License¶
WPSD Palisade runs while your WPSD device holds a valid license. The device renews it by itself about once an hour over the internet; System > License shows where it stands.
Free for 14 days¶
A new WPSD device runs as soon as it is online: the first time it checks in, it gets 14 free days on its own, with nothing to send and nobody to wait for. System > License says Free for 14 days and how many days are left. Free days are once per device: reflashing it doesn’t start them again, though during them a fresh SD card carries on with the days left.
The top bar stays quiet until the last 3 days, then says how many free days are left. System > License then shows What comes next:
Buy a license. Contact WPSD opens Contact Support: write that you’d like a license for this device. The message carries the device’s details, so there’s nothing to look up.
Ask for more time. Once per device, with a note if you like. The WPSD team answers, and the device picks up the extra days at its next check-in.
When the free days are over, the radio stops and the top bar says Free days are over. Settings, Last Heard and network setup stay just as they were. The same choices are on System > License, with a third:
Already have a license, or testing for WPSD? Send the code shown there, such as
WX7K-3PQD, to the WPSD team (W0CHP) with your callsign. Once it is approved, the device picks up its license within 15 minutes and starts on its own; Check now asks at once.
Attaching a device¶
A device that has used its free days (or any new device, while the WPSD team has free days switched off) shows a code on System > License and keeps its radio off until the code is approved, as above. The top bar says License needed until then, and an OLED or Nextion display shows License needed.
While it runs¶
The page shows who the license belongs to, what it includes (Operation, and Testing builds for testers), and the date it is valid until. That date moves forward with every renewal: 30 days ahead for a paid license, 7 for a tester’s. If the license server can’t be reached under its main name, the device tries its backup names on other domains by itself.
If the device can’t renew for a day or more (no internet, or the license was ended), the top bar says License ends in N days once the end is within 7 days. Check the device’s internet connection: it renews on its own as soon as it can reach the license server. When the date passes, the radio stops until the license is renewed.
Testers¶
A tester’s license also has an end date for the testing period. Under More testing time, ask for an extension, with a note on what you are testing if you like; the WPSD team approves it, and the device picks it up within a day.
The testing update channel (see Updates) needs a tester’s license: Testing appears in the channel choices once the device holds one. Stable and beta don’t need it.
A disabled device¶
The WPSD team can disable a device, for example one that is being misused or has been compromised. A disabled device stops at its next check-in (within the hour when it is online), even with a license that doesn’t expire, and stays off until it is enabled again: a fresh SD card doesn’t change that.
While it is disabled, its radio, sudo and SSH are off, and the dashboard shows only a notice with two things you can still do once logged in:
Write to WPSD support. The same form as Contact Support: if you think it’s a mistake, say so; the answer comes by email.
Change networks. The device must be online to hear that it has been enabled again. If you moved or have a new router, set up the network there, or plug in Ethernet. If it can’t reach any network, it opens its setup network as on first boot.
Once it is enabled again, the device starts by itself at its next check-in, and SSH comes back on if it was on before.
Things to know¶
A license is for one device. It is tied to the board, not the SD card: a card moved to another Raspberry Pi needs that Pi attached. A licensed device that was reflashed shows a new code; once it is approved, it keeps its license.
Licenses aren’t transferable between people. If you sell or give away a device, tell the WPSD team so its license is ended; the new owner attaches it again.
sudo (administrator commands over SSH or the Console) works only while the device holds a valid license.
Requests to WPSD’s own servers (updates, modem firmware, host files, callsign lookups, diagnostics) carry the device’s license, so those servers know it is licensed. Requests to anyone else never do.