Gary Weddle, W1GHW. Fairfield Amateur Radio Association April 3, 2017

Transcription

1 Allstar Radio Gary Weddle, W1GHW Fairfield Amateur Radio Association April 3, 2017

2 What is Allstar Radio? The AllStar Link network consists of a number of large and small llidiid individuals and groups who wish ihto provide efficient large-area communications to the Amateur Radio public in their respective local l areas. This is done by providing a local VHF/UHF repeater system controlled by a Linux-based computer running the open-source Asterisk PBX telephone switch platform along with the app_rpt repeater/remote base controller/linking software module connected to the Internet.

3 What is Allstar Radio? The system provides linking of repeaters and remote base "nodes" with "nodes" on other systems of similar construction anywhere in the world, over the Internet via its IAX2 Voice Over IP (VOIP) protocol. AllStar Link is an organization devoted to the proliferation of this technology by providing a single central point of organization for public use of the technology.

4 Comparisons

5 Comparison of Amateur Radio VOIP systems Free Stable Echolink Not open source limited api Lower audio quality GSM half duplex Global System Mobile Relatively easy to use Large user base Mostly computer or cell phone originated Limited capability Poor choice for computer linking

6 Comparison of Amateur Radio VOIP systems IRLP Internet Radio Linking Protocol Not open source requires board purchase Good audio quality ADPCM half duplex Adaptive Differential Pulse-Code Modulation Smaller user base Only radio originated Limited capability Limited connectivity

7 Comparison of Amateur Radio VOIP systems Allstar Fully open source - free Excellent audio quality full duplex Choice of codecs Smaller user base Radio, phone and computer originated Endless capability and connectivity Low cost Echolink and other service bridges

8 Comparison of Amateur Radio VOIP systems Other formats Mostly proprietary Varying audio quality Skype, Wires, Dstar, DMR, etc. Wide-coverage Internet t t Repeater t Enhancement System

9 Asterisk

10 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP History In 1999, Mark Spencer started a Linux software company The company grew and needed phone services Available systems were very expensive Wrote their own PBX software Private Branch Exchange Formed a company called Digium in 2001 Their software now used to run phone systems for thousands of companies worldwide.

11 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP History of app_rpt app_rpt (an Application Program Interface) was written to allow additional programs to extend capability of Asterisk Written by Jim Dixon, WB6NIL, and Steve Rodgers, WA6ZFT, (mid 2000's) for fulfill need for a repeater controller and VOIP interface. Original system used a Quad PCI radio interface card Later used a USB sound card interface

12 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP Features Linux operating system very well supported Fully open source Easy to modify and extend the code Easy to install and maintain Extremely low power consumption Excellent voice quality Ability to select CODECS Great for restricted antenna areas gives feel of radio Allows public or private connections Any number of nodes can be connected together Connection process totally at the discretion of the user Unlimited servers and nodes per single IP address

13 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP Full Duplex Features (cont.) Integral repeater controller Connections to/from Phone PBX sip, iax Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a communications protocol for the purpose of controlling multimedia communication sessions. Internet telephony, business IP telephone systems, service providers and carriers use SIP. IAX was created by Mark Spencer to improve problems related with SIP in VOIP. Bandwidth usage is less than SIP since the messages are binary instead of text messages. No single point of failure Build the system the way you want

14 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP CODECS A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. ULAW (pronounced mu-law) is an encoding commonly used in North America and Japan for digital telephony. 64Khz Lossless Excellent quality Least used ILBC Internet Low-Bitrate Codec Low Bandwidth Codec 1/3 BW of g726aa Very close to g726 quality G726aa modified G726a 48Khz sample rate Very good quality Most used GSM Very low sample rates Low bandwidth Fair quality Seldom used for VOIP

15 Node Configuration

16 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP How Allstar Works Simplex Radio Node Internet e Router Raspberry Pi 2/3 USB INTERFACE Node Transceiver

17 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP How Allstar Works Duplex Repeater Node Allstar controls repeater Duplexer Internet Router Raspberry Pi 2/3 USB INTERFACE Receiver Transmitter

18 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP How Allstar Works Duplexer Duplexer RX TX RX TX USB I/F Connecting two or more Repeaters USB I/F Internet Router Internet Internet Router

19 Asterisk Allstar Radio VOIP How Allstar Works NODE 1 NODE 2 NODE 3 NODE 4 NODE 5 NODE6 Echolink HUB A Not Allowed NODE 8 NODE 7 Connection Map NODE 12 NODE 10 HUB B NODE 9 NODE 13 NODE 14 NODE 11

20 Construction ti

21 The node Ensemble

22 Construction Details A Baofeng bf-888s inexpensive handheld

23 Construction Details Making the appropriate connections PTT Gnd Tx Audio 1. COS 2. PTT 3. Rx Audio 4. Tx Audio 5. Ground Rx Audio COS

24 Construction Details Battery replacement

25 Construction Details Battery eliminator 3.7 volt requirement one diode drop (0.7v) from 5 volt source 5 volt wallwart

26 Construction Details

27 Construction Details

28 Construction Details Another possible construction method Board removed from radio case and mounted in a small box with power supply and audio FOB

29 Construction Details

30 Construction Details

31 Construction Details

32 The USB Interface

33 Construction Details

34 Construction Details

35 Construction Details Modification of an audio FOB PPT COS

36 Construction Details

37 Construction Details

38 Construction Details

39 Portability

40 A Portable node Ensemble

41 AllStar on the Road

42 Power Options

43 Construction Details A Simple Repeater

44 An AllStar Radio-less Node

45 The System Setup

46 Hamvoip Allstar Version 1.5

47 SimpleUSB Menu

48 SimpleUSB Submenu

49 System Registration ti

50 The AllStar Link Website

51 The AllStar Link Website

52 The AllStar Link Website

53 Node Connection

54 Node Control and Monitoring i

55 *871-8 Relays 1-8 on *881-8 Relays 1-8 off DTMF Control Codes *52 Disconnect from all nodes *53 Connect to node (Richboro Hub) *54 Connect to node 2500 (Saltgrass Hub) *55 Connect to node 2534 (WAN system) *986 - Local Weather Forecast *988 - US Weather Service Forecast *901 - FARA annoying voice message *902 - FARA meeting announcement message *A1 - Local IP address *A3 System reboot

56 lsnodes Named after 'ls' the linux command to list directories i Written in Perl View and control nodes from anywhere via the web Local IP address

57 lsnodes

58 lsnodes Listing of all connected nodes to the Hub

59 lsnodes

60 lsnodes

61

62 lsnodes

63 lsnodes

64 Improvements

65 Hamvoip Allstar Version 1.5 Update Updates and Features In-place updates of entire system including OS. Completely redesigned setup using terminal graphics. Admin menu at boot for most used applications. High resolution timer, equivalent or better than a PC Latest Kernel of Arch Linux All packages updated d PHP rpt.conf reorganized and commented Wireless scripts updated and installed

66 Hamvoip Allstar Version 1.5 Update Updates and Features Cont. Bluetooth ready IRLP and DStar channel drivers (coming) Echolink code cleanup Simpleusb-tune-menu real-time changes and display lsnodes update Many bug fixes and code improvements GPIO Options (Nano, FTDI, Pi GPIO, etc.)

67 Hamvoip Allstar Version 1.5 Update New commands rx_timeout <time_in in _ms> Default minutes rx_cosflap <time_in_ms> Default ms telemnomdb <level_in_db> Default 0 no gain change telemduckdb <level_in_db> Default -6dB tx_timeout <time_in_ms> (formerly totimeout) New Scripts admin, setup, simpleusb-tune-menu Source Code Removed from distribution, available as package

68 Future Updates and Features Complete rewrite of the sound system Currently uses OSS, Change to ALSA Open Source Sound Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Ability y to easily interface and modify sound streams Will use IO pipe interface for audio and control Merging of simpleusb and usbradio Detailed update of app_rpt.c DNS node lookup Your input and suggestions

69 Nodes are Commercially Available New Modified 888s with DB-25 connector (M) suitable for a URI or our sound FOB Modified Battery Eliminator for the 888s 5V/3A - AC Adapter works with the Battery Eliminator Newly designed Sound FOB with matching DB-25 Pin connector (F) Shipping within US $29.00 $6.00 $6.50 $20.00 Shipping within US $7.75-$ $13 George, WA3DZZ

70 More Information hamvoip.org allstarlink.org Radio lubricant Doug, WA3DSP, Allstar node Echolink WA3DSP-L

71 Too Much Information! Thank you for your attention