ConDV is free Hotspot software from DUTCH*Star, source of DUTCH*Star firmware for popular GMSK Modems, and many free software programs.  It was written by Fred van Kempen, KA4YBR, author of the popular WinDV.  It's easy to install and has wide-ranging functionality, including linking support for DPlus (REF) reflectors, DExtra (XRF) reflectors and DCS reflectors.  It allows you to configure an ircDDB gateway, supports DTMF commands, provides optional audio announcements, and has an easy to use command line user interface.  It runs under Windows, as well as Linux on ARM processors like the Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black.   This page is about the Windows version.

Download and Install ConDV for Windows
Log onto your DUTCH*Star account at http://www.dutch-star.eu/my/login.aspx , click the Software link on the left, find ConDV and download the Windows version.

After saving the .exe file, double-click on it and do a Complete install.

It normally installs to c:/Program Files/Microwalt Corporation/WinDV.  The Start/All Programs will have a new ConDV group, where you can bring up a short users manual or the configuration file guide. Note that on some versions of Windows, the Program Files directory has a slightly different name. The installer will get it right for each machine.

Configure ConDV

• You will need to edit the config file, which is usually located at C:\Program Files\MicroWalt Corporation\ConDV\ETC\CONDV.D\sample.ini.
• Copy sample.ini to c:/Program Files/Microwalt Corporation/ConDV/BIN and rename it to condv.ini.
• Edit condv.ini
  • MYCALL (change to the callsign for your repeater).
  • DEVICE should point to the PORT section at the bottom of the file that describes the GMSK Modem.
  • Note: If you want to link to DPlus reflectors (those named REFxxxn), then your need to make sure you have registered a terminal with your callsign and the module letter.  See Step 1 at http://www.k6jm.com/hs-setup.htm . The normal convention is to use module letter B if on 70cm, or C if on 2 meters.  Check the D-Star Info Query to be sure your terminals are set up.
  • CServer:  most people comment (place # in front of the line) all servers except  VE3TNK:
    CServer = ve3tnk.homelinux.net,"Free*Star VE3TNK"
  • IRCDDB section, if you have registered your system's callsign with ircddb.net, fill in that password for your repeater’s callsign. This way, you and anyone ussing your Hotspot can use callsign routing via ircDDB, and your activity will show up on the ircddb.net Dashboard for your ircDDB gateway.
  • PROTOCOL DPlus – uncomment Authcall and fill in the callsign of your repeater
  • In the PORT section, customize the one for the port module B or C that you specified above in the DEVICE statement. For your GMSK Modem, configure it like the sample module_b – that is, Driver = NODE for GMSK Modems, Device = 0x300, etc.
  • Save.

Test ConDV

• To test, find the ConDV group under Start/All Programs, find ConDV and click on Command Shell.
• Type:
  cd bin
  condv condv.ini
• Once ConDV has been started, enter a question mark ? and it will list the available commands.

Mostly you will use L and U to link to reflectors and unlink from them. A simple test is link to the E module of any REF reflector. This is an artificial module that records your transmission and immediately plays it back. It’s a great way to prove everything is working.  Example:  Enter L, then enter REF001_E

The only trick is to enter an underscore _ instead of a space when giving the reflector and module.
This allows you to skip placing quotes around the whole thing.

The following commands are supported:

ESC abort
? help
B send APRS beacon
C list connection(s)
f find callsign
I send RF beacon message
L link to (new) gateway
R re-connect to gateway
U unlink from gateway
Z unlink client conn

To quit the program, just hit the Escape key.

Linking by using RF commands from your D-Star radio

• These are the same commands you can use with an ICOM repeater that has DPlus installed.  Some examples:
  • To link to REF001E, set URCall to REF001EL
  • To link to W6CX module C, set URCall to W6CX..CL (dots are spaces)
  • To unlink, set URCall to .......U (7 spaces so the command U is in position 8)
  • To request link status as text, set URCall to .......I
  • Note that I or Info command is text message, not a voice transmission
• Check out http://www.k6jm.com/dstarlinking.htm .

Running ConDV headless
ConDV has a "daemon" or headless mode.  You start it but do not have to keep the command line window open.  All control is done via RF commands via your D-Star radio, similar to how ICOM repeaters work.  To start ConDV in this way, Open the ConDV Command Shell and type:

   cd bin
   condv –D condv.ini

More Features

We've covered the most important features, but as you get familiar with ConDV, you may want to explore other useful features:

• Hosts files - ConDV comes with three hosts files that contain lists of REF reflectors.  These are located in
  C:\Program Files\MicroWalt Corporation\WinDV\ETC.
• These files are called dphosts.txt, dxhosts.txt and dcshosts.txt.  You may want to update them as necessary, or get updated versions either from the DUTCH*Star website or from http://vk4tux.duckdns.org/OD/ .
• DTMF commands - ConDV can be configured to respond to DTMF tones, if your D-Star radio supports them.

That's it!  Enjoy your ConDV hotspot.

D-Star® is a registered trademark used for communication equipment (repeaters and transceivers) for amateur radio communications, and owned by Icom Incorporated.