Water Industry Process Automation & Control Monthly - April 2024
Allstar (AECS)
1. ALLSTAR (AECS)
Autonomous/Portability Emergency Communications With Existing RF Networks
KG5RDF.com
Allstar Assets: Jim Dixon, WB6NIL (Passed Away)
Steve Zingman, N4IRS
David McGough, KB4FXC
Doug Crompton, WA3DSP
(Presentation, Links, and Configurations can be found at KG5RDF.com)
2. WHAT IS “ALLSTAR”
ALLSTAR:
- Amateur Radio Communication Network Servers
- Designed as a Linking System, Unlike IRLP and Echolink
which are End-To-End Protocols
Operating Systems/Nodes:
- Dial (Outdated), Stretch (New), HamVoip (New 72%)
- Linux Based Computer System Running Asterisk PBX
- Can Exist on a Public or Private or Mixed Network.
- IP Address Based (VIOP)
- Full Duplex
- Repeater Controller via DT
- Remote Base Controller via DTMF
- HUB no Radio Hardware Required
KG5RDF.com
4. HOW TO START (HAMVIOP)
KG5RDF.com
• Purchase Pi3B+, 32meg SD Card, URI, Power Supply, Case
• GoTo Allstar Link https://allstarlink.org
• Sign Up, Request Nodes, Setup A Separate Server For Each Node
• GoTo HamViop https://hamvoip.org (Has Everything You Need)
• Download win32diskimager
• Download Image V1.5rc19
• Load Image On SD Card Via win32diskimager
• Setup Pi3B+ With Monitor And Keyboard. Monitor Is Video
• Power Pi3B+, Name: root, Password: root
• Follow The Prompts
• Make Sure To Upgrade The Image Prior To Making Custom Changes
5. PRIVATE VS PUBLIC NODES
KG5RDF.com
You Want Both
• Public
- Allows For Ham Community To Connect To
Your System
- Allow You To Connect To Other Ham Public
Systems
- Allows A Single Point For Disconnection
- White List Integration: Eliminates VOX Drop
Ins and Larger System Connections
• Private
- Allstarlink Server Bypassed, Eliminates All
Server Issues
- An Autonomous Network
7. LOW COST REPEATER CONTROLLER
IO Board
- Eight 10A/250V Relays
- Twelve A/D Inputs
- One D/A Output
- Eight optical Isolated Inputs
- Four 16V/140MA Open Collector
Outputs
- Stackable
- $15
Pi 3B+ Cluster
- Linux Knowledge Required
- Super Computer
USB Radio Interface (URI)
- Uses Pi’s GPIO, General
Purpose Inputs and Output
- Repeater Control Interface
KG5RDF.com
8. ALLSTAR VS TYPICAL REPEATER CONTROLLERS
- Conventional Linked Repeater Network
- Controlled via DTMF
- Allstar As Repeater Controllers
- No Internet Required
Repeater
Remote Base Remote Base
URI
URI
URI
PI 3B+
Repeater
Remote Base
URI
URI
PI 3B+
Repeater
Remote Base
URI
URI
PI 3B+
Site1 Site 2 Site (n+1)
KG5RDF.com
9. USING INTERNET OR NOT
• Repeaters Are Auxiliary Wireless Base
Stations
• Access Points Are Wireless Connection To
Your Network
- Both RF Devices Operating in The Ham Band
- Equipment Failure
- Weather/Lighting/Winds
Note: Internet Cables/Hubs, i.e., Private Network
HamVoip Has Server In Dallas
KG5RDF.com
High .999999 Low .882960
Internet
10. 5.8 GHZ PTP LONG-RANGE BACKHAUL
- Creates A Private Network For Repeater Links
- Capable of Interfacing to the Internet
- Capable of Interfacing to Amateur Radio Emergency Data
Network (AREDN)
- Improved Audio Quality
- Eliminates Remote Base Radios, Antennas, and Coax
- 900 MHZ, 2.4 GHZ, 3GHZ Can Also Be Used
- 57dBm, 150+Mbps, Wind Survivability 120 MPH, Wind
loading 113 lbs. @ 100 mph
KG5RDF.com
11. ALLSTAR VS CONVENTIONAL REPEATER LINKS
Private Repeater Network Linking, Controlled via DTMF
Repeater
URI
PI 3B+
Site 1 Site (n+1)
Repeater
URI
PI 3B+
PtP
Link
PtP
Link
PtP
Link
KG5RDF.com
12. INTERFACING OTHER SYSTEMS AND
PROTOCALS VIA ALLSTAR
- All Sites Now Have
Internet via HUB
- All Sites Now Have
AREDN via HUB
- Access Point For Other
Systems Connectivity
- Access Point For Public
Allstar Nodes
- Access Point For Other
Protocols HF, DMR, TGIF,
Wires-X, P25, DSTAR,
Allstar, Echolink, IRLP:
Use Stretch Image For
Bridges
Repeater
URI
PI 3B+
Hub - n+1 Repeaters
PtP
Link
Router
802.11n
Switch
Internet AREDN
PtP
Link
KG5RDF.com
Router
14. DR1-X URI INTERCONNECTION
• DR1-X DB15 Pins URI RS232 Pins DR1-X DIN 10 Pin
Remote 1 COR 8 6 Tone In
PTT 2 1 PTT
DNU 4
GND 5 13 GND
AF IN 7 22 AF OUT
AF OUT 9 21 AF IN
EXT Port1 11
KG5RDF.com
15. RECOMMENDED IMAGE CHANGES ALL
REPEATERS
Edit (HamVoip) rpt.conf:
duplex = 2
nounkeyct = 1
holdofftelem = 1
telemdefault = 0
linkunkeyct = ct8 (Place ; in front of this line)
idrecordings = IiDE KG5RDF/L (Remove “/L”)
Edit (HamVoip) crontab – e:
00 0-23 * * * (Place “#” in front of this line)
KG5RDF.com
Notas del editor
What’s the presentation about
Where to find the information online
Talk about assets and why this is only a configuration of existing platform
1) Allstar is a network of Amateur Radio Repeaters, remote base stations and hot spots accessible to each other
2) Running an Asterisk PBX phone system
3) Designed as a link system
4) What images are available
5) IP VIOP
6) What can it do - full duplex, repeater controller, remote base stations, and hubs
Current
Bubbles behind bubbles
This is a run down on what you need and where to go to setup your node
Allstarlink is
Hamviop is
Public
1) Other systems and individuals
2) Single point
3) White list vox
Private
Eliminate servers
Autonomous
1) Point out colors/mixed system and walk through it
Repeater controller
URI – Allows for interconnect to RF transmitters
Low $ IO interface to do any type of interface
Cluster Knowledge required and should use stretch open source
1) Typical controller vs Allstar, walk through slide DTMF
Walk through slide
Access point and repeaters same
Ham Band
Weather
Uptime
Internet cable connect
Private network
On ham frequencies
Interface Adren and internet
Higher quality audio
Many frequency options
Great rating 57db
Good wind loading
We have pull the convectional Controllers
Now pull conventional remote base stations
Aredn and internet connected across system
Access point for other networks
Access point for other protocol
Bubbles behid bubbles
Many access points
Mesh explain
1) Do not to have to open unit up, many ways to skin a cat
1) Required to remove hang time, time announcements, telemetry
