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The Radio Thin Client Module (RTCM) is commercially available hardware for interfacing radios to an AllStarLink computer.
The Radio Thin Client Module (RTCM) is commercially available hardware for interfacing radios to an PTTLink computer.
The Micro-Node RTCM and VOTER interfaces are typically used with AllStar in voting/simulcast applications. They MAY be used for ANY repeater interface application, through the chan_voter channel driver. The VOTER is the original through-hole board designed by Jim Dixon for this application. It is open-source, and the relevant Gerber files and BoM to build it are available. The [http://www.micro-node.com/thin-m1.shtml Micro-Node Radio Thin Client Module (RTCM)] is the commercial version of the VOTER. It uses surface mount parts (SMT), but is functionally equivalent to the original VOTER. In general, the two terms (RTCM/VOTER) are used interchangeably, as they operate the same, and use the same firmware (mostly, see below).
The Micro-Node RTCM and VOTER interfaces are typically used with PTTLink in voting/simulcast applications. They MAY be used for ANY repeater interface application, through the chan_voter channel driver. The VOTER is the original through-hole board designed by Jim Dixon for this application. It is open-source, and the relevant Gerber files and BoM to build it are available. The [http://www.micro-node.com/thin-m1.shtml Micro-Node Radio Thin Client Module (RTCM)] is the commercial version of the VOTER. It uses surface mount parts (SMT), but is functionally equivalent to the original VOTER. In general, the two terms (RTCM/VOTER) are used interchangeably, as they operate the same, and use the same firmware (mostly, see below).
This page will highlight some of the operational concerns, quirks, bugs, and other items of interest that relate to these interfaces. Much of the information has been gleaned off the AllStar mail list, comes from personal experience, or comes from notes in the firmware source code.
This page will highlight some of the operational concerns, quirks, bugs, and other items of interest that relate to these interfaces. Much of the information has been gleaned off the PTTLink mail list, comes from personal experience, or comes from notes in the firmware source code.
=Testing=
=Testing=
RTCM's come preconfigured to login to [http://voter-demo-allstarlink.org voter-demo-allstarlink.org] for out of the box testing.
RTCM's come preconfigured to login to [http://voter-demo-pttlink.org voter-demo-pttlink.org] for out of the box testing.
=Factory Reset=
=Factory Reset=
The current bootloader (.cof file) is available here: https://github.com/AllStarLink/voter/tree/master/voter-bootloader (the -smt file is for the RTCM). It needs to be loaded with a PICKit programmer.
The current bootloader (.cof file) is available here: https://github.com/pttLink/voter/tree/master/voter-bootloader (the -smt file is for the RTCM). It needs to be loaded with a PICKit programmer.
Current firmware (.cry file) is available here: https://github.com/AllStarLink/voter/tree/master/board-firmware . They are loaded with the EBLEX C30 Programmer.
Current firmware (.cry file) is available here: https://github.com/pttLink/voter/tree/master/board-firmware . They are loaded with the EBLEX C30 Programmer.
==Compiling Environment==
==Compiling Environment==
If you look in the [https://github.com/AllStarLink/voter/blob/master/votersystem.pdf votersystem.pdf], you will find a procedure to modify and load the bootloader in to the dsPIC of a VOTER board.
If you look in the [https://github.com/PTTLink/voter/blob/master/votersystem.pdf votersystem.pdf], you will find a procedure to modify and load the bootloader in to the dsPIC of a VOTER board.
Download MPLAB IDE 32-bit Windows v8.66:
Download MPLAB IDE 32-bit Windows v8.66:
:http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/MPLAB_IDE_v8_66.zip
:http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/MPLAB_IDE_v8_66.zip
:http://dvswitch.org/files/AllStarLink/Voter/MPLAB_IDE_v8_66.zip
:http://dvswitch.org/files/pttLink/Voter/MPLAB_IDE_v8_66.zip
Download MPLAB C Compiler for PIC24 and dsPIC DSCs v3.31 '''NOT v.3.25''':
Download MPLAB C Compiler for PIC24 and dsPIC DSCs v3.31 '''NOT v.3.25''':
:http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/mplabc30-v3_31-windows-installer.exe
:http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/mplabc30-v3_31-windows-installer.exe
:http://dvswitch.org/files/AllStarLink/Voter/mplabc30-v3_31-windows-installer.exe
:http://dvswitch.org/files/pttLink/Voter/mplabc30-v3_31-windows-installer.exe
*Select Legacy Directory Name
*Select Legacy Directory Name
*'''Select Lite Compiler'''
*'''Select Lite Compiler'''
*Go to: https://github.com/AllStarLink
*Go to: https://github.com/pttLink
*Follow the links to: voter --> Clone or Download --> Download Zip. That will get you voter-master.zip which is a download of the whole VOTER tree from GitHub.
*Follow the links to: voter --> Clone or Download --> Download Zip. That will get you voter-master.zip which is a download of the whole VOTER tree from GitHub.
*Extract it somewhere (ie. in the XP Mode Virtual PC)
*Extract it somewhere (ie. in the XP Mode Virtual PC)
Pre-compiled firmware versions including this option are available on [https://github.com/AllStarLink/voter/tree/master/board-firmware GitHub]. See above on how it is enabled/compiled, if you are rolling your own firmware modifications.
Pre-compiled firmware versions including this option are available on [https://github.com/pttLink/voter/tree/master/board-firmware GitHub]. See above on how it is enabled/compiled, if you are rolling your own firmware modifications.
The VOTER is designed to accept both 3.3V or 5V signals, and ''should'' work fine.
The VOTER is designed to accept both 3.3V or 5V signals, and ''should'' work fine.
* Some of the Garmin GPS's come with 4800 baud set as default. If you are getting a "Warning: GPS Data time period elapsed" error on your RTCM, change both the GPS and RTCM to use 9600 baud. To do this, interface the GPS to a DB9 connector as per page 8 of the [http://wiki.allstarlink.org/w/images/4/41/GPS_18x_Tech_Specs.pdf manual] (remembering to ONLY use 5V as the power source *facepalm*). Once done, download, extract and open [http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4053 SNSRXCFG_330.exe] and run.
* Some of the Garmin GPS's come with 4800 baud set as default. If you are getting a "Warning: GPS Data time period elapsed" error on your RTCM, change both the GPS and RTCM to use 9600 baud. To do this, interface the GPS to a DB9 connector as per page 8 of the [http://wiki.pttlink.org/w/images/4/41/GPS_18x_Tech_Specs.pdf manual] (remembering to ONLY use 5V as the power source *facepalm*). Once done, download, extract and open [http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4053 SNSRXCFG_330.exe] and run.
# Select your GPS (in most cases GPS 18x PC/LVC). Press F10 to switch to NMEA mode (Config > Switch to NMEA Mode)
# Select your GPS (in most cases GPS 18x PC/LVC). Press F10 to switch to NMEA mode (Config > Switch to NMEA Mode)
# Select Config > Setup and choose the COM port your GPS is connected too. Leave baud rate as auto for now, OK.
# Select Config > Setup and choose the COM port your GPS is connected too. Leave baud rate as auto for now, OK.