I was curious about the different implementations for building an AllStar node.

HamVOIP is closed source, and has more DTMF commands by default. It’s only built on RaspberryPI. The 985 group has been circulating some new tutorials based on HamVOIP.

AllStarLink is open-source, and some DTMF codes need to be added. It can be deployed on RaspberryPI or a computer. AllStarLink makes the most sense to me for my values.

I was out mobile, but I couldn’t check-in to the 985 Workbench. I had a weak signal, and I got a boost in interference when car powered off. It was mostly through the mobile antenna/coax, and it was enough to drown out W3GMS. I confirmed with spectrum analyzer on UV-K5.

I also had my AllStar 3 node but it wouldn’t connect either. The node connected to my phone hotspot fine, and it got an IP and all that. I could use the web interface or DTMF, but DTMF was flaky/slow. While debugging, I connected to the parrot node (55553) fine, but I only got “connection failed” from W3GMS (53085). I connected to W3GMS fine from home network the next morning.

I took down the YAGI flag pole during a tornado warning. While I had it down, I attached the paracord that turns it with zip ties to make positioning reliable and less slippery. I shifted the paracord that secures it to avoid wear, and I straightened some elements.

my week in radio

I did some FT8 at 1W while camping and activating some POTA. I compared a 41-ft EFRW with a 17-ft vertical whip. The resonant vertical was booming.

I also read that lots of CW contesters are using computers to send that fast.

Others

• W8CRW, CR:
  • helped take down an antenna
  • local nets
• AB3AP, Mike:
  • some CW contacts
• NA3CW, Chuck:
  • PM/AM pre-net and net
  • taking down that tower with CR, Joe, and gang.
  • reclaiming some of the antenna hardware
  • working on Joe’s tower
    • assemble to find the problems
    • very close
• KC3OOK, Bill:
  • helped with Joe’s tower
  • break from the simplex net
• KC3SQI, Wayne:
  • finding 15m and 17m open
    • Germany, Alaska, Florida, etc
• AF3Z, Jim:
  • intermod sounds like a spaceship
  • considered doing WPX and a QRP sprint, but missed them.
• W1RC, Mike:
  • configuring a new AllStar node
    • got a node number
    • downloaded the pi image
    • written to a card
    • named it allstar.local, but can’t get the browser to it.
• KD3AIS, Tim:
  • learning about noise on the waterfall from harvey
• WA3VEE, Ron:
  • testing sessions coming up
  • upcoming fox hunt
• W3JAM, Jeff:
  • assembling some spare masts for an OCF dipole
  • simplex net
• KC3YTD, Steve:
  • new Yaesu 991, working well for first HF

Questions

• AB3AP, Mike:
  • Is anyone successful running trustedqsl (tqsl) on Ubuntu 25?
  • contact Dylan, K3DCN, for help
  • KC3WWC, John:
    • I have it working on debian unstable, from the standard repo.
  • AB3AP, Mike:
    • got it working!
    • using the wrong name: trustedsql instead of qsl
• W1RC, Mike:
  • getting AllStar node booting, but can’t access it by its name, allstar.local.
  • W8CRW, CR:
    • mobaxterm, like putty, to setup through text, instead of web interface
  • KC3WWC, John:
    • I often don’t see .local network work either
    • try IP addresses near your computer
    • login to the configuration of your router to see the list of nodes

The home antenna wire comes down every once in a while. I soldered and re-hung it, and it looks good. It seems to need a little power put through it, and then the SWR looks good. I wonder if some static accumulated, and that is causing higher SWR for a moment.

I confirmed that my AllStar Node is connecting to my Android hotspot when away from home. The node got a crazy unfamiliar 10.x IP, so I had no hope of remembering it. I still have trouble remembering the DTMF codes that I setup.

The activation at King’s Gap Environmental Education Center, US-4361 was tough-going, even though I was at the top of the mountain. I used the GRA vertical whip with tapped coil. Internet access flaked early, so successfully spotted myself on APRS with APSPOT.

Today I had some success operating 1W on 40m.

At 1330UTC, I made a handful of contacts, and got a strong -05 report. I even got a POTA in FL.

My Weeks in Radio

• French Creek State Park (US-1355)
  • All FT8, 1-2W.
  • Tried PSK, but no one responded.
• 80M EFHW, 130ft
  • Built a 64:1 unun for it to help match better than the 49:1.
  • Resonant in many places, maybe need tuner in one band.
• Customizing Allstarlink node to make it easier to manage.
• New R1CBU firmware for my X6100.
• Getting tempted about the zbit or sbit, but the X6100 scratches that itch for being able to customize it.

Others

• WB3LNY, George:
  • Dayton Hamfest.
• KA3TKW, Tom:
  • No net on holiday weekend.
  • Enjoying zbitx and zbitx.
  • Visited club in Letterkenny, satellite presentation.
  • New power connectors for the zbits.
• VE3HOH, Pete:
  • Tried 6M with a quarter-wave on mobile.
    • Worked well, trying some repeaters.
    • Working simplex on trip from Pottstown to Pine Grove.
    • Fixing connectors.
    • 100W.
• W3MW, Don:
  • 2.4GHz station ready to go with loop yagis.
  • Soon will have 5.6GHz by next month.
  • UHF pre-amp.
  • Pre-amp is more necessary, at the antenna, on these higher frequencies.
• KC3VZU, Bob:
  • Looking into RADTEL 880 w/ HF, VHF, UHF, SSB, 10W.

Swap and Shop

• W3MW, Don:
  • IC7300, 100w, portable, tuner, pack setup.
  • Looking at Yaesu, FTX-1.

I visited French Creek State Park (US-1355).

I deployed my 40-meter EFHW, strung up into a convenient tree. I operated with low power, typically between 1-2 watts, on the 10-meter, 40-meter, and 20-meter bands.

I primary operated FT8, and I also attempted some PSK, but no one responded.