admin” and “Update”.
Once the update process finishes, you can then go to “Configuration” and in the DMR Configuration window select KS-DMR_SX_HS as the DMR Master.


The available talkgroups are as shown below:

TGID
2 (KS-DMR Chat)
3120 (Kansas Statewide)