Pi-Star Hotspot: US Hemet Hangout Setup Guide

Updated: July 18, 2026

This guide is for a regular Pi-Star hotspot being used with the LDARC / Hemet digital voice system. It is intentionally focused on two common paths:

• C4FM / Yaesu System Fusion first: connect to YSF-59073 US HEMET HANGOUT.
• DMR second: connect to XLX618 Module H through Pi-Star DMRGateway.

For most Yaesu Fusion users, the C4FM / YSF setup is the cleanest way to get on US Hemet Hangout. Use DMR only if you are operating with a DMR radio or intentionally setting up the DMR side of the hotspot.

Quick links: Before You Start | Wi-Fi | Basic Configuration | C4FM / YSF | DMR / XLX618 | Quick Reference | Troubleshooting

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Before You Start

Have these ready before you begin:

• Your Wi-Fi network name and password.
• Your amateur radio callsign.
• Your DMR ID from RadioID.net, even if you mainly plan to use C4FM.
• The hotspot transmit / receive frequency you plan to use.
• Your hotspot modem type, if you know it.
• A Fusion / C4FM radio channel programmed for the hotspot frequency.
• A DMR radio channel programmed for the hotspot frequency, color code, time slot, and talkgroup if you plan to use DMR.

Use a simplex hotspot frequency that is legal and appropriate for your band plan and equipment. Avoid repeater input and output frequencies unless you have coordinated permission.

Part 1: Connect Pi-Star to Wi-Fi

Option A: Wi-Fi Was Already Entered During Imaging

1. Power on the hotspot.
2. Wait about five minutes for the hotspot to boot.
3. On a computer or phone connected to the same network, open the Pi-Star local hostname in a browser.
4. If that does not work, check your router client list for the hotspot IP address and open that address in a browser.
5. Log in to the Pi-Star dashboard, then continue to basic configuration.

Option B: Wi-Fi Was Not Entered During Imaging

1. Power on the hotspot and wait about five minutes.
2. On your computer or phone, open the Wi-Fi network list.
3. Connect to the setup network named Pi-Star-Setup.
4. Open the Pi-Star local hostname in a browser.
5. Open the wireless configuration page and add your Wi-Fi network.
6. Save the Wi-Fi profile.
7. Wait a few minutes for Pi-Star to leave setup mode and join your normal network.
8. Reconnect your computer or phone to your normal Wi-Fi network.
9. Open the Pi-Star local hostname or the hotspot IP address.

Part 2: Basic Pi-Star Configuration

1. In the Pi-Star dashboard, open Configuration.
2. In Control Software, use MMDVMHost for a normal hotspot.
3. In MMDVMHost Configuration, turn on the mode you are setting up first. For C4FM, turn on YSF Mode. For DMR, turn on DMR Mode.
4. Click Apply Changes and wait for the dashboard to reload.
5. In General Configuration, enter or confirm your callsign, DMR ID, radio frequency, latitude / longitude if used, town, country, URL, radio / modem type, node type, and time zone.
6. Click Apply Changes again after changing settings.

Important: each time you change Pi-Star settings, click Apply Changes and let the dashboard finish reloading. A setting may appear on screen before it is actually active.

Part 3: C4FM First: Connect to YSF-59073

YSF-59073 is the preferred Pi-Star path for a Yaesu Fusion / C4FM radio.

Item	Value
Reflector number	YSF-59073
Pi-Star list name	YSF59073 – US-HEMET HANGOUT
DTMF room command	#59073
Operating mode	DN mode on the Fusion radio

1. Open Configuration.
2. In MMDVMHost Configuration, turn YSF Mode on.
3. Click Apply Changes.
4. After the dashboard reloads, return to Configuration.
5. Find Yaesu System Fusion Configuration.
6. Set YSF Startup Host to YSF59073 – US-HEMET HANGOUT. If the display name varies, look for 59073 or US-HEMET HANGOUT.
7. Leave UPPERCASE Hostfiles enabled unless you have a specific reason to change it.
8. Click Apply Changes.
9. Return to the main dashboard.
10. Confirm that YSF is active and that the network/status area shows US HEMET HANGOUT or YSF-59073.

Using US Hemet Hangout From a Fusion Radio

1. Select the hotspot frequency on your Fusion radio.
2. Use DN mode, not VW mode, when working linked digital systems.
3. Key briefly and watch the Pi-Star dashboard for activity.
4. Make a short test call: This is [your callsign] testing Pi-Star into US Hemet Hangout YSF-59073.

Part 4: DMR Second: Connect to XLX618 Module H

Use this section if you are operating with a DMR radio. In Pi-Star, XLX DMR access is normally handled through DMRGateway. The hotspot is configured for XLX618 and Module H, and the DMR radio uses Talkgroup 6 to route traffic to the selected XLX reflector.

1. Open Configuration.
2. In MMDVMHost Configuration, turn DMR Mode on.
3. Click Apply Changes.
4. After the dashboard reloads, return to Configuration.
5. Find DMR Configuration.
6. Set DMR Master to DMRGateway.
7. Set the XLX values as follows:

Pi-Star Setting	Value
XLX Master Enable	On
XLX Master	XLX_618
XLX Startup Module	H
DMR Color Code	Match your radio channel, commonly 1
DMR ESSID	Use a hotspot ESSID such as 01, 02, or the value you normally use

8. Click Apply Changes.
9. Return to the main dashboard.
10. Confirm that DMR is active and that the XLX status area shows XLX618 and Module H.

DMR Radio Channel

Program a DMR channel for the hotspot frequency with values that match your Pi-Star hotspot. A typical simplex hotspot channel uses:

• Frequency: your hotspot transmit / receive frequency.
• Color code: the same color code set in Pi-Star.
• Time slot: Time Slot 2 is common for simplex hotspots unless your setup uses something different.
• Contact: Talkgroup 6, group call.

After Pi-Star is connected to XLX618 Module H, key the DMR radio on Talkgroup 6 and watch the dashboard for activity.

Part 5: What US Hemet Hangout Is

XLX618 serves US Hemet Hangout on Module H, and YSF-59073 is the US HEMET HANGOUT YSF reflector associated with the Hemet-area digital system. C4FM and DMR stations can be heard across the linked XLX / YSF system when reflector/module bridging is active.

• Fusion / C4FM users: use YSF59073 – US-HEMET HANGOUT and DN mode.
• DMR users: use DMRGateway, XLX_618, Module H, and Talkgroup 6 from the radio.
• Wires-X users: see the Repeater & Nets reflector access section.

Troubleshooting

I Cannot Reach the Dashboard

• Wait a full five minutes after power-up.
• Try the Pi-Star local hostname.
• Check your router client list for the hotspot IP address.
• If Wi-Fi was never configured, look for the Pi-Star-Setup Wi-Fi network.

YSF Does Not Show Connected

• Confirm that YSF Mode is enabled.
• Confirm that YSF Startup Host is YSF59073 – US-HEMET HANGOUT.
• Look for 59073 or US-HEMET HANGOUT in the host list.
• Click Apply Changes and wait for services to restart.
• Confirm that your Fusion radio is using DN mode.

DMR Shows Active but XLX Does Not Work

• Confirm that DMR Mode is enabled.
• Confirm that DMR Master is set to DMRGateway.
• Confirm that XLX Master Enable is on.
• Confirm that XLX Master is XLX_618.
• Confirm that XLX Startup Module is H.
• Confirm that your DMR radio channel uses the same color code as Pi-Star.
• Use Talkgroup 6, group call, from the DMR radio.

I Can Connect to XLX But Not Module H

• Confirm that XLX Startup Module is set to H.
• Click Apply Changes.
• Wait for Pi-Star services to restart.
• Recheck the dashboard status area for XLX618 Module H.

Quick Reference

Goal	Pi-Star / Radio Setting
Pi-Star dashboard	Pi-Star local hostname or hotspot IP address
Preferred Fusion / C4FM path	YSF59073 – US-HEMET HANGOUT
YSF reflector	YSF-59073 US HEMET HANGOUT
Fusion mode	DN
DMR master	DMRGateway
DMR XLX reflector	XLX_618
DMR XLX module	H
DMR radio contact	Talkgroup 6, group call

Need help? If you have trouble with your hotspot, reach out to Rick, KN6RBP.

Source Notes

• Pi-Star YSF Reflector List: confirms YSF 59073 as US-HEMET HANGOUT and lists #59073.
• DMRGateway XLX settings reference: background on DMRGateway XLX network behavior.
• LDARC Repeater & Nets reflector access: local LDARC XLX / YSF operating notes.
• WPSD XLX618 and US Hemet Hangout Setup Guide: related WPSD setup page.

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Hotspot Photos