Norm (VE3LC) has established a Radio Link controlled by an AllStarLink (ASL) node for remote radio access to VE3OCE (or other area repeaters). This will be made operational for over-the-internet access to VE3OCE when Hugo VE3KTN is conducting his Thursday evening OVMRC FM net at 8 pm for folks that want to check-in but are out of radio range to the repeater.
The connection is facilitated by the AllStar Link hub configured and installed on rented Linux VM space in-the-cloud on behalf the OVMRC by our IT specialist and OVMRC webmaster Adam VA3IRD. The dashboard of this hub can be seen from the OVMRC tab drop down list on the Club’s main page web site at: https://ovmrc.ca or more specifically at: https://ovmrc.ca/about-ovmrc/allstar-hub/
The AllStarLink node address is: 601110. The node can also be accessed by way of the EchoLink network at node number: 197954 or under the call sign selection VE3JW-L using your common Echo Linked equipped repeaters or Computer or Smart Phone apps for Echolink.
The dashboard looks like this:
Shown on the visual above is the dashboard of the OVMRC ASL HUB. It indicates two connections at the moment: My Node 56337 assigned to VE3LC that interfaces with “DINAH node hardware and Raspberry Pi3 that is connected to my FT-817 radio dialed to the frequencies of VE3OCE. Also shown is ASL Node 62598 that is assigned to the VE3MPC repeater equipment that I have currently on my workshop bench and outfitted with another Pi3 with ASL software configured as a repeater controller. See pictures to the VE3MPC gear further on in this article. It is hoped in the near future we will be able to restore the VE3MPC repeater to operation at a good site to provide radio coverage again to the City of Ottawa with ASL access. If there is any ham in the Ottawa area that lives in a high rise up 15 floors or more and would want to host the VE3MPC repeater with a good antenna on the outside balcony, be in touch and we can discuss.
Below is a picture of my FT-817 working with a Raspberry Pi-3 running ASL software along with DINAH interface which is cable connected to the data port of the FT-817 with the radio selected on “PKT” mode. With the radio dialed to the frequency pair for VE3OCE, Rob VE3RXH while vacationing in Florida was able to check into the OVMRC FM net on VE3OCE.
Below are pictures that show the VE3MPC Canadian made Daniels Electronics “MT3” 30 Watt VHF repeater fitted with a Raspberry 3A computer running AllStar Link software complete a “RIM Lite” interface board designed and marketed by the Repeater Builder.
See: https://www.repeater-builder.com/products/usb-rim-lite.html
Note the Sinclair Q2330E ResLoc VHF duplexer in the foreground.
This below shows the back of the Daniels MT3 repeater chassis where I mounted and connected the Raspberry Pi3A board and RIM Lite interface board for ASL.
Further AllStar Link references:
Register and get a node number: https://www.allstarlink.org/
Node List: https://www.allstarlink.org/nodelist/
ASL DTMF Commands: https://wiki.allstarlink.org/wiki/AllStarLink_Standard_Commands#Mandatory_Command_Codes
Norm VE3LC
OVMRC President
Appears in: Rambler February 2025