Bridgecom BCR-220 configuration for AllStarLink using RA-42

This post describes the steps needed to interface a Bridgecom BCR-220 repeater to AllStarLink using the Masters Communications RA-42.

You will need to change the repeater's configuration using the Bridgecom supplied programming adapter and software.  First read and save your current configuration.

My factory configuration looks like the following:

You will need to make the following changes to your configuration for the repeater to work with an external controller.  This configuration uses the Bridgecom controller for CTCSS encode and decode.

Here are my new settings for the repeater:

Set Broadcast interval to zero and uncheck Broadcast Activity Independent.

Slot 00 is the sysop slot.  It is repurposed when using an external controller.  Set the CTCSS to the tone you want to use.  It should be the same as the setting for slot 01.  When the CTCSS tone is detected for slot 00, the COS signal is pulled low so that the external controller can operate the transmitter.

Set the courtesy tone to None.

The following setting allows you to use the repeater when the external controller is not working.  Set the CTCSS tone to another value.

You will need a DB25 male connector and a DB9 male connector for the interface cable. The cable to interface from the repeater to the RA42 should be constructed as follows:

DB-25 (BCR-220)	Notes	DB-9 (RA-42)
8- Rx Discriminator Out		6 - Audio In
17 - COS Active Low		3 - COS Input
19 - TX Audio In	Add series 4.7K resistor	2 - Left Audio Output
20 - PTT In (Active Low)		5 - PTT Output
25 - Ground		8 - Ground

The simpleusb.conf should have deemphasis enabled and preemphasis disabled.  Carrierfrom should be set to usbinvert. My configuration looks like the following:

[usb_64837]

eeprom = 0                  ; EEPROM installed: 0,1                                         ; 0 = no (default)                                                ; 1 = yes

hdwtype = 0                 ; Leave this set to 0 for USB sound fobs modified using                                                                        ; the instructions from usbfob.pdf. Use a setting of                                                                              ; 1 is for Dingotel/Sph interfaces.

; Receiver parameters

rxboost = 0                 ; 0 = 20db attenuator inserted, 1= 20db attenuator removed                                                                    ; Set to 1 for additonal gain if using a low-level receiver output

carrierfrom = usbinvert     ; no,usb,usbinvert                                                ; no - no carrier detection at all                                ; usb - from the COR line on the USB sound fob (Active high)

                            ; usbinvert - from the inverted COR line on the USB sound fob (Active low)

ctcssfrom = no              ; no,usb,usbinvert                                                ; no - CTCSS decoding, system will be carrier squelch             ; usb - CTCSS decoding using input from USB sound fob (Active high)                                                            ; usbinvert - from the inverted CTCSS line on the USB sound fob (Active low)

deemphasis = yes            ; enable de-emphasis (input from discriminator)

plfilter = yes              ; enable PL filter

;rxondelay = 0              ; number of 20ms intervals to hold off receiver turn-on indication

; Transmitter parameters

txmixa = voice              ; Left channel output (A): no,voice                              ; no - Do not output anything                                    ; voice - output voice only

txmixb = no                 ; Right channel output (B): no,voice                              ; no - Do not output anything                                    ; voice - output voice only

txboost = 0

invertptt = 0               ; Invert PTT: 0,1                                                ; 0 - ground to transmit                                          ; 1 - open to transmit

preemphasis = 0             ; Perform standard 6db/octave pre-emphasis

; pager = no                ; no,a,b (e.g. pager = b means "put the normal repeat audio on channel A, and the pager audio on channel B")

; duplex3 = 0               ; duplex 3 gain setting (0 to disable)

duplex = 0                  ; Duplex 0,1                                                      ; 0 - half duplex                                                ; 1 - full duplex

You now need to use simpleusb-tune-menu to set the RX and TX levels.

Configuring Asterisk for Developer Mode

 So that I don't forget, you can configure asterisk for developer mode by:

./configure --enable-dev-mode

menuselect/menuselect --enable DONT_OPTIMIZE --enable BETTER_BACKTRACES --enable COMPILE_DOUBLE --enable DO_CRASH menuselect.makeopts

menuselect/menuselect --enable DEBUG_THREADS --enable MALLOC_DEBUG --enable DEBUG_FD_LEAKS menuselect.makeopts

AllStar Version 3 Announcement

 AllStarLink is proud to announce ASL3, the next generation of AllStar repeater and hotspot software. ASL3 is built to run on Asterisk 20, the latest operating systems, and modern hardware. Asterisk 20 brings over 15 years of bug fixes, security improvements, and enhancements. Naturally, ASL3 benefits significantly from running on Asterisk 20. But we didn’t stop there.

ASL3 is easier to install and use thanks to a new fully functional Raspberry Pi image. To get started, check out the Raspberry Pi installation video at https://youtu.be/aeuj-yI8qrU 1. Debian 12 amd64, ASL3 installation is via apt updates. See the new manual at https://allstarlink.github.io.

Final but important notes: ASL3 configuration is significantly different, particularly for those who edit the configs. Both veteran and new AllStar users alike are advised to proceed with caution, read the manual, and follow the installation video.

73 and enjoy ASL3, the best AllStar yet.

AllStarWx 1.3 Released

 AllStarWx 1.3 has been released.  This version has these new features:

• Supports VoiceRSS Text to Speech engine.  This service offers 350 requests per day free.  It is easier to setup than Google Text to Speech.
• Added the script select_tts.sh to allow the user to easily select the text to speech engine. 

As with any update, I recommend that you backup your configuration in \usr\local\AllStarWx.

You will find the revised manual and installers at https://www.weathermessage.com/allstarwx.aspx.

USB Duplex Repeater HotSpotRadio for AllStarLink

I am testing a new full duplex hot spot for AllStarLink.  More information at https://hotspotradios.com/usb-duplex-repeater

AllStarWx Version 1.1 Released

AllStarWx 1.1 is now officially released.  This version has these new features:

• Supports Festival and Pico TTS engines.  (They are not as good as Google TTS, but easier to setup.)
• Ability to read the NWS headline for new products.  (You will have to modify your [NewMessage] Text entry.)
• Ability to ready the NWS announcement headline instead of the standard headline.  This headline includes additional information.  (This requires you to modify the [NewMessage] Text entry.)
• Ability to turn off watch and advisory products in the tail message.
• Forecasts and Observations can now be requested through the background service.  This makes the responses more responsive.  It still takes some time to request the data and process it through the TTS engine.
• Added the ability to call a script when new products are issued at the county level.  The script is passed the county identifier and the event type.  This script can be used to do specific things based on the associated county.
• Upgrade the application to .NET 8.

This version has been tested on 4 different nodes.  All of the features appear to work properly.  As with any update, I recommend that you backup your configuration in \usr\local\AllStarWx.

You will find the revised manual and installers at https://www.weathermessage.com/allstarwx.aspx.

Connecting the Yaesu DR-2X to AllStarLink using RA-DR1X

The following connections are needed to connect a Yaesu DR-2X to a Masters Communications RA-DR1X.  The image was created by David AL5X and modified by KB4MDD for the DR-2X.