Help - trying to setup a ratflecter
Our club is trying to setup a D-Rats reflector, but appear to be having some issues.
We are using a computer behind a router with a Fixed IP from our internet provider.
We selected Files - Tools - Network Proxy
We added a port
We selected Network, entered our routers wan IP as host with port 9000 and a blank password
The Accept Incoming Connects box is checked
We opened the 9000 port in the router for TCP.
When trying to make a connection to the above configuration it times out.
Are we doing this correctly?? Please help....
Thank and 73 W4DUI
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
Dan this is great its the same experience I have and my results match yours - an additional test that I ran was simply running the DVAP with the software. so my station was radio--->DVAP--->DstartGateway(PCrepeater)-->ircddbGW--->drats
this setup works fully.. its only when the gateway traverses the internet that "inbound packets" seem to not function. (the bug)?
thanks I will be putting in the bug this weekend in hopes to raise attention to it. on the IRCddbGW group
Kelly
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
I did a little testing on this tonight to see if I could document any clues.? Here’s my configuration, test, and conclusion. ? Configuration: Station #1:?? D-RATS – 2820 Radio – Local Icom Dstar Repeater – REF030D Station #2:?? D-RATS – ircDDBGateway on a Raspberry Pi – REF030D In this configuration I’m not running any of Jonathan’s repeater apps – only ircDDBGateway. ? The ircDDBGateway/Pi configuration is how I run my DVAP and a NWDigital board, So, I’m confident it works. ? Test: If I transmit from D-RATS on Station 1 I’m not heard on Station 2.? But, I was able to chat with Patrick (N3TSZ) from Station 1. ?Patrick was seeing me because of another ratflector that is linked to REF030D.? If I transmit from D-RATS on Station 2 I see the message on Station 1, and Patrick confirmed that he saw the message.? ? While doing this test I ran Wireshark to capture packets between Station 2 and the Pi.? I see two way communication when I transmit from Station 2.? I was able to dig through the packets enough to see the text of the message I transmitted, and I see a single ACK packet back from the Pi to the DRATS station.?? But, nothing else. ? I also did the capture from my router so I could see what was happening between the Pi and REF030D.?? I see two way traffic there for every packet that is sent from either Station 1 (I believe this is correct, may need to confirm it again) ?or Station 2 (I’m positive on this one). ? Conclusion:?? I am able to send successfully from D-RATS connected to ircDDBGateway to REF030D, but I never receive any response other than an ACK packet from the Pi.?? I appear to have traffic between ircDDBGateway and REF030D for all traffic on ?REF030D.? ircDDBGateway does not appear to be sending anything back to D-RATS from REF030D even though ircDDBGateway is receiving packets.? ? ? If Jonathon is interested in exploring this further I will be happy to provide my packet capture and do any further testing that I can.?? If anyone has an idea of something else to test here I will be glad to give it a try. ? Dan W4DTO
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Josh,
? Thanks for the info...Lew, KB5HPT, had mentioned this on the El Paso D-Star Net the other night, and I now have it added into D-Rats.
Daryl, WX1DER
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
I too, had wanted to run D-RATS on the gateway computer and link it directly to the repeater. But my experiences with users who became annoyed with the repeater keying up with out any voice traffic on it made me change direction. My approach is to use two D-STAR radios connected through the the D-RATS repeater program (Ratflector) to act as a data repeater. I have a UHF repeater pair available. I am going to use an Icom U82 portable as the receiver and an Icom IC-800 as the transmitter. Since they will be connected by their respective serial data ports, only low speed data will pass. In addition, I will have a TNC and VHF simplex radio connected to another port. All this will be running on a Raspberry Pi at the same site as the club repeater and share the internet connection. The router at the site forwards incoming packets on port 9000 to the Raspberry Pi. The system acts as hub, where any data coming in one port is sent out all of the others. A long range goal is to connect a 300 bps packet modem and HF radio. I don't yet have enough data to determine whether or not D-RATS on HF is practical.
This system has several advantages: No interference with/by voice traffic. Wide area coverage for low power or mobile D-STAR users. Interoperability with stations using packet hardware. Internet access for field units.
It is also recommended ?to run the D-RATS client program on the same Raspberry Pi computer. It can be used for bulletins and alerts, file storage and retrieval, and mail forwarding - even to internet e-mail addresses. This is also a practical alternative to Winlink.
This project is still a work in progress. I will keep the group apprised of my efforts, and welcome any questions. ? Patrick (N3TSZ)
From: "dan dan@... [d-rats_group]" <d-rats_group@...>
To: d-rats_group@...
Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2015 6:44 PM
Subject: RE: [d-rats_group] Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
?
Kelly, I'll be glad to do anything I can to help. ?If I have time tomorrow I will set up my test bed again. ?I had planned to do that and grab packet captures from the network to try to see if the data is getting to the two end points. Maybe that will help Jonathan.
Dan
Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S? 5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------- From: "kellykeeton@... [d-rats_group]" Date: 12/29/2015 17:35 (GMT-05:00) To: d-rats_group@... Subject: [d-rats_group] Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
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Dan thankyou! this is exact behavior I have I am happy someone else had it I will publish a bug on the ircddbgateway ASAP if you could please notify that this needs attention it would be most helpful - I know Johnathan is away on vacation right now so I was waiting till he got back so it wasnt lost in "holiday email"
Kelly K7MHI
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
Kelly, I'll be glad to do anything I can to help. ?If I have time tomorrow I will set up my test bed again. ?I had planned to do that and grab packet captures from the network to try to see if the data is getting to the two end points. Maybe that will help Jonathan.
Dan
Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S? 5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
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-------- Original message -------- From: "kellykeeton@... [d-rats_group]" <d-rats_group@...> Date: 12/29/2015 17:35 (GMT-05:00) To: d-rats_group@... Subject: [d-rats_group] Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
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Dan thankyou! this is exact behavior I have I am happy someone else had it I will publish a bug on the ircddbgateway ASAP if you could please notify that this needs attention it would be most helpful - I know Johnathan is away on vacation right now so I was waiting till he got back so it wasnt lost in "holiday email"
Kelly K7MHI
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
Dan thankyou! this is exact behavior I have I am happy someone else had it I will publish a bug on the ircddbgateway ASAP if you could please notify that this needs attention it would be most helpful - I know Johnathan is away on vacation right now so I was waiting till he got back so it wasnt lost in "holiday email"
Kelly K7MHI
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
I am working very hard to figure this out - over on the ircddbgateway group I have a thread on this topic.. the product seems to not function - I feel this is a bug. I have collected a ton of data to support (I hope) fixing the functionality of this.?
If you check out that thread I have a lot of details on what is and is not working. I could really use more testing and help - specifically my gateway is still G2 and I need to test if DRATS problems are data issues from G2<-ircDDBgateway (I have one way data issues I feel is a bug)?
I am happy to detail my current progress just email me. I also hope to publish a bug with exact issues to the ircddbgateway team soon I am collecting a lot of data packets and logs to deliver a full story before I yell "bug"
I would really appreciate any of you providing feedback on the ircddbgateway group to get attention to the user community - the more of us that want to see this working the better we get software development (I am an low level cpp guy but dont feel I can attack this bug with my cpp skills)
Ideally yes ircDDBgateway would just "run drats" on the server no extra radio no hotspot this works fine today in simplex hotspot mode. it works one direction in gateway mode so we are almost there.. I will document this fully when it works 100%
?- my dream is that if people are connected to the repeater they just "forward all traffic to the repeater" the repeater has backup internet and power - my users may not.. I also keep files of importance on the drats as well as mentioned I can deliver WX data and other repeater data as binary info to DRATS and all users can access this like a radio file server and information source. additionally I can just link my ratflector local to other ratflectors and we create a real nice network - no need for extra servers hosts or radios?
please join ircddbgateway and jump on the thread - help me identify the bug or holler out support for the functionality so we raise the awareness - dstar and drats is a powerful tool we just need to sharpen it a little.
Kelly K7MHI
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
KG9BO (I think) said...
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The way that I understand this is done and tested with a simplex hotspot is to turn on D-RATS server by using ircddbgateway. ?Then, it should create a port that you can tell D-RATS as a radio to connect as localhost and then that port number. ?My observations (may not be entirely correctly) were that with a station on RF could see the transmissions from the hotspot's D-RATS client connected to this port. Any activity from a gateway would be receiviable here
I think this functionality is already built into ircDDBGateway, but I don't think it works (either that or I'm not finding documentation that I can understand). ? I enabled the DRATS option on ircDDBGateway. ?I connected ?a DRATS client instance to the ircDDBGateway DRATS port. ?Finally, I linked up to REF030D where there is another ratflector linked by RF. ? ? I don't remember which way this worked, but I was only able to get one-way communication. ?I believe it worked outbound from the ircDDB side to REF030D, but nothing sent from the REF030D side made it back to the ircDDB side.
If it worked it would add much needed functionality to a really good tool. ? I don't think it would even require a switch from DPlus to ircDDBGateway. ? Could be as simple as putting DRATS and ircDDBGateway on a Raspberry Pi.
As for running a ratflector on a DSTAR gateway, I have been doing that for several months now. ?Works great - depending on the bandwidth to the repeater site. ? But, the ratflector isn't in any way linked to the repeater. ?It's merely running on the same box.?
I posted my experience with ircDDBGateway and DRATS on the ircDDBGateway forum, but never got any advice except something like "I tried that too and didn't have much success". ? ?If we could generate interest with the developer I would be happy to participate in testing.
Dan W4DTO
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
Hello Josh,
I too would really like to see this issue resolved as I'd love to
see being able to run D-RATS on a local repeater stack w/o the
need for a secondary transmitter.? If a TCP connector could be
integrated directly into ircDDB, it would be great to see if one
D-RATS ratflector could service the -B, -C, and maybe even the -A
modules!
So the question is.. who do we pursue this with since it seems
that 50% of the communications is already working?
--David
KI6ZHD
On 12/29/2015 10:53 AM, kg9bo@...
[d-rats_group] wrote:
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?
I don't know if you got a response on this or not but I
will put my 2 cents in...
These were my observations on it and haven't done this in
a while. This is something I also want to do and it would
be the defining factor of moving the gateway that I'm an
admin/co-owner (KC9SJY) of over to ircDDB instead of using
G2/DPLUS with Icom hardware. It would eliminate having
some hardware device in between the repeater and the user
for D-RATS. Though, I would still have to convert all
scripts with some bash/linux magic (predominately to use
textransmit) from those that I currently possess many
DPLUS scripts to get WX info off my station nearby wjocj
work well with this current setup...
The way that I understand this is done and tested with a
simplex hotspot is to turn on D-RATS server by using
ircddbgateway.
Then, it should create a port that you can tell D-RATS as
a radio to connect as localhost and then that port number.
My observations (may not be entirely correctly) were that
with a station on RF could see the transmissions from the
hotspot's D-RATS client connected to this port. Any
activity from a gateway would be receiviable here.
The hotspot's client (server) doesn't see anything but can
transmit it and goes out RF for the client to see. I don't
remember but not really sure any gateway activity is
received by a remote client or not.RATS activity.
What I seem to remember is that G4KLX posted a while ago
that probably exists currently in the current versionis a
way that low speed data through ircDDB can be debugged but
don't remember how that was done. If he would be provide
some data and have some time to go over it, programming
could be done to make this function work.
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
I don't know if you got a response on this or not but I will put my 2 cents in...
These were my observations on it and haven't done this in a while. This is something I also want to do and it would be the defining factor of moving the gateway that I'm an admin/co-owner (KC9SJY) of over to ircDDB instead of using G2/DPLUS with Icom hardware. It would eliminate having some hardware device in between the repeater and the user for D-RATS. Though, I would still have to convert all scripts with some bash/linux magic (predominately to use textransmit) from those that I currently possess many DPLUS scripts to get WX info off my station nearby wjocj work well with this current setup...
The way that I understand this is done and tested with a simplex hotspot is to turn on D-RATS server by using ircddbgateway.
Then, it should create a port that you can tell D-RATS as a radio to connect as localhost and then that port number.
My observations (may not be entirely correctly) were that with a station on RF could see the transmissions from the hotspot's D-RATS client connected to this port. Any activity from a gateway would be receiviable here.
The hotspot's client (server) doesn't see anything but can transmit it and goes out RF for the client to see. I don't remember but not really sure any gateway activity is received by a remote client or not.RATS activity.
What I seem to remember is that G4KLX posted a while ago that probably exists currently in the current versionis a way that low speed data through ircDDB can be debugged but don't remember how that was done. If he would be provide some data and have some time to go over it, programming could be done to make this function work.
73
Josh, AB9FT
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Thanks for getting another Ratflector online. I have added it to my connections. I suggest you go to dstarinfo.com, click on the Contact tab, and notify them directly. They can also make an alias for your Ratflector and re-direct it to yours. They have control of ratflector.com and could give you something like wisconsin.ratflector.com.
Good luck and 73? Patrick (N3TSZ)
From: "Josh Housey kg9bo@... [d-rats_group]"
To: yahoogroups
Cc: "info@..."
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 8:26 PM
Subject: [d-rats_group] Wisconsin Ratflector
?
A while ago, I was testing towards implementing an Internet-only Ratflector for Wisconsin.
I
have been able to acquire a means to make it easier to connect and
decided to put one online for all to use. Currently, I plan on using it
for the Wisconsin D-STAR Net but will be available for general usage, and even with
emergency/priority traffic if necessary.
Please put in an entry on under D-RATS for a Wisconsin Ratflector with the following information:
Hostname: ab9ft.dlinkddns.com Port:9000
73 Josh, AB9FT
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A while ago, I was testing towards implementing an Internet-only Ratflector for Wisconsin.
I
have been able to acquire a means to make it easier to connect and
decided to put one online for all to use. Currently, I plan on using it
for the Wisconsin D-STAR Net but will be available for general usage, and even with
emergency/priority traffic if necessary.
Please put in an entry on under D-RATS for a Wisconsin Ratflector with the following information:
Hostname: ab9ft.dlinkddns.com Port:9000
73 Josh, AB9FT
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Re: Adding a D-Rats reflector directly into an Icom Dstar repeater stack
any follow up here??
Could you tell me exactly what you have configured in the D-RATS "radio" section, specifically what your port screen looks like.
how did the radio stack connect to the software?
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Thank for the heads up.? Will be back shortly.
?
John WB4QDX
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From: d-rats_group@... [mailto:d-rats_group@...]
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2015 7:14 PM
To: d-rats_group@...
Subject: [d-rats_group] worldwide ratflector
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?
The Worldwide ratflector, drats.ratflector.com, seems to be down.? Does anyone know if this is permanent or will it be back on the air shortly?
Thanks for any input.
k4pz
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The Worldwide ratflector, drats.ratflector.com, seems to be down.? Does anyone know if this is permanent or will it be back on the air shortly? Thanks for any input. k4pz
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Re: Setting up D-Rats on a Windows Tablet
I concur with Dan. The error message is related to mail settings. Go to File>Preferences>Messages and clear the POP server and SMTP server boxes. Also verify the settings in Outgoing E-mail and E-Mail Accounts, if you tried setting them up. Also give yourself permission in E-Mail access, else your outbox will never empty.
Good luck and 73
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Re: Setting up D-Rats on a Windows Tablet
Ok, I? am by no means an expert here, so someone who knows more than me feel free to jump in!?? I think the error here is in the last string - ?“DRATS_POP3Server instance has no attribute”. ? I had typed a long reply telling you what I would do to try to troubleshoot this, and then I reproduced your problem! ?Problem is I don’t know exactly how I did it!? ? I can tell you if I go to File/Preferences/Messages and uncheck the POP3 Server box at the bottom of the screen and hit Save I get the same message you saw.?? But, if I quit and restart I don’t get the message.? I can recheck that box and save and I don’t get the error.? But, if I uncheck it again and save I get the error. ? Maybe take a look at that box to see how it is set and toggle it and save. ? Wish I knew more.? D-RATS is a great app, but the error handling leaves something to be desired. ? Dan W4DTO ?
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From: d-rats_group@... [mailto:d-rats_group@...]
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 3:39 PM
To: d-rats_group@...
Subject: [d-rats_group] Re: Setting up D-Rats on a Windows Tablet? ? I get the error message anytime I make a change to the Preferences/Radio setup. I just click QUIT and restart the program. Drats seems to accept the changes and works fine afterwards. The error has always occurred on every Windows 7 (32/64) and Windows 10 PC I have; so I assumed it is just a bug. D-RATS has encountered an error. This may be non-fatal, so you may click Ignore below to attempt to continue running.? Otherwise, click 'Quit' to terminate D-RATS now. If you are planning to file a bug for this issue, please click Debug Log below and include the contents in the bug tracker. If you need to ignore all additional warnings for this session, However, please reproduce and report the issue when possible. Traceback (most recent call last): ? File "d_rats\mainapp.pyo", line 643, in __config_changed ? File "d_rats\mainapp.pyo", line 511, in refresh_config ? File "d_rats\mainapp.pyo", line 388, in _refresh_mail_threads ? File "d_rats\mailsrv.pyo", line 52, in stop AttributeError: DRATS_POP3Server instance has no attribute 'shutdown'
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Re: Setting up D-Rats on a Windows Tablet
I get the error message anytime I make a change to the Preferences/Radio
setup.
I just click QUIT and restart the program.
Drats seems to accept the changes and works fine afterwards.
?
The error has always occurred on every Windows 7 (32/64) and Windows 10
PC
I have; so I assumed it is just a bug.
?
The error windows says:
?
D-RATS has encountered an error.
?
This may be non-fatal, so you may click
Ignore below to attempt to continue running.?
Otherwise, click 'Quit' to terminate D-RATS now.
If you are planning to file a bug for this issue,
please click Debug Log below and include the contents in the bug
tracker.
?
If you need to ignore all additional warnings for this session,
click Ignore All.?
However, please reproduce and report the issue when possible.
?
DETAILS:
Traceback (most recent call last):
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? File "d_rats\mainapp.pyo", line 643, in __config_changed
?
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? File "d_rats\mainapp.pyo", line 511, in refresh_config
?
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? File "d_rats\mainapp.pyo", line 388, in
_refresh_mail_threads
?
?
? File "d_rats\mailsrv.pyo", line 52, in stop
?
?
AttributeError: DRATS_POP3Server instance has no attribute
'shutdown'
?
73
?
?
William
Barron W1WAB
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Re: Setting up D-Rats on a Windows Tablet
Hi, Glen. ?Can you post the text of the error message you are getting? ?? Dan? W4DTO
Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S? 5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
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Dan Ozment
Patrick Connor