Revolutionizing Ham Radio: WPSD Project vs. Pi-Star

[@w0chp]

Wow, thanks for the plug and this is a fantastic overview. 73, W0CHP

[@FEPLabsRadio]

You're welcome - it's a great piece of software!

[@immunitycorrupts3641]

after 2 days of trying pi-star program.. someone mentioned this one. so I gave it a shot, and first try worked.. thanks for the video

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Awesome! Thanks for watching, and glad it helped!

[@JDHood]

Bravo! Nicely done! Meat, potatoes and no fluff -- just straight to the point.

[@frailingham6065]

I was hesitant to switch at first but it was so much better than the original PI I took the leap. Glad I did. Way cool.

[@dcarlin3]

Thank you for this video! I'm new to DMR and this helped me setup my new hotspot in no time.

[@AmazingSteelers1933]

Excellent review. I am going to convert my hotspots to this.

[@DonzLockz]

Thanks for the comprehensive tutorial to get it all set up Jimbo. That interface is awesome!👍

[@scotterdog1036]

Thank you Jeem! ❤Great video. WPSD is on my project list. Behind a ShariPi, Meshtastic Solar node, mounting Continental TKC80 tires on my KLR650, and a few rounds of Fortnite.😂 I have a PiZero2W in stock for this. I can retire the pi-star running on PiZero2.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

LOL, right! The list never ends!

[@Paddy_Roche]

Nice work Jim, much appreciated. Thank you.

[@RandallRash]

Thanks Jeem. I love WPSD.

[@terryboyle]

Don't forget you can save all these different setups as profiles. One for DMR, one for YSF and so on. Then select whichever you want for which radio you are using

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Yessir, that's a great feature in WPSD. I use it fairly often.

[@KD9ZHF]

Good video. Thanks, Sir!

[@JustLearning]

In Profiles can you have different frequencies set for each profile? For example I may do a DMR Profile with a frequency of 433.000 MHz and I may do a D-Star Profile with a frequency of 433.200MHz. Is that something WPSD Project can do? And will WPSD change how the screen on the hotspot looks?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Good question - I never tried that. May be possible.

[@mxracer961]

I must be doing something wrong, but my ysf mode goes green when I boot up then goes back to red. Also didn’t work on pi-star so maybe something is wrong with my modem selection, using a Shari pi hat on a pi4 b if that helps.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

I have no idea if a SHARI hat will work. It has to do the digital mode mod/demod, so off the top of my head - that's a no go.

[@CinematicTouchProductions]

Hi and thank you for your video, how do I add multiple talk groups for the FREEDMR, I already have one tg in the field that I use with my anytone 878 but would like to add many more and don't know how. Can I just add the second, third tg number next to the first with a space in-between?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It depends on the radio and the CPS how to add multiple TG's, if I understand what your asking. You can have multiple TG listed in one RX group in the radio as well.

[@One-Eyed-Willly]

g8 video. Thank you.

[@davidenright5668]

Like the video, Thanks. Question for you. You and TO where talking about a shut-up mode in WPSD? Not sure where to find it. I look for the video you two talked about this mode, but can't find it. Can you point me to it, Thanks. Dam BM grp91 don't take any breaks in talking to others.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Go into the BM Manager, and put 91 in the TG box, select unlink, and click the go button. That will disconnect you from a chatty TG

[@hobbiehobbs]

I found information on what to use as a computer (Ras Pi 2,3,4) But where is it published what goes on top?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

What you are looking for is an MMDVM hat. This is one I've used in the past - amzn.to/4bx53B5 (there are tons of these all over Amazon)

[@stevehansen6068]

I heard you say on the other show that you were at FT. Ritchie. I was there from 87-90.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

I worked for DISA - I was in and out of Ritchie a fair amount, back in the late 90's.

[@hailfire82997]

Re imaged my Zumspot SD card because it refused to boot up. Might have something to do with pi star ending support? IDK. I like the WPSD software but now it seems the hotspot wifi signal wont show up in my network anymore, so I cant reach the dashboard. Any ideas?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

On initial boot, it takes 5-10 minutes. Look for "Pi-Star Setup" in your wifi SSID list - you'll need to connect to that to link up your wifi.

[@saifal-badri]

I do like the interface but my pistar works great and If it works don’t fix it! Not sure if the new features worth the upgrade time

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It has a few features that pi-star doesn't - quality of life, I'd call them. however, not a difference in functionality, really. The changeover isn't too difficult, and I'm a sucker for new and shiny.

[@jbammi]

Thanks for the awesome introduction and all your efforts. Is there a utility or procedure to migrate a current pi-star setup to WPSD to avoid having to go in and re-configure from scratch. My motivation is that I probably already forgot some config deep down in advanced or some place else. 73 de k1jbd Bammi

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Not that I know of. The original WPSD was called something like W0CHP dashboard, and it installed over the top of existing pi-star. It worked quite well, but Chip (the WPSD guy) basically moved on from requiring pi-star to building a complete new system. FWIW, I'd grab screen shots of all the setting screens in your old pi-star setup, keep that pi-star sd-card safe somewhere, and just start a new build on a different card. With your screen caps, I would bet you'll be pretty close to gold.

[@larspregge6420]

Replacement for pi star, but loginname etc ist "pi-star". Can i use without any problem an old pi-star config?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

It's worth a try. Most of the internals are very similar, I'd give it a shot and see what happens, it isn't gonna break anything.

[@jameslee522]

you said its much faster, but this seems to boot so slow on a pi zero w compared to pi-star.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

The first time is painful on either one. After that, it's good. Also - Pi Zero 2 W - if you're on a pi-zero W - yeah it's gonna be shit slow, and not recommended by W0CHP (the developer). You can get a Zero 2 W for about 15$ online. Much better.

[@arkyump]

I sure like to know TG,s on the device. I use my pi to switch TG’s all the time.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Probably a follow-up video on that! Thanks for watching.

[@erwinancer]

Hi Jim. This looks excellent compared to the original Pi-Star. I am new at this ... Would my MMDVM work for this .. Don't know if mine is the original Pi or like yours "Raspberry Pi Zero W Rev 1.1" ... Please let me know soonest...73's VK3EAN Erwin

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Hey Erwin! Yes, it absolutely will. It does the exact same stuff as pi-star does, works with the same hardware.

[@HamTechRadioScannerDrones]

Hi yes WPSD is and excellent option not a replacement tho .

[@w0chp]

I fully agree with this. It’s an alternative. Andy, MW0MWZ, makes amazing software and he’s incredibly talented. I think it’s wonderful that users have choices, rather than one piece of software to manage their digital voice usage. 73, W0CHP

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Perhaps a bad choice of words, but it is hotspot software that can be used instead of Pi-Star. Pi-Star works just fine (for lots of hams).

[@f00masterFlex]

@@FEPLabsRadio I am told that I choose the wrong words, perpetually. 😂😂😂

[@KD9ZHF]

I will be an excellent “choice” for me. Thanks, as always for your videos, sir!

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

FYI, there's a hell of a lot more than 20 people who use P25. You need to get out more...

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Not hams here

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

​@@FEPLabsRadio Fortunately, we're just a reflector connection away.... catch you OTA sometime...

[@davidrothman187]

Gee, why does it use pi-star and raspberry as the default user name and password? Just like Pi-Star?

[@FEPLabsRadio]

So people have one less username and password to remember.

[@davidrothman187]

@FEPLabsRadio yea it builds off the back of Pi-Star and if you ask any questions his accolights don't like they boot you. Anything they think hints about Pi-star they boot you. I won't use it again.

[@MrMikesMondoVideo]

If you want to do a promotion for WPSD, do it, but doing that and making it appear that it's a comparison of the two programs is nothing more than clickbait.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

well, mr mike, I actually use it, didn't get paid for, or asked to do a review. I converted all my pi-star units to wpsd. thanks for watching.

[@revadan]

for me its just the same..

[@FEPLabsRadio]

I think it's a better interface, and it has some features pi-star doesn't. Both work quite well.

[@ScannerJunkie]

I'm old fashioned. I still like the original look

[@FEPLabsRadio]

They both work just fine, but I think that WPSD is more than just a cosmetic upgrade. Lots of new features. At the end of the day, whatever performs the mission!

[@lanceriffle4841]

I am sorry but how is that easier. openspot is easy. PiStar and WPSD sutable for IT Pros only. Nice try however.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Openspot has a great user interface. It also is about $300 more, depending on versions. I have an OS3, and it's a great device. I also have multiple pi-based hotspots. I've done numerous videos (as have many others) on setting up pi-star and/or wpsd. Don't be intimidated by it, give it a try. Good luck, thanks for watching!

[@stephenferraro]

Nice try?? Don’t be obstinate, if something is over YOUR head, it’s a user problem. They make plenty of dumbed down pieces of software and equipment for novice users and folks that can’t be bothered to research and learn. 🤦‍♂️

[@wushock92]

Good job, Jeem! I made the switch a few months ago and haven't looked back, even though I've been told pi-star has made a couple of updates since I made the switch. 73 de WØRHP