Fabrice,
Yes, while Pi-Star is mostly up to date with the latest G4KLX MultiMode software versions, including the very new M17 mode, it is not up to date with the older G4KLX D-Star only software. It is not helped by the fact that G4KLX only makes the older programs available as source code. In the past, he also distributed a binary version compiled for Intel/Windows, and another ham would also compile for Intel/Linux, so all we had to do is download binaries.
Pi-Star was built for home-based hotspots, but I am finding new MultiMode repeaters are also using it. The main drawback is the Administrative password is the only protection to keep non-administrators out of the admin function. The main advantage is Andy takes care of all the updating and it is really easy to administrate.
I am an administrator that prefers software stability over the latest version. In the D-Star world, there are very few features being added, at least not features our repeater users are asking for.
But I understand different repeaters have different purposes and different user requirements. We are lucky to have so many choices.
There are several sources of the latest gateways and their IP addresses. I have seen a few articles about how to use these other sources on Pi-Star using automated updates.
Good luck on the new system in the center of Paris. Sounds like a fun project!
Jim – K6JM
PS One comment – since your use of G3 will be to have callsign registration, you will need to identify the Linux tasks that need to be stopped so ircDDBGateway can function as the gateway. If you can’t find the list, I can find that information, since I needed to know that when I loaded G3 onto a Cloud VM in order to run the registration app and database on a machine that of course did not have any gateway software.
From: G3-ircDDBGateway@groups.io <G3-ircDDBGateway@groups.io> On Behalf Of f5hcc
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2022 11:00 AM
To: G3-ircDDBGateway@groups.io
Subject: Re: [G3-ircDDBGateway] Is it possible to install ICOM G3 software AFTER IRCddbGateway software ?
Good Afternoon Jim.
Thank you for your feedback.
I will use your experience to do the things right !
I am already running a D-Star repeater (till many years now !) based on non-ICOM hardware, 2 TAIT Radios, a GMSK modem and a RPi. Software is G4KLX software suite under PiOS (no Pi-Star !).
All this is running fine, the only drawback is to have to update manually on a regular basis the IP addresses of the reflectors.
On the other hand, I bought an ICOM configuration (RP2C, RP2000V, RP4000V) that has been dismantled in Paris a few years ago, the team in charge of it was no longer interested in D-Star and migrated to DMR, then P25 and TETRA.
This repeater will be located at the same place than before (center of Paris) with only UHF band running (the cost for a VHF duplexer is too high to deploy again the RP2000V !).
The PC will run CentOS with ICOM G3 for registration (I bought it from ICOM) and G4KLX IRCddbGateway for reflectors connectivity.
I use PiStar on my hotspots, it is very interesting for "auto-update" (reflectors IP addresses), but when you "explore" it, you can find some differences as it doesn't use the latest version of G4KLX suite (especially for APRS-IS connectivity).
In fact, PiStar is a kind of "black box" which is very easy to use by the newbie, but a bit frustrating for an expert (which I ain't !!!).
I heard that some sysops wrote a package that was able to update the files containing the reflector IP addresses for IRCddbGateway (the same way it is done in PiStar), I will try to get that.
Best 73 from Fabrice, F5HCC.
