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Block User from Ratflector?


 

Is there way to block a user from a ratflector?? We have two operators from Portugal sending weather messages to us almost continuously. That unneeded traffic makes it easy to lose track of local traffic.? I've filtered them in DRATS, but would like to block them from the ratflector.


 

From page 5 of the documentation at?

Authentication If you decide that you need a minimal level of security in the form of rejecting casual users, you can enable authentication on the proxy. This will require people to configure D-RATS with a password in order to connect. To do this, create a text file in the working directory of the repeater called users.txt and place lines such as the following inside:
?KK7DS foobar
?K7TAY girlie
The format of the file is one record per line, each line is the callsign followed by a space, followed by the password that user must supply. On Windows, this file should go in C:\Program Files\D-RATS\users.txt unless you installed D-RATS to an alternate location. On Linux or MacOS it will go in the directory from which you spawn the repeater.

On Sat, Jan 8, 2022 at 12:20 PM Dan Ozment <dan@...> wrote:
Is there way to block a user from a ratflector?? We have two operators from Portugal sending weather messages to us almost continuously. That unneeded traffic makes it easy to lose track of local traffic.? I've filtered them in DRATS, but would like to block them from the ratflector.


 

Dan,

I saw the message from the documentation, but I just have this set up in my system...since I rarely access the QST's and CQ's anyway. Admittedly, the CT1EDG and CT1EBQ stations are doing the majority of the "weather flooding" (no pun intended). But, I will add it to the Mode Overview file that I have off of the hyperlink on my QRZ website. Since I don't have a ratflector of my own that I run (there is one I "hang out on"), the option in the documentation might not work for me. However, what I've noted below, DOES work on my setup.

To avoid excess QST's and CQ's from filling the chat window, do the following under File -> Preferences -> Appearance:

1) In the IgnoreRegEx window, type \[QST\] \[CQCQCQ\] -- you MUST have a space between each one, or D-Rats will crash each time you load it.

2) In the Chat Window, you will click on Add Filter twice. The first time, type [QST] and press <ENTER>. The second time, type CQCQCQ: and press <ENTER>.

Tabs for each of these filters will be below the chat window; just click on the tab to view them.

The other option might be to have them send a private chat window to you...it will show an @ symbol, then their callsign. And, you could click on that to view it. If you didn't want to view it, just click on "Remove Filter".

Daryl, WX4QZ


 

Just out of curiosity, has anyone considered emailing these folks and asked politely for them to adjust their broadcasts? I know I would prefer a politely?worded email if I was doing something others considered annoying.

Their email is listed on QRZ:




On Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 2:13 PM Daryl Stout <wx1der@...> wrote:
Dan,

I saw the message from the documentation, but I just have this set up in my system...since I rarely access the QST's and CQ's anyway. Admittedly, the CT1EDG and CT1EBQ stations are doing the majority of the "weather flooding" (no pun intended). But, I will add it to the Mode Overview file that I have off of the hyperlink on my QRZ website. Since I don't have a ratflector of my own that I run (there is one I "hang out on"), the option in the documentation might not work for me. However, what I've noted below, DOES work on my setup.

To avoid excess QST's and CQ's from filling the chat window, do the following under File -> Preferences -> Appearance:

1) In the IgnoreRegEx window, type \[QST\] \[CQCQCQ\] -- you MUST have a space between each one, or D-Rats will crash each time you load it.

2) In the Chat Window, you will click on Add Filter twice. The first time, type [QST] and press <ENTER>. The second time, type CQCQCQ: and press <ENTER>.

Tabs for each of these filters will be below the chat window; just click on the tab to view them.

The other option might be to have them send a private chat window to you...it will show an @ symbol, then their callsign. And, you could click on that to view it. If you didn't want to view it, just click on "Remove Filter".

Daryl, WX4QZ


 

Good point, Dave!? Since I brought it up, I'll give this a try..?


 

Thanks, Daryl.? I've got them listed in igooreregex as you described above.? I also included their call sign in the ignoreregex field.? Like this -?\[QST\] \[CQCQCQ\] CT1EBQ CT1EDG.? Then I created folders for QST, CQCQCQ, and each call sign. I just hate having to ask all of our local users to do that.? Wish I could get them to stop spamming my ratflector.?

I will take Dave's suggestion and send them a polite email.? Let's see if that works.

Also, thanks for the suggestion on adding a password.? I've wondered how that worked.? I've kicked around the idea of changing the port we listen on to something other than 9000.


 

Dan, be sure to send them this email in Portuguese, because they may not know English. You can do this by opening up Google Translate, and having the left side on English, and the right side on Portuguese. Once you have composed it, click on the Copy,? button, which is the first symbol on the bottom right of the "Translate To" field. Then, go to your email that you are composing to them, and right-click on it, and then click Paste, and then just send it. That's what I've been thinking about doing myself regarding these two. I just haven't gotten around to it. I hope this helps.


 

I would advise against relying on Google Translate to be perfect. To amend the prior suggestion, I would suggest sending the message both in native English and then Translated Portuguese.


On Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 5:27 PM KC9SIO <kc9sio@...> wrote:
Dan, be sure to send them this email in Portuguese, because they may not know English. You can do this by opening up Google Translate, and having the left side on English, and the right side on Portuguese. Once you have composed it, click on the Copy,? button, which is the first symbol on the bottom right of the "Translate To" field. Then, go to your email that you are composing to them, and right-click on it, and then click Paste, and then just send it. That's what I've been thinking about doing myself regarding these two. I just haven't gotten around to it. I hope this helps.


 

There is Python source code for this program available to be modified... In the Python source code file, "d-rats_repeater.py", there is a class called "Repeater" and it has a method called "auth_user" which is where the username / password checking is done, but it would be a very simple matter to check against the callsigns (called usernames here) and block them from connecting in the first place.

I'm surprised this was never implemented. But perhaps nobody became that annoying back then to require it?

73,


On Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 5:17 PM Dan Ozment <dan@...> wrote:

Thanks, Daryl.? I've got them listed in igooreregex as you described above.? I also included their call sign in the ignoreregex field.? Like this -?\[QST\] \[CQCQCQ\] CT1EBQ CT1EDG.? Then I created folders for QST, CQCQCQ, and each call sign. I just hate having to ask all of our local users to do that.? Wish I could get them to stop spamming my ratflector.?

I will take Dave's suggestion and send them a polite email.? Let's see if that works.

Also, thanks for the suggestion on adding a password.? I've wondered how that worked.? I've kicked around the idea of changing the port we listen on to something other than 9000.


 

The problem to solve?is that I see callsigns only appear to get interrogated after connection if the auth_users flag is set... Meaning you have configured for passwords. This is probably not what you want. Seeing as the only time at the beginning of the connection the callsign is interrogated, I would probably rewrite the "auth_user" method to always pull callsigns and only check the password if the auth flag is enabled. You'd also have to modify the "auth_exchange" method to allow for usernames (callsigns) and not worry about passwords not being sent in this case.

It's definitely doable -- I think this could work -- I don't see this breaking the server/client contract...


On Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 9:25 PM Dave Slotter, W3DJS via <slotter=[email protected]> wrote:
There is Python source code for this program available to be modified... In the Python source code file, "d-rats_repeater.py", there is a class called "Repeater" and it has a method called "auth_user" which is where the username / password checking is done, but it would be a very simple matter to check against the callsigns (called usernames here) and block them from connecting in the first place.

I'm surprised this was never implemented. But perhaps nobody became that annoying back then to require it?

73,


On Sun, Jan 9, 2022 at 5:17 PM Dan Ozment <dan@...> wrote:

Thanks, Daryl.? I've got them listed in igooreregex as you described above.? I also included their call sign in the ignoreregex field.? Like this -?\[QST\] \[CQCQCQ\] CT1EBQ CT1EDG.? Then I created folders for QST, CQCQCQ, and each call sign. I just hate having to ask all of our local users to do that.? Wish I could get them to stop spamming my ratflector.?

I will take Dave's suggestion and send them a polite email.? Let's see if that works.

Also, thanks for the suggestion on adding a password.? I've wondered how that worked.? I've kicked around the idea of changing the port we listen on to something other than 9000.


Marius, YO2LOJ
 

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Could it be it is because that there was nobody doing d-rats development since 2010, and back then nobody was trying to kick people out without trying to solve issues first?

If your first step is blocking and requesting passwords instead of a friendly message exchange, don't be surprised if you will find yourself in that same situation.

Marius, YO2LOJ

I'm surprised this was never implemented. But perhaps nobody became that annoying back then to require it


 

It is recommended, and is a simple matter, that if you do not want to see the weather reports and other QSTs from the only few stations trying to use D-Rats on a regular basis, you should set up a filter to keep the QSTs from appearing in the Main Chat window.??If you don¡¯t like those, you will really get upset during hurricane season when I periodically post the National Weather Service Bulletins and Alerts for hurricanes that threaten the entire Gulf Coast of the U.S.??It is true that the stations don¡¯t need to be broadcasting their weather or propagation conditions on multiple ratflectors.??That can be adjusted to send those out on just the local ratflector that he is using at the time.??I don¡¯t need to know what the weather conditions are in Portugal when I live in the U.S.??Those QSTs can be limited to the current port or to All ports.??A simple request to change the frequency of the broadcasts or to limit it to the ratflector he uses locally would seem to be better than blacklisting him from the system for the sin of actually using the program.

QSTs are a feature of D-Rats that can serve a purpose and there are methods to block these features if you don¡¯t want to see them.??I have the QST filter set myself.??D-Rats issues an alert tone and turns the filter¡¯s label red when a QST comes in. It keeps it out of the Main Chat window for when I was acting as a Net Control Station but still lets me glance at them when I get a chance to see if there is anything of interest.??One QST lets folks know they can download a list of nets, and other Ratflectors.??Another may let you know that a station is acting as a Mail Drop and File Server that will allow you to leave messages for another user that is presently offline so you don¡¯t need to leave the equipment running in the hope that he shows up soon.

Some of us are just happy that the systems are being used at all, as it appears they have been relegated to the backwaters of Ham systems.??D-Rats is capable of serving as a great tool for groups that have access to D-Star radios.??The system is more versatile than C4FM in its ability to transfer data and written message traffic from one station to another.??Its ability to show station positions on a map lets it act similar to APRS without having to run separate equipment.??However, there are very few of us who are actually trying to learn and use the system.??The old timers are used to doing everything via voice with a pencil and a pad of paper.??This is not good for modern use to Emcomm managers who are now leaning strongly to Winlink systems to provide access to forms and formal written traffic that can be transferred error free from one place to the other.??Now everyone is jumping on the DMR bandwagon because the radios are at present the least expensive.??They are great for talking as long as you have a repeater, or a hotspot and the Internet stays up.??Lose the Internet and everything drops back to local repeaters, lose the repeater and now you are reduced to simplex.??Even in simplex mode, D-Rats can still perform most of its functions, but the radios are among the most expensive.

Cordially,

Glen P. Strecker -KG5CEN
AEC for St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana


 

Good point, KC9SIO.? And, it kind of leads to why I'm requesting a way to block the user. Based on other comments here, I have sent polite emails to both folks who are connecting and spamming our ratflector asking them to both stop sending us their QSTs.? If they respond, problem solved!? If they don't understand me or don't care, I've still got a problem.??

We typically use the ratflector as a "back channel" for communications during events. We actually used it for a "hospital move" one time where all the patients at our small town hospital were moved to a new hospital.? In that case, EMA specifically asked that we use DRATS to track and log the movement.? Of course, no PII or HIPAA sensitive data was used.? The communication was along the lines of "Patient A456892 loaded onto ambulance 123. Ambulance 123 enroute.? Ambulance 123 arrived at ___".? In the end we had a complete log of every patient moved with accurate time stamps.? Lots of ways to do that. EMA asked us to do it with D-RATS.

If we are asked to use it in a situation like that and we're getting Portuguese weather bulletins blasted out in the middle of our event, it doesn't help.? And, in that situation, I don't have time to wait for the polite email method.? I'd like to be able to quickly (even if temporarily) black list the individual to get them out of the way.? ...without relying on everyone to filter him out correctly during the event.


 

Dave Slotter, my skill level with python is along the lines of "Hello world."? :-)

?

Dan


 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Marius, Dave, All,

MAruis, your point is well taken¡­ there was a long pause in any active support and much of the data out on the web is either dated, incomplete, fragmented, or undecipherable. As John completes his work updating the code to Python3/GTK3 maybe we could revisit how to make it possible to do some of the things we want, without breaking the system?

?

Hopefully the two Portuguese gentlemen will respond and make blocking un-needed, however I can see a special ¡°black hole filter window¡± might indeed be useful. On the other hand, I can see the issue from a newbee ¡°luser¡± point of view (fun to experiment and learn) and from a emergency management point of view. Since I am technical lead for the Baltimore County ACS/RACES/W3DHS group, I can speak to our needs; We would very much love to use D-RATS as we primarily use D-STAR through our local repeater and simplex on VHF and UHF. We do not use the associated reflector for drills at all.

?

I can see how receiving unwanted announcements from Cascais Portugal, Keokuk IA , Forks WA, or anywhere out of the region would be a problem during exercises and emergencies (if the internet is working). Glen¡¯s use is a good example of regional support, but it rarely has a meaning to us on the east coast. While Glen¡¯s use is periodic and could be used to keep FEMA and other state EMA¡¯s informed, it is not constant nor is it irrelevant. Someone in Forks, WA might consider it otherwise. So maybe we could visit two initiatives when the time comes, improving the filters and advancing user education by updating and consolidating the user info that is available. John¡¯s updating effort could also go far to push adoption of more up to date code.

?

Jack Spitznagel ¨C KD4IZ

Science River LLC

Biomedical Consulting Services

?

?

?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dan Ozment
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2022 11:03
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [d-rats] Block User from Ratflector?

?

Good point, KC9SIO.? And, it kind of leads to why I'm requesting a way to block the user. Based on other comments here, I have sent polite emails to both folks who are connecting and spamming our ratflector asking them to both stop sending us their QSTs.? If they respond, problem solved!? If they don't understand me or don't care, I've still got a problem.??

We typically use the ratflector as a "back channel" for communications during events. We actually used it for a "hospital move" one time where all the patients at our small town hospital were moved to a new hospital.? In that case, EMA specifically asked that we use DRATS to track and log the movement.? Of course, no PII or HIPAA sensitive data was used.? The communication was along the lines of "Patient A456892 loaded onto ambulance 123. Ambulance 123 enroute.? Ambulance 123 arrived at ___".? In the end we had a complete log of every patient moved with accurate time stamps.? Lots of ways to do that. EMA asked us to do it with D-RATS.

If we are asked to use it in a situation like that and we're getting Portuguese weather bulletins blasted out in the middle of our event, it doesn't help.? And, in that situation, I don't have time to wait for the polite email method.? I'd like to be able to quickly (even if temporarily) black list the individual to get them out of the way.? ...without relying on everyone to filter him out correctly during the event.


 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I have sent a polite and friendly cease and desist request to the two Portuguese hams who were spamming our WA7DRE ratflector with QST messages.? Fortunately, their contact info was available on QRZ.? One did not respond, but did stop sending unwanted QST's. The other kept spamming.

I sent another email to that one today.? He responded immediately to my message.? He politely apologized and stated that he has already stopped the sending of QST messages.? He writes in perfect English.? Problem solved.

I would love to see a callsign based blocking feature in a future version of D-RATS though.? There is a similar callsign based blocking feature in the DPLUS gateway for D-STAR transmissions, but Robin told me himself, it does not work because it was never implemented. Even though the config file leads you to believe it would.

Randy - W4LKS
WA7DRE System Admin

On 1/9/2022 7:18 PM, Marius, YO2LOJ wrote:

Could it be it is because that there was nobody doing d-rats development since 2010, and back then nobody was trying to kick people out without trying to solve issues first?

If your first step is blocking and requesting passwords instead of a friendly message exchange, don't be surprised if you will find yourself in that same situation.

Marius, YO2LOJ

I'm surprised this was never implemented. But perhaps nobody became that annoying back then to require it


 

Quick follow up on this.? I just received this email from CE1EDG, and he has disconnected.??

?

Hi Dan

?

Thank you for your information. I already change some parameters on the software and I believe the problem is corrected. Also I alert other stations on my area to do the same. I'm really sorry to disturbed you. Anyway if for some reason the problem appears again, please let me know. My best regards. 73 from Jos¨¦ CT1EDG.


I thanked him for the quick attention, and invited him to join us for our Thursday evening net if he's willing to stay up that late! Turns out good, old-fashioned polite communication is all it took.? I still think it would be a nice feature to have for use in an emergency. I guess it could be as easy to switch ports or add passwords, but the ability to kick an offending station off during some kind of emergency use may be beneficial.


Thanks for the comments and sugestions...
73

Dan

?


 

Glen,

I totally agree with everything you mentioned. I have my QST set for 1 hour. But I am doing a lot of testing also. There is hardly ever any chat on the reflector.

So I wanted to expanded on this topic a little bit. I am hoping that this brings a little more traffic to the D-Rats side. I am working with John G8BPQ. We are working on a solution to bring the BPQ Node layout to D-Rats Chat. This will be on another port of my layout. But what you will be able to do is use the D-Star repeater to get on the BBS, DX Cluster, WWW Chat server or even use RMS. Besides using Packet Radio or internet. You will be able to use the data port on your D-Star radio connected to D-Rats and use all these functions.

This will be a plus to send messages or emails from a radio that is already in your pocket. The response is faster than packet and you can still hold a voice conversation while your data is running. This to me is a big plus. I can hear and use my D-Star repeater a lot farther than I can my packet setup.

My club and I are trying to find ways to get more activity on the D-Star network.

I can keep everyone informed on what is going on with the project.

Thanks,

Ryan (KB8PMY)
N8MFN Hamilton Wireless Radio Club



On Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 10:15 AM Glen Strecker <gstrecker55@...> wrote:
It is recommended, and is a simple matter, that if you do not want to see the weather reports and other QSTs from the only few stations trying to use D-Rats on a regular basis, you should set up a filter to keep the QSTs from appearing in the Main Chat window.??If you don¡¯t like those, you will really get upset during hurricane season when I periodically post the National Weather Service Bulletins and Alerts for hurricanes that threaten the entire Gulf Coast of the U.S.??It is true that the stations don¡¯t need to be broadcasting their weather or propagation conditions on multiple ratflectors.??That can be adjusted to send those out on just the local ratflector that he is using at the time.??I don¡¯t need to know what the weather conditions are in Portugal when I live in the U.S.??Those QSTs can be limited to the current port or to All ports.??A simple request to change the frequency of the broadcasts or to limit it to the ratflector he uses locally would seem to be better than blacklisting him from the system for the sin of actually using the program.

QSTs are a feature of D-Rats that can serve a purpose and there are methods to block these features if you don¡¯t want to see them.??I have the QST filter set myself.??D-Rats issues an alert tone and turns the filter¡¯s label red when a QST comes in. It keeps it out of the Main Chat window for when I was acting as a Net Control Station but still lets me glance at them when I get a chance to see if there is anything of interest.??One QST lets folks know they can download a list of nets, and other Ratflectors.??Another may let you know that a station is acting as a Mail Drop and File Server that will allow you to leave messages for another user that is presently offline so you don¡¯t need to leave the equipment running in the hope that he shows up soon.

Some of us are just happy that the systems are being used at all, as it appears they have been relegated to the backwaters of Ham systems.??D-Rats is capable of serving as a great tool for groups that have access to D-Star radios.??The system is more versatile than C4FM in its ability to transfer data and written message traffic from one station to another.??Its ability to show station positions on a map lets it act similar to APRS without having to run separate equipment.??However, there are very few of us who are actually trying to learn and use the system.??The old timers are used to doing everything via voice with a pencil and a pad of paper.??This is not good for modern use to Emcomm managers who are now leaning strongly to Winlink systems to provide access to forms and formal written traffic that can be transferred error free from one place to the other.??Now everyone is jumping on the DMR bandwagon because the radios are at present the least expensive.??They are great for talking as long as you have a repeater, or a hotspot and the Internet stays up.??Lose the Internet and everything drops back to local repeaters, lose the repeater and now you are reduced to simplex.??Even in simplex mode, D-Rats can still perform most of its functions, but the radios are among the most expensive.

Cordially,

Glen P. Strecker -KG5CEN
AEC for St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana


 

Glen,

Good points. However, not many people know about the filter, and the filter doesn't block the messages; it only transfers them to another chat tab. In addition, it pushes the problem off of a single point of correction (the server), to many points of correction (multiple clients). I know, in the event of a real emergency, if I were the owner/operator of the Ratflector, I would want to be able to instantly kick and/or block a misbehaving user from the system (but only if they were really creating a problem during an actual emergency).

Again, I would reiterate, that if one considers a QST to be annoying, that an email lookup be performed and if successful, to try to contact that ham via email first and correct it in a more gentle fashion. But in the event of an emergency, you may need something faster than email...

I am a Python programmer, and also a Ham. I'm trying to decide whether I want to spend the time to add those features to Ratflector software.

Also, even if those features are added, the operators don't have to use them.

73,


On Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 10:15 AM Glen Strecker <gstrecker55@...> wrote:
It is recommended, and is a simple matter, that if you do not want to see the weather reports and other QSTs from the only few stations trying to use D-Rats on a regular basis, you should set up a filter to keep the QSTs from appearing in the Main Chat window.??If you don¡¯t like those, you will really get upset during hurricane season when I periodically post the National Weather Service Bulletins and Alerts for hurricanes that threaten the entire Gulf Coast of the U.S.??It is true that the stations don¡¯t need to be broadcasting their weather or propagation conditions on multiple ratflectors.??That can be adjusted to send those out on just the local ratflector that he is using at the time.??I don¡¯t need to know what the weather conditions are in Portugal when I live in the U.S.??Those QSTs can be limited to the current port or to All ports.??A simple request to change the frequency of the broadcasts or to limit it to the ratflector he uses locally would seem to be better than blacklisting him from the system for the sin of actually using the program.

QSTs are a feature of D-Rats that can serve a purpose and there are methods to block these features if you don¡¯t want to see them.??I have the QST filter set myself.??D-Rats issues an alert tone and turns the filter¡¯s label red when a QST comes in. It keeps it out of the Main Chat window for when I was acting as a Net Control Station but still lets me glance at them when I get a chance to see if there is anything of interest.??One QST lets folks know they can download a list of nets, and other Ratflectors.??Another may let you know that a station is acting as a Mail Drop and File Server that will allow you to leave messages for another user that is presently offline so you don¡¯t need to leave the equipment running in the hope that he shows up soon.

Some of us are just happy that the systems are being used at all, as it appears they have been relegated to the backwaters of Ham systems.??D-Rats is capable of serving as a great tool for groups that have access to D-Star radios.??The system is more versatile than C4FM in its ability to transfer data and written message traffic from one station to another.??Its ability to show station positions on a map lets it act similar to APRS without having to run separate equipment.??However, there are very few of us who are actually trying to learn and use the system.??The old timers are used to doing everything via voice with a pencil and a pad of paper.??This is not good for modern use to Emcomm managers who are now leaning strongly to Winlink systems to provide access to forms and formal written traffic that can be transferred error free from one place to the other.??Now everyone is jumping on the DMR bandwagon because the radios are at present the least expensive.??They are great for talking as long as you have a repeater, or a hotspot and the Internet stays up.??Lose the Internet and everything drops back to local repeaters, lose the repeater and now you are reduced to simplex.??Even in simplex mode, D-Rats can still perform most of its functions, but the radios are among the most expensive.

Cordially,

Glen P. Strecker -KG5CEN
AEC for St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana