WinDV Host Files updates
Apr 7, 2017 9:52:50 GMT -8
Post by k6jm on Apr 7, 2017 9:52:50 GMT -8
During the April 6 2017 Round Table, a question was asked in the Shoutbox about how to update hosts files after doing a WinDV install. Users of AMBE devices like the NW Digital Radio ThumbDV often use WinDV as their software of choice, but have found the host files from the WinDV install are out of date.
(For newbies, these host files list known reflectors and their IP or DSN names. While it is hoped someday that all reflectors will use up to date DSN names, for now, we are stuck with using these hosts files so our software can find the reflectors.)
Many of us update these files for WinDV by downloading host files created for use by G4KLX software (ircDDBGateway) and changing the names. The format is the same, but naming is different. Naming conventions:
For DPlus REF reflectors - WinDV: dphosts.txt
G4KLX: DPlus_Hosts.txt
For DExtra XRF reflectors - WinDV: dxhosts.txt
G4KLX: DExtra_Hosts.txt
For DCS reflectors - WinDV: dcshosts.txt
G4KLX: DCS_Hosts.txt
For WinDV, these files are installed where the WinDV.exe file is, for example c:/Program Files/MicroWalt Corporation/WinDV
There are several enterprising Hams who provide up to date hosts files, including:
Bob W6KD (creator of D-Star Commander Pi image) - dschost1.w6kd.com/ (copy/paste to use)
John K7VE (of NW Digital Radio) - ar-dns.net/
Adrian VK4TUX supplies host files for users of his Pi images (not sure the location)
If you can write scripts, you could automate the periodic downloading, name changing and copying to the correct folder, but most WinDV users will choose to do these steps manually from time to time.
It is true new reflectors are created frequently and older ones are sometimes shut down, and sometimes names or IP addresses change. So you could manually update your host files frequently. But most people do the updates only occasionally or when they hear about a new or changed reflector that they really want to use.
NOTE: Outside the scope of this post, but worth researching -- some XRF and DCS reflectors may require you to configure your router to port forward certain ports to the PC running WinDV. Check out www.k6jm.com/portforwarding.htm
ALSO: Many XRF reflectors respond to the DPlus protocol used by REF reflectors, and many users actually move all XRF host file entries to their DPlus host file (e.g. dphosts.txt). Since the DPlus protocol does not require port forwarding, this takes care of that step.
Jim - K6JM
(For newbies, these host files list known reflectors and their IP or DSN names. While it is hoped someday that all reflectors will use up to date DSN names, for now, we are stuck with using these hosts files so our software can find the reflectors.)
Many of us update these files for WinDV by downloading host files created for use by G4KLX software (ircDDBGateway) and changing the names. The format is the same, but naming is different. Naming conventions:
For DPlus REF reflectors - WinDV: dphosts.txt
G4KLX: DPlus_Hosts.txt
For DExtra XRF reflectors - WinDV: dxhosts.txt
G4KLX: DExtra_Hosts.txt
For DCS reflectors - WinDV: dcshosts.txt
G4KLX: DCS_Hosts.txt
For WinDV, these files are installed where the WinDV.exe file is, for example c:/Program Files/MicroWalt Corporation/WinDV
There are several enterprising Hams who provide up to date hosts files, including:
Bob W6KD (creator of D-Star Commander Pi image) - dschost1.w6kd.com/ (copy/paste to use)
John K7VE (of NW Digital Radio) - ar-dns.net/
Adrian VK4TUX supplies host files for users of his Pi images (not sure the location)
If you can write scripts, you could automate the periodic downloading, name changing and copying to the correct folder, but most WinDV users will choose to do these steps manually from time to time.
It is true new reflectors are created frequently and older ones are sometimes shut down, and sometimes names or IP addresses change. So you could manually update your host files frequently. But most people do the updates only occasionally or when they hear about a new or changed reflector that they really want to use.
NOTE: Outside the scope of this post, but worth researching -- some XRF and DCS reflectors may require you to configure your router to port forward certain ports to the PC running WinDV. Check out www.k6jm.com/portforwarding.htm
ALSO: Many XRF reflectors respond to the DPlus protocol used by REF reflectors, and many users actually move all XRF host file entries to their DPlus host file (e.g. dphosts.txt). Since the DPlus protocol does not require port forwarding, this takes care of that step.
Jim - K6JM