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.

Connecting the Yaesu DR-1X to AllStarLink using RA-DR1X

The following connections are needed to connect a Yaesu DR-1X to a Masters Communications RA-DR1X.  The image was created by David AL5X.

HotSpotRadio-USB for AllStarLink

 I am testing a new AllStarLink hotspot.  https://hotspotradios.com/hotspotradio-usb.

Pi-Star - Opening additional ports

 My VHF and UHF repeaters are located at different sites.  They are connected to a host site by VPN.  Because of that, I run IRCDDBGateway at the host site that provides internet connectivity.  

When you run a split system like this, IRCDDBGateway is not enabled on each repeater.  The host site takes care of routing, etc.  

In a configuration like this you must change the firewall rules in Pi-Star.  This is accomplished by creating the file "root/ipv4.fw".  The main rules file is overwritten during updates.  This supplemental file is not changed and is automatically incorporated when updates occur.   Mine looks like the following:

iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 20010:20013 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 20010:20013 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 20010:20013 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A OUTPUT -p udp --dport 20010:20013 -j ACCEPT
iptables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -p udp --dport 20010:20013 -j DSCP --set-dscp 46
iptables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -p udp --dport 20013:20013 -j DSCP --set-dscp 46

 To create this file you run the command "rpi-rw", then create the file.  After creating this file, you need to run the command "sudo pistar-firewall", followed by "rpi-ro".  This will add these additional rules to iptables.

AllStarLink - Announce IP Address

The following script can be used to announce your AllStarLink's node IP address.  I needed this because my portable node connects via WIFI and the IP address changes.

Create /usr/sbin/sayip.sh and insert the following code:

#!/bin/sh

Node=54362

DONE=0

while [ $DONE -eq 0 ]

do

IPADDR=$(ip addr | grep 'state UP' -A2 | tail -n1 | awk '{print $2}' | cut -f1 -d'/')    

if [ ".$IPADDR" = "." ]

     then

echo "no ip address"

DONE=1

else

         CMD="cat "

         for x in `echo "$IPADDR" | fold -w1`; do

           if [ "$x" = "." ]

           then

           CMD=$CMD"/var/lib/asterisk/sounds/letters/dot.ulaw "

     else

           CMD=$CMD"/var/lib/asterisk/sounds/digits/$x.ulaw "

           fi

         done

`$CMD >/tmp/ip.ulaw`

        /usr/sbin/asterisk -rx "rpt playback $Node /tmp/ip" 

DONE=1

     fi

done

Change Node=54362 to your node number.

Make the file executable with the command: chmod ugo+x /usr/sbin/sayip.sh

Edit /etc/rpt.conf and add a command like the following in the [functions] stanza.

980=cmd,/usr/sbin/sayip.sh

In your node stanza, change the startupmacro so that it reads startupmacro=*980

Now when your node boots, you it will automatically announce the assigned ip address.

Note:  This code is based on the sayip.sh script included with ASL-Asterisk.

Portable UHF Repeater for AllStarLink

 This is a portable UHF repeater for AllStarLink.

AllStarWx

 I have been working on a new application to announce live weather alerts over AllStarLink. 

Here is an overview of the application.  You can find more detail at https://www.weathermessage.com/allstarwx.aspx

AllStarWx is a comprehensive weather alerting and reporting system for AllStar and derived systems.   It uses the National Weather Service’s alerts web service to retrieve data.  This feed is based on the CAP v1.2 specifications. 

AllStarWx supports the following features: 

• On-demand forecasts.
• On-demand current weather conditions.
• Real-time weather alerts.
• Supports one or more counties.
• Announces new weather alerts when they arrive.
• Polite announcements.  It will wait for the receiver to be inactive.
• Uses Asterisk® Manager Interface (AMI) to send commands to AllStar.
• Creates a tail message that summarizes the active weather events.
• Tail messages can be incorporated into AllStar or played periodically.
• Uses static sound effect wave files to draw attention to the alert.
• Execute a script when entering weather alert mode.
• Execute a script when new events arrive.
• Execute a script when all events have expired.
• Runs as a background daemon.
• Changes to the configuration are automatically loaded.
• Features a test mode to check your configuration.
• Logging to review the operation of the application.