Node-Ventures

You may have noticed that the vast majority of ClearNodes and ClearZeros have auto-magically upgraded to RedNode API 90. The ClearNode mobile app – Apple iOS and Android versions 1.32 are already in the App Store and Play Store respectively.

The major changes are “Fleet Last Heard” and “Fleet connection activity” – both available from the “Your Nodes” context/share menu. “Fleet” refers to ALL ClearNodes and ClearZeros currently running – a global view.

Fleet Last Heard

I’ve been impressed how most of the Digital Networks provide a live feed of where traffic is coming from – super useful if you’re looking for “action” or trying to verify if you’re making it into the system. So to make that happen we’re using the internal signaling data to provide a live feed of where nodes are active – i.e. receiving on their embedded radios and putting traffic onto a target system. This release targets the AllStar and EchoLink connections, with limited information for Digital connections. There will be another concerted effort to make the data from the Digital connections more useful – stay tuned – there’s a chunk of complexity in there that needs to be wrangled.

Fleet connection activity

We consistently see frustration among new users who are just getting familiar with Voice Over IP systems – where to go to get involved ? This functionality provides a sorted and time constrained list of where connections are being made and dropped. This is often a good indicator that a Net is getting underway as the inbound connections to a System Hub start ramping up. You can also start your connection and get involved – right there from Connection Activity list !

Other …

• More custom courtesy tones
• Voice ID as alternative to CW ID
• Node host name is exposed for configuration in Operating System Setup
• Fixed the “Change Pi ‘root’ pswd” which got trashed in an earlier release

A lot of work went into this release and it’s a certainty there are bugs … the sooner you report ’em the sooner we fix ’em … 🙂

This foundational work underlies this release and the next – so there’s more to come ! The next Major Release is already on the drawing board … exciting stuff in the works.

Have fun !

73 … Gerry.

Mostly a maintenance release to clean up some outstanding issues. Upgrade is recommended for all users.

73 … Gerry.

This brings the Android app up to the released functionality as the Apple iOS app.

73 … Gerry.

If your email on file with us uses the “cox.net” domain – we are receiving your emails but we CANNOT REPLY.

“cox.net” has been refusing emails from our “node-ventures.com” domain for a number of users. We have a small number of customers who haven’t received their ClearNode Keys because of this situation. It’s not all email address in that domain, but some subset.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH AN ALTERNATE ADDRESS !! gmail.com, yahoo.com, or any of the other usual suspects work fine.

If you know of anyone with a “cox.net” email address – please reach out to them and spread the word.

73 … Gerry.

(Hang in there Android users, we’ll catch up shortly.)

Here’s what we’re releasing:

• Configure alternate “link unkey” tones – the “NASA OVER” has been requested many times 🙂
• Configure Propagate DTMF, Propagate phone DTMF and Remote DTMF settings – helps out with apps that send remote DTMF control tones
• Configure the Port for SSH in the Operating System Setup section
• Improves support for those customers that are sharing control of their nodes with other call signs

Have fun !

73 … Gerry.

If you have the latest M1 or M2 chip based MacBook, Pro or Air – the ClearNode mobile app is available in the Mac OS app store. A savvy user spotted it and let me know – we made the app Mac OS compatible during the last couple of releases.

73 … Gerry.

ClearNode Pi 4B UHF/VHF is finally released and in stock in the Store !

We also have limited stock of the ClearRPT/Alinco DR-135 Combo package. Currently no news on when we will get supply of the Pi Zero 2 W, so ClearZero remains out-of-stock/unavailable.

73 … Gerry.

We’re almost through this batch of Pi 3B+. But fear not – we have another batch inbound – as soon as they are on the workshop floor we’ll re-open sales. Looks like that will be the 2nd or 3rd week of May.

Sorry for this upcoming delay, but it’s largely out of our hands.

If you have already ordered you are good – we’re working through the backlog, hopefully we’ll be caught up by the end of next week.

Stay tuned … we’ll announce here once we are back in production.

73 … Gerry.

Recommended for all users !

Here are the changes:

– adjusted rpt.conf to support the newer telemetry parameters in the HamVoIP image

– ability to turn on or off the embedded 818 radio transceiver

– support for @reboot in Timed Events

– improved internet connectivity detection

– bug fixes in WiFi Management

– Supermon automatically redirects from root to the Supermon pages

– support for the DCS Filter in USB Audio

– support for controlling the hardware fan coming with the Pi 4

– Android 818 Radio screen allows you set the step value for Tx and Rx frequencies

NOTE: You will have to re-save your AllStar Setup for the changes to take effect.

73 … Gerry.

Many of you have noticed that since the recent updates to the basic HamVoIP AllStar distribution, telemetry announcements have been significantly curtailed – basically you will only hear your local connections and disconnections.

I’ve been following the discussion over at HamVoIP’s public forum and my understanding is that this change was by design, because signaling all changes to all nodes was apt to create “telemetry storms” that could disable larger hubs during their busy Nets.

Although it appears unlikely that things will be restored to the previous state – I believe investigation and development to come up with a better solution is ongoing – so hang in there and let’s see what transpires …

73 … Gerry.