The N6GKJ Allstar Mode

by Ron Simpson – N6GKJ

What can you do if your repeater covers such a large area that club members in marginal locations cannot reach net control directly or via relays? Create an Allstar Mode.

Q: What is an Allstar Node?

A: An Allstar Node is comprised of a small computer, a sound card and a VHF or UHF Amateur Radio mobile radio. The node is assigned an ID Code.

When the node is configured and powered up, it is plugged into the Internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The node software automatically logs into the Allstar server and reports its status. By using the programming commands built into Allstar, we can connect our node to another node. This node connection allows us to talk over a short range or vast distances. Some nodes are tied together into larger networks.

Each week we hold a net on our repeater frequency. Our repeater covers a vast area of Northern California. Many times, we lose power in Northern California; So, we implemented a new Simplex Net to get our users used to simplex operations. We operate this net on our repeater output frequency. All net members know that when a power outage occurs, we switch over to simplex to carry out net operations.

But there is a catch. Our repeater covers such a large area that our far-out net attendees cannot get to net control even via relays. As a result, we constructed two nodes 27936 and 27946.

• Node 27946 is tied to a radio on a frequency of 147.090 MHz for simplex operation.

• Node 27936 is tied to a radio on a frequency of 444.250 MHz for repeater operation.

Q: What does it cost to get on an Allstar Node?

A: That depends on the way you choose to get on. For this discussion we will focus on the “Free and Cheap” ways to get on our Allstar Nodes.

Now we can have those far-out net attendees check-in using any number of available tools. These tools include:

• IAXRPT – is a Windows based application that allows a ham operator to connect to our nodes (free)

• DVSwitch – is an Android based application that allows a ham operator to connect to our nodes (free)

• RepeaterPhone – is an Apple iOS application that allows a ham operator to connect to our nodes (not free)

For this discussion, we will focus on IAXRPT and DVSwitch. Normally when we use these tools we already have an Allstar Node in our shack we can connect with. Because Allstar is new to our group, most of our members do not have an Allstar Node. We have opened up our 27946 and 27936 nodes to the members of our club who want to use these tools to make that connection.

To setup IAXRPT click: https://n6gkj.lodiarc.org/allstar/iaxrpt.htm to install and configure IAXRPT.

To setup DVSwitch click: https://n6gkj.lodiarc.org/allstar/dvswitch.htm to install and configure DVSwitch.

If you have questions regarding the nodes, you can contact me at n6gkj1@gmail.com. I made some changes to the network recently; I have moved the Node Gateway into a cloud server. Since then, make sure you change the settings on your phone app.

I am assigning each club member an ID number, vs a Callsign. The system was really designed for a number. When you ask for a password, I will assign an ID number for you to put in the app.